Our family loves watching the Charlie Brown seasonal movies annually.
Neither Halloween nor Christmas are complete in our household without our
dose of Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
This year we added "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" to our holiday line-up of movies. This movie was included in the Peanuts Holiday Collection previously gifted to my husband. Until this year, we had not watched this movie at Thanksgiving. However, it is now bound to become a family holiday tradition too.
Then Charlie Brown finds himself roped into hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for his friends. Linus and Snoopy jump in to help create a most unusual Thanksgiving meal. Just watching them "cook" is a lot of fun.
At dinner, Linus offers a bit of history along with the prayer. The party theme ends up being about how "we should just be thankful for being together".
Don't worry! Of course, a grandmother saves the day.
_____________
We no longer subscribe to cable TV. We do have a few select streaming services, but movies are limited on all of them. For shows like the Charlie Brown movies, I still prefer owning the DVD where I can watch them anytime I wish. That is especially important for holiday specials. I don't want to be forced to subscribe to a service simply because I want to watch a few specific holiday movies.
Our entire family loves Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Actually, we love the entire Peanuts gang. Needless to say, we are huge fans and any holiday is a great excuse to be entertained by them. We are not limited to the movies either. We also
love the books, the toys, costumes, or really anything Peanuts related.
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Hallmark Plus for free??? What! Really! Yes, access to the vast Hallmark Plus library is free through your library's partnership with Hoopla. Yes, free.
The streaming options with various services change frequently and Hallmark was becoming increasingly difficult to access. Add on subscription or a stand alone subscription are becoming the norm to access Hallmark and I know we always appreciate saving funds! Of course 'free' is relative libraries are municipality funded, but this is a nice perk.
How To Access Hallmark + Via Hoopla
1. Check with your library to ensure there is access to Hoopla. Each library has their own contract with Hoopla that determines a customers' access to Hoopla. Access is by credits which are issued monthly. My library gives each patron 20 credits per month. The credits do not roll over.
2. Create/sign in to your Hoopla account at www.hoopladigital.com. Hoopla and your library will connect and will more than likely require you have access to your library digital account.
3. Search for Hallmark Bingepass.
4. Click on Hallmark Bingepass icon and a new tab will open up with the Hallmark Plus home screen.
5. The Bingepass is good for one week and can be renewed weekly. Each Bingepass equals one Hoopla credit; so for my account I will use 4 Hoopla credits per month for Hallmark Plus with 16 credits remaining for usage.
6. View Hallmark Plus library and enjoy.
7. Note this does not include Hallmark live programming. And you are not creating a Hallmark account, the Hoopla account/Bingepass is how Hallmark Plus library is accessed.
The Caveats
There are a few caveats with the Hallmark and Hoopla connection.
If you are accessing Hoopla/Hallmark Plus on your computer or mobile app the connection is straight forward.
But... to access Hoopla/Hallmark Plus on a TV can be a challenge. I originally thought I could access Hallmark Plus vis the Hoopla App on the Firestick, but Hallmark was missing. I would search "how to connect to Hallmark Plus with Hoopla on your smart TV" for work around options. Mirror your laptop to the smart tv is one option or connecting laptop to smart tv with hdmi cable is another popular option.
My experience: I decided to take on the tech challenge and success! But not without a little runaround in the tech app google loop. The bottom line: if you are ok with a cable (like we need more!) it was no problem to connect the laptop and mirror the laptop to the TV with a HDMI cable. While I succeeded in mirroring the iphone to the TV, actual content was not accessible and may be blocked. Turns out my TV brand has an app to mirror but it has been discontinued and mirroring my iphone via the screen mirror option did not work fully.
In my area the only Hallmark options are to purchase from Hallmark streaming or a higher level subscription service. However, the subscription services do offer live access and recording. I'll happily accept the monetary savings with an extra cable for now to watch the Hallmark library on TV, computer or phone. New Hallmark movies are available in the library the day after air.
Hallmark Search
Hallmarkies can easily use the search function to find their favorite movies: search by movie name, actor name, town name and the search was accurate. Click the + button to save the movie to your watchlist for easy access.
I'm very pleased to have access to the Hallmark Plus library and am bookmarking my favorite Christmas Hallmark movies.
If you haven't seen the Christmas Trifecta of Three Wise Men, Three Wiser Men and Three Wisest Men And A Baby with Tyler Hynes, Andre Walker and Paul Campbell - great opportunity to view of revisit or catch one of the series you may have missed.
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If it's October, it's Hallmark Countdown to Christmas! Countdown begins Friday, October 16th with Tis The
Season For Set ups with Victor Webster, Barbara Niven and Amanda Schull as
they navigate party planning, ski resort festivities with a little
matchmaking thrown in the mix to keep ski resorts and holidays Hallmark
festive.
Hallmark is again bringing over 30 new Christmas and holiday movies across
the Hallmark network whether it be live or streaming.
Eagerly awaited and anticipated 2026 Hallmark Christmas movies are:
Holiday Touchdown A Bear's Love Story
Enjoy a superfans grandson mission to help celebrate his grandma's 500th game
as a superfan with a little romance added for good Hallmark measure. Watch for
appearances by the Bears' coach and players.
The first movie in collaboration with NFL was Holiday Touchdown: A Chief's
Story which was Hallmark's number one movie.
Last year the Bill's had their turn with Holiday Touchdown: A Bill's Love
Story and this year its the Bears turn with the Bear's backdrop for holiday
Hallmark + football with Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley and Marsha Mason.
Weekend Premieres
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the end of the year Hallmark will
premiere a new movie. A few double features weekend are sprinkled
throughout the season too!
A few to look forward to:
A Grand BILTMORE Christmas which is a sequel with Niall Matter
Return To Christmas with Paul Campbell and Rachel Boston
Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True with Lacey Chabert
Christmas In Blue Dog Valley with Andrew Walker
Air dates can be found on the Hallmark.com site along with the entire
schedule for Christmas Countdown.
Hallmark Christmas Movies To Bookmark And Watch Again
Three Wise Men And A Baby And Three Wiser Men And A Boy
These three Hallmark movies are the trifecta of quality holiday movies at
Hallmark. The Hallmark A Team of Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes and Paul
Campbell stars and their chemistry make these movies annual favorites and
amongst the most popular in the Hallmark Christmas catalog.
Three Wise Men And A Baby
Three Wiser Men And A Boy
Three Wisest Men
Christmas Under Wraps and Sequel A Cozy Christmas Inn
Jodie Sweetin (Full House) and David O'Donnell star in the sequel of
old loves reuniting. Candace Cameron Bure starred in the first.
Garland Alaska takes the center stage with new and old loves. Both
movies are charming and also on the rewatch list when Hallmark
Christmas movies begin.
Favorite Holiday Royalty Movies (Also Most Watched )
A Royal Christmas with Lacey Chabert
Crown For Christmas with Danica McKellar
A Merry Scottish Christmas 2023
This movie remains in the top tier of holiday movies with Party of
Five vets Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf play siblings on a family trip to
Scotland. Family reunions and mysteries are on the travel agenda.. Filmed in
Ireland and Scotland and the Duns Castle Estate is beautiful to watch
Haul Out The Holly And Haul Out The Holly: Lit Up Sequel 2022
Always worth rewatching and bring your of humor. Vintage Hallmark chemistry with Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown. Mix a few inner Grinches plus the annual HOA competition for
decorating to win the coveted prize! Enjoy these light hearted romcoms of Hallmark
Christmas.
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Neagley is an action-packed crime series on Amazon Prime Video. a spin-off from the Reacher television series.
I absolutely love Amazon Prime Video; we first got it to watch the Jack Ryan television series and since then I have watched several great shows. One of my husband & I's favourite is Reacher - based on the books by Lee Childs. Reacher is a great series which has been reviewed on this site already - Lee Child's Reacher reviewed.
One of the characters we meet in Reacher is Frances Neagley and when we heard that she was getting a spin-off series we were very excited. The first season was dropped in its entirety on Amazon Prime this month, and we binge-watched it over a weekend. Wow, it did not disappoint.
When we were first introduced to Neagley in the Reacher series we knew she was a former US Army Master Sergeant and a former member of the elite 110th Special Investigations Unit under Jack Reacher. We also know she's a private investigator who is incredibly loyal to her old army boss.
In Neagley, season one, we learn a little more about Frances Neagley (Maria Sten). We see her relationship with her dad, and it shows where her sense of loyalty comes from. We also see that she's someone who has your back, no matter what, and that is amazing.
The season begins with the death of her childhood friend, whom she hasn't seen in years. When things don't add up, and police are content to close the case, Neagley decides to investigate things herself. She finds herself teaming up with a Chicago detective (who is on the outs in his department); an admin assistant who works at the same investigation agency that Neagley works at and who wants to learn to be an investigator; and a low-level criminal and recovering drug addict.
This unlikely foursome start to investigate a peaceful cult-like community called Echo Canyon Farm where her friend was staying before he died. As the series progresses, we discover that Echo Canyon Farm is, in fact, an illegal human drug experiment run by a pharmaceutical company.
There's a lot of action, like you'd expect from a Reacher spin-off, but there's also a lot more character development with not just Neagley, but the other three that you know are going to be season regulars in the future.
At the end of the season finale, Frances Neagley buys the investigation agency that she had been working at, which sets things up nicely for season 2.
While season 2 has not yet been renewed, Neagley is rated higher than Reacher on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB and Reacher ranks pretty high! I would predict that Neagley will be renewed and will be shown back-to-back with Reacher giving the fandom more Lee Child ass-kicking to look forward to throughout the year.
I say Lee Child - I should clarify that he has not written any Neagley books or had anything to do with the series, but he did introduce the character in his Jack Reacher books.
If you don't have Amazon Prime Video then I really recommend it. Not only for the three shows listed here, but for other ones like Cross, Mobland, Ride or Die and so many others.
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Sometimes, we just want a delightful movie to watch that doesn't cause
stress or tug too hard on any emotional strings. That is exactly what
I was looking for last Sunday when I found the movie, "Meet Me in the
Margins".
I was also thrilled to find a new-to-me actress that I really like.
Merritt Patterson has a really kind and intelligent persona. Someone I
would love to have as a friend and the type we all need in our families to
provide a calm presence in any situation. I also like both of the
prominent male actors in the movie. Liam McIntyre and Austin Valli
both seemed thoughtful and attentive. They listened and heard when
others were speaking. Being heard is something we all value!
"Meet Me in the Margins" is based on a best selling romance novel by
Melissa Ferguson. I enjoyed the movie so much, I now want to read the
book, which I have already downloaded to my
Kindle, that inspired the movie. Most often, I prefer the book for
greater detail. Once the book is made into a movie, I don't always
agree with the actor choices. However, in this case, I will already
have a faces attached to the characters. Since I liked those faces,
that is perfectly fine with me.
Meet Me in the Margins Synopsis
Meet Me in the MarginsCheck PriceSavannah Cade (Merritt Patterson) has been working on writing her first romance novel for 3
years. She already works as an editor for Pendleton Publishing, but
they do not publish romance novels. Therefore, she has all the normal
concerns about publishing a book, plus the appearance of communicating with
the competition.
She has confided in a few co-workers about her book, but it is not
universal knowledge. When the owner's son is introduced during a
meeting as a new employee, Savannah is not really paying attention.
She accidentally drops her manuscript during the meeting. William Pendleton
(Liam McIntyre) helps her pick up the pages and discovers her secret, but keeps the
confidence.
Later, she leaves her book draft in a rarely used room in the Pendleton
Publishing building. When she returns to retrieve it, she finds that
someone has been leaving critique notes in the margins. Thus, the
title, "Meet Me in the Margins". The notes recommend ways to improve
the content, which Savannah decides to use. As the exchange continues
and more notes are left, she wonders about the identify of her mystery
developmental editor. Some of the notes seem to be directly related to
her own personality, not just the book. She starts looking at
co-workers with a questioning eye. One in particular, Sam Swift (Austin Valli), seems the most likely individual since he is always encouraging her
and it is believed he has a crush on her.
Of course, the identity is revealed before the movie ends, but by then they
are already "friends" through the writing process.
___________
I highly recommend this movie for light entertainment on a laid-back
day. Oh! I almost forgot to tell you, I watched it on Pure Flix which is linked through Amazon in the video images.
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For those who enjoy a cozy mystery, The Sheep Detectives movie is
for you!
Our family sat down together to watch The Sheep Detectives and we
all loved it. Even Watson, our Labrador retriever was captivated by
the big talking sheep.
Hugh Jackman is, of course, perfect in the part of the shepherd. He
really does exude a caring personality. I couldn't help but think how
ironic it was that Wolverine (a Norwegian word that means
"little wolf") would be a sheep shepherd. I had to remind myself that
a wolverine is really a part of the weasel & ferret family, not the
canine wolf family, but the wordplay was mentally just too much fun to
ignore.
I will warn you in advance, there are a few parts that are very sad.
I guess that is to be expected in a murder mystery, but I was still touched
by the sense of loss. The film does an excellent job of portraying the
sheep with sensibilities. We all know there are "pets" that form a
special bond with their people.
In addition to Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson is in the movie. She plays
the part of the attorney. As always, she is exceptional. There
are several other actors in the movie that I liked and will be watching for in
the future. It really is a great cast of characters!
In the last few years, there haven't been very many movies in the theaters
that made me want to get out and go see them.
The Sheep Detectives was one that would have been worth venturing out
to see. However, it wasn't necessary to leave home since the movie is
currently being streamed on Amazon Prime.
The Sheep Detectives
The Sheep DetectivesCheck PriceGeorge Hardy is a shepherd that is loved by his flock. Not only does
he feed them, provide them with a safe home, and give them medicine as
needed, he has given them all names. He also reads to them every
night, like many of us do for our own children. It is clear he loves his
sheep.
When George is murdered, there are a few people in town who are suspects,
but he also has two children (twins) who are named in his will.
Because he gave his children up for adoption when his wife died in
childbirth, he doesn't know them and neither does anyone else. Only
the attorney, Lydia Harbottle (Emma Thompson), has been in contact with
them.
The one police officer in town has never investigated a murder and clearly
has no idea how to even begin. That is where the sheep detectives must
get involved. Thanks to the books that George has read to them, they
do know a lot about investigating a murder, but first they must get up the
courage to venture into town to help.
The interaction between the intelligent, "communicating" sheep and the
people in this movie is quite precious. I doubt I will ever look at
sheep the same way again.
__________
I highly recommend this entertaining movie as a family movie. We had
3 generations of people and a puppy watching. We all loved it!
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It wouldn't be a heatwave without the air conditioning and a good dose of Hallmark Christmas in July. This annual Hallmark event mixes new holiday programming with prior and vintage Hallmark holiday movies.
Four New Movies
July 4:Christmas Under Construction
July 11:O Little Christmas Market
July 18:Snowbound for the Holidays
July 25:Love Under the Mistletoe
Christmas Under Construction stars Daniel Lissing and Jessica Lowndes as they duel via the backdrop of Renovation Romance as renovator and cabin owner.
O Little Christmas Market is the save our town fair (market) entry from the developer with Katherine Berrell and Stephen Huszar.
Snowbound For The Holidays pits the owner of the cute n cozy ski lodge vs the hotel manager and future "plans" starring Hallmark favorite Marcus Rosner and Vanessa Lengies.
Love Under The MistleToe It's the former high school crushes finding themselves years later trying to save the charity fundraiser .... starring Hallmark vet Jen Lilley and Nick Bateman.
Schedule
Christmas In July movies begin at 10 a.m. daily. Of note catch all of the Three Wisest men movies throughout the month. The trilogy stars the favorite Hallmark stars Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes and Andrew Walker and are a take off of the Three Men And A Baby movie.
Hallmark.com has the full schedule for its' July Extravaganza of holiday fun.
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If you like dance then this documentary is for you! Dance Life is an original series which follows 10 aspiring senior students at the famed Brent Street Academy in Australia. Brent Street is a performing arts school where the goal is education with the emphasis on becoming a professional dancer.
Brent Street offers jazz, hip hop, tap, ballet, singing, acting, musical theater, contemporary in their curriculum. You will be delighted to see all in the series though dance is the focus.The audition scenes are reminiscent of the iconic dance auditions in A Chorus Line, Fame and FlashDance.
Watching the students share their experience, their talents, their ambition along with each individual challenge connects the viewer to the student and to the outcome of their journey. Dance fans of any genre will enjoy this series and it will leave you hoping season two will happen.
Brent Street And America's Got Talent
In 2024 Brent Street fielded a contemporary entry which earned the Golden Buzzer by Howie Mandel and they progressed through the final rounds.
View the golden buzzer performance here >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skDe7owal_E
The Movie
The documentary definitely leaves one wanting more. Much more! Unfortunately Dance Life is only five episodes, but the good news is the movie was released in April of this year. The movie can be rented on Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime members can view the documentary as part of their subscription.
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That's right - Free! Three full length and current line up Hallmark movies are available on Youtube. What a welcome surprise. Hallmark has become increasing difficult to find on streaming services and is directing its' customer to Hallmark Plus, the on demand streaming service.
I recently wrote about where to find Hallmark Live on a few streaming services along with subscribing to Hallmark Plus for streaming and the Hallmark library. It was a nice delight to find promotional offereings from Hallmark to include free full length movies.
Where To Find The Free Hallmark Movies
Search free Hallmark movies on Youtube and three current movies appear:
1. Curious Caterer with Hallmark fan favorites Andrew Walker and Nikki Deloach.
2. A Sprinkle of Deceit with Alison Sweeney and Victor Webster
3. True Justice: Family Ties with Katherine McNamara, Markian Tarasuik, Nikki Deloach and Benjamin Ayres.
All three movies are in the Murder Mystery series Hallmark programs. Many of the Hallmark starts have crossed over as mystery solving pairs in successful Murder Mystery series.
How To Sign Up For Hallmark Plus
Always check the Hallmark Plus website for their current specials, but $7.99 a month is a price that has been consistent. Hallmark members also receive rewards and coupons for use at their local Hallmark store or online. Free e cards with membership is also included amongst the perks. Hallmark continues to closely align the streaming service with the Hallmark stores, cards and merchandise.
A seven day free trial is offered at Hallmark Plus also. There are quite a few additional Hallmark perks for members; check out the membership chart for the details!
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Some days you long for the old school way of watching television with one cable provider and the old school clicker to flip through channels and find your favorite programming. Streaming and cutting the cable has changed the scenario and your favorite channel or programs can be a bit more difficult to find and find for a price of course!
As a Hallmark fan the search is on to find the Hallmark channel especially during the holiday season. Finding Hallmark live is no longer a given either! A few options exist: Live Hallmark with on demand library, on demand library
Streaming Hallmark With Live
Live Hallmark
Hulu With Live TV
Frndly TV
Philo
Fubo TV
Sling
On Demand Hallmark
Hallmark Plus offers the entire suite of Hallmark; Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, Hallmark Family plus rewards program at Hallmark stores.
New series and movies will be available on demand one day after air. Hallmark Plus is offered with an annual or monthly membership. Details here >> membership. A free trial is also available.
Roku and Amazon Prime have movies in their libraries. The selection is not large and subscription fees apply.
Free Hallmark
A few free movies are offered for free on Freevee, Tubi.
The Cost
Costs differ per service and options change quickly. However what is consistent are the top tier subscriptions of streaming services are necessary if you'd like to view Hallmark live. The on demand libraries tend to be less expensive, but do require a subscription.
Monitor Hallmark.com as subscription specials are frequently offered. Currently I see a $3 for 3 months of Hallmark plus which is a tempting trial!
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When Hallmark announced a Christmas movie centered around the Buffalo Bills, we were excited. Although we are Steeler fans first, we are also Buffalo Bills fans, having lived in Western New York for more than 30 years.
As always with Hallmark movies, this is a feel-good plot with Buffalo Bills Team spirit.
Pediatric doctor Morgan Quinn (Holland Roden) and the Bills' VP of Stadium Development, Gabe DeLuca (Matthew Daddario), have been close friends since childhood. Still, Gabe has always loved her. A fact obvious to their families and everybody else.
Morgan learns that someone has been sending gifts to her uncle for more than 60 years to help the family. Morgan and Gabe set out to find this anonymous gift-giver.
As expected from Hallmark, you will find plenty of Holiday sparkle. Charming decor, cozy lighting, and a Christmas soundtrack. The best thing about this movie is how it captures the Buffalo culture. From winter weather to the warm communities, to family gatherings that feel like honest Western New York living. Bills fans will love this movie, featuring appearances by current and former Bills players.
If you're looking for a holiday movie that blends sports with a feel-good love story, this one is for you.
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I recently watched and reviewed Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker
without realizing I had started watching the series out of order. I
will note that it didn't detract from my enjoyment of "A Case for the Yarn
Maker" since I didn't know what I didn't know. However, if you haven't
started watching the series, you will wish to start with "A Case for the
Winemaker", because it gives more background and initially introduces the
characters.
For instance, in the winemaker episode, we see the opening of Ainsley's
craft market and get a better feel for how it works. I loved the
concept of the market, which is reminiscent of a crafts fair with individual
booths. While the market was the site of the murder in the second movie, A Case for the Yarn Maker, the market was not really the focus.
We also see how a simple book club becomes a group of self-appointed "investigators" in a murder case. In a small town, everyone knows everything about everyone, except outsiders. In Sweet River, Texas, the book club simply can't resist a murder mystery in their own town!
It is obvious that the movies do not have to be watched in order, but I
would recommend it so you have all of the background knowledge and information.
With her criminology background, Ainsley can't just sit back and watch when her best friend's husband (owner of the winery) is the number one murder suspect. She, herself, questioned why he had changed clothes since she saw him earlier in the day.
It isn't hard for Ainsley to insert herself into the investigation since her brother, Ryan, is the town sheriff. He tolerates her interference because of her criminologist background and uncanny intuition. Together, the siblings really do make a fun team to watch. They actually talk to each other like siblings instead of colleagues.
Aside from the murder investigation, it is rather funny to watch the interactions between Ryan and his best friend, who seeks his advice on dating Ainsley.
________
Ainsley McGregor (Candace Cameron Bure) is the main character, but the series would not be complete without her brother, Ryan McGregor (Robin Dunne) and his best friend, Jake Trenton (Aaron Ashmore). Together, they make a wonderful trio of crime solvers who look out for each other.
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps movie is a refreshing return to
the basics and Marvel comics for kids. It really is a family movie that
everyone can enjoy.
While the movie is rated PG-13, the members of our family who viewed it
together could only recall one swear word in the whole movie. It could
have received that rating because of the huge space creature, Galactus, with
glowing eyes. He could certainly be perceived as scary by a
child.
Adults will enjoy the "retro" styles of the 60's. Those old enough to
remember will appreciate the notable design elements which include block
letters and color panels commonly used in 60's media and comic books.
There is even a game show style marquee that is reminiscent of the iconic
Stardust marquee.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Movie Synopsis
The Fantastic Four started out as regular human astronauts, but when they returned to earth, they possessed unique powers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, has stretching powers and his body stretches to the extreme. His wife, Sue Storm, aka the Invisible Woman, can turn herself or anything invisible. Sue's brother, Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch, can literally turn his body to fire without burning himself. And last, but not least, the captain of the spaceship, Ben Grimm is always The Thing and looks like a boulder with rock-like skin. Unfortunately, Ben is the only one who cannot change back to his original human form and features. However, he still possesses a heart of gold.
We find out very early in the movie that Sue is pregnant and they are all thrilled, but concerned about the baby's normalcy. In spite of her pregnancy, when the earth is threatened by a space creature, the Fantastic Four must take action to protect the planet. Galactus eats entire planets. Thanks to a heralding cosmic entity, the Silver Surfer, they learn that the next planet selected for his consumption is
earth.
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If you are looking for a suspenseful movie that will make you laugh, I
highly recommend Heads of State starring Idris Elba, John Cena, Jack Quaid
and a very feisty Priyanka Chopra Jonas. This cast of actors is
absolutely fabulous together!
My husband and I frequently watch movies together, but one of us is usually
watching because the other one wanted to see the show. Of course, that
is fine, but we rarely rave over the same movie. However, we both
loved "Heads of State" and we both hated to see it end.
There were times in the movie where we were struck silent and other
times when we were both laughing out loud. At the end of the movie, we
were in a good mood and wishing for "Heads of State: Part II".
As a result of watching this movie, I also have a new appreciation for the United States President's vehicles: Air Force One airplane and The Beast, the US President's limousine. Their reproductions for the movie are pretty awesome. I hope the real vehicles are just as well-built and powerful as their portrayal.
When Airforce One comes under attack, US President, Will Derringer (John Cena) & UK Prime Minister, Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) are forced to work together to survive.
Sam views Will as a movie star instead of a credible leader. He actually thinks his presidency and his physical ability are ludicrous, both a product of his on-screen image instead of fact. To some degree, he is not wrong. However, Will does have a huge fan base, therefore influence, as well as physical strength.
Will doesn't like Sam because he publicly supported his opponent in the presidential race.
As they seek to find safety on the ground in a foreign country, they learn to rely on each other and find they make a pretty great team. They do get a lot of help from friends! Marty Comer (Jack Quaid), who admires President Will Derringer and Noelle Basset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) who adores Prime Minister Sam Clarke, are well trained "real action heroes" that arrive at the most opportune times to save the day.
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Heads of State is a awesome suspense thriller to begin with, but with the added humor and interactions between characters, it offers real entertainment for everyone.
I have only one personal criticism. They use our Lord's name in vain way to liberally. The irreverence is unnecessary and detracts from this great movie. Hopefully, this flaw will be corrected in Heads of State: Part II.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers from the Yellowstone universe, especially 1883 and 1923. If you haven't watched and want to go in blind, I suggest stopping here, because I can't help but talk about what I just saw!
A Quick Look Back: The Yellowstone Timeline
If you're like me, and you started with Kevin Costner in modern-day Yellowstone (the original series), then you might have been surprised to learn there's a full backstory behind the Dutton family, spanning generations. It starts with 1883, then moves to 1923, and finally lands in the present-day ranching saga we all know from the original show.
1883 tells the brutal, emotional journey of how the Dutton family made it west.
1923 picks up 40 years later, focusing on the next generation trying to hold onto what was built.
Yellowstone brings us to modern day, with John Dutton III (Costner) doing everything he can to protect the family's legacy.
The Lineage: Connecting 1883 to 1923
Let's sort this out, because the family tree can be a little tangled! Although I've seen both 1883 and 1923, I had to do some research to tie a few characters together.
In 1883, James Dutton (played by Tim McGraw) and his wife Margaret (Faith Hill) lose their daughter Elsa during the journey west. Elsa is also the narrator for both 1883 and 1923.
The Duttons settle in Montana after the events of 1883, but by the time we get to 1923, things have shifted. James and Margaret Dutton (from 1883) have passed away, and their two sons—John Jr. and Spencer—are being raised by James's brother, Jacob Dutton (played by Harrison Ford), and his wife, Cara (played by Helen Mirren).
Jacob has stepped in as the family patriarch, and together, he and Cara are doing everything they can to protect the land, the legacy, and the next generation of Duttons.
The Acting: What Makes 1923 So Gripping
The acting in this series is outstanding. Every character feels real, weathered by life, love, grief, and duty.
Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren absolutely carry the show with grit and grace. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the quiet strength they bring to the Dutton legacy just pulls you in.
But it's not just them. The entire cast delivers. Every scene feels lived-in, and honestly, the show would not hit the same way without such powerful performances across the board.
The Storyline: Drama on the Ranch... and in Africa?
You read that right—Africa! One of the biggest surprises for me in 1923 was the side storyline involving Spencer Dutton, who is Jacob's nephew (and James Dutton's son). He's off in Africa dealing with wild animals, personal demons, and eventually, the long journey home to help save the family.
Meanwhile, back in Montana, everything is unraveling. The Duttons are facing massive challenges—economic hardship, land disputes, and brutal violence.
And then there's Teonna, a Native American girl in a Catholic boarding school who's facing her own horrifying challenges. Her storyline is raw, powerful, and deeply emotional. This part of the story is gripping and quite upsetting.
There's never a dull moment. Every episode left me thinking, "I need to know what happens next!"
The Ending: Are You Kidding Me?!
Let me just say—I was NOT ready for the way Season One ended.
No resolution, no bow tied neatly at the top. Just a big, emotional cliffhanger that left me staring at the screen, whispering "That's it?!" I immediately looked it up, and thank goodness, 1923 has been renewed for a second season.
Streaming Update: What I Learned
🕵️♀️ After reading Sam's comment below, I went down the streaming rabbit hole to figure out where and when the Yellowstone series—including 1923—is available.
1923 – Season 1
✅ I was able to watch Season 1 of 1923 on Netflix in Canada with my regular subscription. Unfortunately Season 1 of 1923 is only available via a Paramount Subscription, which you can get through Amazon Prime.
❌ Unfortunately, 1923 is not available on Netflix in the USA at the time of writing this. Again, you need a Paramount subscription.
1923 – Season 2
📅 Season 2 of 1923 was released in February 2025.
💳 It’s available through a paid Paramount+ subscription via Amazon Prime Video.
What's Next
🚫 There will be no Season 3 of 1923.
🔜 Instead, the Yellowstone Universe is continuing with a new series titled 1944.
🔍 Want to Know Where to Watch?
📌 To see where you can stream Yellowstone in Canada, the USA, and internationally, scroll down to the section near the bottom for a full breakdown.
What About Kevin Costner's Character's (John Dutton III) Direct Lineage in Current Day Yellowstone?
One thing I kept wondering while watching 1923 is how exactly this all connects to John Dutton III in Yellowstone. Who's his direct ancestor? Is it Spencer? One of the other brothers?
They haven't made it totally clear yet, and I think they're saving that for Season Two—especially once a few babies arrive (which seems to be where things are heading).
There are tons of theories online, and trust me, I've read more than a few. But for now, we're still piecing it all together.
Final Thoughts
1923 is one of those shows that sticks with you.
It's not just a Western—it's a family saga, a love story, a survival tale, and a sweeping look at a brutal and beautiful time in American history. If you're already a fan of the Yellowstone universe, I'd say 1923 is a must-watch.
Just be warned—you're probably going to fall in love with it like I did. And then you'll be counting the days until Season 2, just like the rest of us.
Let me know in the comments—have you watched 1923? What did you think? Are you Team Spencer? Team Cara? Or just in awe of how good the writing and acting are?
Oh, and so far, my fave character is the son, Spencer!
Here's the trailer:
How to Stream the Yellowstone Series: Canada, USA, and International:
1. Canada / International
As mentioned above, I went down the rabbit hole trying to figure out where the Yellowstone universe is available internationally, and it’s surprisingly complicated.
As of July 9, 2025, season 1 of 1923 is available on Netflix in Canada and many other international countries with a regular Netflix subscription. That’s where I watched it.
In Canada, the original Yellowstone series starring Kevin Costner (seasons 1 through 4) is also available on Netflix, along with part of season 5. The final half of season 5 requires a Paramount+ subscription via Amazon Prime Video.
For viewers in Australia, the original Yellowstone series is available on Stan.
That said, streaming rights vary widely by region, so it’s always best to check your local services for the most up-to-date information.
2. USA
In the United States, the Yellowstone universe is split across different platforms:
Yellowstone (original series) – Available only on Peacock
1923 and 1883 prequels – Available only on Paramount+ via Amazon Prime Video
1923 is not available on Netflix USA, even though it is in many other countries.
Final Tip
Streaming availability changes frequently and can vary by country. Be sure to check your own country’s streaming platforms directly to see what’s currently offered where you live.
**As per my opinion, viewer discretion is advised: The show includes significant violence and some distressing scenes.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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