Movie News

We are very firmly in the midst of the summer box office and while last year welcomed moviegoers back to theaters in a meaningful way, things were still on uncertain ground. This weekend, with the release of Warner Bros.' "Elvis" and Universal's "The Black Phone," it has become clear that we are in a much better place in terms of the theatrical distribution side of the movie business than we were a year ago.

To that end, both of these very different movies managed to pull in big bucks while dealing with intense competition from the likes of "Top Gun: Maverick" and...

The post Both Elvis And The Black Phone Won Big At The Box Office appeared first on /Film.

A footnote in the career of martial artist and action-movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme is that he was originally cast to play the titular alien in the 1987 sci-fi action-horror film "Predator" before he was unceremoniously canned and replaced by the late Kevin Peter Hall. In recent years, it seems like everybody and their mamas have stepped forward with conflicting eyewitness accounts of what led to Van Damme's dismissal, but the consensus is that his casting was doomed from day one.

Van Damme, then an aspiring action star, got the villainous role and anticipated showcasing his speed, athleticism and roundhouse kicks in an epic...

The post Jean-Claude Van Damme's Predator Casting Was Doomed From Day One appeared first on /Film.

Editor’s Note Monday June 27: The actual numbers are in, and “Elvis” (Warner Bros.) is king. Baz Luhrmann’s film grossed 31.1 million for the three days, 600,000 higher than the initial estimate after a better than expected Sunday. Being #2 for the weekend is hardly a sign of weakness for “Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount). Its final figure of 29.6 million, though 900,000 below the 30.5 estimate both films had yesterday, is one of the best fifth weekends ever and does nothing to reduce the momentum the film with almost 521 million in domestic gross has.

Previously published June 26:

Lots of positive news for theaters this weekend to report, although like last weekend’s even better results, they come with caveats.

The standout result is that Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” (Warner Bros.) did over 30 million, at the high end of recent projections. Though not as big as “Bohemian Rhapsody” (51 million), with the new film’s

Few things make film fans shudder quite like hearing about studios or directors who insist upon the mindset of, "We'll fix it in post!" when it comes to making movies. Admittedly, longtime industry veterans know that even the most well-prepared filmmakers can't always foresee every single problem that will crop up on set during a given production, oftentimes necessitating some on-the-fly improvisation or more drastic measures to salvage whatever they can in the edit. Marvel Studios in particular is famous for setting aside weeks of time specifically for extensive reshoots and for their tendency to radically change the overall structure of their films...

The post Thor: Love and Thunder Director Taika Waititi Finds His Movie 'In Post' appeared first on /Film.

Sorry Matt Reeves: There may be a conflicting Batman movie up ahead.

A decade after Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy redefined the superhero genre (and won an Academy Award for Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker) and lead star Christian Bale is hoping for a possible return to the DC franchise.

“I had a pact with Chris Nolan,” Bale told Screen Rant about the trilogy, which concluded in 2012. “We said, ‘Hey, look. Let’s make three films, if we’re lucky enough to get to do that. And then let’s walk away. Let’s not linger too long.’ In my mind, it would be something if Chris Nolan ever said to himself, ‘You know what, I’ve got another story to tell.’ And if he wished to tell that story with me, I’d be in.”

Nolan’s trilogy began with “Batman Begins” in 2005, followed

Well before his role as Gorr the God Butcher in the new “Thor: Love & Thunder,” Christian Bale was no stranger to superhero film franchises. He, of course, played Batman in three Christopher Nolan-directed ‘Dark Knight’ films, which are often considered some of the best superhero films ever. Now, with multiversal craziness in superhero films and studios desperate to make billion-dollar films, it seems like Warner Bros.

Continue reading Christian Bale Will Only Return As Batman For Christopher Nolan at The Playlist.

The collaboration between Christopher Nolan and composer Hans Zimmer is the stuff of legends. Their working relationship goes back to 2005 when they worked on "Batman Begins." Since then, they've collaborated on films such as "Inception," "Interstellar," and more. Of the scores Zimmer has worked on for Nolan, his score for "Dunkirk" is arguably the most memorable.

Taking place during World War II and specifically focusing on the Dunkirk evacuation, there's a sense of urgency that needed to be captured across the board. In a film with minimal dialogue, the score and sound editing becomes essential in immersing the audience into the world...

The post Christopher Nolan Brought a Unique Sound to Hans Zimmer's Dunkirk Score appeared first on /Film.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a bit of a weird relationship with romance. Phase One was filled with love interests for our heroes to try and sweep off their feet, including some played by Academy Award winners! But as the MCU grew larger, more elaborate, and hugely successful, it kind of just forgot about these love interests and ignored these romances in favor of very, very chaste and bombastic hero stories.

But "Thor: Love and Thunder" is hellbent on fulfilling the promise of its title, with a romance to end all MCU romances now that Thor is being reunited with his old flame Jane. Except the...

The post The Best Romance in Love and Thunder Isn't Between Thor and Jane appeared first on /Film.

The Palm Springs International ShortFest wrapped Sunday with juried prizes going to Estonia’s “Sierra” for Best of the Fest, South Korea’s “The Cave” for best animated short and “The Sentence of Michael Thompson” for best documentary, in both juried and audience categories. Cambodia’s “Further and Further Away” took the best live action short over 15 minutes prize and “The Right Words” from France won the best live action short 15 minutes and under category.

The winners of the top awards are eligible to submit their shorts to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration.

Additional prizes included:

Student Animated Short

● Winner: The Seine’s Tears (France)

Student Documentary Short

● Winner: La Prova (Belgium)

Best Student International Short – Winner received a 500 cash prize.

● Winner: Bug (Israel),

Best Student U.S. Short

● Winner: Foreign Uncle (USA/China)

Special Jury Awards:

Best International Short – Winner received a 1,000 cash prize.

Celluloid film prints will now soon be coming back to a theater near you.

The Film Exhibition Fund, a new grants-giving 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the continued screening of celluloid film prints, has officially announced the first two recipients of grants. IndieWire can exclusively share that New York’s Anthology Film Archives and Microscope Gallery are the inaugural grantees.

The Anthology Film Archives are using the 2,500 grant for upcoming screenings of Andy Warhol’s “Sleep” (1963), “Empire” (1964), and “Chelsea Girls” (1966). The first two films run over five and eight hours long, respectively, while “Chelsea Girls” involves over three hours of dual-screen projection. The series is set to screen in August.

“Preserving the experience of theatrical projection — and especially the projection of 35mm, 16mm, and 8mm film prints — is at the core of Anthology’s mission,” Anthology Film Archives Film Programmer Jed Rapfogel said. “We’re motivated by the conviction

"Stranger Things" is the biggest show on TV right now, and in the grand tradition of small-screen spectacle storytelling, it's probably about due to kill some characters off. Past seasons' home stretches have given bloody and dramatic send-offs to Matthew Modine's Dr. Brenner (although he didn't stay dead), Dacre Montgomery's Billy, Sean Astin's Bob, and David Harbour's Hopper.

With only two episodes left of the season, viewers are entering full Death Watch 2022 mode and nobody seems to be safe. Though star Millie Bobby Brown recently joked that the show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, are "sensitive...

The post Which Characters Are Most Likely to Die in Stranger Things 4 Vol. 2? appeared first on /Film.

A bonfire of vanities is blazing around the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, as the mid-year mark approaches and discussions intensify over the fate of the 2023 Golden Globe Awards. Will the first big stop of awards season make a triumphant return in January? Or will NBC refuse to air the show, and ice out millions of viewers looking to see tipsy celebrities accept their prizes?

When the Globes were boycotted last year after a Los Angeles Times expose revealed that the HFPA — the group of international journalists who vote for the winners — didn’t have a single Black member, it was framed as a one-time punishment. But now that the organization (composed of 98 active and 3 emeritus members) has been knocked down, not everyone in Hollywood wants to help them get back on their feet.

In recent weeks, HFPA leaders have been on a “roadshow” of meetings with the major studios and

Emmy nomination voting may end today, but Emmy season is still going strong. The nominations will be announced on June 12th and the winners of the influential TCA Awards will be revealed on August 6th. This morning, the Television Critics Association revealed that three popular “Abbott Elementary” stars, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and the legendary Sheryl Lee Ralph will host the ceremony.

Read More: “Abbott Elementary” leads all programs with five 2022 TCA Awards nominations

“Abbott Elementary” scored five nominations including Program of the Year, Outstanding New Program, Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, and two Individual Achievement in Comedy nods for James and series creator and star, Quinta Brunson.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter & Sheryl Lee Ralph Will Host 2022 TCA Awards at The Playlist.

In the mid-'90s, John Travolta saw a resurgence in his movie career after a yearslong dry spell. The revival was ignited by the "Grease" actor's outstanding performance in Quentin Tarantino's cult classic "Pulp Fiction," which earned Travolta an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a leading role. He followed up the performance with another classic showing in 1995's gangster comedy "Get Shorty," where he plays Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark trying to muscle his way into the movie industry.

In an interview with The Guardian, "Get Shorty" director Barry Sonnenfeld revealed that the film had to overcome hurdles from the...

The post It Took A Call From Quentin Tarantino For John Travolta To Join Get Shorty appeared first on /Film.

Taika Waititi's "Thor: Love and Thunder" is extremely hard rock in its tone, style, and treatment, and there's a very good reason for that. The film's aesthetic is directed inspired by 1980s rock culture, as confirmed by Waititi during a press conference for the film that /Film attended.

The marketing for "Thor: Love and Thunder" hasn't been shy about using the Guns N' Roses track "Sweet Child O' Mine" to set the tone for Thor's latest adventure, and Waititi said it was a dream come true to be able to incorporate his love for one of his "all-time favorite bands" from...

The post Thor: Love and Thunder's 'Bombastic' Aesthetic is Inspired by Taika Waititi's Love for '80s Rock Culture appeared first on /Film.

The King is No. 1 at the domestic box office.

After a heated box office battle, “Elvis” emerged victorious over “Top Gun: Maverick” to claim the top spot on North American box office charts.

Over the weekend, “Elvis” and “Top Gun: Maverick” were duking it out as the King of Rock and Roll took the No. 1 spot on Friday and dropped to second place on Saturday. Then on Sunday, the films tied for first place in North America, with each reportedly earning an estimated 30.5 million between Friday and Sunday.

With the final results tallied on Monday, “Elvis” generated 31.1 million from 3,906 theaters in its box office debut while “Top Gun: Maverick” brought in 29.6 million from 3,948 venues in its fifth weekend in theaters.

Although “Elvis” ultimately took the box office crown, both films were able to post a strong result. For “Elvis,” a 31 million debut is promising for an adult-skewing drama since its

Stunt work can be dangerous. Unless an actor is Tom Cruise, performing one's own stunts often carries with it a huge liability for the production. Additionally, stunt performers — having long gone unnoticed by the Academy, it should be noted — are trained to perform death-defying feats, often with accompanying contracts and insurance policies taken out just in case anything goes awry. While moviemaking is exceptionally safe, accidents still happen and consequently, care and attention should be of the utmost concern, especially when stunt work is involved.

Here, we'll be looking at 11 horror actors who have performed their own stunts. While some of the roles are more...

The post Horror Actors Who Did All Their Own Stunts appeared first on /Film.

"Thor: Love and Thunder" director Taika Waititi is known for his unique, offbeat brand of comedy, elements of which are in full display in "Thor: Ragnarok" and the mockumentary horror comedy, "What We Do in the Shadows." As confirmed back in 2020, Waititi is directing a "Star Wars" movie, and the director has previously mentioned that he wants to introduce fresh ideas to his upcoming, untitled project while preserving his humorous tone.

/Film's Hoai-Tran Bui asked Waititi if he found it difficult to bring his brand of comedy to the "Star Wars" universe, as the franchise's ethos is markedly different from that...

The post Taika Waititi is 'Throwing Everything at the Wall' for His Star Wars Movie appeared first on /Film.

It's already unbelievable enough that we live in a world where Christian Bale, of all actors, ended up accepting the role of Bruce Wayne for an entire trilogy of movies. Then, the internet didn't quite know what to do with itself once the "3:10 to Yuma," "The Dark Knight," and "Ford v Ferrari" star made his shocking return to the comic book world with "Thor: Love and Thunder," of all movies. On top of it all, add in the fact that he's playing a villain called...

The post Christian Bale Had an Easier Time Playing a Villain in Thor: Love and Thunder Than Playing a Superhero appeared first on /Film.

Julien Rejl replaces Paolo Moretti, who stepped down after Cannes.

Julien Rejl, former sales executive at French company Capricci, has been appointed the new delegate general of Directors’ Fortnight.

Rejl takes over from Paolo Moretti, who left after this year’s Cannes.

A graduate of both Paris’ European Business School and La Femis Cinema School, Rejl worked at production, distribution and sales firm Capricci from 2010 to 2021, rising to the role of head of sales.

Speaking of the new format the section is looking to adopt, Rejl said, ”This new identity is first and foremost an opportunity to reaffirm the role