Noticias

One of the late Chadwick Boseman's less-heralded gems finds a second wind as it blows up on the streaming charts over a decade after its theatrical debut. Draft Day, the sports drama featuring Boseman alongside Oscar-winner Kevin Costner, earns newfound success on Netflix.

Per Screen Rant, Draft Day is number 10 on Netflix's top movies chart this week. Draft Day debuted via Netflix on Apr. 1, making it onto a chart that includes One of Them Days, Despicable Me 4 and Jack the Giant Slayer.

Released by Lionsgate in 2014, Draft Day chronicles fictional Cleveland Browns general manager Sonny Weaver Jr. (Costner) as he and his team decide what to do with the first pick in the NFL draft as they look to rebuild the team. Boseman plays Vontae Mack, a linebacker and top NFL Draft prospect. The star-studded film also sees Jennifer Garner portray Sonny's love interest and Browns' finance manager Ali Parker,...

Every month, Netflix releases a batch of new and original films that its subscribers almost always enjoy. While its options next month aren’t quite as vast as they’ve been in the past, there are still plenty of offerings that viewers will want to see. In fact, there will be plenty of films from various genres that subscribers will definitely want to include on their next movie night.

For those who don’t mind dubbed or subtitled films, there will be quite a few movies that each tell uniquely funny, dramatic, and thrilling stories. There’s also a highly anticipated action thriller set to arrive on the platform toward the end of the month that viewers certainly won’t want to miss. With a beloved Peaky Blinders actor in the film’s starring role, it promises to deliver on every level. Nevertheless, no matter what viewers enjoy, they’re...

It is customary that once every few years, a movie studio - in hopes of creating future success - will produce a sacrificial lamb of sorts, a high-budget fantasy film with a cast only most directors could dream of that exists purely to fail spectacularly at the box office. If you find this to be entirely unbelievable, then surely question why there is such a trend in fantasy that continues to this day.

It varies from film to film on the specifics of the failure - sometimes it's a matter of poor script, sometimes overestimation of the audience turnout, sometimes the story just doesn’t appeal. Whatever the case was for Jack the Giant Slayer, the film didn't get the success it deserves, though it will get another chance to shine when it starts streaming on Netflix on April 1, via What's On Netflix.

Based on the English fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk,...

s we step into April 2025, get ready for an exciting lineup of new movies, binge-worthy series, and even games heading to your screen. Whether you’re craving high-octane action, heartfelt drama, or thrilling new originals, this month’s slate has something for everyone.

We’ll be updating this list throughout March and April as more titles are announced, so be sure to check back often. Plus, keep an eye out for Netflix’s official release roundup, typically dropping on the last Wednesday of the month. And don’t forget—while new favorites are arriving, some beloved titles will also be making their exit, so plan your watchlist accordingly!

Related: Netflix to Adapt Stephen King’s Classic Thriller “Cujo” into a New Film April 1st Coming to Netflix in April 2025: Alpha (2018) – A prehistoric survival adventure following a young hunter and his bond with a lone wolf. Draft Day (2014) – A sports...

Sadie Sink is now a front-runner to play Jean Grey in an X-Men reboot movie in the MCU. Marvel first teased an X-Men reboot following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. More updates came recently as X-Men characters began appearing in several MCU films. While some fans are excited about the actress in the role, others harbor concerns regarding her age.

Sadie Sink as Max in Stranger Things | Credits: Netflix

Many believe that Sink is too young to play Jean in the films. Earlier versions of the character in the Fox Universe were played by Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner. Sink looks younger than both these actresses, leading us to believe that Marvel might go for a story featuring much younger mutants.

Sadie Sink’s Stranger Things co-star supports her potential casting despite concerns from fans Sadie Sink’s role in Stranger Things would likely pave the way for...

Nicholas Hoult's underrated fantasy adventure film Jack the Giant Slayer will soon be available to watch for free. The film will be streaming on Tubi beginning Jan. 1.

Jack the Giant Slayer starred Hoult as Jack, a young farm boy who sets off on an adventure to rescue a princess (played by Elanor Tomlinson) from an army of giants after he accidentally opened a gateway to their land in the sky. The movie also starred Stanley Tucci as Lord Roderick, Ian McShane as King Brahmwell and Bill Nighy as General Fallon. Jack the Giant Slayer was based on the British fairy tales Jack the Giant Killer and Jack and the Beanstalk, putting a twist on how both of the stories are told.

Related Emily Blunt's Chilling 17-Year-Old Horror Film Gets a New Streaming Home

Emily Blunt's underrated holiday horror film will soon stream for free.

The film, which was...

From ‘Bad Boys’ to ‘Fargo,’ Tubi is bringing a few great titles to streaming in January 2025. All titles below begin streaming for free on January 1 unless otherwise noted:

Originals Action Don’T Mess With Grandma (1/24):

A drunk Army ranger must fight off the vicious robbers who plan to loot the cabin belonging to his sweet, oblivious grandmother.

Documentary TMZ Presents: UFO Revolution S2 (1/15):

Embed with UFO journalist Jeremy Corbell on his mission for transparency culminating in the explosive November 13, 2024 UFO congressional hearing.

Thriller Sugar Mama (1/3):

When a businesswoman pursues a relationship with a sugar baby for research purposes, her curiosity with him spirals into obsession.

A Kill For A Kill (1/17):

A deceptive motivational speaker becomes entangled in a deadly game with a fan who suggests they kill each other’s spouses.

Happy Anniversary (1/31):

A young woman assumes three identities to prey upon the men who...

Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of January titles. The Tubi January 2025 slate features new Tubi Originals, TV series, and numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.

As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library of over 250,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of exclusive Originals, and nearly 250 live channels.

You can watch the Tubi January 2025 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.

You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.

Tubi Originals...

Since the earliest explorations of world mythology, fantasy and adventure have been cornerstones of fiction, especially iconic Hollywood movies like The Lord of the Rings. Cinema has delivered decades of excellent fantasy movies, from mythological epics to adaptations of beloved novels. Offering one of the purest forms of escapism there is, the genre is at its best when combined with adventure, sending heroes on grand quests to defeat the forces of evil and find lost relics.

Fantasy movies have raked in billions of dollars at the box office, often soaking up hefty budgets and appealing to a large swath of moviegoers. Ranging from grim and scary dark fantasy stories to inspirational quests and high fantasy world-building, the genre is among the most entertaining there is. When blended with adventure, it has left audiences with some powerful stories that are must-see chapters of cinema.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...

The Harry Potter series is quickly moving forward. With a confirmed filming start for the summer of 2025, the series has just received a magical update.

There were many things that made Harry Potter a success and one of the strongest points was its magically handpicked cast, but they are not the only thing the upcoming HBO reboot needs. Aside from providing a more faithful adaptation of the seven J.K. Rowling novels and improving the outdated visual effects, the location and costumes are also key factors. Per Deadline, the Harry Potter series checked another box by hiring an Academy Award-winning costume designer.

Related Harry Potter's Rupert Grint Ordered to Pay $2.3 Million in Taxes After Attempting a Magical Tax Loophole

Not even Ron's Auror job at the Ministry of Magic can help.

The outlet reports HBO confirmed they hired costume designer Holly Waddington for the upcoming series. Waddington recently received an Academy...

Ewan McGregors 2013 film Jack the Giant Slayer is garnering new praise from VFX artists more than 10 years after its release, according to a recent Screenrant article. The movie, which grossed $197 million at the box office, and had a budget of nearly $200 million, was recently broken down in a video by Corridor Crew. The film also starred Nicholas Hoult, who will portray Lex Luthor in the Dcu.

Corridor Crew commended how authentic-looking the giants were. They noted that the monsters often moved at a slower pace, but the giants moved much more quickly, making them even more terrifying and entertaining for viewers. The video also spotlighted how the speed of the giants made them seem more real.

Here are some of the comments from the video:

"When they move quick, it's just way better. It's the same with zombies. When they stop being slow, they get way scarier. 65 giants, oh my God!

Ewan McGregor has starred in many great works of sci-fi and fantasy, but not all of his high-profile roles have garnered great success. Many fantasy movies are almost perfect but are missing certain elements that would set them apart from the best of the genre. Some of McGregor's projects fall into this category, even when their budget and visual effects are substantial and impressive. However, a film's box office performance doesn't necessarily mean that it's not worth watching. Revisiting some of McGregor's most underrated fantasy movies is a great opportunity for fans to rediscover his work.

Certain fantasy movies bomb at the box office but have comebacks, and Jack the Giant Slayer is no exception. This could be because the budget for the movie was so high that recouping it proved difficult. Conversely, the film's marketing might have failed to convey its message properly, meaning viewers were confused by...

VFX artists are impressed by the visual effects in Jack the Giant Slayer. The 2013 film starring the Dcu's new Lex Luthor, Nicholas Hoult, and Star Wars' Ewan McGregor proved to be a box office bomb, only grossing $197 million after being made on a nearly $200 million budget. In a twist on the classic "Jack and the Beanstalk" fairy tale, the film revolves around Jack (Hoult) facing an army of terrifying giants after unintentionally opening a portal to their realm. He must work with allies to protect his kingdom from this threat.

In a video breaking down the visual effects in scenes featuring the formidable giants, Corridor Crew praised the authentic-looking speed and detail in Jack the Giant Slayer.

They noted that many onscreen monsters are often depicted in a slow-moving fashion, such as The Walking Dead's zombies, but that the giants' speed in this film makes them refreshingly terrifying and entertaining to watch.

Scarlett Johansson has proven herself time and time again as one of the most hard-working, committed, and simply the best actresses in all of Hollywood. She has worked with some of her other A-listed stars from the entertainment industry, including the likes of Ewan McGregor and Joaquin Phoenix, among others.

Scarlett Johansson in Fly Me To The Moon. | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Out of all of them, Johansson seems to hold immense respect for McGregor especially, with whom she worked on her 2005 sci-fi/action The Island. Turns out, the reason behind this is because of an ability that he has been sporting for decades now, ever since he joined the Star Wars saga—something that even she learned to endure years later as Black Widow: Blue screen acting.

Scarlett Johansson Respects Ewan McGregor Due to His Blue Screen Acting

Nearly two decades ago, MCU star Scarlett Johansson joined forces...

Technological advancements have drastically affected the working of the entertainment industry, with CGI and 3D effects being used in pretty much every live-action project, be it movies or TV series. This especially includes films from major superhero franchises, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has produced some of the most intense VFX projects like the Avengers saga.

Marvel’s heavily CGI-affected Avengers saga.

However, surprisingly enough, one Oscar-nominated actor from one of the best pre-Avengers films, who had one of the most prominent side roles in Captain America: The First Avenger, has openly admitted that he can’t stand 3D. This actor is none other than Stanley Tucci, who even seems to have claimed that he finds it humiliating to work with the same, let alone enjoy working with it!

Pre-Avengers Actor Stanley Tucci “Can’t Stand 3D”

For all the people who work in the entertainment industry, CGI and...

April is shaping up to be a huge month at Hulu! Catch the premiere of the Hulu Original series “Under the Bridge,” starring recent Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Riley Keough, and Vritika Gupta and based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey chronicling the 1997 murder of Reena Virk. The streamer will also host the premieres of multiple major FX projects, including the second half of Ryan Murphy’s latest “American Horror Story” installment, “American Horror Story: Delicate,” starring Emma Roberts, Kim Kardashian, Cara Delevingne, and more. The end of April will also bring the premiere of the new limited international spy series “The Veil,” starring Elisabeth Moss and Yumna Marwan

Whether you’re looking for a new “Real Housewives” spinoff or a best-selling manga adaptation, check out everything coming to Hulu this month, including The Streamable’s top picks available throughout April!

Women’s History Month may be over, but that doesn’t mean that women aren’t leading many of Hulu’s top picks for April. The month begins with the premiere of Vanderpump Villa, a Hulu Original reality series that follows Lisa Vanderpump and the hand-selected staff members employed at her lavish French estate, Chateau Rosabelle. This next chapter in the Vanderpump saga is sure to be full of drama, decadence, and debauchery as the staff caters to Vanderpump, her wealthy guests, and their own desires.

Hulu Original Under the Bridge, based on the 1997 true-crime novel of the same name, also premieres this month. This limited series follows the investigation of Reena Virk’s disappearance –the fourteen-year-old left to meet some friends and never returned home. Starring Riley Keough and Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge has all the makings of a true-crime hit. Rounding out this month,...

If you haven’t taken the leap to bundle Disney+ and Hulu, it might be time. Streaming is only getting more expensive and competitive, and the enticing bundle (which also includes ESPN) might be a version of cable TV, but it’s also just cost efficient. Disney+ and Hulu are so intertwined that their monthly listing updates come in the same email — and as such, we decided to compile them here for you in the same list.

Whether you have Disney+ or Hulu, or both (and the IndieWire staff has weighed on our favorites), each has its benefits. Disney has the family-friendly titles, the Star Wars and Marvel (new episodes of “The Bad Batch” and “X-Men: 97” continue through April), while Hulu is the place to catch FX originals and network episodes. Both streamers have the rights to distribute National Geographic titles, which are well worth exploring along with the rest of the library.

Nicholas Hoult's casting as Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy compensates for his loss of a role in a major 2023 project, in which he would also have portrayed a villain. Despite missing out on previous DC Studios projects, including The Batman and a different role in Superman: Legacy, Hoult's persistence has paid off with a significant role in the 2025 film. With experience in a major superhero franchise as Hank McCoy in Fox's X-Men movies, Hoult's portrayal of Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy is expected to contribute to his future involvement in the DC Universe.

Nicholas Hoult's newest role of Lex Luthor in Superman: Legacy helps to make up for his loss of a role in a recent major 2023 project. Since DC Studios' co-ceo James Gunn announced the reboot of the Dceu into the new DC Universe, and the development of Superman: Legacy, many have been wondering which villains the Man of Steel...

British actor Nicholas Hoult has established himself as a Hollywood star, even as he has missed out on the opportunity to play some truly iconic characters. The two-time Golden Globe nominee started out as a child actor with a heartwarming performance alongside Hugh Grant in the coming-of-age comedy About A Boy. As an adult, he attained mainstream popularity ever since he began playing the mutant scientist Hank McCoy/Beast in the X-Men movies, starting with 2011’s X-Men: First Class. Since then, he has gone on to appear as the lead in a number of movies, including Warm Bodies, Jack the Giant Slayer, and Tolkien.

He also effortlessly transitioned to TV with his Emmy-nominated portrayal of the Russian monarch Peter III in the historical satire The Great. Beyond his lead performances, Nicholas Hoult’s best movies like The Menu, The Favourite, and Mad Max: Fury Road also showcase his ability in supporting roles.

While some fantasy movies strike gold at the box office, a lot of stunning entries into the genre end up flopping despite their immersive worlds and effective mythology. Fantasy is a tough genre for filmmakers to succeed in. While horror movies can be made relatively cheap, fantasy tends to require a lot of elaborate world-building. For authors, this might mean a few lines describing a lush kingdom or a desolate wasteland but, for directors, it can mean a lot of money. Fantasy movies are often a big-budget endeavor, which makes them a high-risk investment.

However, like many genres, fantasy yields inconsistent results. Some of the biggest box-office bombs of all time are fantasy movies, but some of the most successful franchises in cinema history belong to the same genre. While the Lord of the Rings movies might make a prospective filmmaker eager to delve into fantasy movies, a movie like...

Trainspotting is a cult classic of the '90s that gathers a brilliant young cast to tell a harrowing story about characters mixed up in drugs. Set in Edinburgh in the late '80s, the movie revolves around a group of delinquents at the moment they decide to overcome their heroin addiction and find a better future for themselves. Yet, what seems easy in theory turns out to be nearly impossible with the constant allure of friends and a series of tragedies that bring them right back to their hopeless state.

Trainspotting starts off as a comedy and quickly gives way to drama, exploring the perspective of each character in the face of compulsion, death, and despair. The movie's reputation only grew stronger as the years went by, eventually earning a sequel with the original cast 20 years later. Trainspotting is still considered Danny Boyle's best movie, and it introduced...

Warner Bros. has launched a new trailer for the family animation ‘Mummies’ from Spanish director Juan Jesús García Galocha.

The film follows the fun adventures of three Egyptian mummies who live in an underground secret city, hidden in ancient Egypt. The trio includes a princess, a former charioteer, and his younger brother along with their pet baby crocodile. Through a series of unfortunate events, the mummies end up in present-day London and embark on a wacky and hilarious journey in search of an old ring belonging to the Royal Family, that was stolen by the ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby.

Directed by Juan Jesús García Galocha (“Galo”), who makes his feature film debut following his work as art director on films such as “Tad: The Lost Explorer” and “Tad: The Lost Explorer, and The Secret of King Midas”.

The voice cast includes Joe Thomas, Eleanor Tomlinson, Santiago Winder (“The Hope Rooms”), Celia Imrie,...

Christopher McQuarrie has been in the film industry for three decades, but how do his movies rank from worst to best? McQuarrie is best known for his work as a writer, particularly in the crime and action genre. In 1995 with just his second movie, The Usual Suspects, McQuarrie won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and has gone on to write some of the biggest movies of the 21st century, including Top Gun: Maverick and Edge Of Tomorrow. While most of the movies he has written for have been incredibly successful, McQuarrie's work on the script for the box office flop The Mummy proved that even Hollywood's most experienced writers don't always get it right.

McQuarrie has frequently collaborated with director Bryan Singer and megastar Tom Cruise. Singer's Public Access, The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie, and Jack The Giant Slayer were all penned by McQuarrie, and the writer also supported work on X-Men,...

Warner Bros. has debuted the trailer for the family animation ‘Mummies’ from Spanish director Juan Jesús García Galocha.

The film follows the fun adventures of three Egyptian mummies who live in an underground secret city, hidden in ancient Egypt. The trio includes a princess, a former charioteer, and his younger brother along with their pet baby crocodile. Through a series of unfortunate events, the mummies end up in present-day London and embark on a wacky and hilarious journey in search of an old ring belonging to the Royal Family, that was stolen by the ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby.

The voice cast includes Joe Thomas, Eleanor Tomlinson, Santiago Winder (“The Hope Rooms”), Celia Imrie, Dan Starkey (“Doctor Who”), Hugh Bonneville, singer, songwriter and record producer Shakka and Sean Bean.

Also in trailers – “They stopped believing…” Trailer drops for series ‘The Santa Clauses’

The movie will be released in the UK on...

As spooky season comes to a close, HBO Max is ditching scary favorites like “Friday the 13th,” “Poltergeist” and the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchises this November in preparation for the holidays.

Emerald Fennell’s Oscar-winning hit, “Promising Young Woman,” led by Carey Mulligan, will exit the streaming service alongside the Kristen Wiig-led comedy “Girl Most Likely” at the end of the month.

Film fans should also take advantage of watching classics like “Anna Karenina,” “Fatal Attraction,” “He’s Just Not That Into You,” “The Truman Show,” “Godzilla” and the Judy Garland and James Mason version of “A Star Is Born” before they leave.

Other noteworthy titles leaving HBO Max this month include “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Dunkirk.”

Check out a full list of what’s leaving HBO Max in November and the dates that each title leaves below..

Also Read:

The Best Movies...

For nearly a decade now, Christopher McQuarrie has decided to strictly work on Tom Cruise films. You have to go back to 2013’s “Jack the Giant Slayer” to find a non-Cruise film written or directed by McQuarrie. And it appears the filmmaker isn’t ready to end the collaborations after the next two “Mission: Impossible” films either.

Read More: ‘Mission Impossible 7: Dead Reckoning: Part 1’ Trailer: It’s Time To Pick A Side

Speaking on the newest episode of the Light the Fuse podcast (via The Wrap), Christopher McQuarrie teased what is coming next after he’s done working on “Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part 1” and “Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part 2,” expected to be released in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Continue reading Christopher McQuarrie Teaming Up With Tom Cruise On A “Gnarlier” Post-‘Mission: Impossible’ Film at The Playlist.

One of the most intriguing ideas in fiction is that of the gentle giant. The idea of a creature is far more extensive and powerful than humans but gentle and kind-hearted. It’s a concept that has been explored in many different ways over the years and can find some of the best examples in movies about giants throughout film history.

From lovable characters like gentle giants, and humanoid giants to fearsome monsters, these magic beans movies have captured the imaginations of audiences worldwide. Here are just a few of the best examples.

Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)

“Jack, the Giant Slayer” is a 2013 American fantasy adventure film directed by Bryan Singer and based on the British fairy tales “Jack the Giant Killer” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

“Jack the Giant Slayer,” tells the story of Jack, a young farmhand who must rescue a princess from a race of giants after...

Ewan McGregor detailed what really happened to the “Don Quixote” film he was attached to over a decade ago.

The “Obi-Wan Kenobi” star was set to replace Johnny Depp in Terry Gilliam’s long-awaited “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” about an advertising executive who travels back in time to 17th-century Spain where he meets the real Quixote. The first attempt at the film, starring Depp, was over-budget, with Gilliam saying at the time that he was “relieved” it fell apart. Now, McGregor told GQ about the time the director Gilliam approached him in 2010 to lead the script that was 20 years in the making. (The role eventually went to Adam Driver in the finished 2018 film.)

“[Terry Gilliam says, ‘What the fuck have you been doing all this time? You’ve been underplaying everything,'” McGregor recalled. “‘What happened to the guy in ‘Trainspotting’? What happened to that guy?!'”

This was well after McGregor broke out of “Trainspotting” in 1996 and by then had starred in the “Star Wars” prequel films.

McGregor added, “It was quite rude. It...

Michael Keaton is preparing to head back behind the camera for just the second time in his career and direct in “Knox Goes Away,” a noir thriller in which he’ll also star.

Gregory Poirier wrote the original film that will reunite Keaton with “Spotlight” producer Michael Sugar and Ashley Zalta. The film is launching at the Cannes Film Market later this month, with filming expected to begin in late August in Los Angeles.

“Knox Goes Away” is the story of a contract killer who is diagnosed with a fast-moving form of dementia and is presented with the opportunity to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged adult son. But to do so he must race against the police closing in on him as well as the ticking clock of his own rapidly deteriorating mind.

ICM Partners and Verve Ventures are co-representing domestic rights, while FilmNation Entertainment is representing the international sales rights.

Orson Welles in fine form! This lavishly produced costume drama, beautifully cast and directed, was filmed on location in gorgeous Italian palazzos, churches and villas. Welles is cast to type as the literally mesmerizing mountebank Cagliostro, who aids Madame du Barry in a scheme to seize the throne of France. Welles almost certainly ‘helped’ the credited director; the highly theatrical goings-on look exactly like Orson’s style. Super performances from Nancy Guild, Akim Tamiroff, Valentina Cortese, Margot Grahame and Charles Goldner turn Alexandre Dumas’ tale into swashbuckling mind-control excitement; the disc tops it off with a sensationally good restoration.

Black Magic

Blu-ray

ClassicFlix

1949 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 105 min. / Street Date January 25, 2022 / Available from ClassicFlix / 19.99

Starring: Orson Welles, Nancy Guild, Akim Tamiroff, Charles Goldner, Stephen Bekassy, Valentina Cortese, Margot Grahame, Frank Latimore, Gregory Gaye, Berry Kroeger, Robert Atkins, Raymond Burr, Harriet White Medin, Silvana Mangano, Milly Vitale.

Cinematography: Ubaldo Arata, Anchise Brizzi

Art Directors: Jean d’Eaubonne,...

Wake up, Neo.

It’s December 2021 and to celebrate HBO Max is bringing back a classic sci-fi franchise for one last ride. The list of new releases on HBO Max this month is highlighted by The Matrix Resurrections on Dec. 22. This is the long-awaited return to the reality-bending saga from The Wachowskis. Writer/director Lana Wachowski returns as do stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as Neo and Trinity, respectively. This time around it’s 20 years after The Matrix Revolutions and “Neo lives a seemingly ordinary life as Thomas A. Anderson in San Francisco where his therapist prescribes him blue pills. Neither he nor Trinity recognize each other. However, Morpheus offers him the red pill and reopens his mind to the world of the Matrix.”

While The Matrix Resurrections is the big draw this time around, HBO Max has some other intriguing originals to speak of. The David Thewlis and...

Veteran English actor Ben Cross, whose many roles include playing Sarek in J. J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek reboot, has sadly passed away. Reportedly, the performer died after a short illness on Tuesday in Vienna, and there are little other details about his passing. According to the German publication Kurier, he had been in town for treatment after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 72 years old.

Born Harry Bernard Cross, the veteran performer came into this world in 1947. From an early age, he began performing in grammar school plays, catching the acting bug at the start of his life. At the age of 22, he was accepted into London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts to further hone his craft. Based on his great work, Cross was awarded the academy's Vanbrugh prize for performance of the year. This led to significant stage roles, making it just a matter of time before Cross would appear in movies and television.

Universal made a big investment in “Dolittle,” but the adventure comedy is going bust at the box office with a 4-day domestic opening weekend of $30 million and a global opening launch of $50 million. Based on a reported production budget of $175 million, multiple film finance experts tell TheWrap that they currently project a loss of $100 million for the project starring Robert Downey Jr. in his first film appearance since “Avengers: Endgame.”

That would be an even bigger loss than Universal’s other flop from December, “Cats,” which became joke fodder for online film circles, but at least had a smaller budget of around $90-95 million, which kept its financial loss estimates at around $70 million.

There is still a small possibility that “Dolittle” could find an overseas bailout. The film has yet to release in more than 20 markets, including nine more next weekend, France and the U.K. in the first week of February,...

Legendary Entertainment’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” didn’t stomp through North American movie theaters, instead treading to just $49 million in its opening weekend — roughly half that of its 2014 predecessor.

But Legendary, founded by Thomas Tull and owned by the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group since 2016, isn’t sweating the early returns for the film, which had a kaiju-size budget of $170 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo. The studio is breathing easy because its focus is very much overseas, where the film grossed a solid $130 million — including $70 million in China alone.

“Over the past few years, they have been focusing on blockbuster style films that often see the majority of their box office coming from the international marketplace,” Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst at ComScore, said. “If you look at the money the films have made — even just the MonsterVerse — it’s a huge amount of money… There’s a huge international interest in these films.

It looks like the Green Lantern Corps. movie may be closing in on director Christopher McQuarrie. Warner Bros. is in flux right now, in terms of how it's handling the future of the live-action DC movie universe. Justice League disappointed in many ways and that has caused swift change for DC Films. With that, many of the DC projects that are, or were, in development are in doubt. However, it looks like the Green Lantern Corps. movie is still moving forward and, what's more, it looks like Mission: Impossible - Fallout's director may be the one at the helm.

Warner Bros. is reportedly still looking to make Green Lantern Corps., which has been described as a buddy cop movie akin to Lethal Weapon in space. It will feature Hal Jordan, played by Ryan Reynolds in the previous, disastrous live-action Green Lantern movie, as well as the John Stewart version of the character.

MaryAnn’s quick take… Derivative, rote, devoid of heart and hope. Guy Ritchie has found no reason to retell Arthur’s story, or to render a mythic hero as a self-serving thug. I’m “biast” (pro): big fantasy fan

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

There are no heroes anymore. There are self-centered bastards who accidentally stumble into heroics. There are sociopaths who abuse women and are lauded for it. There are criminals who receive official sanction for their antisocial behavior. And we’re meant to cheer for them all. But true heroes in the more traditional meaning of the word? Difficult to find onscreen at the moment.

There are no heroes anymore, just criminals and sociopaths we’re meant to cheer.

And now Guy Ritchie has engaged in an egregious de-heroing of cinema with his King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Chicago – Have you ever had such a bad case of déjà vu while watching a film that trying to remember where the familiar elements are from turns into a more enjoyable experience than actually seeing the film itself? If you haven’t, your quest for that kind of film is fulfilled by the incredibly forgettable “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.”

Rating: 1.5/5.0

Is it a long lost relation of the “Lord of the Rings” franchise? Yes, but probably a third cousin judging by the familiar, yet inferior approach. Does it cinematically play out like a typical, fantasy-based video game? You could probably give the audience each a video game controller and they would know what to do with it since more than a few of the climactic sequences have the same execution as a boss-level video game battle. Is the movie actually popular “Lord of the Rings”-based video game...

From big blockbusters to smaller-budget films and hit TV series, Ian McShane has done it all throughout his six-decade career in film, television and theater. During a recent interview with Vulture, the “American Gods” actor explained what is like to make a blockbuster.

“Oh God. God. It’s a just a … You can’t … You have to be patient, but they go on forever, you know, just go on forever. Johnny [Depp]’s a great guy, I love Johnny, he’s a great guy, but at one point when you’re shooting those [‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ movies], you go [rolls eyes],” the English actor said.

Read More: ‘American Gods’: Neil Gaiman’s Guide to The Show’s Incredible Cast

He continued, “I remember I was doing a movie with Ava Gardner, at Pinewood, back in 1969, called ‘Tam-Lin,’ directed by Roddy McDowall, and at the same time, Billy Wilder was shooting his ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movie there. He’d been there about 20 weeks.

Internationally Acclaimed The Constitution Opens South East European Film Festival April 27 at the Writers Guild in Beverly Hills

Largest-Ever Selection with 56 Films from and about South East Europe

The eight-day SEEfest 2017 runs April 27 — May 4, and includes 12 features, 8 documentaries, 1 special out-of-competition screening, and 36 shorts films (short features, short docs, and animation shorts). Festival audience comprises filmmakers and international art house aficionados, industry professionals and cultural dignitaries from Los Angeles and South East Europe. Screenings are held at the Writers Guild Theater and Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills, the Goethe-Institut in Miracle Mile area and West Hollywood Council Chambers @ Library campus.

The 12th annual South East European Film Festival (SEEfest) has selected Montreal’s Grand Prix of Americas and Santa Barbara’s Best International Feature Film Winner, “The Constitution” by Croatian director Rajko Grlić to open 2017 Festival with a gala event on Thursday, April 27, at 7:00 pm at the Writers Guild Theater theater in Beverly Hills.

Michael Crichton was quite the prolific writer before his death nearly a decade ago in 2008. His influence on Hollywood looms large, authoring the novels Jurassic Park and The Lost World, upon which the Steven Spielberg built a franchise, in addition to writing and directing the original 1973 film Westworld, which laid the groundwork for the hit HBO show of the same name. The man has a reputation for putting humans in perilous situations with non-human entities, and his final novel Mirco is no different.

Mirco is another thriller, focusing on a team of graduate students who are lured to Hawaii to work for a mysterious biotech company. That is, until they are miniaturized and released into the rain forest with nothing but their scientific know-how and wits to survive. Hmmm... humans go to a tropical locale and have to face giant monsters? And it is all intended to build a new franchise?...

Ryan Lambie Mar 7, 2017

Producer Alex Garcia talks to us about Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla and Legendary's growing kaiju movie universe...

Alex Garcia knows a thing or two about giant monsters. He was the executive producer on Bryan Singer's 2013 fantasy Jack The Giant Slayer and 2014's Godzilla, and now he's the producer of this year's Kong: Skull Island. The movie not only represents the giant ape's return to cinema screens for the first time since 2005's King Kong remake, directed by Peter Jackson, but also the next step in a larger series of giant monster flicks from Legendary Entertainment.

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After Skull Island, Godzilla's set to rise again in 2019's King Of Monsters, due to start filming this summer, while further ahead, there's Godzilla Vs Kong - which will, as its title implies,...

Simon Brew Aug 15, 2016

Dwayne Johnson is still set to star in Shazam - and we've got a new update on the project...

It’s quite a way down the line in terms of DC extended universe movies, but plans are still in place to bring Shazam to the big screen. This was one of the earliest DC movie projects in the current line to be revealed, primarily because Dwayne Johnson was cast in the film. He’s taking on the role of Black Adam, although given that he’s the busiest actor in Hollywood – he’s shooting Jumanji now he’s done with Fast & Furious 8 – finding a spare few weeks in his schedule can’t be easy.

Shazam is currently being developed under the New Line Cinema banner (which is where the 'edgier' DC material goes to live) and Johnson’s manager and producing partner – Dany Garcia – has given an update.

Obviously, everyone is really excited about the new live action Beauty And The Beast movie. But how excited are they for the new live action Beauty And The Beast movie? That is, the other new live action Beauty And The Beast movie. The one that does not star Emma Watson or that guy from Downton Abbey. Oh, are you unfamiliar with that one? It stars Léa Seydoux (Spectre, Blue Is The Warmest Color) and that guy from Black Swan.

Well then, just to fill you in, a French-German production of the classic fairy tale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot De Villeneuve premiered at at the Berlin International Film Festival back in 2014. Directed by Christophe Gans (Silent Hill), it contains some stunningly beautiful visuals that only veer slightly into Jack The Giant Slayer territory. It received generally positive reviews and raked in $49 million when it was released in Europe, but it ...

Hollywood isn't taking many chances these days. In an era of reboots and remakes, original movies like Columbia Pictures' Pixels, Walt Disney Pictures' Tomorrowland and Warner Bros. Pictures' Jupiter Ascending both underwhelmed critics and underperformed at the box office. Revamped properties aren't sure bets either, as Universal Pictures' R.I.P.D. and New Line Cinema's Jack the Giant Slayer proved. Millions were spent making those blockbusters. Add in marketing costs, and the losses increase exponentially. On paper, films like 47 Ronin and John Carter seemed like good ideas. And every executive dreams of being the one to green-light the next billion-dollar franchise, à la Pirates of...

July 4 fell on a Saturday last year, resulting in an Independence Day weekend without an extended holiday. Thanks to 2016 being a Leap Year, July 4 moves to Monday and we're looking at a four-day holiday weekend that not only includes the third weekend for the high-powered performance of Disney and Pixar's Finding Dory, but three new wide releases. However, like last weekend, this week's freshman class will be jostling for runner up position as Dory is looking at a three-peat atop the weekend chart. Meanwhile WB's The Legend of Tarzan and Steven Spielberg's The Bfg*and their combined budgets totaling $320 million*may have a hard time taking down Universal's The Purge: Election Year, which was made for a mere $10 million. After crossing $300 million in just 12 days, Finding Dory enters its third weekend ready to rule once again. After a 46% drop in its second weekend (42% without including Thursday previews) a holiday...

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The world of J.R.R. Tolkien, brought to the screen by Peter Jackson, continues to cast a shadow over fantasy cinema...

One realm to rule them all. One realm to find them, one realm to bring them all and in the darkness bind them, in the land of Middle-earth where the shadows lie.

Now, far be it from me to ever describe Middle-earth as a dark shadow over anything, but for everyone else trying to make a mega-hit fantasy film, the very thought of competing with Peter Jackson’s adaptations of The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit must seem the equivalent of toppling literal evil on Earth.

It seems that any time a big-budget fantasy flick is released, they get sneered at as generic, lacking the richness of detail or story compared to Lord Of The Rings.

But if this sounds like I’m suggesting there...

Directors’ trademarks is a series of articles that examines the “signatures” that filmmakers leave behind in their work. This month, we’re examining the trademark style and calling signs of Bryan Singer as director.

Bryan Singer studied film at the New York School of Visual Arts and USC School of Cinematic Arts. After graduating, one of his short films caught the eye of a production company who funded low budget films. He then wrote Public Access with childhood friend Christopher McQuarrie, which he then directed as his first feature film in 1993. Two years later, he had his breakthrough with The Usual Suspects, which caught the eyes of critics at the Cannes Film Festival before ultimately becoming profitable in theaters. Next, Singer adapted a Stephen King novel for the screen, directing Apt Pupil (1998). That film received mixed reviews and was not a financial success. Singer was then hired to direct X-Men...

The X-Men are about to meet their most formidable adversary yet, and to fight a mutant who is essentially a living god, they’re going to have to work together like never before. 10 years have passed since the events of Days of Future Past and our heroes are in very different places. While Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult) finally have their school for gifted youngsters open, welcoming and educating mutants who are just growing into their powers, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) is clandestinely helping less fortunate mutants to fight back against human oppression, convinced that there will never truly be peace. And Erik Lensherr, the man also known as Magneto (Michael Fassbender) has opted for a quiet family existence in Poland. But all their lives change when the supremely powerful Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) awakens in 1983. Angered by what he views as a human society gone very wrong,...

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The biggest threat so far emerges in X-Men: Apocalypse, but do raised stakes make a more effective movie? Ryan takes a look...

In the pursuit of ever higher stakes, X-Men: Apocalypse stretches to exceed the epoch-spanning scale of X-Men: Days Of Future Past. Where that 2014 hit - the biggest financial success of the franchise so far - was about travelling into history to save the future, X-Men: Apocalypse sees an ancient enemy waking up to cause global havoc in the year 1983.

Oscar Isaac plays the Apocalypse of the title - the earliest mutant who ruled as a god in the ancient world. Stirring from his slumber, Apocalypse draws together a band of minions, among them Angel (Ben Hardy), Psylocke (Olivia Munn) and Storm (Alexandra Shipp), before turning his attention to the most wanted mutant of them all - the now reclusive Magneto (Michael Fassbender).

Having retreated from...