Notizie

The fifth ‘Lethal Weapon’ movie has been stuck in development hell because "the studios are having a lot of problems", Mel Gibson has said.The 69-year-old actor is set to reprise his role as LA police officer Martin Riggs as well as direct the long-awaited sequel, though Gibson has revealed Warner Bros. has been facing internal issues that have slowed development down - despite the next ‘Lethal Weapon’ having "a really good screenplay".Speaking to Screen Rant, he said: "For some reason, the studios are having a lot of problems. I don’t know what the deal is. “I’m not sure what the problem is, but it is a really good screenplay."‘The Passion of the Christ’ director teased that the fifth ‘Lethal Weapon’ movie was the best entry in the series, and described it as "a lot of fun" and "really emotional".He said: "I sat down with...

"We need to make sure he doesn't make it into the top 50." Giant Pictures has unveiled the official trailer for an indie martial arts action thriller film titled Absolute Dominion, the latest feature made by Punisher: War Zone director Lexi Alexander. This will be out on VOD in May to watch. It's sort of a modern reboot of Bloodsport or Mortal Kombat, set in the near future involving a grand tournament. In 2063, desperate for a solution to save humanity from a global holy war on religions, the world's governing bodies establish a fierce, no-holds-barred martial-arts tournament to determine a champion whose faith will govern humanity and restore peace for the future. Created by an internet personality (played by Patton) the event is called The Battle Of Absolute Dominion. All qualifying belief systems will send one representative to compete, the last fighter standing wins Absolute Dominion for one faith. Can you...

Throwback To When Chris Rock Revealed Why He Never Wanted To Follow Jim Carrey’s Career Path ( Photo Credit – Wikimedia )

Chris Rock never wanted to be the next Jim Carrey. He made that clear back in 2005 when he explained his approach to picking movie roles. “I can do serious roles sometimes in other people’s movies but not in one of my own,” he said in an interview with The Guardian. “I don’t want to ask my fans to come and not laugh at me. ‘Hey! Come on, let’s go see Chris Rock not be funny!’”

From the start, Rock built his career around comedy. Stand-up was his first love, and even as Hollywood came calling, he stayed true to that foundation. He popped up in Beverly Hills Cop 2 and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka in the ’80s, but by the ’90s, he was making more significant moves.

In an era before Netflix, B-tier action movies used to come out in theaters, rather than being ported straight to streaming. Think "Timecop," "Under Siege," "Kickboxer," or pretty much any other movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal. You could even add some Sylvester Stallone movies like "Cobra" into that mix. By 2001, a lot of the camp style of the late '80s and '90s was fading from the genre, but that didn't stop Jet Li and Jason Statham from adding one more ridiculous, critically panned, but still fun sci-fi actioner.

"The One" is a movie about the multiverse long before that was cool. Directed by frequent "X-Files" scribe James Wong, it follows Li as Gabe Law, a regular police officer on a regular version of Earth. Li also plays Gabriel Yulaw, an evil version of Gabe from another universe. Yulaw was once an agent of the MultiVerse Authority,...

It can’t be denied that in the eighties and nineties, the action movies coming out of Hong Kong revolutionized the industry. Marrying the kinetic style of seventies grid house martial arts epics with the technological innovations and kinetic energy of the best American action movies of the era, directors like John Woo, Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam, and stars like Jackie Chan and Chow Yun-Fat made a huge mark internationally. In the mid-nineties, and in the face of Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China, many of the biggest names from the scene found their way to America, and outside of Jackie Chan and John Woo, arguably the most successful transition was made by martial arts superstar Jet Li.

A former member of the Bejing Wushu team, Li’s arguably became the biggest martial arts movie star since Bruce Lee. Sure, Jackie Chan movies maybe made more money, but they,...

Mel Gibson will start work on 'The Resurrection Of The Christ' in August.The 68-year-old actor-and-director will be heading over to Italy in the summer to begin production on his long-awaited sequel to 2004's Biblical epic 'The Passion of The Christ', Rome’s Cinecittà Studios CEO Manuela Cacciamani had let slip.Speaking to Italian newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore, she said: “I can confirm that the next film directed by Mel Gibson, produced by Icon Productions, 'The Resurrection of Christ', will be shot entirely in Cinecittà starting in August and requires many theaters and stage construction."Earlier this year, the 'Braveheart' actor described 'The Resurrection Of The Christ' as an "acid trip" and admitted he had "never read anything like" the script he had been working on with Randall Wallace.He told podcaster Joe Rogan: “My brother and I and Randall all sort of congregated on this.

When a Hollywood actor is big and making lots of movies, it kind of feels like they'll stick around forever. There are plenty who do, but so often a familiar face will enjoy a hot streak before vanishing from the limelight. Back in the '90s we had a number of such actors. Alicia Silverstone, Meg Ryan, and Bridget Fonda all hit their peak during the decade and became household names thanks to their hits. And then they were gone, either suffering from a string of poor choices (Silverstone), taking a break from acting (Ryan), or retiring altogether (Fonda). Another Hollywood star who enjoyed her heyday in the '90s before vacating our multiplexes was Rene Russo. But why exactly did she disappear from Hollywood?

Russo was one of several models who crossed over into acting during the '90s. Some made a big splash in their breakthrough roles, like...

Many actors passed on iconic roles — whether due to scheduling, fear of typecasting, or not having enough confidence in the material. Years later, Mel Gibson reflected on turning down some big roles.

The actor starred in many iconic roles, including 1979's Mad Max, 1987's Lethal Weapon, and 1995's Braveheart. He has also stepped behind the camera as a director and directed the critically and commercially successful The Passion of the Christ, among other projects. However, at the 2025 Megacon Orlando, the actor addressed passing on James Bond and Gladiator roles, per People.

RelatedSylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson & Jon Voight Named Hollywood's 'Special Ambassadors' by Donald Trump

The U.S. president-elect has named three celebrity "special ambassadors" to help bring Hollywood "back" from its "very troubled" current state.

Decades ago, Gibson was up for the role of the 007 agent in the 1980s, as well as the leading character, Maximus, in 2000's Gladiator. Looking back,...

Action fans, get ready to barely contain your glee, as Lethal Weapon stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover have reunited amid talk of a fifth outing in the beloved buddy cop franchise. The pair, who have teamed up as LAPD detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh across all four Lethal Weapon movies from 1987 to 1998, took to the stage together at the recent MegaCon fan convention in Orlando. And it’s a reunion that will no doubt have action fans even more excited for Lethal Weapon 5 than they already were.

Gibson had his own panel at the event, during which the Oscar-winning filmmaker (and now controversial figure) discussed some of his biggest roles, as well as revealed the big roles his turned down (via People), including James Bond and Gladiator lead Maximus Decimus Meridius, a role ultimately played by Gibson’s fellow Australian actor Russell Crowe.

Footage from the event,...

Early Hong Kong classics from Jet Li, including works from celebrated filmmakers Gordon Chan, Yuen Woo-ping (perhaps best known by western audiences for his work on “The Matrix”) and Corey Yuen will finally arrive on digital 4K on Feb. 18, courtesy of Shout! Studios in collaboration with Li.

The releases include 1994’s “Fist of Legend,” 1993’s “Tai Chi Master,” “The Legend” and “The Legend 2,” and 1994’s “The Bodyguard From Beijing.” These are the movies that made Li an international superstar and paved the way for him to appear in western blockbusters like “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Romeo Must Die,” “The One” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” along with Sylvester Stallone’s “Expendables” franchise.

“Thanks to our new partner Shout! Studios, movie fans can now easily enjoy these entertaining films in stunning 4K on various digital platforms. I hope a new generation of audiences will be introduced to these...

While most ordinary TV shows aren't too interested in introducing new characters into the mix at all when they reach their final season, let alone feature one who becomes a breakout best character, "Cobra Kai" is no ordinary TV show. Currently, the show's sixth and final season just bowed its second of three parts, and it's become apparent that the villainess Zara Malik is arguably the final season's best new character. A student from the Iron Dragons participating in the Sekai Taikai tournament, Zara is a mysterious girl who lets her beauty, popularity, and especially her fists do the talking for her. As "Cobra Kai" wraps up its various storylines before the final episodes drop on February 13 of next year, Zara could turn out to be a pretty dangerous and dramatic wild card.

What's even more exciting than that is the accomplishments and potential of the actress behind Zara: Rayna Vallandingham.

When it comes to action flicks, Jet Li doesn’t pull punches—literally or figuratively. The martial arts legend has one clear reason why Hollywood keeps trading in the real, gritty moves for flashy CGI: not all actors can actually fight. According to Li, authentic martial arts on screen require an actor who can handle real, complex choreography.

Jet Li in The One (2001) | Credits: Hard Eight Pictures

But in a time when special effects can conjure up almost anything, who needs a training montage? CGI might be a shortcut, but it’s missing the spark that only true martial artists bring to the screen.

Jet Li Opens Up About Why Hollywood Shifted from Real Martial Arts to CGI in Action Movies Jackie Chan as Mr. Han in The Karate Kid | Credits: Columbia Pictures

Jet Li didn’t hold back when it came to calling out Hollywood’s shift from real fight scenes to CGI.

Mel Gibson still plans to direct Lethal Weapon 5. It’s written, but Gibson admits the film is being held up, and he doesn’t know why.

Mel Gibson has been primarily staying behind the camera of late for his filmmaking, his assorted controversies leaving his leading man status pretty much irreparably damaged. As a director, he’s completed his latest movie – Flight Risk, which is due early next year – and he’s been juggling The Passion Of The Christ 2 as well.

But also, following the passing on director Richard Donner, he’s also announced his intention to direct Lethal Weapon 5, offering another swansong for the characters of Riggs and Murtaugh, as played by Gibson and Danny Glover.

It comes over 25 years after the rushed Lethal Weapon 4, and before he died, Richard Donner had been working on the film. Reportedly, before he passed, he asked Gibson to direct Lethal Weapon 5 instead.

Quick Links Lethal Weapon 5 Latest News Lethal Weapon 5 Is Confirmed Lethal Weapon 5 Cast Lethal Weapon 5 Story Details Lethal Weapon 5: Further News & Info

After years of speculation, it seems as if Lethal Weapon 5 is finally happening, and there are already some exciting updates concerning the legacy sequel. The beloved buddy cop action franchise follows the exploits of Los Angeles detectives Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) as they take down some of the city's biggest criminals while trying not to get on each other's nerves. Besides the over-the-top action, the glue that held the franchise together was always the hilarious chemistry between the stars, Glover and Gibson.

The first movie was released in 1987, and three more followed at various intervals, with Lethal Weapon 4 hitting screens in 1998. While it seemed as if the classic '80s action franchise had finally ridden off into the sunset...

Mel Gibson, 68, is determined to prove that he is not too old for this...stuff as the actor offers an update on the development of the long-awaited action movie sequel, Lethal Weapon 5. Speaking with Comicbook.com, Gibson revealed that, not only does he plan to both direct and star in the Lethal Weapon sequel, he plans to do it at the same as developing and bringing to screens his biblical follow-up The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection. However, both projects present their own set of unique problems, with Passion of the Christ having to somehow tackle the age of its leading man, Jim Caviezel, while Lethal Weapon could struggle to get the greenlight as Gibson does not own the rights.

So, how does Gibson plan to tackle these issues? And which movie will happen first? Well, at the moment, hes not sure. But it certainly sounds like hes set on getting both movies made.

Mel Gibson isn't sure whether he will direct 'The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection' before 'Lethal Weapon 5'.The 68-year-old star is due to helm the follow-up to the 2004 historical drama as well as the next instalment into the action franchise but has now admitted the production schedules for both movies are up in the air. When ComicBook.com asked the 'Braveheart' actor which film he'd tackle first, he said: "I don't know, and that's the funny thing."I mean, there's various obstacles to getting any film up on its feet, and not just budgetary, but there's like, there's 1,000,001 reasons why something goes and why it doesn't. "So it's really kind of a c***shoot at this point what goes first and which came first, whether it's the chicken or the egg."In 2021, Gibson revealed he would be directing a sequel to 1998's 'Lethal Weapon 4...

Mel Gibson became a top movie star quickly but faced controversies that derailed his career for years. Despite a tumultuous past, Gibson's net worth hit around $425 million from his film work. The actor/director faced a decade of blacklisting due to various incidents involving racism and abuse.

Mel Gibson was one of the premiere movie stars of the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, which is when he earned his tremendous net worth before some controversial events knocked him from his perch. Born in the United States, Gibson's large family moved to Australia when he was 12 (via female). Gibson began his career on the stage for a brief period, but he moved into television roles in The Sullivans and Cop Shop, but fame came quickly after Mel Gibson was cast in Mad Max as the titular character.

It didn't take long for Gibson to become one of the biggest movie...

Former Sun Yee On triad member Jimmy Tsui criticizes Lethal Weapon 4's unrealistic portrayal of one of the mafia characters. Lethal Weapon 4 is the lowest-rated film in the franchise, with a 52% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a lower box office performance than Lethal Weapon 3. Lethal Weapon 5 is in development with Mel Gibson taking over as director following Richard Donner's death.

A former mafia member breaks down a key fight in Mel Gibson's Lethal Weapon 4. Released in 1998, Lethal Weapon 4 is the fourth film in the action franchise that began with Lethal Weapon in 1987. The fourth installment features the return of LAPD officer Martin Riggs as he confronts Chinese mobsters this time. In addition to Gibson, Lethal Weapon 4 features a leading cast including Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock, Jet Li, Steve Kahan, Kim Chan, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, and Eddy Ko.

Lethal Weapon 5 may actually happen and hopefully, its Rotten Tomatoes rating will be better than the third and fourth entries. The chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson carried even the weakest sequels. Lethal Weapon 5 can finish the franchise on a stronger note than the lackluster fourth entry.

It looks like Lethal Weapon 5 might finally happen, and I really hope its Rotten Tomatoes trend improves on the last couple of entries. The original Lethal Weapon movie wasn't the first buddy cop film by any stretch, but it's come to be seen as the defining example. This Richard Donner movie had great action and a witty script by Shane Black, but it was the chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson that truly made it sing. This is what got me through some of the weaker outings too.

Lethal Weapon evolved from the grittiness of the original to...

Chris Rock headlines the voice cast of animated sequel Everybody Still Hates Chris, and here are the details.

Chris Rock attained superstardom following his second HBO stand-up special Bring The Pain in 1996. Hollywood beckoned, and he took supporting roles in the likes of Lethal Weapon 4 and Nurse Betty, as well as writing and directing feature films Down To Earth and Head Of State. After the much publicized incident at the Oscars two years ago, Rock released Netflix special Selective Outrage and co-starred in civil rights drama Rustin.

In 2005, autobiographical sitcom Everybody Hates Chris premiered on television. Broadcast on Channel 5 in the UK, the show portrays a semi-fictionalized version of Rock’s childhood. Tyler James Williams portrayed a teenage Rock, alongside Terry Crews as father Julius, Tichina Arnold as mother Rochelle, Tequan Richmond as younger brother Drew, Imani Hakim as younger sister Tonya and Vincent Martella as Rock’s school friend Greg.

An upcoming independent horror film with Hereditary and The Conjuring vibes is creeping its way toward screens. Screenwriter Lila McLaughlin is stepping behind the camera for her directorial debut, shooting from a script she wrote that sounds bone-chilling in all the best ways. Joining McLaughlin for Don’t Let Them Out are Emily Rios, Louis Ferreira, and Bonnie Root as primary cast members.

According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Don’t Let Them Out follows “a struggling woman who journeys to a property she has inherited in hopes of selling it to pay off her debts. But upon arriving to the property, the story takes a terrifying turn when the woman is lured into a desperate scavenger hunt down a perilous rabbit hole.”

McLaughlin and Root are teaming up to produce Don’t Let Them Out, which is soon to end production. Seasoned editor Eric Strand joins the team after...

Jet Li's mastery of Wushu, a Chinese fighting style focusing on precision and artistry, propelled him to stardom in action films. Li's training in Wushu, baguazhang, tai chi, and xingyiquan brings a unique and varied martial arts approach to his performances. The discipline of Wushu, with its emphasis on forms and grace, perfectly complements Li's wuxia action movie roles, making him an iconic star.

Though versed in multiple forms of martial arts, action star Jet Li is a master of a particular Chinese fighting style. While actors like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan brought kung fu to the forefront of martial arts movies, not all Chinese actors practice this fighting style on screen. Li, who is a national champion in his central style, practices a form of martial arts that is perfect for flashy action movies of the wuxia genre. Since these seem to be the actor's preferred projects,...

Rotten Tomatoes owes its existence to Jackie Chan's action-comedy "Rush Hour," as the website started as a fansite for the film in 1998. Rotten Tomatoes became more popular in 1999 after featuring reviews for films like "Star Wars: Episode 1" and "The Blair Witch Project," leading to its official launch in April 2000. Rotten Tomatoes has had a profound impact on the industry, despite controversy surrounding its scoring system and criticisms from filmmakers like Martin Scorsese.

Rotten Tomatoes owes its existence to a Jackie Chan action classic. The action movies Jackie Chan made in Hong Kong such as the Drunken Master or Police Story films may have been hugely popular with fans of the genre, but they did little to help the star break into American films. This wasn't for lack of trying; during the '80s, Chan starred in several American productions, like The Big Brawl or The Protector. Both were financial...

Writer Shane Black pretty much invented the "buddy cop" movie with "Lethal Weapon," his gloriously violent Christmas-set action pic that introduced moviegoers to LAPD Detectives Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover). The basic set-up of the franchise, which was helmed entirely by Richard Donner: Murtaugh plays things by the book and is close to retirement (he somehow remains "close to retirement" through a series of four films). Riggs, in sharp contrast, is a trigger-happy psycho, suicidal in the wake of the death of his wife. These two mismatched cops become partners and, of course, friends. Also, they kill a lot of people. While this is one franchise that should probably finally retire (just like Murtaugh), there's a fifth film in the works. 

But we're not here to talk about that. Instead, let's go back to the days when Mel Gibson sported a mullet and wasn't problematic!

Warner Bros. made multiple attempts in the '90s to bring Superman back after the failure of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. A screenplay entitled Superman Reborn by Gregory Poirier had elements such as Superman dying, Parasite and Silver Banshee as villainous stooges, and a revamped Brainiac. The draft was heavily influenced by the overly commercialized '90s Batman films, making it questionable whether they would have pleased diehard fans of the character.

Welcome to the 29th installment of Page One Rewrite, where I examine genre screenplays that just couldn't make it. This week, another one of Warner Bros.' many, many attempts to kill Superman in the '90s. And if you have any suggestions for the future, let me hear them. Just contact me on Twitter.

Just as the sting of 1987 box office flop Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was fading, Warner Bros. saw incredible success...

Joe Pesci retired from acting in 1999 to focus on his music career but returned in 2010 for the film Love Ranch. Since his return, Pesci has had a limited number of acting projects, including a critically acclaimed performance in The Irishman that earned him an Oscar nomination. Pesci's recent return to TV in Bupkis demonstrates his continued selectivity in choosing roles, as he only participates if he genuinely likes the material.

Joe Pesci stepped away from a hugely successful acting career in 1999, making his return to screens 11 years later all the more surprising. While the actor has dozens of screen credits to his name, including some of the best Martin Scorsese movies, the massive gaps in Pesci’s later filmography speak to a partial disillusionment with the industry. Nevertheless, the actor’s contributions to Hollywood as a supporting actor and leading man have cemented him as a film icon.

Pesci could...

Several martial arts movies have villains who are clearly better fighters than the heroes. Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, Tony in Flashpoint, and Wah Sing Ku in Lethal Weapon 4 are notable examples of this trend. The Raid: Redemption, Drunken Master II, and The Matrix also have villains who are formidable opponents.

Martial arts movies often feature skilled pugilist protagonists, but some of the most respected entries in the genre have also featured villains who were more adept at martial arts than the heroes. Martial arts movies are very influential and beloved, and that's largely due to the genre's well-choreographed fight scenes, heart-stopping stunts, and over-the-top villains. One of the tropes commonly associated with martial arts movies is that of the protagonist eventually surpassing their sensei before challenging the villain to a duel to the death, often for honor or revenge.

While many of the best martial arts movie directors have retired,...

1998, one year into the handover of Hong Kong to China and action cinema was beginning to shift. “The Storm Riders” was the first to really demonstrate CGI enhanced action. Jackie Chan was balancing Hollywood and Hong Kong and Jet Li was about to launch himself onto a wider audience as the villain in “Lethal Weapon 4”. With that in mind, he had one more vehicle for his local fanbase that year in “Hitman”. As Eureka Entertainment re-release it as part of their “Heroes and Villains” box set, it provides an opportunity to go back to revisit a work that has gotten a bit lost in the mix over the years.

on Terracotta by clicking on the image below

The” King of Killers” has just slain Tsukamoto, a former Yakuza boss. In the event of his assassination, he had in place a $100 Million Dollar revenge fund which is now triggered.

Andrzej Bartkowiak got his start in the entertainment industry working as a cinematographer, working on such films as Terms of Endearment, Prizzi’s Honor, Twins, Falling Down, Speed, Species, Dante’s Peak, The Devil’s Advocate, U.S. Marshals, Lethal Weapon 4, Thirteen Days, and Trespass. But back at the turn of the century he also got into directing, working mainly in the action genre: Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Maximum Impact, Dead Reckoning. His most well-known movie, for better or worse, may be the action horror video game adaptation Doom. Now Deadline has announced that Bartkowiak is treading back into horror territory, as he has signed on to direct the supernatural thriller The Dire Wolf.

Coming our way from Steelyard Pictures, The Dire Wolf has a screenplay written by Ry Cook and is expected to start filming in New Mexico soon, aiming for a 2024 release.

Exclusive: Steelyard Pictures, the production company behind 2022 horror thriller The Inhabitant, has attached Andrzej Bartkowiak (Romeo Must Die) to direct The Dire Wolf, a supernatural thriller to shoot in New Mexico, for release next year.

No word yet on the casting front. But the film tells the story of Hank Whitmore, a sharp and stubborn New Mexican sheriff who aligns with the Navajo Nation when a series of supernatural events threatens his family, his town, and his way of life.

Ry Cook penned the script and Leone Marucci will produce alongside Tetrad Studios’ Roy Scott Macfarland, Legacy Media Ventures’ Jeffrey Katz (Buffaloed), and Randy Mendelsohn. Matthew Coates and Kenneth Heilfron will serve as EPs.

“American cinema has long wrestled with our native culture’s spiritual connection to the natural world,” observed Marucci, explaining that “the extinct Dire Wolf was [once] indigenous to North America.

Initially, Joe Pesci’s character, Leo Getz, was only meant to be in Lethal Weapon 2. But Getz became a fan favorite and was invited back not only for Lethal Weapon 3, but also Lethal Weapon 4. At the time of Lethal Weapon 2’s release, Pesci spoke to us about how he brought the character to life. (Click on the media bar below to hear Joe Pesci) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Joe-Pesci_Lethjal_Weapon_2_.mp3

The Lethal Weapon films are available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and most digital platforms.

The post How Joe Pesci Got To ‘Lethal Weapon’s’ Getz appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

The Wilhelm Scream is a widely used sound effect in over 400 films, and its popularity stems from its inclusion in the Warner Bros. stock sound library. Sound designers Ben Burtt and Richard L. Anderson discovered the scream in the Warner Bros. archive and began using it liberally in their projects, including Star Wars and Indiana Jones. The Wilhelm Scream has become iconic in film and television, appearing in various movies, TV shows, theme parks, video games, and even having its own podcast. It is now available for anyone to use under a Creative Commons license.

The Wilhelm Scream is a sound effect that has been used in over 400 films over the years since its creation. The sound effect was first used in the 1951 film Distant Drums and has since been used as an additive to characters being thrown from an explosion, falling from very high up, or shot. The sound...

If you’re a fan of Mel Gibson’s classic action flicks, be sure to stream them before they leave Max at the end of August.

All four “Lethal Weapon” movies and “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” starring the late, great Tina Turner, will be leaving the streaming service. Luckily, you’ll have all month to watch them.

Watching the new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” animated movie in theaters? Max has several films featuring the radical reptilians: the live-action “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze” (1991)

and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III” (1993), as well as the animated “Tmnt” (2007).

Kaiju fans will want to check out “Godzilla” (2014), “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019), “King Kong” (1933) and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” (2012).

Finally, if horror is your thing, six “Hellraiser” films and “The Ring Two” make great summer scares.

Here’s everything leaving Max in August 2023

August 5

Hard Knocks:...

It’s often claimed that good things come in threes, but try telling that to anyone who sat through the Big Momma’s House trilogy. Film sequels, in essence, are nothing new in Hollywood—the very first sequel came back in 1916 with the silent film The Fall of a Nation, Thomas Dixon Jr.‘s follow-up to D. W. Griffith’s jaw-droppingly racist epic, Birth of a Nation.

However, the concept only became commonplace in the 1970s when a string of follow-ups to successful dramas made waves at the box office. The Godfather, Part II, Rocky II, and The French Connection II were among the first movies that helped usher in this new era of filmmaking. Today though, moviedom has expanded beyond even the sequel and into new territory where the word “franchise” is king. Buoyed in recent times by the dominance of comic book movies and an increasing appetite for nostalgia,...

Summer is heating up on Max.

Back in May, Max added programming from TLC, HGTV and Food Network. That means Discovery’s popular Shark Week will be available to stream when it kicks off on July 23, with programming to be announced soon.

For fans of unscripted series, Season 3 or “90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise: Pillow Talk” (July 4) and Season 5 of “90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way” (July 10) are both streaming, as well as the series premiere of “90 Day Fiancé: UK.”

Home renovation fans will want to catch Season 16 of “Barnwood Builders” (July 6) and the special “Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge” (July 16), hosted by Ashley Graham, just in time for the feature film.

Also Read:

Here’s What’s New on Amazon Prime Video in July 2023

“Project Greenlight” (July 13) returns, with executive producer Issa Rae along with Kumail Nanjiani and Gina Prince-Bythewood serve as mentors throughout the season.

Finally, the six-episode Max Original limited series “Full Circle,...

Max is following DC’s lead with its list of new releases for July 2023.

The two big ticket items this month are of the superhero variety. My Adventures with Superman arrives to Max on July 7 after making its Adult Swim premiere the night before. The end of the month sees Harley Quinn season 4 making its long-awaited debut on July 27. Other original TV titles of note are the Steven Soderbergh-directed Full Circle (July 13) and the third and final season of How To With John Wilson on July 28.

On the movie side of things, documentary Glitch: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia premieres on July 20. Before that on July 13 is both a fresh reboot of filmmaking competition Project Greenlight and the movie that came of it, Gray Matter. Library movies in July include Pulp Fiction, V for Vendetta, Lethal Weapon, and more on July 1.

Here is everything else coming to HBO and Max this month.

The original Max series “Full Circle” debuts on July 13. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the new drama investigates a kidnapping gone wrong in New York, revealing the secrets and lies of multiple characters. Or as the trailer warns: “Everything is connected.” The six-episode limited series stars Zazie Beetz, Claire Danes, Jim Gaffigan, Jharrel Jerome, Timothy Olyphant, and Dennis Quaid.

Watch the “Full Circle” trailer:

The four-part documentary “Last Call: When A Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York” is set in the early 1990s as the AIDS crisis worsens. The media’s distorted coverage of the gay victims, coupled with the homophobic biases of the criminal justice system, undermine the investigation. The docuseries — which premieres on Max on July 9 — illustrates how the LGBTQ+ community fought to solve the murders and demand attention for those murdered.

Preview “Last Call: When A Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York”:

Arriving on the platform on...

Timothy Olyphant, Claire Danes, and Dennis Quaid in ‘Full Circle’ (Photograph by Sarah Shatz)

Max’s July 2023 schedule includes the premiere of the drama Full Circle and the return of Shark Week. The hot summer month’s lineup also includes the final season of How To With John Wilson, the premiere of Project Greenlight, and the final episodes of the popular comedy The Righteous Gemstones.

The two-part documentary The Golden Boy about the life and career of Oscar De La Hoya joins the streaming service’s lineup on July 24th. Shaun White: The Last Run, a docuseries about the Olympian, is set to premiere on July 6th.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In July 2023:

July 1

300 (2006)

17 Again (2009)

20th Century Women (2016)

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

American Sniper (2014)

Angels Sing (2013)

Ballet 422 (2014)

Barbershop (2002)

Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)

Beauty Shop (2005)

Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

Brandi Carlile: In the...

The summer movie season of 1998 actually began twelve months previously. While the Jurassic Park sequel The Lost World was still marauding around the multiplexes, a teaser trailer suddenly appeared showing a group of schoolchildren in a museum staring up in awe at the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Suddenly a gigantic lizard’s foot crashes through the ceiling and crushes the T-Rex as if it were an ant. Guess who’s coming to town…

Sony TriStar

Kicking off a marketing campaign like that, a full year before Godzilla rose up from the depths was pretty much unprecedented back in 1997. It signalled the arrival of the age of internet marketing. You could even download the trailer to watch at home if you didn’t mind waiting eleven hours for the privilege.

After months of hype, Godzilla finally arrived on Memorial Day. It was Roland Emmerich’s first movie since reinventing the...

Henry Cavill spent an "uncomfortably long" time in the bathroom while filming "Mission: Impossible – Fallout." If you've seen the movie, then you'll know Cavill's character, August Walker, wasn't on the toilet, waiting to die like John Travolta's hitman in "Pulp Fiction." (It's a thing.)

Part of the time, Walker is in a stall with two other men, one of them being Ethan Hunt, played by Travolta's fellow Scientologist, Tom Cruise. However, contrary to what the rowdy Parisians who come knocking on their door think, Walker and Hunt and their unconscious captive are there for face-scanning purposes and not a romantic rendezvous.

In a 2017 Instagram post, the summer before "Fallout" hit theaters, Cavill highlighted the skills of Chinese stuntman and Wu Shu champion Liang Yang, who plays said captive, the decoy of John Lark.

Henry Cavill

Yang's character isn't captive for very long, as he soon regains...

The best Jet Li movies are comprised of some of the greatest martial arts-driven action films released at the turn of the century. Moreover, though it's uncommon, Li also has several dramatic roles under his belt. Alongside his fellow movie stars Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li is widely considered to be one of the greatest martial artists and actors of all time. His English-language filmography alone is certainly impressive, but this doesn't represent his full body of work. When looked at in full it's clear that Jet Li's movies have earned him a place in cinema history, and few save for maybe the aforementioned or legends like Bruce Lee can match his presence in the Kung Fu genre.

As amazing as it may seem today, Jet Li didn't enter the world of martial arts until age 8 which, as many practitioners will tell you, is relatively old compared to...

While Mel Gibson will reportedly direct Lethal Weapon 5, one recent addition to his filmography could prove bad news for the buddy cop sequel. Richard Donner was originally set to direct Lethal Weapon 5, but the legendary blockbuster veteran passed away in 2021. Donner directed the first four Lethal Weapon movies, as well as Superman and The Omen, making the filmmaker a consistent hit-maker in Hollywood and one of the more critically-celebrated blockbuster directors of the 1980s and 1990s. According to the actor himself, Mel Gibson will now both direct and star in Lethal Weapon 5.

However, Lethal Weapon 5’s new director is not as reliably well-liked as Donner. For one thing, Gibson has a long history of controversial comments, and has faced accusations revolving around homophobic, racist, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic remarks. For another, although his directorial efforts have been critically well-received, Gibson’s acting work has been less celebrated in recent decades.

The Lethal Weapon franchise featured plenty of bloodshed, but the biggest body count in the series belongs to a surprising sequel. Like Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry franchise, the Lethal Weapon movies started seriously dark and gradually grew lighter with each new sequel. While the original Lethal Weapon saw Martin Riggs weep over the death of his wife with a loaded gun in his mouth, Lethal Weapon 4 saw him imitate an Asian accent in the franchise’s most cringe-worthy moment of attempted comedy. However, this didn’t necessarily impact the violence of the series.

While all of the movies in the franchise are bloody compared to Lethal Weapon’s TV adaptation, there is no denying that the violence depicted in Lethal Weapon 3 isn’t as brutal as the first movie’s killings. Lethal Weapon is a dark, gritty cop thriller, whereas the later sequels are much more broadly comedic in tone.

Content Warning: This article discusses anti-Semitism, racism, misogyny, and homophobia

While Lethal Weapon 5 killing off Martin Riggs might seem like the easiest way to salvage the series, things are not that simple for the belated sequel. According to series star Mel Gibson, the Lethal Weapon franchise is on its way back to the big screen after a multi-decade absence. Gibson claimed that he was taking over directorial duties on the sequel after the passing of the late, great Richard Donner, and the actor said that the much-delayed final chapter in the Lethal Weapon franchise would likely start filming in 2023. However, the series faces an uphill struggle.

For one thing, Gibson’s history of racist, misogynistic, antisemitic, and homophobic comments has turned many viewers off the actor’s work. For another, Gibson’s Dragged Across Concrete role proved that the actor wasn’t averse to playing characters that played off and glorified his public persona,...

“Bupkis” is one of 2023’s most highly-anticipated television series, marking Joe Pesci’s first time starring in a television series for the first time in 37 years. Pesci retired from acting a year after the release of 1998’s “Lethal Weapon 4” and enjoyed many years away from the camera. He returned to cinema in 2019 with Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” alongside Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

Continue reading ‘Bupkis’ Trailer: Pete Davidson’s New Comedy With Joe Pesci & All-Star Guests Hits Peacock On May 4 at The Playlist.

Intro: After the success of Lethal Weapon 3, it was a given there would be a fourth film in the franchise. But the next sequel proved to be surprisingly difficult to get into production. Until Warner Bros. realized they were heading into 1998 without a surefire summer hit on their hands. They gave Lethal Weapon 4 the greenlight and the movie was thrown together in a mad scramble. Twenty-five years later, it’s time to look back at the results of that rush job in this episode of Revisited.

Set-up: With a global box office haul of three hundred and twenty million dollars, Lethal Weapon 3 wasn’t just the biggest hit of the franchise. The 1992 release was considered to be the most profitable film in Warner Bros. history. So studio executives and producer Joel Silver immediately started looking forward to Lethal Weapon 4. Less than a year after Part 3 reached theatres,...

Over 100 popular films are leaving HBO Max at the end of the month, but luckily you have the whole month to stream them.

They include cinema classics like “Ben Hur,” the winningest film in Oscars history

Leaving April 5

The Inside Story, 1948

Reminiscence, 2021 (HBO)

Leaving April 11

Adult Swim Yule Log (aka The Fireplace)

Leaving April 12

About Face: Supermodels Then and Now, 2012 (HBO)

Leaving April 13

The Last Duel, 2021

Game Theory With Bomani Jones, Season 1

Leaving April 18

The Lego Batman Movie, 2017

Leaving April 24

Tom and Jerry Cowboy Up!, 2022

Leaving April 27

Malignant, 2021 (HBO)

Leaving April 30

47 Ronin, 2013 (HBO)

3 Godfathers, 1948

Accepted, 2006 (HBO)

The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938

A Private War, 2018 (HBO)

An American in Paris, 1951

The American President, 1995

Any Given Sunday, 1999

Australia, 2008 (HBO)

Before I Fall, 2017 (HBO)

Ben-Hur, 1959

Black Legion, 1937

Blade, 1998

Blood Diamond, 2006

Blow Out, 1981 (HBO)

The Bodyguard, 1992

Boogie Nights, 1997

The Book of Eli, 2010

The Bourne Identity, 2002 (HBO)

The Bourne Supremacy, 2004 (HBO)

Bringing up Baby,...

While Lethal Weapon 5 is only the latest in a long line of ‘80s franchise reboots, this does mean that the Lethal Weapon revival can learn a lot from its earlier mistakes. For Hollywood hit-makers, ‘80s nostalgia is seemingly the gift that keeps giving. The trend began as far back as 2013 when the ‘80s-set sitcom The Goldbergs cast its rose-colored view back on the era of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Netflix’s mega-hit Stranger Things soon followed, as did a never-ending stream of multiplex arrivals that rebooted, re-imagined, and revived dormant franchises from the decade.

If there were any doubt about the staying power of ‘80s nostalgia, Top Gun: Maverick's historic box office success proved that the trend was still alive and well in 2023. As such, it was not a surprise when, despite the Lethal Weapon TV show’s cancellation, Lethal Weapon 5 was announced. Initially set to be directed by the late,...

Content Warning: This article discusses anti-Semitism, racism, misogyny, and homophobia.

The controversial Dragged Across Concrete proves that Lethal Weapon 5 could struggle to overcome its star's public persona. Dragged Across Concrete has recently proven a hit on Netflix, but the slow-burn cop thriller was not such an unqualified success upon its original 2019 release. While Dragged Across Concrete’s deliberate pacing and nightmarish atmosphere won the movie its fair share of admirers, like director S. Craig Zahler’s earlier efforts Dragged Across Concrete was also heavily criticized for its reactionary, conservative story. A movie wherein the most heroic characters are cops who unapologetically indulge in police brutality, Dragged Across Concrete understandably met critical pushback upon release.

Dragged Across Concrete was extremely controversial both for its content and for Mel Gibson's starring role in the movie. Unlike even the darker original Lethal Weapon, which was pretty far removed from the reality of policing,...

While Lethal Weapon’s short-lived TV revival didn’t last more than 3 seasons, Lethal Weapon 5 could learn a lot from the failure of the spinoff. The Lethal Weapon franchise might be as old as its taciturn hero Roger Murtaugh, but the series still refuses to die. According to Mel Gibson, filming will commence on the fifth and final Lethal Weapon movie in 2023, with the actor directing the belated sequel as well as returning to the role of Martin Riggs. Whether this will really happen remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be the first unlikely revival of the buddy cop franchise.

In 2016, Lethal Weapon spawned a television spinoff. Starring Damon Wayans as Murtaugh and Clayne Crawford as Riggs (before Lethal Weapon replaced Crawford in its final season), Lethal Weapon was a television spinoff that took the basic premise of the movie series and made the duo’s antics a little more family-friendly.