Review: A look at offerings on new mobile platform Quibi

Apr 6, 2020

The new mobile media platform Quibi may specialize in small, bite-sized videos, but its volume is large

NEW YORK (AP) — Quibi may specialize in small, bite-sized videos, but its volume of shows is large. The media platform launches Monday with 175 new original shows — everything from scripted series, comedic diversions, deep dramas and celebrity fluff. Here's a look at some of the notable and less notable shows.

MOST DANGEROUS GAME

Liam Hemsworth stars as a father-to-be with huge bills and a terminal illness in this high-end thrilling series that feels like watching a big-budget film. Christoph Waltz plays a man with an intriguing offer for our hero: Be prey for a bunch of hunters and leave your wife and child millions. The idea of hunting humans for sport has a long history, and this series comes just a few weeks after the clunky film “The Hunt” was released. But this Quibi version is a masterclass in how the medium can create gripping yet tiny chapters.

SURVIVE

Each episode of this very adult and harrowing tale is engrossing and perfectly paced. Sophie Turner stars as a young woman with suicidal tendencies who survives a plane crash and fights to stay alive in a snowy wasteland alongside another passenger played by Corey Hawkins. It looks and feels like prestige Hollywood fare, and Turner is superb as a woman haunted by her own illness.

#FREERAYSHAWN

This engrossing crime drama centers on a fast food worker who we meet zooming through the back streets of New Orleans with what seems like every city officer on his tail. He's been set up by police on a drug deal and takes refuge inside his apartment building with his girlfriend and child. Each episode is tense and raw, with references to Black Lives Matter and a nod to the power of social media. It stars Stephan James as Rayshawn and an understated Laurence Fishburne as a sympathetic beat cop. The show is like a bag of chips: You can't stop after just a few episodes.

PUNK'D

Seeing the rich and famous get pranked is always fun and it gets next level in a revival of “Punk'd.” Old host Ashton Kutcher has been replaced by Chance the Rapper, whose easy charm and good-natured humor is a key reason this series works. Some of the elaborate set-ups include Megan Thee Stallion frightened by a gorilla, performer Sabrina Carpenter finding her home infested by rats, and internet phenom Liza Koshy destroying a bat mitzvah. Other targets include Lil Nas X, Ty Dolla $ign, Adam Devine, Migos and French Montana.

CHRISSY'S COURT

Chrissy Teigen as a judge? Why not? The model wears a robe and waves a gavel in a series of small claim cases — one features two boyfriends fighting over one of them buying the wrong silly sweater for someone — that don't have any of the testiness of “The People's Court.” Things are so relaxed that Teigen’s mother acts as the bailiff. Teigen is funny and patient and actually a pretty good judge. And, yes, hubby John Legend does show up sometimes. “Can I have one thing to myself ever?” she asks him.

MURDER HOUSE FLIP

Home renovation takes a dark turn in this series that sees notorious sites of violence get a makeover. "Murder and makeover don’t usually go together. But now that’s all going to change,” says designer Joelle Uzyel in the first episode. It's macabre and, at times, almost seems to mock HGTV's huge swath of programming. But the result of the first makeover (which takes three episodes) is breathtaking. The funnest part is watching the prim and elegant designer Mike Welch gradually lose his calm. “Dismembered?” he asks in horror when told what happened years ago at his new work site.

PRODIGY

Young sports phenoms are the subjects of this series, hosted with a very light hand by soccer star Megan Rapinoe. Each documentary-style episode features interviews and competition footage of the stars, including of boxer Chantel Navarro, Olympic gold medal snowboarder Red Gerard and football player Korey Foreman. The portraits are deeply moving and personal, even if they have a tendency to veer toward adoration. Rapinoe only appears at the beginning of each episode to introduce the young athlete. Then she's gone, which seems a waste.

THE SHAPE OF PASTA

Foodies should bite on this well-made travelogue, as chef Evan Funke goes to Italy to find some of the more unique and forgotten shapes of pasta. That sounds a little ridiculous for a premise, but the filmmakers prove respectful and loving of the topic, sucking you in. In the first episode, Funke goes to a tiny Southern town where their handmade shape is going extinct. “We are trying to preserve the shape. It's our identity,” he is told. The show is beautifully shot but comes with a warning: If you tune in, you'll crave just one thing for dinner.

THANKS A MILLION

Jennifer Lopez leads this cringe-worthy show that really only rich people who want everyone to know they have a heart of gold would appreciate. Celebs give $100,000 to someone who touched their lives. Those people must then give half to someone else, so the celebrity can create “a chain of gratitude and kindness.” In Lopez's case, she gives the money — inelegantly, stacks of bills — to a mom with a girl with cerebral palsy. “You're so cute!” the girl says to Lopez. Unfortunately this back-slapping show has attracted the likes of Kristen Bell, Nick Jonas, Tracy Morgan, Aaron Rodgers, Kevin Hart and Karlie Kloss. Even the title is disingenuous.

SKRRT WITH OFFSET

This is another celebrity vanity project that'll leave you scratching your head. Offset, a member of Migos — and husband of Cardi B — has decided to show off his love of cars. In the first episode, he puts kids with cancer in tiny model supercars, like a McLaren P1 with a top speed of 4 mph. Why, you may ask, put confused, sick children in model Ferraris? They don’t even control the cars. But Offset and Cardi B are happy to take a victory lap. The second episode is all about Offset and Lil Yachty attempting Hollywood driving stunts. In the third, Offset visits Jay Leno and tours his vast car collection. The whole series looks a lot of fun for everyone but Offset.

FIERCE QUEENS

One of the odder shows has a ferociously upbeat Reese Witherspoon narrating nature documentaries, with a twist. She focuses on female animals and seems to try to have them offer lessons of empowerment. The first episode focuses on sister cheetahs. “It's tough being a teenage cheetah,” she says, calling the two big cat sister “gutsy girls.” Then we watch the cheetahs stalk and brutally kill an impala. "Getting that belief in yourself and gaining confidence, that's what growing up is all about," a chirpy Witherspoon says. “Walk tall, fierce queens.” The second episode deals with ant queens and loses its way quickly, with Witherspoon awkwardly highlighting the violent queen's reproductive power. The footage is from the BBC and it is stunning, even if it shows a limit to holding the camera vertically.

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

More News

Russell Brand Maintains Innocence In Message Through Wife From Behind Bars
Nov 15, 2026
Russell Brand Maintains Innocence In Message Through Wife From Behind Bars

Russell Brand has claimed that he is “not guilty for the offences I have been jailed for” in a message read by his wife on YouTube. Presenting an episode of their Sunday Service show, Laura Brand delivered some words on behalf of her husband, who is behind bars in Littlehey Prison, a jail for men […]

‘The Good Daughter’ Finale: Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy Unpack ‘Revelatory’ Ending and if the Truth Will Ever Come Out
Nov 15, 2026
‘The Good Daughter’ Finale: Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy Unpack ‘Revelatory’ Ending and if the Truth Will Ever Come Out

Creator Karin Slaughter also tells TheWrap about parallels with the Cornell 7 case and if the Peacock drama could continue The post ‘The Good Daughter’ Finale: Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy Unpack ‘Revelatory’ Ending and if the Truth Will Ever Come Out appeared first on TheWrap.

Russell Brand’s Wife Laura Breaks Her Silence After His Rape Conviction & 10+ Year Prison Sentence
Nov 15, 2026
Russell Brand’s Wife Laura Breaks Her Silence After His Rape Conviction & 10+ Year Prison Sentence

Russell Brand‘s wife Laura Brand is speaking out for the first time after he was sentenced to over 10 years […] The post Russell Brand’s Wife Laura Breaks Her Silence After His Rape Conviction & 10+ Year Prison Sentence appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.

Stars with Crazy Hidden Talents (One Actor is a Fire-Eater & Another is a Dog Whisperer!)
Nov 15, 2026
Stars with Crazy Hidden Talents (One Actor is a Fire-Eater & Another is a Dog Whisperer!)

Hollywood is full of extremely talented actors, musicians, and athletes, but many of those stars also have crazy weird hidden […] The post Stars with Crazy Hidden Talents (One Actor is a Fire-Eater & Another is a Dog Whisperer!) appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.

Olivia Cooke Says ‘Slow Horses’ Season 8 Could Be Its “Last,” But “Never Say Never”
Nov 15, 2026
Olivia Cooke Says ‘Slow Horses’ Season 8 Could Be Its “Last,” But “Never Say Never”

As Slow Horses saddles up for Season 8, Olivia Cooke recently teased that it could be a final lap around the track. The actress, who recently reprised her role as Sid Baker for Season 6, confirmed that she will be back for the newly announced eighth season of the Apple TV+ spy thriller from creator […]

Gypsy Rose Blanchard Slams ‘Disgusting’ Allegations She Was Involved in Ken Urker’s Death
Nov 15, 2026
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Slams ‘Disgusting’ Allegations She Was Involved in Ken Urker’s Death

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is speaking out following on/off partner Ken Urker‘s death. If you didn’t see, Ken was found dead […] The post Gypsy Rose Blanchard Slams ‘Disgusting’ Allegations She Was Involved in Ken Urker’s Death appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.

At Sotheby’s, Risk-Taking Left a $180 Million van Gogh in the Lurch
Nov 15, 2026
At Sotheby’s, Risk-Taking Left a $180 Million van Gogh in the Lurch

Claims on the painting by heirs of a Jewish owner were well known in the art world. The auction house will meet lawyers for the heirs on Monday.

‘Club Kid’ Rocks Limited Expansion As ‘Paper Tiger’ Scores James Gray’s Best Per-Screen Debut — Specialty Box Office
Nov 15, 2026
‘Club Kid’ Rocks Limited Expansion As ‘Paper Tiger’ Scores James Gray’s Best Per-Screen Debut — Specialty Box Office

Club Kid delivered the best limited expansion of the year with $756k in week 2 on just 27 screens in a crowded specialty market, playing to an audience that was 80% under 35. Paper Tiger marks director James Gray’s highest per screen opening at $35.8k on 6 screens in New York and Los Angeles for […]

The 3 Best Movies to Watch on Prime Video This Week
Nov 15, 2026
The 3 Best Movies to Watch on Prime Video This Week

From a brand new release to a parody of an old favorite The post The 3 Best Movies to Watch on Prime Video This Week appeared first on TheWrap.

Russell Brand Compares Rape Trial Coverage to a ‘Football Match’ in Pre-Recorded Video as His Wife Says He’s ‘Okay’ and ‘Praying’ Post-Sentencing
Nov 15, 2026
Russell Brand Compares Rape Trial Coverage to a ‘Football Match’ in Pre-Recorded Video as His Wife Says He’s ‘Okay’ and ‘Praying’ Post-Sentencing

Russell Brand’s wife, Laura Gallacher, has spoken about the actor’s 10-year and six-month prison sentence after being convicted of rape and sexual assault following his London criminal trial earlier this month. The couple both shared remarks in a YouTube video posted Sunday, in which Gallacher speaks about the conviction before continuing to the pre-recorded episode […]

Nara Smith Reveals She’s Never Decorated for Christmas
Nov 15, 2026
Nara Smith Reveals She’s Never Decorated for Christmas

Nara Smith wasn’t traditionally one to haul out the holly.  The influencer—who shares kids Rumble Honey, 6, Slim Easy, 4, Whimsy Lou, 2, and Fawnie Golden, 13 months, with husband Lucky Blue...

Billy Evans Says He’d Do It All Over Again
Nov 15, 2026
Billy Evans Says He’d Do It All Over Again

Speaking with CBS Sunday Morning, Elizabeth Holmes’s partner said that despite the shower scene and other regrets, he would “100 percent” make “You Can See Everything” once more.

NEWSLETTER
Reporter Pass

Bringing you to an exciting adventure to get the exclusive inside scoop on the latest celebrities news. Reporter Pass is the only access you need to get into Hollywood.