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Better Man, the 2024 biopic film on British musician Robbie Williams, confused many with the marketing. Why is he a monkey? This was the main question moviegoers asked when they saw the previews for the film. Overall, 2024 was a strange year at the box office, with many blockbuster movies not reaching their potential. This film was not immune and flopped. However, it has become a streaming darling, skyrocketing up the charts.
Better Man, A Streaming Darling
Better Man has found success on streaming. Despite its lackluster performance at the box office, grossing a meager $20.3 million against an estimated budget of $110 million, the film has since seen brighter days. This biopic about British musician Robbie Williams, uniquely portrayed as a CGI monkey, is now scaling the streaming charts, holding a strong position at number 2 on the Paramount+ top 10 movies in the United States.
Directed by Michael Gracey, the film’s unexpected journey was far from smooth sailing. Released during a competitive awards season time, Better Man was overshadowed by a cluster of high-caliber Oscar nominees. Despite this, the movie managed to carve out a niche for itself on the streaming platform, seemingly more appealing to the small-screen audience.
Better Year In 2025?
The box office is looking to rebound in 2025. While it is great to have a movie go viral on a streaming service, much of the money is made in the opening weekend at the theaters. There has been an ongoing discussion of how to draw people to the movie theater. Much of it depends on the economy and the presence of quality movies at the box office.
Streaming has changed people’s moviegoing habits. Going to the movies is expensive for some, especially if you have multiple members in your family. Add in snacks and drinks, and a night out at the movies puts a huge dent in the budget. By way of contrast, streaming has a monthly fee and a vast catalog of movies. Many people have decided it is cheaper to be patient instead of heading out to the movie theater.
Final Thoughts
Better Man might have been a box office hit, but the streaming landscape has changed things. This unexpected turn of events is a testament to the unpredictability of the cinematic landscape. One day, you’re under the shadows, and the next, you’re shining bright. Here’s to Better Man, the struggling underdog that found its stride on a different kind of track.
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Steelers Sign Former Eagles Versatile OL
With Pro Bowl left guard Isaac Seumalo banged up heading into a Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in some additional depth on the offensive line. Pittsburgh Signs Former Eagles OL The Steelers signed offensive lineman Jack Driscoll amidst a slew of practice squad moves earlier this week that also included adding safety Darrick Forrest and wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee, who had been a fan favorite during his initial tenure with the team last summer. Driscoll's Career After beginning his collegiate career at UMass and playing a combined 22 games there between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Driscoll transferred to Auburn ahead of the 2018 campaign. After spending two years with the program and playing in 25 contests, Driscoll declared for the 2020 NFL Draft and was selected in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He started four games as a rookie before starting all nine contests he suited up for in 2021 while both beginning and ending the year on the reserve/injured list. The Miami Dolphins signed Driscoll in March 2024, though he didn't make their 53-man roster and let go at final roster cuts. He ultimately landed back with the Eagles, first signing to their practice squad before joining the active roster. From 2022 to 2024, Driscoll played in 47 games for the Eagles and started five of them while logging a total of 636 offensive reps over that stretch. The 28-year-old didn't see the field throughout Philadelphia's playoff run last year, but he still came away with a Super Bowl ring after the team defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. Driscoll's Potential Role with Steelers The only other offensive linemen on Pittsburgh's practice squad are Dylan Cook and Steven Jones. Considering neither of them have ever appeared in a regular season game, Driscoll immediately becomes the most obvious elevation candidate among that trio. Seumalo has been listed as a non-participant on each of the Steelers' two injury reports so far this week. If he can't play against the Colts, it wouldn't come as a surprise if Driscoll were to be a part of the game day roster as a backup option along the offensive line. He's never played left guard in the NFL, as most of his time has come at right tackle and right guard with some left tackle reps sprinkled in. With Spencer Anderson in line to start at left guard if Seumalo is ruled out, however, Pittsburgh could also choose to use Driscoll as part of its jumbo package if he is in fact elevated and active for this week's contest.
Warriors castoff has a career night against his old team
The Golden State Warriors traded away Ryan Rollins in 2023 after one season and 12 games with the team. Thursday night, Rollins showed the Warriors what they missed out on. With Giannis Antetokounmpo out with an injury, Rollins scored a career-high 32 points and dished out eight assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Warriors, 120-110. Rollins went 5-for-7 from three-point range, tying his career best, and went 13-for-21 overall. In the last four minutes after the Warriors got within points, Rollins had eight points and an assists. Oh, and he outscored Stephen Curry, 32-27. Warriors gave up on Ryan Rollins after one season Golden State traded up to draft Rollins with the No. 44 pick in the 2022 draft, believing that the then-19-year-old guard from Toledo could help it reload their championship roster, which was getting up in age. But Rollins missed Summer League due to a foot injury, then suffered a season-ending Jones fracture. After the season, the Warriors sent Rollins and fellow 2022 draftee Patrick Baldwin, Jr. to the Washington Wizards along with Jordan Poole. In exchange, they got 38-year-old Chris Paul, a serious reversal in the team's earlier youth movement. Rollins was included in the deal to help the Warriors dump Poole's contract, which spanned four more seasons, and to ditch his own guaranteed deal. After a troubled partial season in Washington, the Wizards waived Rollins and he caught on with the Bucks in February 2024. Ryan Rollins' huge night showed the 23-year-old's improvement One game after Rollins had a career-high 25 points against the New York Knicks, he set another career high, this time without Antetokounmpo there to score 37 points and take up the defense's attention. Even with a great defensive player like Jimmy Butler on him, Rollins delivered in the clutch. Rollins has gone 9-for-11 from three-point range in his last two games, but it doesn't feel like a fluke. Last year he shot 40.8% on threes and hit 80% of his free throws, a strong indicator Rollins can truly shoot the ball. He also had 12 steals in his first four games, and while he didn't have a takeaway Thursday night, Rollins has more steals than turnovers (10) on the season and an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio of 5-to-2. Last season, Rollins was a solid reserve, averaging 6.2 points and 1.9 assists while starting 19 games. But with Damian Lillard suffering an Achilles tear and then being waived by the Bucks, Rollins got an opportunity, and got an even bigger one when Kevin Porter, Jr. sprained his ankle in the season opener. Rollins looks like he's going to have a serious future in the NBA. Unfortunately for the Warriors, that future won't be with them.
Raiders’ Mark Davis Sends Message Every Fan Needed to Hear
The Las Vegas Raiders have the best defensive player in the National Football League, in Maxx Crosby. Crosby has been a force to deal with over the last few years. He has been all over the quarterbacks he has faced during that time. He loves to play the game and do it for the Silver and Black. That has been his team since day one, and the team that believed in him, when no one else gave him his opportunity. Crosby is the face of the Raiders franchise, and he wants to win as badly as anyone for this organization. He is having another good season in 2025 and is looking to get better and create more chaos in the backfield for the offense. He is one of a kind, and the Raiders need to do a better job of putting a good team around him to capitalize on what type of player Crosby is. Raiders Owner Mark Davis on Maxx Crosby "Asked about interest in Crosby and the team's decision not to trade him, Raiders owner Mark Davis told NFL.com he doesn't understand why people keep asking," said NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. "I don't know how many times I've got to say it," Davis said this past week following the Fall League Meeting in New York. "It's really hard to keep getting asked the same question every month or week or whatever when the answer's going to stay the same. I don't know why anybody would think I'd change my mind or the organization would." This past offseason, the Raiders signed Crosby to a three-year, $106.5 million extension through the 2029 campaign. Davis knows it's natural for teams to take a look around the league and covet what isn't theirs. However, he said "everything about Maxx is awesome" and he doesn't see him leaving. "Everybody wants to have your great players," Davis said. "It starts there, it doesn't start with us." Crosby has also made it very clear that he wants to stay with the Silver and Black and win in Las Vegas. But it is a question that is always asked because of the bad product the Raiders are putting on the field. The Raiders will get to soon if they made the right adjustments during their bye week, in Week 9 agiant the Jacksonville Jaguars.
What Dolphins, Chris Grier divorce reportedly means for Mike McDaniel
Whispers surfaced before the Miami Dolphins fell to 2-7 on the season via an ugly 28-6 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross could soon fire general manager Chris Grier and/or head coach Mike McDaniel. McDaniel spoke with reporters on Friday morning as part of a previously scheduled media obligation. Soon after McDaniel discussed what went wrong for his club on Thursday evening, Ross announced that the Dolphins and Grier had "mutually" agreed to part ways. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, sources revealed that "McDaniel will remain Miami’s head coach for the remainder of the season at least." Why Stephen Ross, Chris Grier finalized divorce on Halloween "As I assessed the state of the team and in my discussions with Chris, it became clear to both of us that change could not wait," Ross said in a statement shared by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now." Senior personnel executive Champ Kelly will take over as the Dolphins' interim general manager. It's believed that Miami could make several players available to other teams before the trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Grier took over as Dolphins general manager in 2016, and the club subsequently failed to make the playoffs from the 2017 season through the 2021 campaign. Meanwhile, McDaniel notched zero postseason wins over his first three seasons in charge before the ongoing campaign turned into an absolute disaster for the club. Is Mike McDaniel worried about losing locker room amid lost season? One would assume McDaniel knew about the Grier news when the coach spoke with Dolphins reporters via Zoom on Friday morning. During that news conference, a media member asked McDaniel if he still believed his message was getting through to Miami players amid what's quickly becoming a season to forget for the franchise. "I think the message is getting through," McDaniel said during his response, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "For various reasons... sometimes those details are being lost in the heat of battle. We did it the week before [versus the Atlanta Falcons] but didn’t do it this week." Miami's surprising 34-10 win at the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 26 ultimately meant nothing regarding Thursday night's contest. Nevertheless, it appears McDaniel will begin preparing for the Dolphins' home game versus the Buffalo Bills (5-2) on Nov. 9.
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