Melissa Roth

The founder of the Watercooler, Melissa Roth has written for Rolling Stone, VanityFair.com, Marie Claire, and The Washington Post, among other outlets.
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Angel City

A goose-bump inspiring docuseries that takes us on to the field and into the surprising back story of how LA’s new professional women’s soccer team came to be, upending the model behind pro sports teams and finally, truly, changing the game.

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The Serpent Queen

If you’re looking for some historical context for all the news and fictional obsession with monarchs, The Serpent Queen brings a modern, often funny take on one of the most powerful female rulers in history, one that sheds light on our current preoccupation with all things royal.

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Irresistible

A post-election escape watch from Jon Stewart, the 2020 political satire works as an entertaining crash course on local campaign organizing while doubling as an expose on the dysfunctions of the “election economy.”

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Flee

The most urgent and relevant Oscar-nominated film of 2022, Flee is a deeply personal documentary about a man’s childhood as a refugee that inspires as it creates empathy for those forced out of their homelands.

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Charlie Wilson’s War

A suddenly timely look back at how the U.S. first escalated involvement with Afghanistan in the 1980s, told through an eye-opening story that feels like it had to be made up by its Oscar-winning screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin.

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The Last Letter from Your Lover

A date night movie that transports you to a lush 1960s French Riviera, the adaptation of the JoJo Moyes novel entwines two eras and two sharply contrasted romances, delivering a wistful summer escape watch.

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Sex and Lucía

A cinephile’s choice for a Netflix and Chill night, Sex and Lucia is a steamy and intoxicating portrait of two lovers … and their other lovers … that explores the blurry lines between reality and imagination, love and lust, tragedy and obsession.

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My Neighbor Totoro

A joyful, enchanting classic, My Neighbor Tortoro is the rare film that can captivate all ages, from young kids to their parents and grandparents.

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Origin Story: How Friends Became the Ultimate Watercooler Hit

After a year-long delay due to the pandemic, the much-anticipated Friends Reunion Special finally has a “stream date”:  Thursday, May 27th, a tribute to its original “Must-See TV” night.  The big event has already driven legions of fans sign up for HBOMax, turning the service into “Must Stream TV.” David Janollari was a young development

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Melissa Roth

The founder of the Watercooler, Melissa Roth has written for Rolling Stone, VanityFair.com, Marie Claire, and The Washington Post, among other outlets.
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Nope

Nope is a uniquely crafted horror film that brings together a creative premise, striking visuals, and terrific performances.

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Why You Should Watch Abducted in Plain Sight

With director Skye Borgman’s latest documentary, Girl in the Picture, now available on Netflix, we decided to revisit her most famous documentary, Abducted in Plain Sight.

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The Rehearsal

A quirky and slightly unhinged comedy that is utterly erratic and surprisingly profound. Watch it with your friends who love cringe comedy.

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Watercooler Interview: Dominic Monaghan on Moonhaven, Lightsabers vs. Rings of Power, and What He’s Watching

Moonhaven star Dominic Monaghan talks about his new sci-fi series on AMC+, why you should watch it, and why he wants to play a villain.

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Everything You Need to Know Before Thor: Love and Thunder

With Thor: Love and Thunder hitting theaters we thought you could use a Watercooler Guide to all the Thor that’s come before.

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Love & Gelato

Love & Gelato is pretty corny but it’s the exact kind of sweetly innocent confection that will melt in your mouth. What’s more, the film offers a slightly more authentic ending than the average rom-com fare.

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The Princess

The Princess is an unexpected, action-filled fairytale that pays tribute to the martial-arts genre centered around a tough heroine worth cheering for.

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Becoming Elizabeth

Becoming Elizabeth goes beyond mere court intrigue and makes a testimony to the influence of the powerful over the powerless. It’s assisted majorly by an eager and incredibly telling arrangement of sounds that stitches the lofty narrative together. In short, it’s a bold entry in the arena of historical dramas.

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The Bear

The Bear is a fast-tempo character study set behind the scenes of a family-run Chicago restaurant. It invites you in to pull up a chair and watch the drama unfold, but never lets you get too comfortable.

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How to Fill the Succession Void

Whether you tuned in for the family dysfunction, the timely media-tech business stories, the back-room political machinations, or the Greg and Tom comedy, Succession has captivated many of us over the past five years. Despite their treacherous behavior and ruthless, WTF insults, the characters and their plottings have become a reliably fun and familiar Sunday

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You’re the Worst

Through the eyes of two cynics who seem doomed to be alone, You’re the Worst embraces the complexity of modern relationships and the many emotional layers they surface. It’s also an accurate and empathetic portrait of what it’s like to live with clinical depression.

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A 90s Slacker Film for the Reluctant College Grad

When Kicking and Screaming came out in 1995, it fit squarely within the youth culture of its time. With Clinton in the White House and the Pixies on the radio, apathy was par for the course. The term “slacker” became a signifier for a certain kind of seemingly unambitious cool-kid scene. Coming of grad-age in

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Behind the Scenes of Kandahar: An Interview with Director Ric Roman Waugh

Director Ric Roman Waugh is known for his high-octane, true-to-life action dramas, from Snitch (starring Dwayne Johnson) to National Champions (with J.K. Simmons) to The Angel Has Fallen (starring Gerard Butler). His latest film, Kandahar — in theaters Memorial Day Weekend — drops us into modern day Afghanistan, deep behind enemy lines, as an undercover

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Angel City

A goose-bump inspiring docuseries that takes us on to the field and into the surprising back story of how LA’s new professional women’s soccer team came to be, upending the model behind pro sports teams and finally, truly, changing the game.

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Derry Girls

Like the community and era they represent, the Derry Girls bring a feisty resilience to their teenage troubles, and in spite of the larger Troubles surrounding them, they’re unafraid to speak their minds and stand up for themselves.

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Class of ’09

A smart, complex, and timely take on the past and future of law enforcement in the U.S., Class of ’09 is sure to generate moral questions while driving much needed conversation. 

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The Other Two

A surprisingly sweet satire about fame in all its forms, The Other Two proves that not even superstars have it easy. But with the support of family — biological or created — making it as an actor/writer/manager/singer/fashion designer/talk show host/influencer is a little more feasible.

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