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Tuesday Trivia contains a new set of fun movie and television trivia questions every week. Tuesday Trivia

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Cup of Tea Critiques delivers Cinema & Film Reviews online, helping film lovers find hidden gems and explore movies worth watching. Click here to see what we offer! Cup of Tea Critiques Movie and Television Reviews At Cup of Tea Critiques, we believe film should spark conversation, reveal truth, and yes, even challenge your comfort zone. Whether you're a casual moviegoer or a film buff, our reviews are brewed just for you. We do more than rate; we dig into what makes a movie work (or not) from story and direction to character, tone, visual style, and emotional impact. What to Expect Fresh Takes on new releases, indie gems, and festival favorites Deep Analysis of themes, pacing, cinematography, and sound design Spoiler-Free Summaries so you can decide if something’s your cup of tea—no surprises unless you want them Context & Comparisons, because knowing what a film is aiming for often makes all the difference Why Read Our Reviews? Every review is crafted to help you think critically—not just about whether a movie is “good” or “bad,” but why. You'll get insights that go beyond trailers and publicity: what works, where things falter, and how it all comes together (or doesn’t). ® Subscribe for updates! Email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com Movie: One Battle After Another Image: Used with permission, Alessandro Montalto Movie: Twinless poses questions about the durability of friendships Permut Presentations Interview: River of Grass Writer/Director Derek Magyar sits down with Cup of Tea Critiques Image used with permission, Derek Magyar Movie: One Battle After Another Image: Used with permission, Alessandro Montalto 1/10

Crumpets Food for Thought! Imagine taking an afternoon break on a calm sunny day in the low 70s. You sit in a nearby park filled with maples and oaks, birds chirping, and a pond with families of ducks floating about. In your 15 to 20 minutes of bliss, you sip your Sage tea while engrossed in an article about the changing cultural landscape of movie‑going, why short films are made , or perhaps just curious about the trends in the horror genre. Crumpets articles are food for thought that are also perfectly suited for a cup of Jasmine, Matcha, Peach—and sometimes even Dandelion! Enjoy! What's that Sound? The Profound Seamlessness of Film Scores Reba Chaisson Reading Time: 16 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Cup of Tea Critiques A Clash of Knuckles: Movies and the System of Rating Them Highlighting the Tension Between Filmmakers and the MPA Reba Chaisson Reading Time: 19 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Cup of Tea Critiques Are horror movies and thrillers one and the same or completely different? Distinguishing Two of Cinema's Most Popular Genres Chris Chaisson Reading Time: 10 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Used with Permission, Sarah Sumeray https://www.sarahsumerayonline.com/art How Do You Like Your Cinema? What You Said about What You Watch Reba Chaisson Reading Time: 15 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Licensed from Shutterstock Are Mumblecore Movies Relatable or Just Boring? Examining a Subgenre of Indie Filmmaking Chris Chaisson Reading Time: 9 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Used with Permission, Scott Saslow (scottsaslow.com Instagram: @scottsaslow Twitter: @saslow_scott) How to Increase Latin-American Representation in Film What a Recent Horror Blockbuster Can Tell Us About the Importance of Representation Chris Chaisson Reading Time: 7 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Used with permission, Vini Kick Winnie the Pooh and the Public Domain How a New Horror Movie is Shedding Light on an Old Concept Chris Chaisson Reading Time: 7 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Photo from Pixabay Do Slasher Movies Still Cut It? (No Pun Intended) Examining the Shift in the Thematic Trends of the Horror Genre Chris Chaisson Reading Time: 8 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Used with Permission, Snollygoster Productions (hello@snollygoster.productions ) Soft and Quiet, Along With 6 Other Movies Shot in One Take A Brief List of Movies Shot in One Continuous Take -- er, Supposedly Chris Chaisson Reading Time: 9 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Used with Permission, Snollygoster Productions (hello@snollygoster.productions ) Why and How Short Films are Made An Examination of Short Films and How They Serve Aspiring Filmmakers Chris Chaisson Reading Time: 9 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Photo from Pixabay Getting Up Close and Personal with Crawdads and Vengeance A look at how film informs our perspective Reba Chaisson Reading Time: 11 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Licensed from Shutterstock Game of Thrones Audience Appeal The Enduringness of Story Reba Chaisson Reading Time: 18 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Licensed from Shutterstock The Source and Impact of Smith's Actions Two Perspectives on "The Slap" Chris and Reba Chaisson Reading Time: 10 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Licensed from Shutterstock How Do We Measure Box Office Success Considering the Value of a Movie Chris Chaisson Reading Time: 5 minutes Read More Image: 📸: Photo from Pixabay

TV Shows Dope Thief Dope Thief shares important lessons about family Tea Brew: Coca, Rosemary 📷 : Apple Studios Creator: Peter Craig Reading Time: 6 minutes Read More The Studio The Studio provides laughs with its bungling protagonist Tea Brew: Ginkgo Biloba, White 📷 : Used with permission, Christian Niemann Creator: https://www.instagram.com/justbychris/ https://x.com/justbychris Evan Goldberg Reading Time: 5 minutes Read More Your Friends & Neighbors Your Friends & Neighbors gives a birds-eye view into a type of social mobility Tea Brew: Ginger, Honeybush 📷 : Apple Studios Creator: Jonathan Trooper Reading Time: 6 minutes Read More Black Doves Black Doves, a quirky spy thriller that avoids tokenism Tea Brew: Matcha, Ginseng 📷 : Used with permission, Netflix Creator: Joe Barton Reading Time: 7 minutes Read More Echo Echo shines a light on the gifts of generations past Tea Brew: Coca, Masala Chai 📷 : Used with permission, Rye Coleman Creator: https://www.instagram.com/coleman811/ Marion Dayre Reading Time: 9 minutes Read More Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist makes us reprioritize the gift of respect Tea Brew: Barley, Matcha 📷 : Used with permission, Geoffrey Riccio Creator: http://www.riccioproductions.com/ Shaye Ogbonna Reading Time: 9 minutes Read More Load more

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Short Films Liquor Bank Liquor Bank displays the complexities of an intervention Tea Brew: Dandelion, Honeybush Director/Writer: Marcellus Cox Reading Time: 4 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Marcellus Cox Read More Almost Certainly False Almost Certainly False drives home the risk of reductionist language Tea Brew: Honeybush, Ginger Director/Writer: Cansu Baydar Reading Time: 5 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Cansu Baydar Read More The First Time I Never Met You The First Time I Never Met You adds a wrinkle to the time-traveling genre Tea Brew: Coca, Saffron Director/Writer: Eric Kole Reading Time: 3 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Eric Kole Read More A Good Day Will Come A Good Day Will Come sheds light on a real-life tragedy Tea Brew: Dandelion, Honeybush Director/Writer: Amir Zargara Reading Time: 4 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Amir Zargara Read More Life After Life After presents a short story with a big screen feel Tea Brew: Ginseng, Ginger Director/Writer: Jesse Edwards Reading Time: 4 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Evolve Studios Read More River of Grass River of Grass makes us consider the predicaments of young veterans Tea Brew: Dandelion, Honeybush Director/Writer: Derek Magyar / Jon Bloch, Chad Christopher, and Derek Magyar Reading Time: 3 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Skinny Lee Productions Read More Load more

Movies 📷 : Used with permission, Alessandro Montalto One Battle After Another One Battle After Another shows what commitment looks like Tea Brew: Honeybush, Rosemary https://x.com/noctrnlayouts https://www.instagram.com/noctrnl.layouts/ Director/Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson / Paul Thomas Anderson and Thomas Pynchon https://www.behance.net/nocturnalayouts Reading Time: 7 minutes Read More Twinless Twinless poses questions about the durability of friendships Tea Brew: Sage, Ginger Director/Writer: James Sweeney Reading Time: 6 minutes Read More 📷 : IFC Films and Sapan Studio The Baltimorons The Baltimorons shows characters breaking out of their perceived limitations Tea Brew: Jasmine, Mint Director/Writer: Jay Duplass / Jay Duplass and Michael Strassner Reading Time: 6 minutes Read More 📷 : Relativity Media The Knife The Knife immerses viewers in a story about clear-eyed choices Tea Brew: Ginseng, Ginger Director/Writer: Nnamdi Asomugha / Mark Duplass and Nnamdi Asomugha Reading Time: 5 minutes Read More 📷 : Nadhir Nawshad F1: The Movie F1: The Movie delivers confusing characters but thrilling action Tea Brew: Masala Chai, White https://www.instagram.com/nadnaws/ https://x.com/_nadnaws Director/Writer: Joseph Kosinski Reading Time: 6 minutes Read More 📷 : Magnolia Pictures Press Kit 40 Acres 40 Acres makes us seriously consider the near future Tea Brew: Rosemary, Coca https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/shnuoc9k3wiz44l824zkh/AA7WU3RtNVFNKyDObG3D0I0?rlkey=3atyx7kz9y3yvh65ubhttbyk5&e=1&st=ylsn0byh&dl=0 Director/Writer: R.T. Thorne / R.T. Thorne, Glenn Taylor, Lora Campbell Reading Time: 6 minutes Read More Load more

Explore Critical Evaluation of Film & Short Film Reviews with Cup of Tea Critiques, your online source for sharp insights on movies and television. Click here to see what we have to offer! Tea Brew Legend Our critiques are tagged with a tea brew that evokes a feel for the movie or television show. So, instead of likes, ratings, emojis, or thumbs up or down, they are assigned a tea that, based on its benefits, gives you a sense of the production's feel and substance. Below we show several plants that teas are made from. So, scroll to figure out which tea best fits the movie or TV show that matches your mood. We hope you enjoy our critical evaluation of film & short film reviews Photo by Emma Van Sant on Unsplash Tea: Barley Category: Herbal Barley tea is good for oral health, which translates nicely to shows that have a lot of dialog like: The Accident , Between the Temples , and Flamin' Hot — to name just a few! Genre: Movies and TV shows with a lot of dialog Tea: Chamomile Category: Herbal Chamomile tea induces sleepiness. This is not to say that shows marked with this tea are boring; they're actually rather calming — not action packed. Try the Oscar-nominated film, American Fiction , The Long Game, or The Old Oak for example. Genre: Family dramas Photo by Rebecca Asryan on Unsplash Tea: Coca Category: Herbal Coca tea can produce psychosomatic effects, making it perfect for marking movies and shows about drugs or disorienting presentations such as Back to Black , Lonesome Soldier , and The Substance . Genre: Movies and TV shows about drugs or with disorienting presentations Licensed from Adobe Stock Photo by David Dawson on Unsplash Tea: Dandelion Category: Herbal Dandelion tea is a bitter herbal tea that fits with movies and shows with difficult or heavy subjects like Fair Play , the Oscar–nominated film, Killers of the Flower Moon , Monkey Man , and Presumed Innocent . Genre: Movies and TV shows with heavy subjects Tea: Ginger Category: Herbal Ginger tea has many benefits, one of which is protecting the brain against disease. This translates perfectly to thought-provoking movies and shows, for example: the Oscar-nominated film, Drive My Car , Life After , Maestro, and War is Over! . Genre: Thought-provoking movies and TV shows Photo by Joris Neyt from Pexels Photo by Uwe Nake on Unsplash Tea: Ginkgo Biloba Category: Herbal Ginkgo Biloba tea slows signs of aging, so what better movies and shows than fun, youthful , and lighthearted ones like Nobody is Crazy , Rye Lane , and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar . Genre: Youthful, lighthearted, and fun movies and TV shows Tea: Ginseng Category: Herbal Like Chrysanthemum, its floral counterpart, Ginseng tea acts as a stimulant. We reserve this designation for suspenseful and intense thrillers that contain some violence. From, Leave the World Behind, Longlegs , and Rebel Ridge are among these. Genre: Suspenseful and intense thrillers Photo by Rodion Kutsaev from Pexels Licensed from Adobe Stock Tea: Honeybush Category: Herbal Honeybush tea is calming. But unlike chamomile, this one is best for non-family dramas with adult themes like A Good Day Will Come , Challengers , and Rez Ball . Genre: Nonfamily dramas with strong adult and/or socioeconomic themes Tea: Jasmine Category: Green Jasmine tea is sweet and relaxing, making it a great sip for movies and shows with heart, positive vibes, and warm messages like the ones in these: Babes , Bob Marley: One Love , Perfect Days, and the Oscar–nominated film, The Holdovers . Genre: Movies and TV shows with heart, positive vibes, and warm messages Photo by Tanya Nedelcheva on Unsplash Photo licensed from Shutterstock Tea: Masala Chai Category: Black Masala Chai is a black tea that promotes strong bones, oral and digestive health, and reduces the risk of stroke, making this drink perfect for movies and shows about toughness or athletic competition like Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Napoleon, and The Brothers Sun . Genre: Movies and TV shows about toughness and athletic competition Tea: Matcha Category: Green Matcha improves mental focus, making it perfect for navigating mysteries and figuring out whodunnits such as Decision to Leave , Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, The Independent , and The Night Agent . Genre: Mysteries or whodunnits Photo by Michael Burrows from Pexels Photo by Simon Lee on Unsplash Tea: Mint Category: Herbal Mint tea has a cooling effect and is known to reduce fever, which makes it a good fit for movies and shows filmed in cold weather or blizzards, such as Blow the Man Down, Society of the Snow, and Wind River . Genre: Movies and TV shows in cold weather and blizzard conditions Tea: Oolong Category: Oolong Oolong tea is fat burning, supports weight loss, and helps mental performance, making it compatible with movies and shows that make you laugh or involve physical activity like dance and exercise. Chevalier, Florida Man, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith are just three examples! Genre: Movies and TV shows that make you laugh or involve physical activities like dance and exercise Licensed from Adobe Stock Photo by Jared Subia on Unsplash Tea: Peach Category: Floral Peach tea has a sweet and pleasing aroma, making it perfect for movies and shows with a springtime feel and imagery of the season, such as Bloodline, Florida Man, and I Love That for You . Genre: Movies and TV shows with a springtime feel or with images of the season Tea: Rosemary Category: Herbal Rosemary tea has a sharp pine fragrance and is proven to boost memory, making it perfect for signaling stimulating shows with intense action like Civil War , Lawman: Bass Reeves , and Monkey Man . Genre: Movies and TV shows with intense action Photo licensed from Shutterstock Photo by Mohammed Amiri on Unsplash Tea: Saffron Category: Herbal Besides the beauty of its color, Saffron tea promotes eye health, which transfers well to movies and shows with great visual effects like Dream Scenario , Leave the World Behind , the Emmy– and Golden Globe– nominated series, The Bear, and The Substance . Genre: Movies and TV shows with great visual effects Tea: Sage Category: Herbal Similar to its floral counterpart (Lavender), Sage tea is an anxiety/stress reducer, which makes it great for watching films with low-key characters like those in Bob Marley: One Love, Living, and Perfect Days . Genre: Movies and TV shows with low-key characters Photo by Phillip Larking on Unsplash Tea: White Category: White White tea is fat burning, supports healthy weight loss and skin, and slows aging. All are qualities that make it a good fit for shows that make you laugh or involve urgency like chase scenes or other rigorous physical activity such as those in Full Time and I Got This . Genre: Movies and TV shows that make you laugh, or involve urgency, like chase scenes or other physical activity Licensed from Shutterstock Tea: Yarrow Category: Herbal Like Ginger, Yarrow tea promotes digestive health, reduces fever, cold, and cramps, and even relieves itchy skin, making it appropriate for movies and shows about illness or that are set in hospitals or other medical institutions such as those in A Girl Upstairs, From, the Oscar–nominated film, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Swarm . Genre: Movies and TV shows about illness or set in hospitals or similar medical institutions Licensed from Adobe Stock Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

Not sure if we are your cup of tea? Come take a look as we have all the answers to your questions! Click here to view our frequently asked questions! Frequently Asked Questions What is Cup of Tea Critiques? Cup of Tea Critiques is a platform that examines movies and television series—especially independent cinema—through a critical lens, helping audiences decide if a film or show is their "cup of tea." What types of films and shows do you focus on? The site focuses on independent and under-the-radar films and TV shows—not typically seen in mainstream theaters or widely advertised—though they are broadly available on streaming platforms. How are reviews presented on the site? Reviews analyze story, character depth, themes, and aesthetics. Instead of ratings or likes, each review is tagged with a type of tea that conveys the feel and substance of the content. What’s the purpose of the “tea brew” tags? The tea tags give readers a sensory sense of the content—like mood or tone. For example, “barley tea” might indicate dialogue-heavy fare, while “ginkgo biloba” might signal something light. Do you provide a guide to understanding the tea tags? Yes—a legend on the site describes each tea used in their reviews, helping readers understand what the tag means. Can I request a review of my film? Yes—Cup of Tea Critiques will evaluate your film (for a small fee). Deployment details appear on the site. Is there a podcast associated with the site? Yes—there's a weekly Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast that dives into film genres and industry trends, offering clarity and guidance for aspiring filmmakers. Is podcast content legally compliant? Yes—the podcast invokes “fair use” under U.S. Copyright law (Section 107) when discussing copyrighted films and series for social commentary and criticism. What kind of interactive content do you offer? The site features the weekly games "Tuesday Trivia" and "Crossword Wednesday," with fun movie and television questions for visitors to enjoy. Do you interview industry professionals? Yes—Cup of Tea Critiques conducts interviews with filmmakers, composers, directors, and other industry professionals, such as Derek Magyar, Greg Sgammato, and others. How can I subscribe to updates? You can subscribe by providing your first name, last name, and email, and agreeing to the terms and conditions on the subscribe page. What legal notices or policies should I be aware of? The site includes a Fair Use Notice affirming that reviews reside under fair use for social commentary. It also incorporates pages for Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

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< Back How Do We Measure Box Office Success Considering the Value of a Movie Chris Chaisson 12/18/21 Reading Time: 5 minutes 📸: Photo from Pixabay In recent years, pandemic notwithstanding, the box office has seen record numbers from blockbusters. Despite the prevalence of pirating, many of the highest grossing movies in film history have been fairly modern. The year 2019 set a record for global box office earnings with $42.3 billion. Though this number clearly dipped in 2020, the film industry had seen increased profits despite a plethora of other increasingly popular options for entertainment. Many factors contributed to these unprecedented turnouts. For one, the advancements in visual effects and sound quality make the movie-going experience more appealing, specifically for the biggest action movie franchises ( The Fast and the Furious , Transformers , Marvel , etc.). Additionally, the largest movie theater chains have opened new branches over the years and scaled up their venues to attract customers. Not only are the marquees and glass windows bigger and fancier, but the concessions have become more diversified. Some theaters have even carved out space for restaurants near the entrance and acquired liquor licenses to entice those of age. All these tidbits lead to the biggest contributor to increased box office numbers: movie tickets cost more now . A trip to the movies used to be a fun activity for a group of teenage friends or a young couple that didn’t have money to make more expensive plans. Enthusiastic cinephiles would hang out at the movies all day, maybe taking in two or three flicks and just hanging out with their buddies. What the box office represented culturally has since changed. Now, between the tickets and the concessions, going to see The Avengers cost about as much as going to see the Yankees. The year I was born, 1989, the average price of a movie ticket was $3.99**. While my hands weren’t big enough to hold four dollars at the time, that price provides evidence of a time when attending the movies was a less grandiose experience. Today, the average movie ticket price is $9.16**, and the most popular theater chains are all charging much more. Likewise, many venues have increased the number of private screenings and Q&As in recent years, which are primarily attended by members of the industry or patrons who spend the most money there. Research shows that 11% of the U.S./Canada population accounts for nearly half of all tickets sold, and frequent moviegoers tend to have more key technology products. Both findings reflect a possible class distinction on who attends the movie theater most frequently. As the future of cinema holds more rewards programs, QR codes and email confirmations, movie theaters likely won’t return to the minimally staffed, dollar-matinee feel that they had in the past. Many of them have simply embraced more upscale branding efforts. Whether good or bad, the modern and lavish atmosphere of the Cineplex makes box office sales difficult to compare to the era of more simplistic, communal venues. Returning to the discussion of the highest grossing movies, can we judge a movie’s popularity solely by what it grosses now? Once we account for the change in the cinematic experience as well as ramped up marketing efforts through T-shirts and theme park rides, Orson Welles seems to have been at a competitive disadvantage. What if we judged movies less by the dollar amount and instead checked the ticket stubs? How many tickets were actually sold for any specific motion picture? This re-examination of a movie’s earnings could highlight films that achieved extreme popularity when cost of living was low and other films that simply benefited more from inflation. Though not a perfect equation, I would suggest taking the dollar amount a movie grossed and divide it by the average ticket price of that year. Click the charts below to see what the Highest Grossing Movies vs. Movies with the Most Ticket Sales looks like. Chart by Gross Sales .pdf Download PDF • 133KB Chart by Tickets Sold .pdf Download PDF • 132KB There are very few surprises in these two tables as a whole. The most popular movies are the highest budgeted and most well-marketed, regardless of what measure you use. Nonetheless, contrasting dollar amounts against the number of tickets sold illustrates that some of the most popular movies would be even higher on our list if they had premiered after the industry-wide renovation of modern cinema. For instance, despite an exorbitant dollar amount for American Sniper , the film benefited significantly from an increase in ticket prices. Conversely, the original Star Wars was incredibly popular but premiered at a time when movie tickets were less than $3. Had Titanic been released after theaters introduced their expanded menus and 4K screens, it may have set attendance records never to be broken. Cultural shifts never stop happening, so the future remains to be seen. Maybe movie theaters will scale back down as everyone retreats to their HBO Max accounts. Or maybe they’ll continue their upward trajectory and offer lobster dinners with Courvoisier to wash it down. Either way, it’s always worthwhile to think critically about the record-breaking statistics being thrown in your face. But right now, time for a matinee. 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