Nine years after theatrical release, Emilia Clarke's ‘Me Before You' climbs Prime Video charts
The 2016 film, which also stars Sam Claflin, has surged into Prime Video's global Top 10 rankings nearly a decade after its theatrical release.
Directed by Thea Sharrock, the film was adapted from Jojo Moyes' bestselling novel. It follows Louisa Clark, a quirky caretaker who develops a complex relationship with Will Traynor, a wealthy man left paralysed after an accident.
Although the movie was commercially successful during its initial run, a Screen Rant report said it drew significant backlash for its depiction of disability and portrayal of assisted suicide or euthanasia.
Another report in Collider cited FlixPatrol data showing 'Me Before You' has recently climbed the Prime Video Top 10 lists in several countries, including Argentina, Egypt, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States. On July 5, the film reached its highest average international ranking, sitting at 5.4 across 13 countries.
Earlier this year, it had entered the US Top 10, marking a resurgence in English-speaking markets, the Screen Rant report added.
When the movie, which also stars Janet McTeer and Joanna Lumley, was released in 2016, it grossed $208.4 million worldwide against a modest $20 million budget: a 10.4x return on investment. It outperformed titles like 'Arrival', 'The BFG' and 'Bridget Jones's Baby', becoming the 42nd highest-grossing movie of the year.
The Collider report stated that while audiences gave the film a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics were less favorable, with a 54% score. Much of the criticism centered around the film's messaging and handling of sensitive themes, particularly regarding the protagonist's decision to pursue assisted suicide.
Emilia Clarke's role as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO's 'Game of Thrones' catapulted her to fame. Since the series ended in 2019, Clarke has taken on a variety of roles, from the romantic holiday film 'Last Christmas' to her recent appearance in Marvel's 'Secret Invasion'. In spite of mixed reception for some projects, Clarke's role in 'Me Before You' remains one of her most emotionally resonant performances ever.
Why was 'Me Before You' controversial?
The film was criticised for promoting ableist ideas and for its portrayal of assisted suicide (euthanasia) as a romantic act, which drew backlash from disability rights activists.
Is 'Me Before You' based on a true story?
No. The film is a fictional adaptation of Jojo Moyes' 2012 bestselling novel of the same name.
Where can you watch 'Me Before You' now?
'Me Before You' is currently available to stream on Prime Video.
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Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
The First Night with the Duke: Watch episode 12 online today; check the release date & streaming platforms for these countries
The First Night with the Duke Episode 12 online: Fans of the hit K-drama The First Night with the Duke can stream Episode 12 online today, July 17, 2025, at approximately 4 PM GMT (12 AM ET), as per the official schedule. Cha Sun-chaek, a present-day student, suddenly finds herself swept into the world of her favorite medieval romance novel - now living as noblewoman Cha Seon-chaek. After a fateful encounter with the story's male lead, Prince Yi Beon, she unintentionally alters the plot. Hoping to set things back on course, she tries to pair him with the novel's original female lead. But Yi Beon's heart begins to stray from the script, and toward Cha Seon-chaek. The First Night with the Duke: Release date and time for Episode 12 Episode 12 airs on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, at 9:50 PM KST on KBS2 in South Korea. It will also be available for international viewers via simultaneous streaming on Rakuten Viki and Viu, both offering English subtitles to make the series accessible to a global audience. Where to Watch The First Night with the Duke Episode 12 Online? Episode 12 is available to stream on Rakuten Viki and Viu, the main legal platforms offering high-quality video and English subtitles. In South Korea, it airs on KBS2. For viewers in the U.S., Canada, India, Indonesia, and the UK, both Viki and Viu continue to be the top choices for watching the series. The First Night with the Duke: Plot highlights of Episode 12 In Episode 11, Sun Chaek is devastated by her husband's disappearance and drawn into palace intrigue as Prince Yi Gyu seizes power. When a mysterious object swaps her with her real-world self, she must navigate two realities and find a way back before both unravel. Episode 12 promises more romantic tension and palace drama. And, this will continue to explore the clash between fiction and fate. The First Night with the Duke episode 12: Spoilers Here are the spoilers for Episode 12 of the Korean series The First Night with the Duke based on the YouTube preview: A storm brews in the kingdom, and at its center is Sun Chaek - newly arrived at Hoseondang, where shadows of Yi Beon cling to every surface. His room remains untouched, as if he might walk back in at any moment. But he doesn't. Instead, silence answers her grief. Seeking meaning in the chaos, she turns once again to the shaman. This time, the words offered are not comforting, only ominous: "Only at the end will you understand." Far away, Yi Beon rides into danger. An ambush leaves him and his men surrounded, and in the quiet before the fight, his thoughts drift to the one he loves. If he dies here, what will become of her? Soon after, devastating news returns home - Yi Beon is gone. His sword, his sash, a handkerchief stained with memories - all delivered to Sun Chaek. Her world splinters. In that vulnerable moment, another man steps forward. Prince Yi Gyu, polished and poised, offers his support - but there's a hunger behind his eyes. As the kingdom falters and the King weakens, Yi Gyu sees opportunity. He doesn't just want Sun Chaek's affection; he wants control. Slowly, his facade begins to crumble, revealing ambition that knows no bounds. Then, something impossible happens. An object - ordinary in her world, foreign in this one - appears before Sun Chaek. The moment her fingers brush it, the illusion shatters. She collapses. When she awakens, the truth is too wild to ignore: two lives, one from fiction and one from reality, have crossed paths. The Sun Chaek of this world, and Miss K of her own, have switched places. And now, trapped between pages and fate, she must find a way back - before both stories spiral beyond repair. The First Night with the Duke: Cast and Characters The series features Seohyun as Cha Seon-chaek (also known as K), Ok Taec-yeon as Prince Yi Beon, and Kwon Han-sol as Cho Eun-ae. They are joined by a strong supporting cast, including Seo Bum-june, Ji Hye-won, and several other notable talents. FAQs 1. When will Episode 12 of The First Night with the Duke be released? Answer: The First Night with the Duke Episode 12 will be released on July 17, 2025, at 4 PM GMT (12 AM ET) and will air in South Korea on KBS2 at 9:50 PM KST. 2. Where can I watch Episode 12 of The First Night with the Duke online? Answer: The First Night with the Duke Episode 12 will be available for streaming on Rakuten Viki and Viu, both platforms offering English subtitles. 3. Does The First Night with the Duke have English subtitles? Answer: Yes, The First Night with the Duke is fully subtitled in English on Viki and Viu, including Episode 12. 4. What is the plot of Episode 12 of The First Night with the Duke? Answer: The First Night with the Duke Episode 12 deepens the tension between Cha Seon-chaek and Prince Yi Beon, as palace intrigue threatens to unravel the fragile trust between them. 5. Is The First Night with the Duke available on Netflix? Answer: No, The First Night with the Duke is not available on Netflix. The drama officially streams on Rakuten Viki and Viu.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens' gritty tale of social injustice, revisited in 10 frames
'Please, sir, I want some more.' Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist remains one of the most iconic fictional orphans, rivaled perhaps only by JK Rowling's Harry Potter. Set in the underbelly of 19th-century Victorian London, the novel follows the journey of an orphan who is entered into the system in infancy. He is then promptly swallowed up and spit out by that notoriously corrupt, sluggish, and bureaucratic entity: the State. As a ward of an indifferent government, Oliver Twist's simple request for more food, an act of innocent defiance, lands him in a world where he must fight to retain his virtue amid cruelty and exploitation. Dickens' second novel is a powerful indictment of England's broken social safety net, specifically the Poor Laws Amendment Act of 1834. Under these reforms, the impoverished were granted food and clothing only in exchange for labor in dehumanising workhouses. Dickens knew this world intimately. At just twelve, he worked in a blacking factory pasting labels on bottles after his father was jailed for debt. The workhouse, presented as a tool for moral uplift, is a machine of degradation. The legal system is capricious, and even religious figures frequently fail to embody the virtues they preach. Dickens strips away the Victorian fantasy that institutions exist to protect the vulnerable. This installment of 'Lit in 10' distills the serialised novel—published monthly from February 1837 to April 1839—into 10 defining moments that reveal the soul of Oliver Twist. Scroll down for a visual retelling of this literary classic, and when time allows, dive into the original. Its portrait of poverty, justice, and survival in a fractured society remains as powerful today as ever. A child is born in a grim English workhouse to a young woman who dies moments after childbirth. Her name is never recorded. The parish surgeon delivers the child, and a drunken pauper nurse mutters a half-hearted blessing. There are no celebrations, only bureaucratic procedures to welcome his arrival. Mr Bumble, the parish beadle, gives him the name 'Oliver Twist' as part of an alphabetical system (following 'Swubble' and preceding 'Unwin'). 'Badged and ticketed,' the orphaned Oliver is reduced to a number. Fed on a diet of thin gruel and endless sermons, Twist and other boys endure sanctioned suffering. After drawing lots, Twist is chosen to request another portion of food. His plea, 'Please, sir, I want some more,' shocks the authorities and brands him as a troublemaker. The outraged board of guardians decides to remove him from the workhouse, offering five pounds to anyone willing to take him. This moment marks Twist's first resistance to injustice. The iconic scene turns hunger into an act of political defiance. A cruel chimney sweep named Mr Gamfield offers to take Twist as an man known to have 'bruised three or four boys to death.' He wants a small boy to force into narrow chimneys, to get a five-pound bonus. The board, eager to rid themselves of Twist, almost agrees. But Twist's visible terror before the magistrate, his pale face and pleading eyes, spares him. Twist is apprenticed to Mr Sowerberry, an undertaker instead. He sleeps under the counter near empty coffins and eats leftover scraps meant for the dog. For the first time, he earns a wage. When the undertaker's apprentice, Noah Claypole, insults Twist's dead mother, he lashes out in rage. The punishment that follows is swift and brutal. The funeral trade becomes a metaphor, Twist is alive, but surrounded by death in every sense. Beaten, starved, and unwanted, Twist runs away to London. The journey is long, hungry, and dangerous. On the final stretch, he meets Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, a streetwise boy who offers him shelter. The Dodger leads Twist to a new 'home' under Fagin's roof. This is a trap. Twist's new family is a gang of pickpockets overseen by Fagin, who grooms children for theft. Fagin offers food, shelter, and even affection, but at a price. In his den, lined with stolen watches and silk handkerchiefs, Twist is taught to steal without understanding it is a crime. On his first outing, Twist is wrongly accused of pickpocketing a kind gentleman, Mr Brownlow. But instead of punishment, Brownlow offers him refuge. In his home, Twist gets warmth, books, and clean clothes, and feels he might be loved. It is a short interlude of peace. This sanctuary is snatched from him when Fagin's gang violently abducts Twist. Twist is forced to assist in a house burglary by the violent Bill Sikes. Nancy, Sikes's companion, secretly helps Twist and later takes a great risk in informing Mr Brownlow of the boy's whereabouts. She sees her younger self in Twist and in trying to help him, seeks redemption. Sikes, paranoid and cornered, brutally murders Nancy. His descent into guilt and madness mirrors the city's shadows, cloaked, chaotic, inescapable. Hunted by mobs, Sikes accidentally hangs himself trying to flee across a rooftop. The murder of Nancy, though horrific, becomes the event that finally causes the collapse of the criminal world that held Twist captive. Finally, Twist is revealed to be the son of a naval officer and the rightful heir to an inheritance. The people who mistreated or exploited him—Fagin, Sikes and Bumble—are exposed or punished. Mr Brownlow formally adopts Twist. Reading only the plot summary, anyone unfamiliar with the novel would be forgiven for mistaking Oliver Twist as a somewhat grotesque picaresque tale where a young boy, standing in for the archetypal innocent maiden, defends his virtue from villainous predators. Oliver himself may appear a one-dimensional cardboard cutout. So what makes this a literary classic? For me, it is Dickens' empathetic and layered portrayal of criminality. He does not romanticise crime like the popular Newgate novels (named for a London prison that was destroyed in a fire in 1780) of his day. Instead, he draws a realistic portrait of London's seedy underbelly and those who inhabit it. Dickens' criminals are neither evil nor heroes rebelling against an unjust society, they are human beings struggling to survive in an apathetic city. They are people shaped, and often broken, by an uncaring system. Who is the greater criminal: Fagin, who gathers those discarded by society into a makeshift family, or Judge Fang, the cold embodiment of institutional cruelty? One preys on the desperate, the other represents a system that created that desperation. Dickens does not offer easy answers. Fagin is manipulative, yet provides laughter and shelter. Nancy is both kidnapper and protector. Even Bill Sikes, brutal as he is, is more than a monster, he is the product of poverty and pain. In a novel full of morally ambiguous characters, Oliver's unblemished innocence may seem implausible, but perhaps he is not meant to be realistic. Instead, he serves as a moral anchor, a fixed point of purity around which the chaos of the city swirls. Dickens uses caricature and satire to great effect to expose the hypocrisy of respectable society. Now, in the 21st century, Oliver Twist has become a cultural touchstone. Its characters have entered the popular imagination, and its themes have inspired generations of writers and reformers to confront injustice with empathy. It has been adapted both for stage and screen, and the iconic musical, Oliver! (Disclaimer: Lit in 10 aims to distill the essence of great works, not to replace them. To fully experience Dickens' humor, horror, and heart, the original novel is still essential reading.) Aishwarya Khosla is a journalist currently serving as Deputy Copy Editor at The Indian Express. Her writings examine the interplay of culture, identity, and politics. She began her career at the Hindustan Times, where she covered books, theatre, culture, and the Punjabi diaspora. Her editorial expertise spans the Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Online desks. She was the recipient of the The Nehru Fellowship in Politics and Elections, where she studied political campaigns, policy research, political strategy and communications for a year. She pens The Indian Express newsletter, Meanwhile, Back Home. Write to her at or You can follow her on Instagram: @ink_and_ideology, and X: @KhoslaAishwarya. ... Read More
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
How choosing a different path helped UK's Royal Northern College of Music student inspire others
— Adi Verma I always knew I wanted to study music, but the idea of studying it abroad took root gradually. It began with a simple curiosity — what would it be like to learn in a country that had produced some of the most iconic names in pop and contemporary music? That curiosity grew into a clear goal during my years in Mumbai. I wanted to challenge myself, grow artistically, and understand music not just as an art form but as an evolving global industry. After completing Class 10 and 12 from Bhopal, I needed to step into a space where I could be immersed in music. Therefore, I moved to Mumbai to study at the True School of Music (2020–2023), pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Music Production and Technology with a minor in Drum Techniques. Bhopal gave me my roots and my hunger. Mumbai gave me the stage. I spent my time jamming in dusty rooms, playing the drums, and writing songs, knowing this wasn't just a hobby. It was my calling. After graduating, I joined a music label where I worked across A&R, production, and artist development. A&R is Artists and Repertoire. It is a division within record labels and music publishing companies responsible for talent scouting, artist development, and overseeing the creative and commercial aspects of an artist's career. That one year gave me an inside look at the real workings of the music industry — how careers are shaped off-stage. But even while working, I held on to a long-standing dream: to pursue my master's abroad. When I started researching options, I looked at the US, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. However, the UK just clicked. There's a raw, historic energy in places like London and Manchester, where music isn't just played, it's lived. The MMus in Pop Music at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) was everything I was looking for: performance-driven, experimental, and deeply rooted in artist development. It was also practical — the course lasts a year, which made sense both financially and in terms of my career timeline. What really drew me in was how RNCM marries tradition with innovation. A lot of artists I look up to have walked these halls. I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to grow, not just as a drummer or a producer, but as a music professional who understands the creative and the commercial. The British Council was instrumental during this time. Their resources helped me understand the UK education system better—everything from courses and scholarships to crafting a strong application. Getting into RNCM was not easy. It is one of the world's top music schools, and the admission process was rigorous. I chose not to hire a counselor; I wanted to do it on my own. I sent in my application with academic transcripts, a statement of purpose, references, proof of English proficiency, and a portfolio of original compositions and performances. The highlight was a performance video, which, once shortlisted, led to the final stage — a live performance and interview with the Head of Department. It was intense, but the RNCM team was incredibly supportive throughout. The visa process required a lot of attention to detail, especially financial documentation. My biggest advice — triple-check everything and follow official guidelines strictly. I was fortunate to be awarded the GREAT Scholarship, funded by the UK Government's GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council, in partnership with selected UK universities. It played a major role in turning my dream into reality. If I had one tip for future applicants, it would be this – be specific and personal. Show how your journey aligns with your ambitions and how studying in the UK fits into that story. Landing in Manchester felt like stepping into a movie. It was raining, obviously. Everything — the accents, the fast-paced city life, even the supermarket layouts — was new. That first week was a whirlwind of induction sessions, setting up a bank account, buying basics, figuring out how tenancy contracts work, and adjusting to stores closing earlier than I was used to. However, thanks to RNCM's support systems and other international students facing the same challenges, I never felt alone. Life at RNCM is unlike anything I have experienced before. Teachers here don't just lecture — they mentor, collaborate, and co-create. The flexibility of the programme has allowed me to experiment with acoustic and electronic drumming, collaborate with artists from across the globe, and dive deep into research topics like jazz drumming and adaptive modelling. One unforgettable moment: in a seminar about Tony Williams and improvisation, a jazz-loving faculty member just jumped in to jam with me. That spontaneity and openness define my experience here. My daily routine is a fluid blend of rehearsals, studio sessions, lectures, and assignments. Mornings are usually quiet—maybe a run if it's not raining, or a strong coffee and journaling. But by midday, I'm usually either in the studio, in class, or working on music. Evenings are for jamming with friends, catching live sets, or just hanging out at someone's flat or a café near campus. Manchester's backstreets always offer a new surprise. Budgeting has been a skill I've honed fast. I track my expenses closely, cook at home when I can, and take full advantage of student discounts—UniDays and Revolut have been lifesavers. Every pound saved feels like an investment in the bigger picture. Studying in the UK has definitely shifted my outlook on life. Living and learning in a completely new environment pushed me out of my comfort zone, not just musically, but personally. I've become more independent, more intentional with my time and energy, and a lot more open to perspectives I hadn't encountered before. Collaborating with people from different cultures and musical backgrounds has really broadened the way I think about creativity and community. It also made me more mindful of the kind of example I am setting for those back home. Friends, peers, and some of the younger musicians I have connected with have started asking more questions, not just about studying abroad, but about building sustainable careers in music. It has been heartening to see how my journey has opened up conversations that did not exist before. I never set out to be a role model, but I have realised that sometimes just choosing a different path can inspire others to imagine new ones for themselves. (This letter is part of a series by The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students at different foreign universities. From scholarships and loans to food and cultural experiences — students tell us how life is different in those countries and things they are learning other than academics) Mridusmita Deka covers education and has worked with the Careers360 previously. She is an alumnus of Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University. ... Read More
