Radio Times
type: channel
link: https://www.radiotimes.com
date: 2025-10-29T17:35:33.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman's "fun" film confirms UK streaming date
items: How realistic Is Netflix’s A House of Dynamite?
items: Is Vera Drake based on a true story?
items: Hedda soundtrack: All the songs in the new Prime Video movie
items: Steven Spielberg to reunite with one of his most legendary collaborators for new UFO film
items: How to watch the Alien and Predator movies in order
items: F1 soundtrack: All the songs in the Formula 1 movie
items: Straw ending explained: What happened to Janiyah's daughter?
items: Is Netflix's Straw based on a true story?
items: Straw cast: All the stars in Tyler Perry's Netflix movie

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman's "fun" film confirms UK streaming date
type: item
date: 2025-10-29T17:35:16.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: News
description: Just in time for Christmas…
encoded: Two months on from its release in cinemas, a streaming release date has been confirmed for the comedy film The Roses, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. The film, which hit cinemas in August, will be available to watch on Disney Plus from 3rd December this year – so not too long to wait at all. The Roses is a savage and star-filled reimagining of the 1989 classic The War of the Roses, itself based on the novel of the same name by Warren Adler. It starred Cumberbatch and Colman as the seemingly perfect couple, Ivy and Theo, both of whom appear successful and happy in their day-to-day lives. However, their relationship suddenly goes into freefall after Theo’s career nosedives and Ivy’s own ambitions take off, in what has been described as “a story of real life gone spectacularly wrong". Directed by Jay Roach, the film also boasted a starry supporting cast including Andy Samberg, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon, Zoë Chao, Hala Finley, Jamie Demetriou and Sunita Mani. It has largely been well received by critics, with the Hollywood Reporter stating that "Cumberbatch and Coleman are terrific" and has been certified as Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with 65 per cent of 187 critics' reviews being positive. In our own review, we gave the film three stars out of five, finding it to be fun but toothless, arguing that its two leads perhaps failed to fully portray the bitterness that comes to the fore as the film progresses. Described as a satirical black comedy, it will hitting the streaming service just in time for Christmas. The Roses will be available to stream on Disney+ from 3rd December. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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How realistic Is Netflix’s A House of Dynamite?
type: item
date: 2025-10-29T17:34:40.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: The film has proved a hit with Netflix subscribers – even if they're divided by the ending.
encoded: A House of Dynamite, the new film from esteemed director Kathryn Bigelow, has caused quite a stir among some circles following its release on Netflix earlier this week. The film has alarmed some for how it depicts a nuclear missile attack on Chicago bypassing America’s defence systems, leaving frantic staff at the White House with only 18 minutes to prevent disaster. The film stars the likes of Rebecca Ferguson and Jared Harris as White House insiders struggling to manage the system, whilst Idris Elba plays a President facing the one stuation they have not been able to prepare for. As with films like Dr Strangelove, Stanley Kubrick’s classic from 1964, the film is one that envisions how those at the top of government might react if the unthinkable happened. Kathryn Bigelow has discussed how the film was born from the anxieties of that era in which she grew up, where this was seen as a real threat to the world as we knew it. “Since then, the threat has only escalated, and yet it has almost disappeared from public consciousness,” Bigelow states. “Multiple nations possess enough nuclear weapons to end civilization within minutes, and yet, there’s a kind of collective numbness, a quiet normalisation of the unthinkable. You've got all these warheads out there, and now there’s a bill on the table to make 2,000 more. Will that make us safer?” So, how realistic is A House of Dynamite? Read on for more information. How realistic Is Netflix’s A House of Dynamite? As with her previous films, The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, Bigelow began work on the film out of a desire to raise questions few people were aware of. In the weeks since the film’s release, however, the Pentagon have complained that the film is in fact deeply inaccurate, asserting that the missile interceptors that the US have to deal with such a threat “have displayed a 100 per cent accuracy rate in testing for more than a decade.” In a memo, the Missile Defence Agency acknowledged that the failure shown in t…

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Is Vera Drake based on a true story?
type: item
date: 2025-10-29T15:13:45.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: The film – which captures the realities of black market abortions – has been rediscovered on Netflix.
encoded: Vera Drake, a period film originally released back in 2004, has had something of a rediscovery this week thanks to it becoming available on Netflix. The film has been trending in the UK after it was made available for viewers on the streaming service a week and a half ago. Praised by critics when it was first released, the film is a period piece set in the 1950s, and follows the titular character, Vera, who performs abortions for women with unwanted pregnancies, in the days when this was still illegal. The film stars Imelda Staunton as Vera, who works as a housekeeper in her day job, and who soon finds herself being pursued by the authorities for helping expectant mothers on the quiet. Appearing alongside Staunton is a cast that includes Eddie Marsan, Phil Davis, Daniel Mays and Adrian Scarborough, while the film was written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mike Leigh, who has drawn praise throughout his career for his heightened realism and sense of authenticity. But how far does the film reflect real events? Read on for everything you need to know about whether Vera Drake is based on a true story. Was Vera Drake a real person? No, the lead character of Vera Drake is not in fact a real person. The character, played by Imelda Staunton, was an invention of Mike Leigh, who created it for the narrative he wanted to tell. However, the character is inspired by many accounts of backdoor abortionists, who were a common feature of UK life in the days before the ban on abortions was lifted. The film drew some criticism from sections of the media at the time, for how the character, as portrayed by Staunton, is seen as a kind, saintly figure, doing all she can to help women in need. The reality of backdoor abortionists remains controversial among many because of the ways in which people could profit from this in the days before the ban. As in many of his films, Leigh wanted his characters to feel as true to life as he could, electing to cast authentic English and working cl…

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Hedda soundtrack: All the songs in the new Prime Video movie
type: item
date: 2025-10-29T14:55:17.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: Amazon Prime Video
subject: On demand
description: Check out all the music appearing in the new film starring Tessa Thompson.
encoded: Debuting on Amazon Prime today is Hedda, the latest reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s stage play. The film stars Tessa Thompson in the lead role as Hedda Gabler, and premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival before a limited release in select theatre’s earlier this month. Thompson also produced the film, which was directed by Nia DeCosta, with the setting of the film changed from 19th century Norway to the glamour of a 1950s British country estate. As well as making for a smouldering new take on the theatrical classic, Hedda has drawn comparison to films like Saltburn for its heady, modern soundtrack. The film features an original score by noted Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who has previously produced the soundtracks for films and series such as Joker, Chernobyl and Tár. Featuring alongside this are a number of pop hits, as well as some original songs written partly by Guðnadóttir and others, and performed by the singer and voice actress, Mariam Wallentin. The result is a moody and atmospheric soundscape that takes the viewers right into the world of the films. Guðnadóttir’s original score is to be distributed separately to the other tracks appearing in the film. A full list of these other songs can be seen below. Hedda soundtrack – full song list You can find the full list of songs included in the film below: It’s A Man by Cy Coben, performed by Betty Hutton, courtesy of RCA Records, by arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment Crazy She Calls Me performed by Mariam Wallentin, written by Sidney Keith Russell and Carl Sigman It’s Oh So Quiet performed by Mariam Wallentin, written by Hans Lang, Bert Reisfeld, and Erich Meder Gopher Mambo performed by Mariam Wallentin, written by Billy May, and Conrad Gozzo Teach Me Tonight performed by Mariam Wallentin, written by Sammy Cahn Love Is the Drug, performed by Roxy Music, written by Bryan Ferry and Andrew Edwin Mackay, courtesy of Virgin Record Ltd/Republic Records, under license from Universal Music…

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Steven Spielberg to reunite with one of his most legendary collaborators for new UFO film
type: item
date: 2025-10-29T11:37:13.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: News
description: “And that is something to be happy about.”
encoded: It has been announced that the legendary John Williams is to compose the score for Steven Spielberg’s next film, an as yet unnamed project concerning UFOs. This will mark the 30th collaboration between the pair, with Williams’s soundtracks having previously been an unforgettable feature of many of the directors most beloved classics. The news was announced at a special event held in New York earlier this week to celebrate the life’s work of the composer. Williams himself was not at the event, but it was confirmed by Juilliard School president Damian Woetzel that he was “in Los Angeles doing what he does: he is working with Steven Spielberg on the next movie. And that is something to be happy about." The pair have been collaborating on movies together since the release of The Sugarland Express in 1974. Since then, Williams has provided iconic backing tracks to such classics as Jaws, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and Saving Private Ryan. Meanwhile, Williams also provided the score for Spielberg’s previous UFO related films, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The announcement comes as a welcome return for the movie soundtrack legend, who, at 93, had previously indicated he would be retiring following his work on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2022. Williams had however stated that this was by no means a final decision, indicating that he would still be interested in scoring any films that piqued his interest. It seems the prospect of working with his long-term collaborator has done just that. Little else has been revealed about Spielberg’s upcoming project. Nothing is known about the plot itself save that it will revolve around the phenomenon of UFOs, and that it has been described as a “new original event film”. Principal photography took place earlier this year, with the completed film scheduled for release in June 2026. Also announced as taking part in the project are actors Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colman Domingo, Co…

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How to watch the Alien and Predator movies in order
type: item
date: 2025-08-13T07:00:19.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: News
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Evergreen
description: Your complete guide to the two warring sci-fi franchises.
encoded: It's finally time to delve into Alien: Earth, the franchise's first ever TV series! Since 1979, the Alien franchise has been terrifying us with the arrival of the Xenomorph, a creature packing brute strength, acid blood and no conscience to speak of. Now, thanks to writer Noah Hawley, it's come to terrorise Earth, and it's down to a group of hybrids (terminally ill children whose consciousness has been transferred into synthetic adult bodies) to stop it. The new series, set two years before the original Alien movie, packs all the horror, gore, and nightmare fuel you could ever want from a new Alien project so, to gear yourself up for it, you might want to revisit the rest of the franchise. Read on for more information on how to tackle your Alien vs Predator marathon. How to watch Alien movies (and TV series) in chronological order 1. Prometheus (2012) Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, and Charlize Theron. Chronologically, Prometheus is now the earliest film in the current Alien canon, seeing original franchise director Ridley Scott return for a different take on this dark universe. While there are similarities in terms of premise, with the action still following a crew funded by the Weyland Corporation as they venture on a perilous mission, Prometheus swaps out the classic Xenomorph for other nightmare-inducing creatures. The series also introduces Michael Fassbender as his now-iconic android character David 8. Rent or buy Prometheus on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 2. Alien: Covenant (2017) Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride. A direct follow-up to Prometheus, Alien: Covenant stands out as one of the most visceral instalments in the entire franchise, not holding back on gore and nail-biting action sequences. Michael Fassbender reprises his role as Weyland android David, while Katherine Waterston, Danny McBride and Billy Crudup are among the crew of a colo…

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F1 soundtrack: All the songs in the Formula 1 movie
type: item
date: 2025-07-06T11:22:36.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: Formula 1
description: Check out all the music that's been included in the new film starring Brad Pitt.
encoded: There can be few more iconic sounds in sport than the noise made by Formula 1 cars whizzing round a race track – and naturally, that's something you'll hear a lot of in the new F1 movie, which has just arrived in cinemas. But that's not the only sound that adds an extra jolt of drama to the film. F1 also boasts an original score composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer and his collaborator Steve Mazzaro, with whom director Joseph Kosinski had previously worked on the mega-hit Top Gun: Maverick. In addition to Zimmer's score, the film also boasts a wider soundtrack that includes hits from a range of major music stars and has already been made available for purchase. Like with 2023 hit Barbie, F1 has pulled out all the stops to get massive names on board – from Ed Sheeran to Tate McRae and Rosé. Among the songs compiled is an original track produced for the film. Titled Lose My Mind, from the rappers Don Toliver and Doja Cat, the track was released alongside the accompanying music video back in April. Full of energetic and modern beats, this is set to be the perfect soundtrack for the racing movie. A full list of the tracks that are to be included can be seen below. F1 soundtrack - full song list You can find the full list of songs included in the film below: Lose My Mind performed by Don Toliver and Doja Cat No Room for a Saint performed by Dom Dolla featuring Nathan Nicholson Drive performed by Ed Sheeran Just Keep Watching performed by Tate McRae Messy performed by Rosé Don't Let Me Drown performed by Burna Boy Underdog performed by Roddy Ricch Grandma Calls the Boy Bad News performed by Raye Bad as I Used to Be performed by Chris Stapleton Baja California performed by Myke Towers OMG! performed by Tiësto and Sexyy Red All at Once performed by Madison Beer DANCE performed by Peggy Gou Double C performed by PAWSA Attention performed by Mr Eazi Give Me Love performed by Darkoo Gasoline performed by Obongjayar Can I buy the F1 soundtrack? Yes, the F1 soundtrack album is …

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Straw ending explained: What happened to Janiyah's daughter?
type: item
date: 2025-06-19T15:58:31.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: What did Netflix viewers make of the film's twist ending?
encoded: *Warning: This article contains full spoilers for the ending of Straw.* If you've already watched Tyler Perry's latest film, Straw, on Netflix, then you'll know it concludes with a massive plot twist. It's a twist that even shocked lead star Taraji P Henson, who recently told Decider: “When I was reading it, I was like, ‘Oh, shit!'”. The film follows Janiyah Wilkinson (Henson), a single mother who works two jobs but is still struggling to pay her rent and care for her sick daughter Aria and who, on a particularly bad day, finally snaps. After a trip to the hospital with her daughter, struggling to balance paying for Aria's lunch and their rent, and dealing with an unsympathetic boss, things go from bad to worse. She's forced to leave work to rush to Aria's school where she learns that her daughter has been taken into protective custody. Upon returning to work, she has an incident on the road with an off-duty police officer which leads to her car being impounded. Now late returning to work, her boss fires her, refusing to give her final paycheck, before she returns home to find that she has been evicted. This disastrous day comes to a head when she returns to her workplace to confront her boss, only for an armed robbery to take place – one in which she becomes implicated. Panicked, Janiyah shoots her boss, takes her paycheck and leaves, but with the bank refusing to cash her cheque, she resorts to holding up the bank. Detectives arrive on the scene, attempting to negotiate with Janiyah, resulting in a tense hostage situation in which they attempt to convince her to give herself up. But from here onwards, there are a series of shocking twists that make the outcome of the film somewhat more confusing. So, if you've found yourself struggling to piece together what happened to Janiyah in the end, and what the meaning behind the film is, read on for our explanation of Straw's twists and turns. Naturally, there will be major spoilers ahead, so be warned. Straw ending expla…

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Is Netflix's Straw based on a true story?
type: item
date: 2025-06-12T15:19:43.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: The Neftlix original film has had a strong reaction upon release.
encoded: The new Tyler Perry film on Netflix, Staw, has rapidly climbed the streamer's most-watched charts after being released on 6th June, capturing the attention of audiences with its strong performances and captivating plot. The tense thriller stars Taraji P Henson as Janiyah Wilkinson, a single mother who is struggling to put food on the table for her daughter, following her over the course of one terrible day, in which everything slowly unravels. After losing apartment, her job, and even her daughter, Janiyah finally reaches breaking point and holds up a bank in her attempt to take back some control and get the money she needs. The film places us directly in her shoes, as we see everything derailing in spectacular fashion. It manages to build real tension in the interactions between herself, those she takes as hostages, and the police, while also commenting on the state of America, and the struggles faced by Black, single women. The story feels painfully authentic, whilst also tapping into recent topical issues around movements such as Black Lives Matter, as well as questions around racial and gender inequality, and police brutality. But how far does the film reflect real events? Read on for everything you need to know about whether Straw on Netflix is based on a true story. Is Tyler Perry's Straw based on a true story? Straw is a film that feels incredibly true to life, as we follow Janiyah throughout her morning, dealing with the realities of her work, paying her rent, and trying to care for her daughter. We see each new problem that arises for her, and feel the stress and the exhaustion that her character is under. The film aims to give all its scenes a realistic feel, with the protests that we see organically taking place feeling very reminiscent of recent movements that have been provoked by outrage on social media. However, Straw is not directly based on a true story. The film tells an original story created by writer and director Tyler, who wanted to directly ad…

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Straw cast: All the stars in Tyler Perry's Netflix movie
type: item
date: 2025-06-10T15:08:44.000Z
creator: Daniel Goldstraw
subject: Movies
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: Who is in the newest film from Tyler Perry on Netflix?
encoded: Straw, the new Netflix film from Tyler Perry, has made waves this week following its release on the streaming platform on Friday 6th June 2025. The film, which sees a desperate single mother finally exploding after the loss of her daughter, has proved a hit with audiences, drawing praise for how it captures the struggles of ordinary people trapped in these kinds of situations. The film was one which required a strong set of performers in order for audiences to relate to what its characters go through, with most of the action taking place through the eyes of Taraji P Henson as struggling single mother Janiyah Wilkinson. Over the course of its runtime, the audience sees the toll each of her interactions has on her, as she experiences complete indifference or hostility from law enforcement, her employers, and her landlord. We can feel the stress that she is under, and therefore empathise with why she goes as far as she does. Henson puts in a powerhouse performance in capturing this, giving the character real depth and vulnerability. Tyler Perry, who wrote and directed the film, praised Henson for how far she was able to deliver on this in her performance. "Taraji is the heart and soul of this film," he told Tudum in an interview. "She carries all of the emotional weight of this woman having the most challenging moment of her life. Taraji takes the audience through every emotion her character is having and that’s why she’s such a brilliant actor. You can’t take your eyes off her when she’s on screen. "Anytime I start to write, I see a person’s face, and Taraji was the person that I saw fully and clearly. From the first word that Janiyah spoke on the page, I thought, 'This is Taraji. I hope she will do it.'" While Henson is the main performer in the film, she is joined by a number of equally talented actors, some of whom are well-known from previous roles, and who each put in some captivating performances which sell the reality of the situation in which these characters …

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