title: does PHP 5.3 change the way file_get_contents works?
body: <p>I'm having an odd issue with PHP's <code>file_get_contents</code>.</p>
  
  <p>In the past, <code>file_get_contents</code> on a remote file returns the text of that file regardless of the HTTP status code returned. If I hit an API and it sends back JSON error information with a status of 500, <code>file_get_contents</code> gives me that JSON (with no indication that an error code was encountered).</p>
  
  <p>I've just set up a Ubuntu 10.04 server, which is the first Ubuntu to have PHP 5.3. Instead of giving me the JSON, PHP throws a warning when a 500 error is present. As a result, I can't parse the JSON and give a nice error message.</p>
  
  <p>It's nice that PHP is noticing there's an error in the remote file, but I <strong>need</strong> the JSON even (especially!) if there's a 500 error. There doesn't appear to be any way to switch this off. Has anyone encountered this? Any tips?</p>