Katie Rife

Katie Rife is a writer and film critic based in Chicago. She worked as the Senior Writer for The A.V. Club from 2019-2022, and News Editor from 2014-2019. She currently freelances for outlets like Rolling Stone, Vulture, Indiewire, EW, and Fangoria, and assists with year-round horror programming at the Music Box of Horrors.
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Old Enough!

Though the idea of sending a three-year-old to the supermarket by themselves might seem terrifying, the Japanese documentary series Old Enough! is hardly a white-knuckle experience. It’s a sweet and watchable show showcasing the kids’ natural charisma.

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Transport Me: Holiday Movies from Around the World

If you and your family are getting tired of the same old Christmas stories year after year, why not dig a little deeper and try these picks from around the world?

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From SNL to the Director’s Chair: Kyle Mooney Talks Nostalgia, Freestyle Raps & Y2K

He stood out for hilariously awkward and offbeat SNL characters like the eccentric Bruce Chandling and the painfully relatable Chris Fitzpatrick. Whether parodying cringeworthy YouTube personalities or channeling the overly sincere energy of ’80s public access TV, Kyle Mooney’s knack for finding humor in the bizarre and uncomfortable has always set him apart. Beyond SNL,

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Romance Me: Meet Your Holiday Streaming Date

Single this holiday season? Luck-y you. You’re free to binge – and fall for – all the charming, seductive, irresistible protagonists across the streamers. Check out these holiday-themed stories for starters.

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The Holdovers

A cross-generation comedy drama that’s earned five Academy Award nominations, The Holdovers will tug at your heartstrings as it wrestles with themes of grief and loneliness, and it will ultimately nurture hope.

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Dune: Part Two

A mesmerizing immersive experience, Dune: Part Two is a film you won’t quickly forget. From the collective talents of its high wattage ensemble cast to the stunning cinematography, costumes and sound design, its a blockbuster that will stimulate all the senses along with your emotions.

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What to Watch (and Avoid) with Friends and Family over Thanksgiving

What to watch – and what to skip – if you’re spending Thanksgiving with kids, teenagers, older generations, or all of them under one roof? Your 2022 Watercooler Guide to holiday movies.

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Tokyo Vice

On one level, Tokyo Vice is the story of one man’s kamikaze mission to bring down the Yakuza. But it’s also a mesmerizing noir drama that unfolds into a tense thriller — and ultimately serves as an important reminder that freedom of the press is worth fighting for.

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Awards Season Catchup: A Watercooler Guide to Shōgun

An immersive must-watch embraced by critics, the new Shōgun brings a new perspective on the epic historical drama about the battle between East and West in 17th century Japan.

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What the Netflix Hit The Diplomat Can Teach Us All

In the midst of all the hype about a dating show (Love is Blind) and a dark, LA-set comedy (Beef), a complex political drama that requires undivided attention rose to the top of the Netflix chart in 2023.  At its core, The Diplomat is a series about bureaucratic machinations, yet the show ups the ante

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Promising Young Woman

The surprise Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay, Promising Young Woman challenges assumptions as it upends our expectations.

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The Great British Baking Show: Holidays

Whether you’re looking for decorating or recipe ideas, or just want to bask in the joy of the creative process, these holiday specials absolutely hit the spot.

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I’m Your Woman

An intriguing if slow-moving take on the noir crime drama that focuses on the outlaw’s wife. Starring Rachel Brosnahan.

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The Prom

Adapted from the Tony-winning Broadway musical and directed by Ryan Murphy, this all-star crowdpleaser aims to fill that giant live theater hole in your holiday heart.

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Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

A sweet, fun, magical musical fairy tale that deserves to become a new holiday classic.

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Holiday Musicals for Your Living Room

Nothing can compare to live theater electrified by dancing, singing performers who can make music soar to the rafters. Theater productions are a holiday tradition that will be sorely missed by many this year. But there’s some good news: for the first time, several of the most in-demand holiday productions can be watched on a

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Tehran Season 1

A timely, nail-biting spy thriller that you won’t be able to stop watching, Tehran is as illuminating as it is gripping.

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Mrs. America

Mrs. America is a good place to start exploring where our current political and cultural divisions started widening. Anyone who lived through these years can vouch that there was a lot at stake.

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The Family Stone

An all-star classic that inflicts just enough discomfort to feel cathartic because of its familiarity. You’ll feel like a member of this functioning dysfunctional family.

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