Hulu is adding a new cult-leaning superhero to its lineup. Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS) announced that Hulu has acquired streaming rights to The Toxic Avenger, with the film set to make its SVOD premiere on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.

The action-comedy/horror title has already built strong buzz with critics and genre fans, including an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, according to Cineverse.

A reboot with a stacked cast

Written and directed by Macon Blair (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore), The Toxic Avenger features an ensemble cast led by Peter Dinklage as Winston Gooze, a downtrodden janitor whose life changes after a catastrophic toxic accident.

Cineverse highlighted additional cast members including Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Jacob Tremblay, and Taylour Paige.

What the story is about

The film follows Winston Gooze after he’s transformed into a new kind of radioactive hero: the Toxic Avenger. Now “Toxie” must go from outcast to savior, taking on corporate overlords and corrupt forces while trying to protect his son, his friends, and his community.

In Cineverse’s words: in a world where greed runs rampant, “justice is best served radioactive.”

A campaign with real-world impact

Beyond the film’s critical reception, Cineverse credited the movie’s campaign with helping eliminate more than $15 million in medical debt for over 10,000 people, in partnership with Undue Medical Debt.

Where it goes after Hulu

Cineverse said Hulu’s debut will be part of an exclusive window. After that, the film is expected to become available on other SVOD and FAST platforms, including Cineverse’s horror-focused streaming brand Screambox.

For viewers who don’t want to wait, Cineverse noted the film is currently available to rent (TVOD) or purchase digitally and on physical media.

About Cineverse

Cineverse describes itself as a “next-generation entertainment studio” that distributes more than 71,000 films, series, and podcasts, and includes properties such as Bloody Disgusting and a network of streaming fandom channels.

What to watch for

For Hulu subscribers, The Toxic Avenger could be a notable early-2026 add—especially for fans of horror-comedy, offbeat superhero stories, and cult franchises getting modern reboots.

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Premiere date: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
Platform: Hulu

Source: PRNewswire (Cineverse), Jan. 6, 2026 — Read the release

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Two pop-culture comfort zones are colliding in the best way this spring: Basic Fun! has teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to launch a Harry Potter x Care Bears plush collection celebrating Harry Potter’s 25th Anniversary in 2026.

The crossover brings Hogwarts house pride to Care-A-Lot, with limited-edition Care Bears styled for Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin—built for collectors, longtime fans, and anyone who wants a little extra loyalty, compassion, and friendship on their shelf (or in their arms).

What’s in the Harry Potter x Care Bears collection?

The collection arrives in two sizes, each packed with house-specific details and anniversary touches.

12-inch Plush Hoodie Assortment

These larger bears come dressed for maximum cozy: super-soft mascot hoodies, Hogwarts house robes, and iconic house scarves in matching colors.

• Gryffindor House Tenderheart Bear
• Hufflepuff House Love-a-Lot Bear
• Ravenclaw House Wish Bear
• Slytherin House Grumpy Bear

Each 12-inch bear also features the Harry Potter 25th anniversary logo on their paw.

MSRP: $17.99 each (or $34.99 for a 2-pack)

8-inch House Bears Plush Assortment

Smaller, collectible, and ready for adventures, the 8-inch “besties” include house robes, scarves, and a house crest, plus a paw design that blends classic Care Bears charm with the Harry Potter anniversary mark.

• Gryffindor House Tenderheart Bear
• Hufflepuff House Funshine Bear
• Ravenclaw House Grumpy Bear
• Slytherin House Good Luck Bear

MSRP: $9.99 each

Why this crossover works

Basic Fun! says the goal was to connect two worlds that already share a common thread: comfort, imagination, and characters that fans stick with for decades.

“As the iconic Harry Potter franchise celebrates 25 Years of Magic, in honor of the first film in the series, we are beyond excited to connect the worlds of Care-A-Lot and Hogwarts for an enchanting crossover that’s rich in character details and filled with heart,” said Lisa Doiron, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at Basic Fun!

Cloudco Entertainment echoed that multi-generational appeal.

“Care Bears and Harry Potter have a unique ability to connect with fans of all ages,” said Robert Prinzo, Head of Global Licensing at Cloudco Entertainment. “Bringing them together was a fun and meaningful way to celebrate imagination, magic, and the comfort these brands have offered for decades.”

When and where to buy

According to the announcement, the Harry Potter x Care Bears plush are launching worldwide this spring, rolling out at retailers across North America, the UK, and the EU. Fans can also find them at major toy retailers starting this month.

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For updates, follow @CareBears.

The bigger picture: 25 years of Harry Potter magic

The plush drop lands during a milestone year for the franchise, which continues to expand across films, stage productions, games, location-based experiences, and consumer products—with an HBO Original TV series based on the Harry Potter books also on the way.

If you’re the type who still knows your house without thinking about it—or you grew up with belly badges and Care-A-Lot life lessons—this collection feels like a collectible love letter to both.

More info: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/basic-fun-debuts-care-bears-harry-potter-collection-302654587.html

In our continuing look at how entertainment—television, movies, and streaming shows—grapples with real-world issues, this time we turn our attention to gentrification and the often-repeated call to “shop local.” Once again, we examine how popular culture frames these conversations, this time through the CBS sitcom The Neighborhood and the episode “Welcome Back to What Used to Be the Neighborhood.”

A Familiar Story: When the Neighborhood Changes

In the episode, Calvin’s favorite longtime restaurant closes its doors and is replaced by a flashy new pet spa. To Calvin, the change symbolizes something much bigger than a single business closing—it represents the slow erosion of the neighborhood he knows and loves. In response, he launches a campaign urging friends and neighbors to buy local in order to protect small businesses from disappearing.

Emotionally, the episode hits home. Many communities across the country have watched beloved neighborhood institutions vanish, replaced by businesses that feel disconnected from the area’s history and culture. In that sense, The Neighborhood gets something very right: gentrification often shows up one storefront at a time.

Where Television Simplifies a Complicated Reality

But, as is often the case with television, the episode also simplifies a much more complex economic reality.

The show frames “shopping local” as a direct alternative to shopping online, subtly suggesting that online platforms are inherently harmful to small businesses. In real life, however, the line between “local” and “online” is no longer so clear.

Many local and small businesses now survive precisely because they sell online—through their own websites, through Amazon, or through other platforms that support independent sellers. For some, online sales are not a threat to local commerce; they are a lifeline.

Why Brick-and-Mortar Isn’t Always Sustainable

Rising costs are a major factor driving these changes. Commercial leases, insurance premiums, utilities, staffing costs, and local fees have all increased dramatically in many cities. For small business owners, keeping a physical storefront open can become financially impossible—even when customer support remains strong.

As a result, some businesses choose to close their brick-and-mortar locations while continuing to operate online. Others scale back to pop-ups, shared spaces, or hybrid models. These businesses may no longer have a traditional storefront, but they are still local—employing local workers, paying local taxes, and serving their communities in new ways.

The Real Issue Behind “Shop Local”

Where The Neighborhood succeeds is in capturing the emotional truth of gentrification: the sense of loss, displacement, and cultural change that comes with rising rents and shifting demographics.

Where it misses the mark is in suggesting that consumer choices alone—simply avoiding online shopping—can solve the problem.

The real challenges facing local and small businesses go far beyond individual buying habits. They include zoning policies, commercial rent practices, corporate consolidation, and economic systems that increasingly favor scale over community presence.

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A Conversation Worth Having—Even If TV Can’t Finish It

The Neighborhood deserves credit for bringing these issues into mainstream conversation. It sparks discussion, even if it wraps a complicated topic in a sitcom-friendly moral lesson.

The reality is messier. Supporting local businesses today often means rethinking what “local” looks like in a digital economy—and recognizing that survival sometimes requires adaptation, not nostalgia.

Further Reading & External Resources

• U.S. Small Business Administration: Marketing & Online Sales for Small Businesses
  Explains how small businesses use websites, marketplaces, and digital tools to survive and grow.
• Brookings Institution: Understanding Gentrification
  A research-based overview of gentrification, its causes, and its impact on local communities.
• National Main Street Center: Supporting Local Small Businesses
  Resources focused on preserving local businesses while adapting to economic change.
• SCORE: Why Going Online Is Critical for Small Business Survival
  Mentorship-backed guidance on how digital sales help small businesses remain competitive.
• Harvard Business Review: How Small Businesses Can Compete in an Online Economy
  An analysis of how independent businesses adapt to large online platforms without losing identity.

At STM Daily News, our Local and Small Business coverage continues to explore these real-world dynamics beyond the TV screen, highlighting the challenges, innovations, and resilience of the businesses that keep communities alive—whether their doors are on Main Street or their storefronts live online.

📍 Read more Local and Small Business coverage at: STM Daily News