Welcome back to Solo Movie Dates, this week Natalie deep dives into the 2026 Theatrical Release Fashion-Drama, The Devil Wears Prada 2.

We also discuss my week of musical theater rehearsals and singing Lady Gaga with my choir. The 2026 Met Gala, Beyoncé’s skeleton gown, and the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni legal settlement drama.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Solo Movie Dates
• 01:23 – Natalie's Week
• 02:27 – Our Pop Culture debrief
• 07:55 – Solo Movie Date | The Devil Wears Prada 2
• 10:52 – The Devil Wears Prada 2 Recap

Directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, The Devil Wears Prada 2 revisits the high-stakes world of fashion two decades after the original. The film follows Andy Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway), now an esteemed but recently unemployed journalist, who is pulled back into the orbit of Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) as Runway magazine struggles to survive the era of AI and digital virality. Caught between a corporate takeover by a ruthless tech mogul (played by BJ Novak) and a vengeful master plan by former colleague Emily Charlton (played by Emily Blunt), Andy must navigate a shifting industry where the "Ice Queen" has softened and the stakes have moved from couture to clicks. Featuring an ensemble cast including Stanley Tucci and Justin Theroux, and produced by Disney, the film showcases a sophisticated "coastal grandma" aesthetic and sleek power suiting while grappling with the death of traditional media. It is a must-watch for nostalgia-seekers and fans of industry-focused dramas who want to see the original trio back on screen.

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Welcome back to another episode of Solo Movie Dates! This week, Natalie is pulling back the curtain on one of the most talked-about ever. We’re trading the cinema seat for the umpire’s chair as we deep dive into the sweat, strategy, and psychosexual tension of the 2024 sports-drama, Challengers.

Before we hit the court, we’re catching up on a whirlwind week of travel and trends. Natalie recaps her recent Parisian getaway, sharing the highlights of eating and drinking her way through the City of Light and the seamless experience of whisking away on the Eurostar.

We also tackle a packed pop culture debrief, including:

• The London Marathon: Heartwarming highlights and the energy of the city.
• Off-Campus: Our first impressions of the highly anticipated trailer.
• Bravo Breakdown: Dissecting the latest drama between Amanda Batula and West Wilson on Summer House.

Directed by the visionary Luca Guadagnino and penned by Justin Kuritzkes, Challengers is far more than just a tennis movie—it’s a high-octane exploration of power dynamics and the blurred lines between professional ambition and romantic obsession.

Inspired by the high-stakes officiating of the 2018 US Open and the grit of Andre Agassi’s memoir, Open, the film masterfully navigates a 13-year love triangle. We break down the performances of Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor, who underwent months of physical transformation to portray this volatile trio. From the pulsing techno score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to the avant-garde cinematography and Jonathan Anderson’s sleek costume design, we’re analyzing why this film is a visceral, stylish masterpiece.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Solo Movie Dates
• 00:55 – Natalie's Week: Paris Eats, Drinks, and the Eurostar
• 03:04 – Pop Culture Debrief: London Marathon, Off-Campus, & Summer House
• 24:41 – Solo Movie Date: A Deep Dive into Challengers
• 33:50 – Full Movie Recap & Final Thoughts

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Support the Show: If you’ve listened to more than one episode, I’d really appreciate a follow or a subscribe. And if you’re feeling generous, leave a little five-star review!

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Welcome back to Solo Movie Dates, this week Natalie deep dives into the 2026 Netflix comedy, Roommates. Natalie's week consisted of eating cardamom buns in London and watching the Manchester Marathon. Coachella Weekend Two highlights, the new Euphoria record-low ratings, and seeing Oh Mary again.

00:00 – Introduction to Solo Movie Dates

01:18 – Natalie's Week

04:56 – Pop Culture debrief

09:28 – Solo Movie Date | Roommates

11:41 – Roommates Recap

Directed by Chandler Lavac and written by the SNL duo Jimmy Fowley and Sierra O'Sullivan, Roommates is a 2026 coming-of-age comedy produced by Happy Madison Productions that explores the obsessive and often confusing nature of female friendship in a collegiate setting. The film stars Sadie Sandler as the socially thirsty valedictorian Devon and Chloe East as the "cool-girl" Celeste, whose relationship begins at a quirky pre-university ropes course before spiraling into a chaotic mess of shared dorm life. Featuring a supporting cast that includes Nick Kroll, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Sherman as a metal-working Dean of Students, the story follows the duo through frat parties, explosive Thanksgiving dinners, and a "cosplay as poor" reveal that culminates in a literal dorm fire. Filmed across New Jersey campuses, this Netflix original attempts to capture the "ride or die" intensity of freshman year, making it a must-watch for fans of SNL-style character comedy and those who enjoy dissecting the messy dynamics of toxic besties

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Welcome back to Solo Movie Dates, this week Natalie deep dives into the 2026 Netflix slapstick gore-horror, Thrash.

We also discuss my week of choir rehearsals and marathon watching. Coachella 2026, Euphoria's return, and the Laufey "Mad Woman" music video featuring Hudson Williams.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Solo Movie Dates
• 00:13 – Natalie's Week
• 04:29 – Our Pop Culture debrief
• 13:22 – Solo Movie Date | Thrash
• 18:13 – Thrash Recap

Directed by Tommy Wirkola, Thrash (originally titled Beneath the Storm or Shiver) is a visceral 2026 survival horror that brings "slapstick gore" to a coastal disaster setting. Filmed in Melbourne, Australia, the film follows an ensemble cast—including Whitney Peake, Phoebe Dynevor, and Djimon Hounsou—fighting to survive a catastrophic category six storm surge in South Carolina that unleashes predatory bull sharks into flooded urban streets. As the water levels rise within a reinforced-glass foster home and a trapped Mini Cooper, the survivors must navigate claustrophobic terror and unlikely "water births" while fending off the "hyenas of the ocean." Blending high-stakes tension with Wirkola’s signature dark humor, this Netflix original is a must-watch for fans of creature features and stylized, high-concept survival thrillers.

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Support the Show: If you’ve listened to more than one episode, I’d really appreciate a follow or a subscribe. And if you’re feeling generous, leave a little five-star review!

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Welcome back to Solo Movie Dates, this week Natalie deep dives into the 2026 A24 drama, The Drama.

We also discuss my week of Easter brunching at Mildred's and finishing the Heated Rivalry book. The Summer House breakup drama , Connor Storrie's viral Verizon ad , and the trailer for Olivia Wilde’s new film The Invite.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Solo Movie Dates
• 01:23 – Natalie's Week
• 07:46 – Our Pop Culture debrief
• 18:22 – Solo Movie Date | The Drama
• 19:22 – The Drama Recap

Directed and written by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama is a tense and provocative 2026 exploration of secrets and social performance. The film stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as Emma and Charlie, a couple whose upcoming wedding is thrown into a tailspin following a shocking dinner-table confession. Supported by Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie as the couple's best friends. With a haunting, flute-heavy score by Daniel Pemberton this A24 production serves as a biting "morality barometer" , making it a must-watch for fans of character-driven psychodramas and those who love a "juicy discussion" about whether people can truly change.

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Support the Show: If you’ve listened to more than one episode, I’d really appreciate a follow or a subscribe. And if you’re feeling generous, leave a little five-star review!

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Welcome back to Solo Movie Dates, this week Natalie deep dives into the Episode 9 of 2026 FX/Hulu horror-thriller, The Beauty.

Directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Matthew Hodgson, The Beauty is a high-concept 2026 body-horror thriller that explores the lethal cost of physical perfection. The series follows a world obsessed with a transformative virus that grants users instant beauty and super-strength, but carries a hidden "expiration date" of 855 days. In Episode 9, the ensemble cast—led by Evan Peters, Jessica Alexander, Anthony Ramos, and Ashton Kutcher—navigates the fallout of a corporate conspiracy as they seek refuge with a reclusive robotics expert, Diana Starling, who believes the future of humanity lies in synthetic "Deacons" rather than organic flesh. Produced by 20th Television, this stylized drama blends "American Horror Story" camp with gritty sci-fi, featuring a shocking transformation for the series lead that cements its status as a must-watch for fans of psychological horror and dark, satirical social commentaries.

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Support the Show: If you’ve listened to more than one episode, I’d really appreciate a follow or a subscribe. And if you’re feeling generous, leave a little five-star review!

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Welcome back to Solo Movie Dates, this week Natalie deep dives into the Episode 10 2026 FX/Hulu horror-thriller, The Beauty.

On this episode the beauty is finally released and we meet Bella Grant a high school student heavily influenced by her peers and the internet to take the Beauty.

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Support the Show: If you’ve listened to more than one episode, I’d really appreciate a follow or a subscribe. And if you’re feeling generous, leave a little five-star review!

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Welcome back to Solo Movie Dates, this week Natalie deep dives into the Episode 11 of 2026 Ryan Murphy Sci-Fi Horror, The Beauty.

Directed and written by Ryan Murphy, The Beauty is a high-concept 2026 sci-fi horror series that explores the gruesome cost of physical perfection. The season finale, titled "Beautiful Betrayal," follows the chaotic downfall of the Byron Force empire as his sons, played by Ray Nicholson and Brandon Gillard, forcibly transform their mother (Isabella Rossellini) into a "Beauty," leading to a tragic suicide that pivots Byron (Ashton Kutcher) against his own creation. As a "street version" of the drug causes horrific mutations in innocent victims like Bella, a desperate alliance forms between Dr. Sterling, Jordan, and the child-morphed Cooper to eliminate Byron and secure an antidote. Produced with Murphy’s signature camp aesthetic and body-horror "vibe," this finale serves as a gritty ensemble thriller that leaves the world on the brink of a biological evolution, making it a must-watch for fans of American Horror Story and stylized, cautionary tales of vanity.

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Support the Show: If you’ve listened to more than one episode, I’d really appreciate a follow or a subscribe. And if you’re feeling generous, leave a little five-star review!

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Welcome back to Solo Movie Dates, this week Natalie,deep dive into the 2026 Amazon Prime action-thriller, Pretty Lethal.

We also discuss my week of singing and starting Heated Rivalry. Taylor Swift at the IHeart Radio awards, Scott Mills BBC dismissal and the Amanda Batula / Wes Wilson situation.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Solo Movie Dates
• 01:23 – Natalie's Week
• 07:46 – Our Pop Culture debrief
• 18:22 – Solo Movie Date | Pretty Lethal
• 25:36 – Pretty Lethal Recap

Directed by Vicky Jewson and written by Kate Freund, Pretty Lethal (originally titled Ballerina Overdrive) is a high-octane 2026 action thriller that blends the elegance of dance with brutal survival.The film follows a dysfunctional troupe of five American ballerinas—played by Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Iris Apatow, Millicent Simmonds, and Avantika—whose bus breaks down in the Hungarian wilderness while en route to a major competition.Forced to seek shelter at a sinister roadside inn run by a reclusive former prima ballerina (Uma Thurman), the girls find themselves trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse against a ruthless criminal syndicate.Produced by 87North (John Wick, Nobody), this Prime Video original features "ballet-fu" choreography where the dancers weaponize their discipline and pointe shoes to fight for their lives, making it a must-watch for fans of stylized, female-led action cinema and gritty ensemble thrillers.

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In this episode of Solo Movie Dates, your host Natalie dives deep into Episode 7 of the hit series The Beauty, titled "Beautiful Living Rooms". As the stakes reach a fever pitch, we break down the complex web of power, vanity, and survival that connects our favorite characters.

This week’s recap explores the heartbreaking and high-stakes transformation of Chief Meyer Williams and his family. We discuss the show's portrayal of Progeria (often compared to "Benjamin Button disease") and how Byron Forst (played by Ashton Kutcher) uses it as a tool for manipulation.

FX’s The Beauty is the must-watch sci-fi horror event of 2026, bringing the visceral world of the Image Comics series by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley to life. Developed by the powerhouse creative duo of Ryan Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, this provocative thriller explores a world where a sexually transmitted virus grants hosts physical perfection—at a lethal cost. As the "Beauty" epidemic spreads, FBI agents Cooper Madsen and Jordan Bennett, played by Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall, must uncover a deep-seated conspiracy involving a shadowy corporation and the high price of vanity.

The star-studded cast features a mix of Murphy’s frequent collaborators and high-profile talent, including Ashton Kutcher as a ruthless tech mogul, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, and the legendary Isabella Rossellini. With executive production by Evan Peters and Anthony Ramos, the series blends body horror with social commentary, making it a spiritual successor to hits like The Substance and American Horror Story. Now streaming on Hulu and Disney+

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Support the Show: If you’ve listened to more than one episode, I’d really appreciate a follow or a subscribe. And if you’re feeling generous, leave a little five-star review!

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