• Rodan + Fields was the No. 1 skincare brand in North America in 2017 in terms of total sales, according to Euromonitor. 
• It has a unique business structure. Products are either sold directly online or via its nearly 300,000-person team of consultants.
• Rodan + Fields' skincare starter kits start at $170 and are aimed at reducing the appearance of lines, dark spots, and acne in adult women.

Rodan + Fields is currently the top-selling skincare brand in North America in terms of total sales, according to Euromonitor. But unless you pay close attention to your more entrepreneurial-minded friends on Facebook, it's likely you've never even heard of it.

That's partly because you won't find this brand in stores. Its products are sold by a team of consultants who market lotions and potions that claim to combat lines, dark spots, and acne in older consumers. The army of consultants typically sell products by word of mouth, at special events, or on social media. 

The consultants can either choose to take a commission on each sale or opt for their sales to count towards discounted prices on their own future purchases of these products. There's a roughly 50-50 split between these two types of consultants. According to company data, in 2016 56% of consultants were paid commission on at least one month of sales, while the other 44% received discounted prices. The consultants are not given commission for recruiting new consultants. 

The biggest benefit to the sellers is that they do not need to store inventory, as products are shipped directly from the company to the consumer. A spokesperson for the brand told Business Insider that consultants are actually discouraged from holding inventory.

The system seems to be working — Rodan + Fields' $1.3 billion of sales in 2017 made it the top skincare brand in  North America in terms of dollar sales in the skincare category, eclipsing longtime leaders Neutrogena and Olay, according to Euromonitor. It now has nearly 300,000 consultants in the US. 

The company was founded by dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, who were the brains behind the acne treatment system Proactiv, which made its way into millions of households in the US and became famous via infomercials after initially launching in 1995.

The duo licensed Proactiv to Guthy-Renker, a company that sells products directly to consumers via infomercials, and these products exploded in popularity in the early 2000s. This was also thanks to several endorsements from celebrities such as Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, and Justin Bieber. 

Fields and Rodan finally sold off their rights to the brand for $50 billion in 2016, after they had shifted focus to their latest venture, Rodan + Fields, which launched in 2002. The pair is now ranked in joint 27th place on Forbes' list of the richest self-made women in America. 

Rodan + Fields is the grown-up version of Proactiv

Rodan + Fields can be seen as a more upscale version of Proactiv. Its skincare is generally aimed at older women and split into four categories: redefine, reverse, unblemish, and soothe. A starter kit, which could include a cleanser, toner, and a day and night moisturizer, starts at $170. The most expensive kit, "Age Assault," costs $363. 

The brand was brought by Estée Lauder a year after it launched, at which point it was being sold in department stores around the US. This method of selling wasn't successful, and realizing that the brand was a low priority in marketing dollars for Estée Lauder, the pair decided to buy back the company in 2007 and relaunch it with a new spin: using consultants to sell its products. 

"We knew we had products that worked and changed lives," Fields told Forbes in 2016. "We were compelled to continue."

The change in tactic came at the perfect time for the company as the recession hit and many were looking for work.

"People were losing their jobs like crazy," Fields told Allure in 2015.

Moreover, the company was growing at the same time as smartphones, Facebook, and selfies, which made the ideal combination for selling skincare products.

Today, consultants predominantly use social media to market themselves, posting before-and-after photos as proof of how effective these products are in reversing the signs of aging and curing adult acne. There are hundreds of groups on Facebook geared towards this.

A select few consultants can end up earning a six-figure salary, according to Allure, but this is generally limited to those who are high-profile figures or celebrities. There's no guarantee of making money, and this is clearly stated on the company's website. In 2016, 60% of paid consultants made on average $334 a year, according to the company. 

Bumps in the road

On Tuesday, Racked reported that the company is now facing a potential class-action lawsuit, filed on behalf of four plaintiffs who claim that Rodan + Fields' Lash Boost, an $150 eyelash growth serum, had given them a series of symptoms including burning and swelling. 

According to Racked, this is due to a controversial ingredient called isopropyl cloprostenate, which has not been approved by the FDA as a drug. The ingredient is banned in Canada, which means Rodan + Fields is unable to stock the product there. 

In a statement to Business Insider, a spokesperson for Rodan + Fields said: 

"We stand behind the safety and efficacy of Lash Boost. Many of the legal allegations involve comparisons to unrelated products, including prescription products that have different ingredients and formulations. We are going to let the specifics of our legal defense play out in court.

Lash Boost is intended for use as a cosmetic and as such, has been consistently advertised as improving the appearance of eyelashes. As with any cosmetic, Lash Boost may cause irritation in some users, especially if it is misused.  Rodan + Fields provides clear directions to users, including those who experience irritations."

SEE ALSO: A skincare brand with a cult following is in turmoil after its founder goes on bizarre Instagram rampage

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NOW WATCH: The story behind Warren Buffett's million dollar charity lunches at Smith & Wollensky

• When a nude gunman opened fire at a Waffle House in Nashville early Sunday morning, 29-year-old James Shaw, Jr. leapt into action.
• He wrestled the AR-15 rifle from the shooter, saving lives.
• Police are still searching for suspect Travis Reinking, who they believe killed four people and injured two.

The man who wrestled the gun away from a Waffle House shooting suspect in Tennessee said Sunday if he were going to die, the gunman would "have to work to kill me."

Police are calling James Shaw Jr. a hero for saving lives in the busy restaurant, but the 29-year-old Nashville resident said he only made a split-second decision to do all he could to challenge the shooter and save himself from being killed.

Shaw said at a news conference Sunday he had spent an evening out at a nightclub and entered the restaurant minutes ahead of the gunman's arrival. He said he and another friend were seated at a high counter when he heard gunshots. Shaw said he had just seen restaurant workers stacking up freshly washed plates and thought at first that plates had crashed down.

Then, he said, restaurant workers scattered and he turned and saw a body near the front door as the gunman burst in. It was then he realized he had heard gunshots.

"I looked back and I saw a person lying on the ground right at the entrance of the door, then I jumped and slid ... I went behind a push door — a swivel door," Shaw said.

"He shot through that door; I'm pretty sure he grazed my arm. At that time I made up my mind ... that he was going to have to work to kill me. When the gun jammed or whatever happened, I hit him with the swivel door."

Shaw said it was then that they began wrestling, ignoring his own pain as he grabbed the hot barrel of the gun: "He was kind of cussing while we were wrestling around. When I finally got the gun he was cussing like I was in the wrong ... it wasn't any kind of talking between us; I just knew I just had to get that away from him."

When asked what he was thinking during the altercation, Shaw said there hadn't been much time for a coherent thought process.

"It really wasn't a process of thinking, it was more of a 'now. You have to do this now,'" he said. "There wasn't going to be another window. There wasn't going to be another chance."

'You don't get to meet too many heroes in life'

Of the gun, Shaw said: "I grabbed it from him and threw it over the countertop and I just took him with me out the entrance." Shaw said after getting the man out of the Waffle House, he then ran one way and saw the suspect jogging or trotting another way.

Shaw's right hand was bandaged at the news conference from the struggle, and he explained that the heat from the gun's barrel had burned much of his palm. He said he also had another apparent bullet graze on one elbow and fell and hit his knee as he escaped and skinned up some fingers.

Shaw added he didn't see himself as a hero, adding he's certain he wouldn't be alive if he hadn't succeeded in his mission.

"I didn't really fight that man to save everyone else. That may not be a popular thing," Shaw said. "I took the gun so I could get myself out" of the situation.

Tears welled in his eyes at the news conference as law-enforcement agents called him a hero. He said he was glad he ended up saving other lives.

Waffle House CEO Walter Ehmer also thanked Shaw at the news conference for his bravery.

"You don't get to meet too many heroes in life," Ehmer said before addressing Shaw, who dabbed at his eyes. "We are forever in your debt."

A manhunt was still underway Sunday evening for the suspected shooter, 29-year-old Travis Reinking. Police said he may have two guns and urged residents to contact authorities if they see him.

SEE ALSO: Manhunt underway for nude gunman who killed 4, injured 2 at Nashville Waffle House

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Warning: Huge spoilers for "Westworld" season two. If you aren't caught up on the series, read at your own risk.

"Westworld" aired its season one finale in 2016, and for the last year and a half fans have been trying to answer a lot of questions. Some of them got answered in the season two premiere Sunday night, but as always with "Westworld," the show raised even more.

The season two premiere, called "Journey Into Night," is a bit slow-paced as it does more set-up than a typical episode of "Westworld." But it still throws in some action and promises some excellent (if confusing) storylines for season two.

The premiere sets up some exciting pairings (like Maeve and Lee Sizemore), introduces new characters, and opens the possibility of showing off other parks beyond Westworld.

Here's our recap of the the season 2 premiere of "Westworld":

SEE ALSO: The 11 biggest questions we want 'Westworld' to answer in season 2

We still can’t trust a "Westworld" timeline.

This episode might seem straightforward, but most scenes are told from Dolores or Bernard’s perspective. Since they’re both hosts, we might think we know what we’re seeing (or more importantly, when), but we can’t be too sure based on what the show pulled on us in season one.

The premiere picks up right where season one left off: after the host massacre Ford initiated.

According to Karl Strand, a new character and the Head of Operations, the parks within Delos Destinations lost communication for about two weeks. 

We get an idea of where Westworld and the other parks are located.

If you watched closely, you’d know that Delos has jurisdiction over an entire island. When Bernard is observing Strand talking to a man in a military uniform, Strand tells the man that Delos has “authority over this entire island.” This gives us a better idea of where and what exactly this land of expansive parks is.

Kate Middleton has gone into labour with her third child.

The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St Mary's Hospital in London alongside Prince William on Monday morning, according to Kensington Palace.

The Duke and Duchess' first two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were born in the same hospital.

Kensington Palace revealed Middleton's pregnancy last September. The announcement was made earlier than planned because the duchess had to cancel a planned engagement due to morning sickness.

When born, the Cambridges' third child will be fifth in line to the throne, bumping Prince Harry to sixth place. The baby's gender and name are not yet known.

Middleton carried out her last royal engagement in late March before going on maternity leave. She maintained a light workload for a several weeks after her last two children were born.

SEE ALSO: Kate Middleton is pregnant again

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NOW WATCH: How bangs became an iconic hairstyle that took over the world

Hands up if you have hundreds of matches on dating apps who you've never spoken to. It's a pretty common habit, and probably the result of just having too much choice. 

But according to Erika Ettin, relationship coach and the founder of dating site A Little Nudge, this is just one of the many ways we are doing ourselves a disservice when it comes to looking for love.

Ettin spoke to Business Insider about all the ways you're going wrong on your dating app profiles, and what you should do instead to help you find "the one." They aren't rules, rather tried and tested methods that work.

"You'll find an exception to every rule, but my background is analytical, and I'm an analytical person," Ettin said. "So if something works 99% of the time, that's what I'm going to recommend. You'll always find the 1% and that's fine, but I'd rather give you a better chance."

Most of the mistakes are surprisingly simple — scroll down to see how many you're guilty of. 

SEE ALSO: You've heard of 'ghosting' — here are the 11 modern dating terms you'll probably start hearing everywhere

1. Not writing a bio

You might think that not writing anything on your profile makes you look aloof and mysterious. In reality, you just look boring, and you're giving your potential matches too much of a reason to swipe left (left meaning no thanks).

"It doesn't matter how attractive you look in your pictures, if you haven't written a single word then people question what the heck you're doing on there," Ettin said. "So it doesn't take much. I only recommend 20-40 words on a dating app. 20 words is not that many, and you can write anything."

You can write a couple of words about what you do for a living, two truths and a lie, a few bullet points — it doesn't matter. Literally anything is better than no words at all.

2. Just writing your height

This is one of Ettin's pet peeves. Some men think women are just after a man over a certain height, which isn't true at all.

"When men only list their height, it's as if that's the only thing to offer in this world," Ettin said. "I'm sure some people who care about height are appreciative of that, but seriously is that the only thing? It's insulting! Like, wow he's a catch, he's 6ft tall, but maybe he was in jail last year."

3. Too many pictures

Just because an app allows you to upload a certain amount of photos, this doesn't mean you should. According to Ettin, four or five is the optimum.

"People have a tendency to look through every picture and find one they don't like, and then dismiss you because of that one," she said. "I would never put more than five pictures. It's enough. People can see what you look like."

• Taylor Swift's stalker reportedly broke into her New York home early Friday morning.
• According to police, he took a shower then fell asleep in her bed.
• The 22-year-old Florida man was arrested.

Taylor Swift apparently has a stalker — and he broke into her house, took a shower, then had a nap.

Page Six reported that 22-year-old Roger Alvarado from Florida allegedly broke into the pop star's three-storey Soho, New York townhouse early on Friday.

First Precinct police responded to a call about a burglary at the property at 12.30 a.m.

They found a ladder leading up to a broken window at the Franklin Street home — then found Alvarado sleeping in one of Swift's empty beds.

Alvarado had reportedly also taken a shower, according to police sources.

He was arrested by police and charged with felony stalking, burglary, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass.

This wasn't the first time, according to the BBC, who reported that Alvarado was arrested at the same address in February after allegedly breaking the front door with a shovel.

Swift reportedly bought the home a few months ago for $18 million — along with two other adjacent properties — but isn't currently living at the address.

Alvarado is apparently not her only stalker.

A 38-year-old man wearing a mask — and found with a knife in his car — was reportedly arrested on suspicion of stalking earlier this month outside her Beverly Hills home.

SEE ALSO: Barbie has a last name — and people are beyond shocked

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NOW WATCH: A neuroscientist explains why reality may just be a hallucination

• The best point in a married relationship could be once you reach 20 years together.
• That's according to a new study, which showed how time together is difficult up until that point, then improves afterwards.
• Don't expect it to be easy, as many couples experience difficulties along the way.

It's baffling for some people to imagine choosing one person to spend the rest of your life with. People change over time, and there's no guarantee you'll grow in the right direction.

But despite being a rollercoaster, the happiest point in a couple's marriage has been shown to be later than you might expect.

A study, published in the journal Social Networks and the Life Course, found that couples were happiest when they reached the 20 year mark — their China anniversary.

Researchers from the Pennsylvania State and Brigham Young Universities analysed the marriages of 2,034 couples, with an average age of 35-37, and how their satisfaction changed over the years.

The "seven-year itch" is commonly reported in marriages, but if the results of the study are correct, sticking it out could mean you're happier in the long run.

The study found that married couples who last 20 years spend more time doing activities together than those in the honeymoon period. Also, over time, they develop "deeper levels of appreciation" for each other.

It's not always an easy road, though. The results also found that happiness slowly declines up to the 20 year point, before picking up once you get over the hump.

"Although divorce is common these days, about half of all marriages last a lifetime," said the researchers. "And the long-term outlook for most of these marriages is upbeat, with happiness and interaction remaining high, and discord declining."

Although the honeymoon period — the first year of a relationship — is usually the most passionate, the best part of a relationship might be worth waiting for. According to some research, couples have their best sex lives together after 15 years.

However, one study, published in The Journal of Sex Research, found that women may be the most likely to cheat on their partners between six and 10 years of marriage — so to get to the best part, you might have to work hard.

SEE ALSO: A divorce lawyer says manipulating your partner isn’t dishonest — and it can even make your relationship better

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NOW WATCH: Leslie Odom, Jr.'s $500,000 gamble that led to 'Hamilton'

• The gambling capital of the world is Macau, an autonomous region in China, with gaming revenues more than three times that of Las Vegas.
• The city made its name catering to high-spending VIPs from China, but casino giants have had to change their strategy due to a corruption crackdown and directives from the Chinese government. 
• MGM China opened its new $3.4 billion mega casino-resort earlier this year to appeal to China's rising middle class, with a $100 million theater, priceless art, and a high-end spa, among other features.
• I visited the resort recently. It was clear that gambling was hidden away while MGM was trying to sell a new kind of luxury to its guests.

Americans might be surprised to find out that the gambling capital of the world isn’t Las Vegas.

It's Macau.

Gambling revenue in the former Portugeuse colony topped $33 billion last year, more than three times the revenue generated by Las Vegas casinos. 

It's a stunning turnaround for the city, which became a gambling mecca for the millionaires and billionaires created by China's economic rise. Global gambling giants Steve Wynn, Las Vegas Sands, and MGM all jumped in to feed the demand.

But, starting around 2013, revenue started to dry up as President Xi Jinping led a crackdown on corruption in the Communist Party, scaring off the VIPs who drove casino revenue.

Gaming revenue has come back as the crackdown has eased, but this time around its the crowds driving the revenue, not the VIPs. That, along with the Chinese government's directives that Macau needs to broaden its scope away from gambling, has changed the strategy for casinos.

In February, MGM China opened its $3.4 billion bet on the new face of Macau — the one based around family-oriented tourism and appealing to China's middle class, which is projected to grow from 430 million to over 780 million in the next decade.

The MGM Cotai is a 35-story, 1,390-room casino-resort that takes the focus off gambling and towards features like  a $100 million theater that change into multiple configurations — from fashion show to concert to nightclub — as well as a $12.7 million collection of contemporary and traditional Asian art, nine high-end restaurants, and a world-class spa with “singing bowl” massages.

“Our strategic plan is built on catering to this tremendously emerging more-affluent Chinese customer, a customer that’s looking for more experimental experiences, not just a selfie moment or a gaming table," MGM CEO James Murren said.

I was recently invited to the MGM Cotai for two-day art symposium to show off the resort’s extensive art collection, as well as try out the various features and facilities — here’s what it was like.

SEE ALSO: We partied at the exclusive, sexy Hong Kong party with the art world’s elite on a 62,000-square-foot floating restaurant — here’s what it was like

The MGM Cotai is located in Macau, which I accessed by ferry from Hong Kong. More specifically, the resort is on Cotai, a 2-mile strip of reclaimed land where casino giants have sought to create a new Las Vegas Strip of diversified mega casino-resorts offering everything from amusement parks to a mechanized dragon.

The MGM is surrounded by massive casino-resorts like Steve Wynn's Wynn Palace and City of Dreams Macau. There are more than 10 casino-resorts on "the Strip."

Opulence is the name of the game. The golden lion in front of the MGM Cotai weighs 38 tons, is 33 feet tall, and made from 32,000 sheets of 24-karat gold foil.

• Netflix CEO Reed Hastings saw his pay rise five percent to $24.4 million in 2017, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing on Monday.
• Netflix's chief creative officer, Ted Sarandos, also saw his total compensation package rise 18.5 percent from $18.9 million in 2016 to $22.4 million last year.
• Netflix's executive pay increases came amid a period of great growth for the company.
• After posting its "highest quarter in our history," with 8.3 million subscribers added globally in Q4 of 2017, the company again blew past growth targets in Q1, adding another 7.4 million subscribers. 

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings saw his total compensation package rise five percent to $24.4 million in 2017, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing on Monday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While Hastings' salary dropped from $900,000 to $850,000, the CEO's stock options rose from $22.3 million to $23.5 million.

Netflix's head of content, Ted Sarandos, also saw his pay rise 18.5 percent from $18.9 million in 2016 to $22.4 million last year.

While Sarandos' salary stayed at $1 million, his stock options dropped slightly to $12.4 million, and his "non-equity incentive plan compensation" grew from $4 million to more than $9 million, according to THR.

Netflix's executive pay increases came amid a period of great growth for the company.

After posting its "highest quarter in our history," with 8.3 million subscribers added globally in Q4 of 2017, the company again blew past growth targets in Q1, adding another 7.4 million subscribers. 

Though Netflix's subscriber growth has continued to soar, it still has negative free cash flow, and expects to for quite some time. That means debt is needed. Netflix announced today that it plans to raise $1.5 billion in debt to invest in its content library of shows and movies, which the company will have spent roughly $8 billion on by the end of 2018.

SEE ALSO: Netflix has rejected showing its movies at some willing theaters, and Hollywood insiders don't understand why

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NOW WATCH: The 3 key words to use on your résumé to land the interview

• Dating and dieting have a lot in common, according to Joanna Coles.
• Coles is the former editor of Cosmo and Marie Claire magazines, the chief content officer at Hearst Magazines, and the author of the new book "Love Rules."
• In the book, Coles shows readers how to identify the people who are standing between you and the love you want.
• For example, Coles says your relationship with an ex is a kind of "junk love" that is best eliminated from your diet.

About midway through Joanna Coles' new guide to modern dating, "Love Rules," she offers an analogy between food and sex that will hit awfully close to home for many readers:

"In the same way you pick idly at chips promising this is literally your last one, you may be in a relationship that you know isn't going anywhere, but you're hungry for love, and it feels less frightening than nothing."

Yikes.

Coles is the former editor of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire magazines; she's currently the chief content officer of Hearst Magazines.

"Love Rules" is premised on the idea that the best way to find love is to approach dating like dieting, which is to say intentionally, methodically, and with the willingness to tweak if something isn't working. Just as many health experts recommend keeping a food diary, Coles advises keeping a love journal, where you record your current habits and reflect on what it is you really want.

'Junk love' can be just as bad for you as junk food

The comparison between food and love may seem trite, but I found the parallels between junk food and what Coles labels "junk love" surprisingly compelling.

Coles uses a doughnut as a "metaphor for your ex — warm, sweet, familiar, and loaded with trans fats that clog the arteries and eventually lead to a blockage of the heart." When you sleep with said ex, Coles says, it's easy and temporarily gratifying — but it may also sabotage your chances of finding long-term love.

The point here is simple, at least in theory: Set a goal (whether that's finding long-term love or something else) and identify the obstacles preventing you from getting there. Maybe those obstacles are crunchy and salty; maybe they're texting you to "hang out" at 2 a.m. You can't cut out the waste until you see it clearly.

Coles also shares a valuable, if somewhat unconventional, exercise  that can help readers recognize their personal obstacles. She writes: "Make a list of all the people in your life and rate them in terms of energy in, energy out. Is there anyone in your life right now who is blocking your love quest?" Coles says it could just as well be an ex or a best friend who's especially judgmental.

With regards to the ever-present ex, Coles recommends "giving yourself a clean break" and "quitting, cold turkey." This, as anyone who's tried to quit an ex or a post-work snacking habit knows, can feel impossible.

But it's conceivable that simply being aware of your counterproductive habits — and being motivated to break them — is a big first step in actually ditching them.

SEE ALSO: The reason dating can be so frustrating is that most people look at it all wrong

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NOW WATCH: A psychologist explains how to tell if you're ready for a committed relationship

The White House may be the most famous building along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, but there's a lesser-known government residence next door that has played a role in US history and American diplomacy for decades.

The Blair House, just steps from the north lawn of the White House, is the official presidential guest house.

Since World War II, it has acted as the "world's most exclusive hotel," hosting heads of state, royalty, and presidents-elect. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are staying there for three days during their official state visit — President Donald Trump's first.

While the White House remains the main meeting location for US presidents and their foreign visitors, the guest house carries significance.

Take a look inside Blair House.

SEE ALSO: Inside Number One Observatory Circle, the often overlooked but stunning vice president's residence where the Pences live

DON'T MISS: From playing in trucks to putting 'America First': The 40 most memorable photos from Trump's wild first year in office

Blair House is the official presidential guesthouse.

It's just across the street from the White House, at 1651 Pennsylvania Ave.

Blair House was built in the 1820s as a home for Joseph Lovell, the eighth surgeon general of the US Army.

• Jay Chandrasekhar, the director and a star of Broken Lizard's "Super Troopers 2," spoke to Business Insider about how the cult-comedy sequel arose from a massively successful crowdfunding campaign.
• Chandrasekhar also touched on comedy's embattled relationship with critical reception, how the rise of President Trump affected the film's production, and the creative advantages of being in a comedy troupe.

Seventeen years after the release of "Super Troopers," the comedy troupe Broken Lizard has returned with a sequel to the movie that kicked off their careers.

Jay Chandrasekhar, the director and a star of "Super Troopers 2," spoke to Business Insider this weekend about how the film arose, out of necessity, from a massively successful crowdfunding campaign three years ago, which netted $4.6 million from 54,000 donors. 

A comedy about a group of Vermont state police officers engaged in a border dispute with Canadian "Mounties," "Super Troopers 2" premiered to a solid opening over the weekend, raking in $14.7 million against the $5 million to $7 million it was projected to hit.

Chandrasekhar also touched on comedy's embattled relationship with critical reception, how the rise of President Trump affected the film's production, and the creative advantages of being in a comedy troupe.

John Lynch: This is the first sequel that Broken Lizard has released. What sort of creative challenges did making a sequel present?

Jay Chandrasekhar: This one in particular was really hard because it had been a little while since the first one. We've made about five other films, but in the intervening years, the show business industry has moved entirely toward movies where the main characters have capes and tights. They're less interested in funding anything non-superhero. So, when we went to them and said, "Hey, we want to make this sequel," they said, "Great. Why don't you raise the money?" And we said, "Okay..." [laughs].

We started raising money, and it was a little challenging, and finally we decided to crowdfund it. It was a high-risk bet, because if they didn't fund it, the movie never would have been made at all. So we took a gamble, we did it, and it really ended up, I mean, $4.6 million they gave us, 54,000 people. And the crowd-funding was sort of the beginning of the advertising campaign really. Three years ago when we started raising the money, that's when it really got like, every piece of art has to be good, every video had to feel close enough to the first one to give audiences the idea that, "Oh, they can still do it."

Lynch: I saw a couple reports that the film is tracking to do well. Given the success of the crowdfunding, did you anticipate that it would be a success at the box office?

Chandrasekhar: You know, you can't ever be confident about the box office, because it can be anything. You never know what's going to happen. So, no. We have been incredibly surprised by the numbers, and excited. It's been great to see how many people have come out. I mean, it's fantastic. 

Lynch: As a source of humor, a theme Broken Lizard has explored a few times now is "cultures clashing." It was in "Beerfest" prominently. What draws you guys to that comedic theme?

Chandrasekhar: It's an interesting thing, because while we were making "Super Troopers 2," and we were working with these Canadian guys, we started laughing, like, "Oh, so they're Germans" [the antagonists in "Beerfest"]. It is a theme that we seem to like. I think it's just, I don't know. I mean, we make kind of like macho, '70s style movies, and that just felt like they were the right opponents for us, you know? And it's fun to do accents in comedies. 

Lynch: There's a border dispute and themes of immigration as through line in the film. But you've also got our American turmoil as a backdrop, to some degree. You had the story idea for a while, but how did the cultural situation here in America inform the movie?

Chandrasekhar: Ultimately, these are very interesting times we're living in. When we shot the movie, it was the fall [of 2016]. We didn't know who was going to be the president. We did know that President Trump's "Make America Great Again" was certainly the thing of the campaign, and we thought, whether he wins or loses, or whether she wins or loses, that saying will probably last the test of time. So we put that in. But we try to stay a little bit away from politics. Everyone's talking about politics. We actually politically have our own opinions, too. But our fans are half stoners, and half cops, and half military. We'll do shows and have stoners sitting next to cops all the time. Our audience is on both sides of the aisle, and we're hoping that this film can be just a way for everyone to be like, "Okay, we can agree on that. We're just going to stay out of the political thing for a while." But, you know, sure. The movie has some political moments to it. I mean, obviously.

Lynch: So this is the sixth feature film you've directed now, with the same crew. Has it gotten easier to direct, or how has your perspective on that changed?

Chandrasekhar: It's gotten easier to direct because I've done a lot of television. I've done about 110 episodes of television. I have shot a lot of shots. I've done scenes in a lot of different ways, multiple times. With these TV shows, I've shot a bunch of dinner scenes, and sex scenes, and fights. So when these scenes come up in our movies, I feel pretty confident about how to get them, and get them fairly quickly. Because we still have a fairly low budget, and we're still tight on time all the time, so we have to be more smart and efficient. Both "Super Troopers," one and two, were shot in 28 days. Number two is much more complex, but we are all just better at filming, because we've done it a lot.

Lynch: What about critical reception of comedies in general. Broken Lizard films, if you look on Rotten Tomatoes, I personally feel their scores don't match the level of humor that's in them. I saw The New York Times gave you guys a critics choice for this one, but how do you think of critical reception?

Chandrasekhar: Well, I gotta tell ya, man. The first "Super Troopers" had a 35% [critical] rating and a 90% audience rating. And I thought on this movie that the critics would say, "Well, we got that one wrong. Here's our chance to make up for it." But that didn't happen. What can you do? I think people get tired of movies when they see too many. I don't know what to say [laughs]. I just don't know what to say. We worked very hard on that movie. We wrote 37 drafts of that thing. It's a good movie. 

Lynch: I thought it was hilarious. Do you think film critics are too serious about it?

Chandrasekhar: I cannot tell you what happened. Except that some of them just don't like that movie. They also don't like that kind of movie, you know? It's that kind of movie that seems to bug them. And all us comedy filmmakers, we have to suffer the brunt of that for some reason. But that's the way it goes. 

Lynch: Moving forward for the group, what's in sight for now? I've heard there may be a "Super Troopers 3." How are you thinking of that at this point?

Chandrasekhar: I think we just have to see how the weekend goes. If the movie does well and the studio wants to make three, I would imagine we would be psyched to do that. We have another film called "Potfest" we would consider doing. We'll see what happens. We had a ball making this one, and we would have a whole story for the third one. We would have to write it. Takes a little while. But if things go well, we'll do it.

Lynch: Last question, about how you guys work as a troupe. Troupe comedy, it's been around forever, back to Vaudeville. How have you guys evolved as a troupe, and what do you think is the best part of writing in that sort of group?

Chandrasekhar: You know, we met each other when we were 18, so we have jokes that are decades old. And it gives you a perspective on a person that's a little different. We know each other very well and we have a sense of what kind of things make each other laugh. So it's been very fun. The writing meetings are fun. I mean certainly, we argue about what's a funnier joke, but we figure it out. Eventually, it's fine. And if we can keep making these movies, we're going to. 

SEE ALSO: The 100 best comedy movies of all time, according to critics

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Google, Apple, and Amazon are in a war that no one will win

• The death toll from the opioids epidemic continues to soar.
• Experts say we already have a science-backed treatment that works: medication-assisted treatment, or MAT.
• The problem, however, is that very few people can get it.

The death toll from the opioids epidemic continues to soar — nearly 64,000 people died in 2016 alone. Scientists are working to find creative tools to fight it, and President Donald Trump has called the overdose crisis a public health emergency. But he has not yet outlined any targeted solutions aside from calling for drug dealers to be given the death penalty.

A growing cadre of health professionals say we already have a science-backed treatment that works. It's called medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, and it involves administering FDA-approved medications that help curb cravings and reduce the excruciating symptoms of withdrawal.

"Medications are an effective treatment for opioid addiction," Kelly J. Clark, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, told Business Insider.

The problem is that very few people can get those medications.

Only about half of private-sector treatment programs for opioid use disorder currently offer access to MAT, and of those that offer it, only one third of patients actually receive the medication, according to a study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.

There are many reasons for this lack of access to medication. Some stem from a misconception about how the treatments — which can include buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone — work. The stigma surrounding drug use and addiction plays a role, too. Still other issues include federal and state laws that restrict the availability of the medications. 

"It's more of an implementation problem than a basic science problem," Clark said, "because we know what works."

Medications do not ‘substitute one drug for another'

In someone with opioid use disorder, using the drugs is often not a pleasurable experience, but rather a practice that has become a necessary fact of life. Being without the drugs leads to painful symptoms that can include severe nausea, shaking, diarrhea, and depression. The need to use is simultaneously a physical and emotional compulsion — the lines between those kinds of pain are blurred.

One of the main misconceptions about medication-assisted treatment is that medications simply replace the drugs that hooked users — leading to more highs and fueling a pattern of repeated use.

But that view is outdated and ill-informed, experts say. Instead, the drugs work by staunching cravings and reducing or preventing withdrawal and relapse. Buprenorphine and methadone help suppress cravings, while naltrexone blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids so users don't experience a high.

"People ask me all the time, ‘well, aren't they just substituting one drug for another?' The answer is no. These are evidence-based treatments and they work," Patrice A. Harris, the chair of the American Medical Association's opioid task force and a board certified psychiatrist, told Business Insider.

Several large studies suggest that as access to MAT rises, drug overdose deaths fall. A study of heroin overdose deaths in Baltimore between 1995 and 2009 published in the American Journal of Public Health, for example, found a link between the increasing availability of methadone and buprenorphine and a roughly 50% decrease in the number of fatal overdoses.

"These treatments are life saving and they work," Sarah Wakeman, the medical director of the substance use disorder initiative at Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard, told Business Insider.

From jail to court to rehab, medication-assisted treatment is hard to find

Despite the evidence demonstrating MAT's effectiveness, it is surprisingly difficult to obtain.

One of the hardest-to-access forms of medication for recovery is methadone. In the US, the medication can only be accessed in specialized clinics; because of the way the treatment works, people on MAT must come to a facility to get their dose daily. But those facilities typically have negative reputations because of policies that restrict them to locations considered seedy or run-down. And patients who come for treatment often have to push past active drug users — a big trigger for someone with substance use disorder — on their way to and from the clinic.

"You can access heroin pretty easily, yet we make it really hard to get a treatment that’s life-saving and allows you to live healthily," Wakeman said.

On Friday, the US Food and Drug Adminstration issued a new set of guidelines aimed at underlining the important role MAT should play treating opioid use disorder.

“Unfortunately, far too few people who suffer from opioid use disorder are offered an adequate chance for treatment that uses safe and effective medications,”commissioner Scott Gottlieb said.

Other countries take a very different approach to medication-assisted treatment that makes the treatments easier to obtain. In Canada, for example, methadone is distributed in pharmacies.

Rehabilitation facilities and courts in the US often don't offer medication-assisted treatment either. Instead, most operate on an abstinence-based model, in which patients must detox and then are offered counseling. They're  encouraged to attend 12-step meetings like Narcotics Anonymous, which remains opposed to MAT despite the growing body of evidence behind it.

Among staff at rehab centers across the US, many workers maintain the belief that the medication doesn't work and say clients will "abuse" medications. Stephanie Rogers, an intake coordinator at Talbott Recovery, an Atlanta-based addiction treatment center, told Business Insider that she "honestly believed" that MAT was "just substituting one drug for another."

This trend runs in sharp contrast to the way treatment for other conditions has changed based on new research. When it comes to type 2 diabetes, for example, a large body of scientific evidence demonstrated that the medication insulin helped curb the symptoms of the illness. Those findings prompted medical professionals across the country to uniformly endorse and offer it.

Even among rehab center workers who do understand the potential of medication-assisted treatment, many told Business Insider that their facilities aren't licensed to provide MAT in the first place. San Diego-based drug treatment center AToN, for example, lacks the proper licensing to provide methadone to patients, according to its program director.

Turning the tide requires buy-in from officials and medical providers

Some officials, including judges who preside over courts that see people brought in on drug offenses, are trying to update their policies to incorporate the most recent research on addiction treatment.

Judge Desiree Bruce-Lyle presides over several such courts at the Superior Court of San Diego County. She told Business Insider that she became convinced of the efficacy of MAT after attending an American Society of Addiction Medicine conference and speaking to some of its leaders, including Kelly Clark and vice president Penny S. Mills.

"I didn't believe in [MAT] until I met Penny and Kelly last year and they convinced me why it was a good thing and then I heard from a lot of the speakers that were attending that we needed to take a look at it," Bruce-Lyle said.

Still, out of roughly 50 participants in the reentry court that Bruce-Lyle helps oversees, only one or two are on MAT, she said. In their veterans court, which includes roughly 60 people, three or four are on MAT.

"I'd like to see more of it," Bruce-Lyle said, but added that she felt she'd need to convince key players at the court — including the Sheriff and other leaders — of the treatment's efficacy.

A handful of physicians and social workers are also helping to lead the charge by calling attention to the scientific evidence that shows MAT is more effective than an abstinence-only model. Wakeman, the assistant professor at Harvard, travels around the country giving presentations at conferences like the one that helped change Bruce-Lyle's mind.

"Medication-assisted treatment saves lives," Wakeman said. "You can also just call it 'treatment' and drop the two words in front of it."

DON'T MISS: Prince died with 'exceedingly high' levels of a drug that's 30 times stronger than heroin in his system, according to a new report

SEE ALSO: Pharmaceutical giants are sidestepping US marijuana restrictions to research cannabis-based drugs

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NOW WATCH: Why humans enjoy pain so much

• Icelandic budget airline Wow Air is seeking two people to move to Iceland and travel the world for free while producing content and travel tips for its website.
• The successful applicants will be paid a monthly salary to stay in an apartment in Reykjavik, which they'll use as a base for their travels.
• The trip will begin on June 1 and last till August 15.

Summer is around the corner, which means holiday planning for many people, and if you have some free time on your hands over the next few months, you could be in luck.

Budget Icelandic airline Wow Air is seeking two friends who would like to travel the world together this summer while blogging and vlogging about their experiences — and getting paid to do it.

The low-cost carrier is launching the WOW Travel Guide competition on April 23. It says it's looking for a "fun pair of individuals who are able to think big." This can either be two content creators, or one who wants to bring a friend along for the adventure.

The successful applicants will move to Iceland from June 1 until August 15, where they'll receive a monthly salary and live in an apartment (pictured below) in downtown Reykjavik. They'll use the place as a base to travel to destinations served by Wow Air across Europe and North America, and will also explore Iceland.

The winners will be allowed to pick where they go, a representative for the airline told Business Insider, which could include places like Barcelona, Los Angeles, Stockholm, and New York.

Each traveller will receive a salary of about 3,300 euros ($4,000) a month, which comes in addition to the apartment, as well as transportation, and other tours around Iceland. Travel and living expenses will also be covered by the airline while the pair are visiting other destinations.

The successful applicants will be required to document their trips, capturing short videos and writing budget-friendly travel tips to create guides for the destinations they visit. Their content, which will include videos, GIFs, and blog posts, will be posted to a section on the Wow Air website called Travel Guide.

To apply, candidates should head to the competition website and upload a two-minute clip offering travel tips for their hometown. The contest is open to candidates everywhere.

The deadline for entries is May 14, after which a panel of judges will select the winners to be announced on social media on May 18, just in time for the adventure to begin on June 1.

SEE ALSO: What it's like to fly on the new 'millennial' airline that serves craft beer, signature cocktails, and organic coffee — and has flights from $60

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why we give better advice to our friends than we give to ourselves

• Marriage gets easier the more effort you put into it; your partner will almost always respond in kind.
• The way you relate to your spouse will change many times over the years of your marriage.
• Marriage connects you not only to your partner but to their life, their family, their work, and beyond; be ready for all of that to become part of your life too.

My wife and I met when we were teenagers. When we got married, I was a few weeks away from my 23rd birthday, and she was 21. Which, now with some 13 years of hindsight, seems pretty crazy to me, especially when I meet the typical American in their early 20s. But it worked!

Now in our mid-30s — with two kids, two cars, a roof leak I need to repair, and the oven seeming like it needs replacement — I'd say she and I have this marriage thing down pretty well.

It's not always easy being married, even 15 years or so in. We're human beings, and human beings often don't make things easy for one another. (For the record, I'm primarily talking about myself here.)

There's no magic formula for the perfect marriage, but I can offer you some words of wisdom that I wish someone had told me before I got married.

SEE ALSO: 9 things I wish I knew before I got married

1. Talking isn't necessarily communicating.

When you talk to your spouse, are you really hearing what he or she is saying? I don't mean the words alone; I mean the meaning behind them. Even many years into my relationship, I'm still at times reluctant to say certain things to my wife for fear of seeming needy or petty.

I might hope for a compliment on an outfit, for example, or want to vent about something I know is ultimately no big deal. Sometimes I'll fish for a compliment rather than asking directly how I look; other times I'll speak about something general ("Why would anyone ever park in front of a driveway?") instead of just asking her to ask her friend who is visiting not to park in front of our driveway.

My wife does this, too, and so do you, and so will your partner. At times, we all try to express things without saying them, but when you are in tune with your partner, you will pick up on the hints. And if you ever feel like you might be missing the point, ask directly. Once you ask someone about they were trying to address anyway, they will likely open right up.

2. You marry more than your husband or wife: You marry their life.

I have one first cousin; my wife has 12. My cousin lives in a different state than we do. All but one of my wife's cousins live within an hour drive (and that's with heavy traffic).

When I married her, I married into a huge, close-knit family that was quite unlike my own small family. And I love them all, and it's all well and good now, but it took time to adjust to the dynamic. You must also be ready to share your spouse with their career, their friends, their hobbies, and more.

3. Learn how to argue, and don't hide from disagreement.

If I can avoid having an argument with someone, whether that person is an airline gate agent, a roofing contractor, or my own wife, I will do it. And for a number of years, I honestly thought that by avoiding arguments I was being a loving, stable partner.

What I finally realized (remember, we got married young!) was that sometimes I wasn't avoiding arguments; I was avoiding issues. If two people spend enough time together, there will be conflict; that's just a given.

The way you resolve your conflicts is up to you and your spouse, but hiding from the argument will not only leave the underlying issue unaddressed — and it can leave your partner feeling disrespected and even unloved.

• The CDC is currently investigating a large recent E. coli outbreak linked with romaine lettuce.
• The agency keeps tabs on the foods that most frequently make us sick — and fresh vegetables are pretty high on the list.
• Fortunately, one of the best and easiest ways to avoid getting sick is washing or cooking fresh vegetables before you eat them.

When you think of the foods most likely to get you sick, you may not think of the true worst offenders: fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sure, seafood goes bad easily and meat can frequently be undercooked, but sprouts, spinach, and unpasteurized juices can bowl us over and leave us missing work more often. As part of one of the largest recent outbreaks of a dangerous strain of the bacteria E. coli, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating how romaine lettuce sickened at least 53 people across 16 states. So far, the agency believes the source of the illnesses is contaminated leaves from Arizona.

The CDC also keeps tabs on what foods tend to get us sick most frequently. Pulling from more than a decade of outbreak data, CDC scientist John Painter was able to nail down seven common offenders.

SEE ALSO: 11 things people think are terrible for your diet that actually aren't

Spinach that's unwashed or raw can harbor E. coli and norovirus.

Nearly half of all foodborne illnesses the CDC recorded in its report were caused by produce. Of those illnesses, the vast majority (22%) were linked to leafy vegetables like spinach, making leafy greens the most dangerous commodity of all of the food categories the CDC explored.

Since fruits and veggies are frequently consumed raw, any harmful bacteria introduced to the produce at any time during production could make you sick. Contaminated spinach typically harbors norovirus— the common stomach bug linked with vomiting and diarrhea — and sometimes carries E. coli as well.

Rinsing or washing your produce is a healthy protective step, but this merely decreases the possibility of contamination — it's not a fail-safe, according to the CDC.

Chicken and turkey can be contaminated with listeriosis, which can be deadly.

More deaths documented in the CDC's report were attributed to chicken and turkey than to any other food.

Part of the reason poultry got such a bad rap has to do with three large listeriosis outbreaks traced to turkey deli meat that occurred from 1998 to 2002. Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by listeria bacteria; its symptoms can range from fever and diarrhea to stiff neck, headache, and confusion. Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are the most at risk.

Still, it's important to recognize that, just as it did with unpasteurized juices following several illness outbreaks, the FDA issued new regulatory standards aimed at increasing the safety of deli meat in the years following the listeriosis outbreaks.

Sprouts are frequently contaminated with salmonella.

The moist conditions in which sprouts are grown are also the perfect environment for bacteria — especially salmonella, which can cause diarrhea, fever, and painful stomach cramps. Of particular concern are contaminated seeds.

"A few bacteria present on the seeds can grow to high numbers of pathogens on the sprouts," the CDC wrote on its food-safety page.

• The British royal family is worth millions of dollars collectively, though Queen Elizabeth II has the highest personal net worth.
• Most of the British monarchy's wealth is derived from inherited lands and investments.
• British taxpayers also support the royal family through a "sovereign grant" issued by the treasury.
• The royal family has come under fire for money management in the past — along with certain investments that appeared in the Paradise Papers.

You might say the royal family is old money. Centuries-old money, to be exact.

According to Forbes, Queen Elizabeth II had an estimated net worth of $530 million as of 2016. Forbes also reports the British monarchy "contributes nearly £1.8 billion to the UK economy" annually, including £550 million in tourism.

British taxpayers support the family through a "sovereign grant" issued by the treasury. This year's grant will come out to $104.8 million. That's about 65 pence per year per taxpayer, according to The Boston Globe.

Soon-to-be royal and former "Suits" actress Meghan Markle — who's set to wed Prince Harry in May— will bring her own substantial wealth to the marriage. She has a net worth of $5 million, the Daily Mail reported.

Here's how much the British royal family is worth now — and how they acquired their millions:

SEE ALSO: Queen Elizabeth only carries money one day a week — here's why

DON'T MISS: Watch our visit to the Queen's McDonald's, where we had a very British breakfast

The treasury doles out a lump sum — known as the sovereign grant — to the queen.

The sovereign grant is meant to cover the expenses Queen Elizabeth II racks up in her official duties as monarch, including travel, entertaining, and property maintenance, according to The Mirror.

The sovereign grant comes out to 15% of the annual profit of the Crown Estates. The amount granted to the monarch cannot decrease from the previous year, even if the Crown Estate fares poorly. The National Audit Office has free reign to audit the grant.

The arrangement hasn't always been without snarls. The grant came under review in 2015, essentially because the queen was making too much money, Business Insider reported.

What's more, the Guardian reported the grant jumped from 15% to 25% of Crown Estate profits, in order to pay for Buckingham Palace renovations.

Queen Elizabeth II also has her own personal income — and paid income tax for the first time after a fire devastated her favorite castle in 1992

Forbes reports Queen Elizabeth has an estimated private wealth of $530 million.

And, according to the law of the land, she doesn't have to pay any taxes on her wealth.

"The sovereign is not legally liable for income, capital-gains or inheritance tax," according to the Economist.

That expectation changed after one of her favorite residences, Windsor Castle, was devastated in a 1992, according to the Daily Mail.

The fire sparked controversy over who would foot the bill for the damages. Ultimately, Queen Elizabeth began paying taxes on her income. According to the BBC, she was the first monarch to pay taxes since the 1930s.

Business Insider reported that the queen also makes "voluntary payments to the UK tax authority HM Revenue and Customs" in lieu of capital gains tax and inheritance tax.

The sovereign grant itself is tax-exempt.

The Crown — not Queen Elizabeth, herself — holds many luxurious residences and priceless objects in trust

The Queen herself doesn't personally own national treasures like the Crown Jewels or the Tower of London. 

Such national treasures are part of the royal collection, which the monarch holds in trust for the nation. The collection is made up of thousands of paintings, tapestries, pieces of furniture, photographs, and other objects, spread out between numerous royal residences. Certain palaces, like Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, are also held in trust.

She does personally own certain items in the collection, including an immense royal stamp collection her father King George V passed down to her. She also privately owns the $65 million country house, Sandringham House, and the $140 million Scottish estate Balmoral Castle, according to Fortune.

• Ulta Beauty is opening new stores while many other retailers are closing them. 
• One reason for Ulta's success is that it carries both luxury and drugstore brands, allowing it to appeal to shoppers on a variety of budgets.
• Rival beauty store Sephora, on the other hand, focuses on stocking luxury brands. 
• We went to an Ulta and a Sephora to see how the two stores stacked up against each other. 

While many other retailers close their doors, Ulta Beauty reportedly plans to open at least 100 new stores in 2018. 

According to CNBC, the beauty retailer is entering new markets, adding stores in existing markets, and remodeling old stores to stay relevant. Ulta carries upwards of 500 brands, ranging in price from $3 to more than $100, which is nearly double what luxury beauty rival Sephora carries.

Since its stores offer a full suite of beauty services, Ulta competes not only with other beauty retailers, but with drugstores and salons as well. Recently, a report by research firm Piper Jaffray revealed that Ulta has become the top beauty destination for average income teens, overtaking Sephora for the first time in a year. 

Another reason Ulta is seeing success is that 90% of its locations are in suburban strip malls instead of enclosed shopping malls, meaning that it isn't heavily affected by the ongoing decrease in shopping mall foot traffic. 

Sephora has more locations in shopping malls than Ulta, though it's taking action to move out of malls and open smaller locations, called Sephora Studios, to supplement decreasing mall traffic. It's also bringing in more exclusive product releases and running programs such as Sephora Accelerate, a beauty startup accelerator. 

To see how Ulta and Sephora stacked up against each other, we visited both stores back to back. This is what we found:

SEE ALSO: We went to a Kohl's store and saw how it's bucking the trend of dying department stores and malls

My first stop was Ulta. The only Manhattan location is on the Upper East Side, right next-door to a Sephora.

The inside was bright, and the employees were all very bubbly. A Benefit Cosmetics promotion was advertised in the entryway, with high-end cosmetics to the left and drugstore brands on the right.

I started making my way through the more affordable side of the store. It had a huge display of the popular brand NYX cosmetics, which is generally available in drugstores and online.

Ahead of the release of Marvel's "Avengers: Infinity War," the studio's first blockbuster of the year, "Black Panther," continues to rake in money at the domestic box office.

Currently leading the year's ranking of the top five highest-grossing films in the US, "Black Panther" has made over 5 times as much money as any other film released (at the domestic box office).

And as the highly anticipated "Avengers: Infinity War" looks to dethrone "Black Panther" following its release on Friday, Marvel and its parent company, Disney, are set to continue their domination of this year's box office.

Here are the top 5 highest-grossing films of the year at the US box office, according to Box Office Mojo:

SEE ALSO: SLOW BURN: The 13 movies that took the longest to make $100 million at the box office

5. "Fifty Shades Freed" — $100.4 million

4. "Peter Rabbit" — $114.3 million

3. "Ready Player One" — $126.2 million

• Kate Middleton just gave birth to a baby boy — her third child with Prince William.
• The new baby, whose name hasn't been announced yet, is fifth in line for the throne.
• Here's a look at some of the parenting strategies Will and Kate have used while raising their first two children, George and Charlotte.

Royal baby number three is here.

Kate Middleton — whose official styling is now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge — just gave birth to a son. The baby is her third child with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. 

The new royal's name has not been announced yet. The baby is fifth in line to the British throne, behind his grandfather Prince Charles of Wales, his father Prince William, his brother Prince George of Cambridge, and his sister Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. He is ahead of his uncle, Prince Harry.

For a royal couple, Will and Kate have been quite vocal about some of the strategies they use to parent their kids. 

Vogue reported that, while advocating for a mental health campaign, Prince William said that he and his wife want their children "to grow up feeling able to talk about their emotions and feelings."

Here's a look into what royal parenthood has been like for Will and Kate:

SEE ALSO: Kate Middleton has given birth to a baby boy

The Duke and Duchess became parents on July 22, 2013, when Kate gave birth to the couple's first child, George Alexander Louis.

Source: The Guardian

The couple broke royal tradition by releasing an informal portrait of the family taken by the Duchess' father at the Middleton family's property in Bucklebury, England — complete with their dog, Lupo.

Source: TODAY

The new royal couple brought George along on a tour around Australia and New Zealand in 2014. George didn't just meet with heads of state on the trip — Kate brought her son along on a group play date, to allow him to interact with his peers.

Source: TVNZ