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Prestige International Pictures, a film sales, financing and production company, will be launching at the Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival. The company will be headed by sales industry veteran Carlos Rincon as the president and co-founder. Prestige will be announcing its Cannes slate in the coming days.

Joining Rincon at Prestige as partners and co-founders are producers Chris Lemos, Luis Guerrero, William Knochel and Brad Friedlander of Vital Pictures.

Prestige describes itself as being a distribution company “by filmmakers, for filmmakers” as the producing founders have “lived through all the experiences and challenges that filmmakers face while seeking distribution for their film,” according to a statement. In addition to representing third-party content, Prestige will also represent Vital’s slate of in-house titles.

The company will be based on the West Coast (Los Angeles) and East Coast (Atlanta) to “further enhance relationships with filmmakers on both coasts.”

Previously,...

Following The Beekeeper, The Bricklayer and more, Dennis Quaid and Jean Reno are to star in the occupation-based action flick, The Florist.

Have you ever wanted to see Dennis Quaid repeatedly hit a man in the face with a bunch of daffodils? If so, there’s potentially good news on the horizon. The Jaws 3 star has teamed up with Leon and Godzilla actor Jean Reno for an action thriller called The Florist.

Directed by London Has Fallen's Babak Najafi, The Florist recently wrapped filming, and, according to Deadline, its protagonist is a chap named Carl Rikker (Quaid), an “introverted, quiet horticulturalist” who’s also an assassin. Trouble beckons when he “forms an unlikely friendship with a teenage girl.”

Quaid is therefore set to join Jason Statham, Aaron Eckhart, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Ben Affleck in a growing phenomenon we’ve previously dubbed the occupation-based action genre. The success of John Wick in 2014 has,...

Exclusive: Film Bridge International has wrapped filming in New Jersey and New York on action-thriller The Florist, starring Dennis Quaid (The Substance), Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional), and Sky Katz (Raven’s Home).

Babak Najafi (London Has Fallen) directs from a script written by Eran Creevy (Welcome To The Punch) and Scott Windhauser (Mafia Wars). The film also features Anna Schafer (The Trials of Cate McCall) and Leonidas Gulaptis (A Nice Girl Like You).

Pic follows Carl Rikker (Dennis Quaid), an introverted, quiet horticulturist who loves his day job. However, he holds a dark secret – at night, he moonlights as a ruthless assassin. His identity is threatened when he forms an unlikely friendship with a teenage girl.

Film Bridge has secured international distribution partners including Square One (Germany), Mediaset (Italy and Spain), Monolith Films (Poland), Rialto Films (Australia/Nz), Cinesky (Airlines/Ships), Falcon Films (Middle East), Spenztos (Greece), and Pt Prima...

What are the greatest action movies of all time? It’s a controversial question, isn’t it? Any time any publication or site puts out a new list of what they consider the best action movies of all time, it can’t help but generate a ton of controversy. Nevertheless, we here at JoBlo have decided to throw our hats into the ring with a list we really hope generates some nostalgia among our viewers but also encourages them to seek out the movies on this list that they may not have seen. But first, some may wonder where superhero movies are on this list. Given how broad that genre is, we decided to stick to old-school action, so we have left them off the list, as they deserve their own ranking. There are also a few absences from the list, notably some Jackie Chan Hong Kong films (like Police Story...

After making her onscreen debut at 11, Natalie Portman quickly learned to separate herself from her public image.

The Oscar winner recently opened up about being subjected to “a long Lolita phase” when she was “really sexualized” as a child actor, making her debut performance in Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional.

“I think there’s a public understanding of me that’s different from who I am,” she told Jenna Ortega for Interview. “I’ve talked about it a little before—about how, as a kid, I was really sexualized, which I think happens to a lot of young girls who are onscreen. I felt very scared by it. Obviously sexuality is a huge part of being a kid, but I wanted it to be inside of me, not directed towards me. And I felt like my way of protecting myself was to be like, ‘I’m so serious. I’m so studious.

Natalie Portman is often seen as a serious figure, but that isn’t exactly how the actress looks at herself. While in conversation with Jenna Ortega for Interview Magazine, the actress revealed how her early start in the industry, and the sexualization that came with it, led to her putting up barriers that many people just see as being her.

Portman made her movie debut at the age of 12 in Leon: The Professional, in which she played a young girl with an uncomfortable relationship with Jean Reno’s middle-aged killer and courted controversy for the “Lolita” style appearance in the film – which was actually meant to see the pair become lovers in an early draft of the script. Speaking to Ortega, Portman said:

“I think there’s a public understanding of me that’s different from who I am. I’ve talked about it a little before—about how, as a kid,...

Hollywood might be the world’s largest film industry, but even the entertainment powerhouse has drawn ideas from international films. While remakes have always existed, most cinema buffs remain ignorant that some of their beloved Hollywood blockbusters owe their origins to overseas classics.

The rise of remakes in Hollywood is no coincidence—studios often lean toward stories that have already proven successful. But in doing so, the originals sometimes get overshadowed. Here’s a look at ten Hollywood hits that were actually inspired by international films, proving that great storytelling transcends borders.

The Departed – From Infernal Affairs A still from The Departed | Credit: Warner Bros.

Martin Scorsese’s The Departed is often hailed as a modern classic, but did you know it’s actually a remake of a Hong Kong crime thriller? It is the remake of a film named Infernal Affairs. The movie became very popular and also paved...

The host of the Netflix show Million Dollar Secret is the unforgettable Peter Serafinowicz, who brings his sharp sense of humor to the reality competition proceedings. It's his job to oversee the challenges and moderate the bickering that goes on at The Stag, often with a well-placed verbal jab. But how did the star of The Tick wind up playing the part of an enigmatic master of ceremonies?

In an interview with Cbr, Serafinowicz discussed how he became the host of Million Dollar Secret and what interested him in the role. He also spoke about what it was like interacting with the contestants as they pushed themselves out of their comfort zones for a chance at the titular cash prize. Plus, find out what else this incredibly versatile performer has planned.

Cbr: Million Dollar Secret is your first reality TV hosting credit, but you have appeared as yourself on numerous British panel shows.

Call My Agent Berlin [working title] is heading to Disney+.

The latest adaptation of the French hit comedy comes from Germany, telling the story of the Stern actors agency and its agents. German stars including Lucas Gregorowicz, Karin Hanczewski, Michael Klammer, Gabrielle Scharnitzky, Dana Herfurth, Benny O. Arthur, Janina Elkin and Taynara Silva-Wolf play the agents from the Stern talent agency in Call My Agent Berlin [working title], which Disney+ said has just finished filming. More special guests will likely be unveiled.

The series is being showran by Johann Buchholz, who runs producer Friday Film. Boris Kunz and Laura Lackman are directing. “Many of the country’s most skillful manipulators work in the film business. We are erecting a monument to them,” joked Buchholz.

Benjamina Mirnik-Voges, Director Original Productions, The Walt Disney Company in Gsa, said: “We are delighted and proud to be working with Friday Film to adapt this special dramedy for the...

Exclusive: Emmy-winning writer-producer René Balcer has signed with Verve for representation.

The Montréal, Canada native is known for his work as showrunner of Law & Order, which he ran for eight years of its initial 20-year run. During his tenure, L&o won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, secured a five-season network pickup; and tied Gunsmoke for longest-running series.

Balcer went on to create and showrun the spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which ran for ten seasons, as well as limited series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, which earned Edie Falco a Best Actress Emmy nomination, and CBS’ procedural FBI: Most Wanted.

Balcer is also active in the international space, having created the UK series Jo starring Jean Reno, as well as Bodyguards for TF1.

Additionally, Balcer wrote, co-directed and produced several documentaries, including 2017’s Above the Drowning Sea, narrated by Julianna Margulies and Tony Goldwyn,...

Léon: The Professionalstar Gary Oldman reveals that his iconic "Everyone!" line delivery was never intended to make the final cut of the movie. Released in 1994, director Luc Besson's action thriller stars Jean Reno as Léon, an assassin who takes the 12-year-old Mathilda (Natalie Portman) under his wing after her family is murdered. Oldman plays Léon: The Professional's main villain, Stansfield, a corrupt and violent DEA agent. One of the most iconic lines of Oldman's career comes when he demands that a subordinate bring him "everyone" as backup before he then repeats the word in an exaggerated yell.

During a recent interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Oldman reveals that his shouting delivery of the word "everyone" was actually intended as a joke for Besson. The actor recalls wanting to make the director laugh on one particular take, but then the moment ended up in the final cut of the movie.

Gary Oldman’s iconic “Bring Me Everyone” scene from “Léon: The Professional” was originally just an outtake the actor filmed to get a laugh out of director Luc Besson, but the filmmaker ended up keeping it.

“I did a couple of takes, ‘Bring me everyone, everyone.’ And to make Luc Besson laugh as a joke, I went to the sound guys and I said, ‘I’m going to be really, really loud,'” Oldman explained during a sit-down with “The Late Show’s” Stephen Colbert. “And I did that, and he kept it and put it in the film — that was just an outtake. It was just me having fun.”

The “Slow Horses” actor went on to give more details about his time shooting the movie in New York, mentioning that during a building explosion scene and while a huge crowd was watching the crew work, a real-life bank robbery took place across the street.

Christina Ricci has been an accomplished actress and has starred in several popular films and series since her big screen debut in Mermaids (1990). But one role she missed out on was that of Mathilda in the classic 1994 film, Léon: The Professional, losing out to Natalie Portman. And in a new interview with the YouTube show, First We Feast (via The Wrap), Ricci reveals the ridiculous reason why: she was "too common and healthy looking."

That may come as a surprise to some, considering one of Ricci's most famous roles was the rather gothic Wednesday Addams in the early 1990s hit film, The Addams Family and its sequel. She explained to her Yellowjackets co-star Melanie Lynskey why she lost out on her "dream role:"

"I really wanted to be in 'Léon: The Professional,' but I was too common and healthy-looking. What a time to be twelve."

Léon: The Professional,...

Christina Ricci talks about how she lost a major role to Natalie Portman. The Yellowjackets star started her career as a child star, featuring in the 1990 movie, Mermaids, and scored her big break portraying Wednesday Addams in the 1991 movie The Addams Family. She transitioned into more adult-themed roles in 200 Cigarettes, The Ice Storm, Buffalo '66, and many more. In the Tim Burton-directed Netflix series Wednesday, she appeared as Marilyn Thornhill, a teacher at Nevermore Academy.

Most recently, Ricci played a sadistic healthcare worker in the hit show Yellowjackets. The show follows a group of girls who are stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash, taking place in dual timelines. Ricci's character, Misty, is one of the survivors in the present timeline who is still haunted by what happened to them in the woods. While promoting the show's season 3, Ricci reflects on her childhood career, where she admits...

Filmmaker Roland Emmerich’s much-maligned Godzilla (1998) is never going to make any Top 10 lists featuring the King of the Monsters' must-see installments from the film franchise. However, if fans and/or newcomers want to give the movie, which so poorly represents the world’s most famous kaiju, a chance — there will never be a better time to do it. The Matthew Broderick-led Godzilla is now available to stream for free on Tubi.

The main problem with co-writer and director Emmerich’s take on the 71-year-old monster, which is almost too egregious to comprehend, was the way 1998’s Godzilla was inaccurately designed to look more like a dinosaur from Jurassic Park than the all-powerful kaiju. Plus, it didn’t help that Emmerich’s film decided to pull a King Kong (1933) and kill off the ambiguous creature to wrap things up. The flick’s co-writer and producer, Dean Devlin, said in...

Godzillafans everywhere will get to experience the franchise's most universally loathed feature film courtesy of its new streaming home.

Per Tubi, the completely free streaming platform will be the new home to 1998's Godzilla beginning on March 1. Considering how widely bemoaned the film is, fans might not see this as a good thing, although the addition of 2014's Godzilla to the same streaming service on the very same day is sure to make up for any disappointment they might initially feel.

RelatedCaptain America 4 Director Explains Thanking Oscar Winner in the Credits Who's Not in the Film

Julius Onah explains why Brave New World features a special thanks to an acclaimed actor who does not appear in the film.

Directed by Roland Emmerich from a script cowritten alongside Dean Devlin, 1998's Godzilla was the first attempt to bring the long-running franchise to life on the silver screen via an American film studio.

“Pretty Little Liars” and “Which Brings Me to You” star Lucy Hale will topline the romantic comedy “Princess” from “The Cooler” screenwriter Frank Hannah.

Daniel Baur’s K5 Intl. has boarded “Princess” as its international sales agent and will commence sales at Berlinale’s European Film Market.

The plot centers on a woman who finally meets the man of her dreams, but first, she must contend with her beloved’s bulldog, Princess, who has a history of destroying any relationship her owner engages in. Think “Monster-in-Law” in tone.

Principal photography is anticipated to commence in Ireland spring 2025.

Best known for her breakout role on the hit series “Pretty Little Liars,” Hale has gone on to become an international star through films such as the romantic comedy “Which Brings Me to You,” Vertical’s “The Hating Game” and Sony’s “Fantasy Island.” Hale will star in Lionsgate and BuzzFeed Studios’ upcoming action comedy “F Marry Kill,...

"The penguin is not a communist." Sony Pictures Classics has debuted their own official trailer for the new film titled The Penguin Lessons, a cute dramedy about rescuing a penguin in Argentina. A similar story to My Penguin Friend with Jean Reno from last year year, but not the same. This is opening at the end of March in US theaters. Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this endearing new film from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman's personal and political awakening after he adopts a little penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine's history. He finds the small penguin covered with oil and cleans him up, making a new friend in the process. The main ensemble cast includes Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Aimar Miranda, Micaela Breque, Tomas Pozzi, and Ramiro Blas. The film played at TIFF and got glowing reviews, a few of which are quoted in this trailer.

As the European Film Market kicks off Feb. 13 in Berlin with a new market head, Tanja Meissner, at the helm, this year’s buzziest titles suggest the industry will be looking toward tried-and-true genre fare and splashy, star-driven packages to thaw the winter chill.

Bankable stars are expected to heat things up in Berlin, with Ari Aster and A24’s “Eddington”, Guy Ritchie’s “Wife & Dog”, Ernest Dickerson’s untitled hitman thriller and Kantemir Balagov’s “Butterfly Jam” showcasing how marquee names remain a safe bet as uncertainty continues to reign in the theatrical market.

On the genre side of things, horror is still expected to scare up sales, with buyers looking to sink their fangs into Isabelle Huppert’s 16th-century vampire mystery “The Blood Countess” and Jacob Chase’s killer canine genre-bender “Bad Boy,” starring Ke Huy Quan and Lili Reinhart. Meanwhile, comedy could be making a comeback,...

The era of the aged action hero continues, with Léon: The Professional star and genre icon Jean Reno the latest star to add his name to the ever-growing roster. Following in the footsteps of Taken star Liam Neeson and The Old Man’s Jeff Bridges, Reno will lead the upcoming revenge thriller, The Butler, which finds the French-Spanish actor starring as a man with a violent past who has turned his life around in the name of service. Of course, his quiet life could never last, and he is soon forced to once again call upon his particular set of skills when his life, and the lives of the family he now buttles for, are threatened. Which sounds very unlike 2013's The Butler starring Forest Whitaker...

The project is all set to be directed by Tom Edmunds (Dead in a Week: Or Your Money Back), working from a script written by Craig McInnes,...

Exclusive: Two-time Oscar nominee John Travolta (Pulp Fiction), Emmy and Tony winner Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), and SAG nominee Dermot Mulroney (August Osage County) have been set to headline JFK thriller November 1963 from two-time Oscar nominee Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields).

K5 International has boarded international sales ahead of next week’s European Film Market in Berlin.

November 1963 unfolds within the intense 48-hour period surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The film sheds light on crime group the Chicago Outfit’s alleged involvement in the assassination and draws directly from first-hand accounts, including insights from the family of crime boss Sam Giancana.

John Travolta will star as Johnny Roselli, a key figure in organized crime and the Outfit’s man on the West Coast and Vegas. Mandy Patinkin will star as Anthony Accardo, a powerful and calculating head of the Chicago Outfit, considered one of the most powerful crime...

Léon: The Professional and Ronin actor Jean Reno is ready to take out the trash in The Butler, an upcoming action thriller from Dead in a Week: Or Your Money Back director Tom Edmunds. According to Variety, the project finds Reno dusting off a twisty revenge tale with over-the-top action and “upstairs/downstairs family drama.” Expect more casting announcements as the feature-length endeavor develops.

The Butler could become a hot ticket at Berlin’s EFM (European Film Market) festival next week, with principal photography arranged in Ireland for the early summer. As an esteemed member of the action genre’s old guard, Jean Reno is always ready to throw down in the face of danger. In The Butler, Reno plays a retired World War I commando who surrendered his fatigues for a quiet and orderly life as a family butler. Still, when mobsters disrupt his tranquil life to collect an unpaid debt,...

Jean Reno is attached to headline the action-thriller “The Butler,” directed by Tom Edmunds (“Dead in a Week: Or Your Money Back”). The stylish period film will deliver a fresh twist on the revenge thriller genre, combining high-octane action with upstairs/downstairs family drama.

Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Daniel Baur’s K5 Intl., whose recent films include Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga,” has boarded “The Butler” as its international sales agent and will commence sales at Berlinale’s European Film Market. Principal photography is anticipated to commence in Ireland early summer 2025.

In “The Butler,” Reno takes on the role of a retired World War I commando who has traded a life of violence for the serene routine of a family butler. When mobsters arrive to collect on an unpaid debt, his tranquil world is torn apart, forcing him to confront his past in a pulse-pounding showdown.

Legendary director John Frankenheimer’s penultimate effort, “Ronin” (1998) finds him returning to firm action-thriller footing after the disaster of “The Island of Dr. Moreau” remake. But what’s most interesting about the film is that noted playwright and screenwriter (and director) David Mamet worked as a script doctor. As such, you’re left with an interesting hybrid of wordplay, plotting, and muscular action filmmaking. Frankenheimer, whose career dates to Hollywood’s golden age and who made several interesting and intelligent political thrillers in the 60s and 70s and Mamet’s dialogue-driven formation make a fascinating pairing.

Mamet chose to write under a pseudonym after not receiving sole credit, but his fingerprints are unmistakable all the same as his word plays and sly deconstruction of the action genre plays counterpoint to Frankenheimer’s straightforward presentation. In principle, these two contrasting approaches may have canceled each other out, but while they don’t sit perfectly together,...

Ronin received great reviews when it was released and performed fairly well at the box office but, nearly three decades later, the spy thriller has seemingly faded from the memory of most of the genre's fans. Starring Robert De Niro and Jean Reno, the action movie featured a fun story, full of twists and turns, and excellent performances from the entire cast. It also included some memorable gunfights and a chase scene that rivals classics like those in The French Connection and James Bond films. While it's now been relegated to the status of a hidden gem, it's definitely deserving of being rediscovered by modern audiences.

It may be an older movie, but Ronin continues to hold up, and fans of action movies, thrillers, and spy dramas will all find something to like. Further, it continues to stand out as one of Robert De Niro's best performances. Films like The Godfather Part II,...

Babygirl is climbing a major chart as it nears one full month in theaters. The A24 movie, which was written and directed by Halina Reijn, stars Nicole Kidman as Romy Mathis, a CEO who begins an illicit affair with her intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson) which allows her to explore her repressed sexual desires. The Babygirl release kicked off on Christmas Day and, while it was the third highest-grossing new release of the day behind Nosferatu and A Complete Unknown, it has quickly earned back its $20 million budget in theaters.

Per The Numbers, Babygirl has reached a worldwide gross of $29.3 million as of Friday, January 17. This sees it climbing the chart of the highest-grossing A24 movies of all time, surpassing 2017's The Disaster Artist ($28.72 million) to become the nineteenth best-performing release by the independent studio and distributor. However, it is still quite far from the grosses of the movies at the top of the chart,...

Harris Dickinson, star of A24's erotic drama Babygirl, said there was a particular line in the film he didn't want to say to co-star Nicole Kidman during filming.

During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show (via The Wrap), the actor told the host that he related to his character Samuel's position in the film as a lowly young intern approaching and ultimately dominating powerful CEO Romy, given that he himself is a relative newcomer in the film business sharing such emotionally and physically intimate scenes with a powerhouse actor like Kidman.

"For an intern to do that as well to the boss — that was hard to do, as well," Dickinson said. "Like for me to have to come in and do that to Nicole Kidman, and I was like, well how do I do this?"

Admiring and respecting her as he did, Dickinson revealed that he was worried...

Thanks to Babygirl, Nicole Kidman just crossed a major box office milestone for the first time in nearly two decades. The 2024 release sees Kidman as CEO Romy Mathis as she attempts an affair with Harris Dickinson's Samuel. Babygirl has earned exceptional reviews, with Screen Rant's Alex Harrison describing it as "fascinating to watch" and "calibrated exactly right to its time". It was officially released on December 25, 2024, and has already earned back its $20 million budget.

This movie is a massive success for Kidman, no matter how its run ends. After all, for the first time since Australia (2008), Kidman has earned over $20 million domestically. Her latest movie currently sits at $21.7 million at the domestic box office, as per The Numbers. While she has achieved that total with other projects, including both the Aquaman movies and Paddington (2014), none of those works saw her in a leading role. It is her first...

This review was originally published on August 30, 2024, as a part of our Venice Film Festival coverage.

It's easy to be excited by a thriller, especially an erotic one. The genre is designed to elicit that response in us. But with Babygirl, writer-director Halina Reijn has delivered an erotic thriller so confident and so fully formed that it also left me excited for it. I can't wait to see this movie released in the world. It feels calibrated exactly right to its time.

A high-powered CEO risks everything when she embarks on a passionate and illicit affair with her much younger intern.

Director Halina ReijnRelease Date December 25, 2024Writers Halina ReijnCast Leslie Silva, Anoop Desai, Sophie Wilde, John Cenatiempo, Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Jean Reno, Antonio BanderasGenres Mystery, Thriller, CrimeRuntime 114 Minutes

It's undoubtedly a discourse grenade – or, rather, a pathogen. Babygirl sees Romy (Nicole Kidman), a high-powered CEO who is sexually dissatisfied with her otherwise happy marriage,...

Avatar and MCU star Zoe Saldana takes the lead in a divisive action thriller from 2011, which is due to land on Netflix in the new year. Not only does the movie find the Guardians of the Galaxy actor at the forefront, it was co-written and produced by controversial Taken and The Fifth Element filmmaker Luc Besson, and helmed by Transporter 3 and Taken 2 director Olivier Megaton. So, it has quite the action movie pedigree, if not the critical response to back it up.

Co-written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by Olivier Megaton, the action outing is titled Colombiana and stars Zoe Saldaña alongside the likes of Michael Vartan, Cliff Curtis, Lennie James, Callum Blue, and Jordi Mollà. Colombiana is all set to hit Netflix in the new year on January 1, and could make the perfect post-New Year’s Eve viewing. You can check out the official synopsis below.

The Babygirl release will follow a typical route from theaters to digital to streaming. The 2024 erotic thriller was written and directed by Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies) and features an ensemble cast that includes Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, Oscar nominee Antonio Banderas, two-time BAFTA nominee Harris Dickinson, and rising star Sophie Wilde.

Early Babygirl reviews, many of which came out of its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in August, have earned the movie a solidly Fresh score of 89% on the review aggregator web site Rotten Tomatoes. While it has not yet been officially Certified Fresh on the platform, it seems highly likely to earn that honor as more reviews are added, even though that could also cause its score to fluctuate somewhat. Because it is a buzzy awards season release, it will eventually be available to screen in a variety of venues.

Related Babygirl Cast & Character Guide: Who...

Last year was unforgettable when it came to the movies that were released. July alone will always be remembered for “Barbenheimer,” but that was just one chapter in 2023’s impressive list of highlights. 2024 instantly had the tough task of living up to the previous calendar year, but the world of movies hasn’t disappointed. While there have been some surprises at the box office, 2024 has featured some great quality films in theaters and on streaming.

Among 2024’s best of the best are a few franchise sequels, some fantastic original stories, and even a prequel that didn’t dominate the box office but deserves praise nonetheless. As we’ve learned time and time again, some of the best movies aren’t blockbusters. Whether they are streaming gems or indie titles that require digging deeper to find, it’s always worth considering movies of all sizes. Therefore, the team at Screen Rant...

In a pairing that initially seems odd but eventually makes total sense, Variety reports that rapper, actor, and media personality Snoop Dogg will star in and co-produce director Luc Besson's upcoming film The Last Man. The new movie is said to be a comedic sci-fi adventure in the vein of The Fifth Element, Besson's 1997 blockbuster starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman. As of this writing, no other casting decisions have been made.

Besson and Snoop first collaborated on the 2006 live-action-animated hybrid film Arthur and the Invisibles, in which the latter voiced the character Max. According to Besson, the pair have been eager to team up on a new project ever since.

Related Luc Besson's 10 Best Movies, Ranked

From action to sci-fi to crime thrillers, these 10 movies offer a glimpse into what makes Besson's storytelling so entertaining and thought-provoking.

"I’ve been a big fan of Snoop Dogg...

Film Bridge International has added Sidhartha Mallya (“Mafia Wars”) to the cast of “Thrill Ride,” with production scheduled to commence in the U.K. during the first quarter of 2025.

The thriller, helmed by Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura from a script by Chad Law (“Lights Out”) and Christopher Jolley (“Granny Krampus”), follows a group of passengers trapped upside down on a roller coaster when a mysterious saboteur threatens to drop them to their deaths one by one. Mallya steps into the role of Trey.

During the American Film Market, Film Bridge International landed several distribution deals, with Volga Films taking Cis and Benelux territories, and Falcon Films securing the Middle East. Signature acquired U.K. rights during the Cannes Film Market. Additional territory sales are pending announcement.

Mallya, who recently appeared alongside Tom Welling and Cam Gigandet in “Mafia Wars,” is represented by Untitled Entertainment and Carey Dodd Associates in the U.

Only 1 in 5 people have dyslexia, yet nearly half of everyone incarcerated suffers from the learning disability. Those ratios don’t match, and a new documentary, “Left Behind,” aims to address the dyslexia problem at its source: the public school system.

IndieWire can exclusively share the trailer for “Left Behind,” which Abramorama is releasing in theaters on January 17, 2025. The film follows a group of New York City mothers who band together to try and form a school dedicated to helping kids specifically struggling with dyslexia. It shows the journey of the moms who established the The South Bronx Literacy Academy in NYC, which helps open additional schools and programs for kids struggling to read, as well as testing for students to diagnose dyslexia.

One such concerned parent who has been moved by the work of the Literacy Academy is Larry Mullen Jr., the drummer from U2. His child also suffers from dyslexia,...

"Is life always this hard, or is it just when you're a kid??" Madman has revealed their brand new re-release trailer for the action classic Leon: The Professional, written & directed by Luc Besson, first released in late 1994. Also known as just The Professional in the US, this has gone on to become a cult classic with a ton of fans who absolutely love it. Celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, Madman is releasing a new Blu-ray 4K Special Edition for anyone to add to their shelves. 12-year-old Mathilda is reluctantly taken in by Leon, a professional assassin, after her family is killed. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégé and learns the assassin’s trade with him. This stars Jean Reno as Léon, Natalie Portman as Mathilda, Gary Oldman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, & Ellen Greene. I always like the little plant she has. Roger Ebert originally gave it...

Known for his creative flair and business acumen as much as for his talent for throwing the best parties, French entrepreneur and producer Pascal Breton is celebrating a milestone in the 11-year history of his Paris-based Federation Studios. That is the launch of “The Agency,” the anticipated U.S. remake of “Le Bureau des Legendes” starring Michael Fassbender, which Federation executive produced alongside George Clooney and is co-distributing internationally with Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Federation Studios previously sold Eric Rochant’s smash hit spy series “Le Bureau des Legendes” widely, but retained the IP, allowing the outfit to make a lucrative deal with Paramount for the remake and remain in the picture as co-distributor and executive producer.

A disruptor at heart, Breton was vying for a career in academics after getting a PhD in political science with a prophetic thesis about how television has changed the rules of political life.

Nicole Kidman stars in an upcoming erotic thriller from the director of 2022’s Bodies Bodies Bodies. Here’s the trailer for Babygirl:

Fans of grown-up cinema releases are about to hit something of a dry spell over Christmas once Edward Berger’s Conclave is released at the end of this month. Still, the beginning of January 2025 heralds a new year and plenty of films with mature themes and ideas to get excited about. One of them is Babygirl, an erotic thriller that comes courtesy of A24. Nicole Kidman will be joined by Triangle Of Sadness’ Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas alongside Jean Reno and Sophie Wilde, star of 2022’s horror breakout, Talk To Me.

The film will be directed by Halina Reijn, who was behind 2022’s sharp horror satire, Bodies Bodies Bodies. This looks to be something of a genre shift for Reijn, but we’re hoping Babygirl can realise...

A24 has just released the trailer for Babygirl — an intense and unconventional erotic thriller that plays with power struggle, consent, grooming, and coercion. Our own Chris Bumbray enjoyed the provocative film at TIFF this year, saying in his review, “It’s controversial, but it’s also one of the sexier films to come along in recent memory. Kidman deserves major praise for her consistent refusal to play it safe as an actress.”

Babygirl stars Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos), Antonio Banderas (Desperado), Harris Dickinson (The Iron Claw), Sophie Wilde (Talk to Me), and Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional). Babygirl will cheekily be released in theaters just in time for Christmas viewings, giving it a December 25 release date. That’s the same weekend Disney is releasing Mufasa, Paramount is releasing Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Angel Studios is releasing the faith-based post-apocalyptic film Homestead.

Reijn directed Babygirl from a screenplay she wrote herself.

A24 and Bodies Bodies Bodies director Halina Reijn are back together for Babygirl, an upcoming erotic thriller starring Nicole Kidman that released a second official trailer today.

Babygirl releases in theaters on December 25. Watch the official trailer below.

Nicole Kidman, Antonio Banderas and Harris Dickinson lead the cast of A24’s Babygirl, while Sophie Wilde (Talk to Me) and Jean Reno round out the all-star cast.

In the film, “A successful CEO begins an illicit affair with her much younger intern.”

Halina Reijn wrote the screenplay and also directed Babygirl.

David Hinojosa of 2Am will produce alongside Reijn of Man Up Film and A24, who is financing the project. Julia Oh, Zach Nutman and Christine D’Souza Gelb of 2Am will serve as executive producers. This marks the second collaboration between Halina Reijn and A24 after her satirical slasher Bodies Bodies Bodies, also produced by Hinojosa.

A24 also acquired Reijn’s directorial debut,...

"What happened to you?" "I met a penguin." Lionsgate has revealed the official trailer for The Penguin Lessons, a cute dramedy about rescuing a penguin in Argentina. A similar story to My Penguin Friend with Jean Reno that also opened in theaters this year, but also not the exact same story. Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman's personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history. He finds the small penguin covered with oil and cleans him up, making a new friend in the process. The main ensemble cast in here includes Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Aimar Miranda, Micaela Breque, Tomas Pozzi, and Ramiro Blas. It was shot in Spain though it takes place in Argentina. After premiering at TIFF, the movie will open in the UK next April...

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It’s hard to imagine Tom Cruise saying goodbye to Ethan Hunt, the character he’s dutifully portrayed since 1996’s Mission: Impossible. But the teaser for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which dropped today, sure makes it seem like the end of the road for a character that’s outlasted countless crises, two James Bonds, and five presidential administrations.

If you’re looking to catch up on...

Godzilla Minus One director Takashi Yamazaki is responsible for one of the most successful modern iterations of the iconic kaiju. Recently, he revealed that he met Marvel head honcho Keving Feige, who had nothing but good things to say about the film and future Godzilla projects.

Per VirtualGorilla, the director made an appearance on a panel at the Tokyo International Film Festival to celebrate Godzillas 70th anniversary. Yamazaki was discussing the reception of Godzilla Minus One overseas, when he mentioned an interaction with the president of Marvel, presumably Kevin Feige. "The president of Marvel told me, 'Wadatsumi!'" Wadatsumi, of course, was the codename for the operation to take out Godzilla. Yamazaki continued, "He told me, 'We're all having meetings every day to see if we can make it happen like that.' I think it's just lip service."

Related David Cronenberg's The Fly Is Getting a Follow-Up Film...

Luc Besson shook the hitman genre with his genre-bending 1994 film Lon: The Professional. A story of loyalty, revenge, and unlikely connections, Lon (Jean Reno) is a quiet, plant-loving assassin with a knack for cleaning up loose ends. His mundane routine changes abruptly when 12-year-old Mathilda (Natalie Portman) seeks refuge in his apartment after her family is massacred by the psychotic DEA agent Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman). With revenge on her mind, Mathilda convinces Lon to teach her the deadly ropes of becoming a hitman.

Godzilla has been the undisputed King of the Monsters ever since 1954. Across the span of 38 film appearances, Toho Studios' mascot has received so many different iterations. In some incarnations, the kaiju is a horrific metaphorical symbol of nuclear terror, other times a goofy protector of earth.

The quality of Godzilla's depictions greatly varies, as the kaiju has appeared in a series of films ranging from Academy Award-winning, such as the most recent Godzilla Minus One, to critically panned flops like TriStar Pictures failed reboot. As one of the most reinterpreted characters in cinema, Godzilla has come in many different forms, with visions of the iconic monster ranging from laughable to legendary.

TriStar Pictures' Godzilla Disappointed Critics and Fans The First American Incarnation of the Kaiju Was a Monumental Failure

Following the success of Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park in 1993, the first Hollywood-produced Godzilla film should have been a surefire hit.

Lon: The Professional will soon have a free new streaming home. The 1994 Luc Besson-helmed action thriller marked Natalie Portman's feature film debut in a role viewed as more controversial over time.

Lon: The Professional will hit Tubi on November 1. Written and directed by Besson, the film starred Portman alongside Jean Reno and Gary Oldman. The action thriller follows Reno's titular Lon, a professional hitman who reluctantly takes Portman's twelve-year-old Mathilda Lando under his wing after a corrupt DEA agent, Oldman's Norman Stansfield, kills her family. The movie's cast also includes Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Peter Appel, Adam Busch, Joseph Malerba, Mawenn, George Martin, Keith A. Glascoe, Willi One Blood, and Jean-Hugues Anglade in a cameo role.

Related 'Everyone Makes Their Choices': Fired Scream 7 Star Reacts to Neve Campbell's Return

After losing her starring role in Scream 7, Melissa Barrera shares her thoughts on Neve...

Family Pack on Netflix must be one of the weirdest fantasy fiction comedies out there. There are board games, mythical creatures, time travel, and a family that has no clue how to navigate through another timeline. There are only a few characters in the film primarily from the family itself who are trying to win the game. It is essential to win, and the family goes out of their way to do that.

Jerome

Veteran actor Franck Dubosc is Jerome, father of Louise and Clara and stepfather to Theo. Jerome comes across as someone who wants to spend some time with the family. He claims to be a fan of the board game “Werewolves,” something his father has forgotten about thanks to his dementia. After unsuccessfully convincing his family to play, all of them inadvertently fall into this 15th-century board game. It took a while for Jerome to conclude that...

One of the best (and most controversial) action movies of all time is now available to stream for free. Directed by Luc Besson, Lon: The Professional stars Jean Reno as the titular hitman (known in the movie as a cleaner) who reluctantly takes a 12-year-old girl with revenge on her mind under his wing.

The action thriller is now considered one of the best of all time, and boasts a stellar breakout performance from Academy Award winner Natalie Portman as the young Mathilda, an endearingly awkward performance from Jean Reno as the lonely assassin, and a wild and wonderful performance from Academy Award winner Gary Oldman. Seriously, the latter devours every piece of scenery that he can. Lon: The Professional is now available to stream for free with ads on Tubi, and you can check out the official synopsis for the action outing below.

Mathilda (Natalie Portman) is only 12 years old,...

Netflix’s Family Pack—originally titled Loups-Garous—is a French adventure-comedy that takes audiences on a time-traveling journey to the Middle Ages. Directed by François Uzan, known for his work on Lupin, this family-friendly thriller centers on a modern family who unexpectedly finds themselves transported back to the year 1497 after playing an old board game, The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow. Here’s a complete breakdown of the cast and characters in Family Pack, a fantastical medieval tale.

What is the Netflix movie ‘Family Pack’ about?

When Jérôme, Marie, and their kids travel to the countryside to visit Gilbert, they uncover a dusty board game, The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow. An earthquake soon throws them into a different era, where their modern-day instincts and skills are tested in the 15th century. They discover they’ve been thrust into a dangerous game where they must use newfound powers to battle werewolves each night,...

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Canary Black is a spy action thriller film directed by Pierre Morel from a screenplay by Matthew Kennedy. The Prime Video film follows Avery Graves, an exceptional CIA agent whose husband is kidnapped by terrorists to blackmail her into stealing sensitive information that would betray her country. Canary Black stars Kate Beckinsale in the lead role with Rupert Friend, Ray Stevenson, Saffron Burrows, Ben Miles, and Michael Brandon starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the explosive action, thrilling story, and compelling characters in Canary Black here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Salt (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Columbia Pictures

Salt is a spy action thriller film directed by Phillip Noyce from a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer. The 2010 film follows Evelyn Salt, an exceptional CIA agent who is wrongfully accused of killing the Russian president.