Today's Movies Pulse
Paramount cleared to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery
The U.S. Justice Department approved Paramount Global’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, concluding it will not lessen competition in the media sector. Regulators noted the combined entity would create a strong alternative in the video‑streaming market while live‑programming and film‑studio competition remains robust.
Directors’ Fortnight 2026
Alain Guiraudie’s latest photographic series debuted at Paris’s Crèvecœur gallery as part of the 58th Directors’ Fortnight in 2026. The exhibition features a stark, naked figure wandering a forest, echoing the director’s cinematic themes of nature, desire, and myth. Guiraudie, celebrated for films such as "Stranger by the Lake" and "Misericordia," returns to the prestigious sidebar after a decade of festival presence. The showcase underscores his multidisciplinary influence across film, literature, and visual art.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Gets a Second Chance on Streaming in March
Sony Pictures’ horror sequel *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple* will arrive on Netflix in the United States on March 31, 2026, just weeks after its January 16 theatrical release. The film struggled at the box office, prompting an unusually swift move from...
‘Dune Part Three’ Trailers, WB Merger Blues, Timothée Chalamet’s (Alleged) War on Ballet and Opera, and the Perils of Imax...
The new trailer for *Dune: Part Three* showcases the franchise’s signature scale and confirms a December 18, 2026 release, positioning it as a potential awards‑season tentpole. Simultaneously, Warner Bros. is on the brink of an $800 million acquisition by Skydance, a...
Judd Apatow’s Norm Macdonald Documentary ‘Norm: The Tale Of Norm’ Preps For Release on Netflix
Judd Apatow’s upcoming Netflix documentary, titled "Norm: The Tale Of Norm Macdonald," moves closer to release after receiving an R rating for language and sexual references. The film joins Apatow’s growing slate of comedy‑focused documentaries, including profiles of Garry Shandling...
Farley To Uncut Gems: The Adam Sandler Renaissance
Adam Sandler, long known for SNL sketches and low‑brow comedies, has experienced a career renaissance highlighted by his performance in the Safdie Brothers’ thriller Uncut Gems. The turning point began with his heartfelt Netflix tribute song “Farley,” which reminded audiences...
Frameline Announces 2026 Completion Fund Grantees Ahead of 50th LGBTQ+ Festival
Frameline, the nonprofit behind San Francisco’s International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, announced its 2026 Completion Fund grantees, supporting six diverse projects ranging from documentary features to experimental shorts. The fund, which has allocated $717,500 to 203 films since its 1991 inception, highlights...
First Dune: Part Three Teaser Is All Spectacle and Blond Robert Pattinson
Warner Bros. released the first teaser for Denis Villeneuve’s *Dune: Part Three*, showcasing a shift toward a thriller‑driven, action‑heavy tone. The clip highlights a blond‑haired Robert Pattinson, a new visual aesthetic, and a chant‑filled soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Villeneuve confirmed...
Dunesday Is Coming
A vertical teaser for *Dune: Part Three* has been released, showcasing a tall, skinny format that aligns with Denis Villeneuve’s preference for expansive horizons. The teaser’s narrow aspect ratio emphasizes height over width, sparking debate among fans about visual storytelling....
“Touch Me” Brings Therapy Into Sci-Fi Erotica
“Touch Me,” an erotic sci‑fi feature debuting in Sundance’s Midnight program, uses a tentacle‑alien love triangle to explore obsessive‑compulsive disorder and anxiety. Writer‑director Addison Heimann blends Japanese 60s‑70s cinema, pink‑film sensibilities, and vivid color palettes with absurdist humor. Lead actress...
100 Sunset (2025) by Kunsang Kyirong Film Review
Kunsang Kyirong’s debut feature "100 Sunset" premiered in Toronto, earning an Honorable Mention for the Best Canadian Discovery award before screening in Tokyo. The film follows Kunsel, a withdrawn Tibetan‑Canadian teen, as she navigates cultural dislocation, petty rebellion, and a...
FIRST LOOK – GHOSTS: The Possession of Button House
Lionsgate UK announced that the BBC comedy Ghosts will debut on the big screen as Ghosts: The Possession of Button House on 23 October 2026. The film reunites the original ensemble cast and is directed by Simon Hynd, with Monumental Television producing...
‘Outcome’ Trailer: Keanu Reeves Stars in Jonah Hill’s Dark Comedy
Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for “Outcome,” a dark comedy directed by Jonah Hill and starring Keanu Reeves, slated for a global launch on April 10, 2026. The film follows Reeves’ character, Hollywood icon Reef Hawk, whose polished image unravels...
Blue Heron Will Wreck You in the Best Possible Way
Sophy Romvari’s first feature, *Blue Heron*, follows a Hungarian‑Canadian family in 1990s Vancouver, focusing on the eldest son’s behavioral and mental‑health struggles. The film blends lush summer visuals with a meditation on memory, time, and the lingering effects of personal...
One Weird Trick for Being a Better Man
Louis Theroux’s new Netflix documentary “Inside the Manosphere” examines extremist male subcultures. Through minimalist questioning, Theroux exposes how men rarely hold each other morally accountable, treating criticism as feminine weakness. The film shows that this silence enables misogyny, hate speech,...
Gaumont Reports Stable Revenue for 2025
Gaumont announced that its 2025 consolidated revenue remained flat at roughly €350 million, matching the prior year’s performance. The studio reported a modest 3% rise in domestic box‑office receipts, offset by a 2% decline in international markets. Streaming and ancillary revenues...
Un Pour Tous Productions Unveils Updates on Lucky Luke, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, and Hunter X Hunter
Un Pour Tous Productions announced significant progress on three flagship properties: a new Lucky Luke animated series slated for global streaming, a reboot of The Mysterious Cities of Gold in partnership with French broadcasters, and an expanded English digital release of the Hunter x Hunter manga. The...
How Vuelta Is Building a Pan European Cinema Powerhouse to Rival Hollywood
Vuelta, founded three years ago by Jérôme Lévy and David Atlan Jackson, unites eleven leading European film companies into a single production and distribution network. The consortium pools capital, talent and market access, targeting roughly €500 million of content investment each...
‘Undertone’ Trailer: Vertigo Releasing Sets UK Cinema Release for Psychological Horror
Vertigo Releasing announced that the psychological horror "Undertone" will hit UK cinemas on 10 April, accompanied by a chilling new trailer. The film marks the feature debut of writer‑director Ian Tuason and blends slow‑burn psychological dread with supernatural intrigue. It stars...
Sky Reveals First Look at ‘Possession’ as Inheritance Thriller Gets New Title
Sky has unveiled a first‑look image for its upcoming limited series, now titled “Possession,” previously known as “Inheritance.” The five‑part thriller, created by Karla Crome and directed by Storm Saulter, stars Gugu Mbatha‑Raw, Jonny Lee Miller, Sheldon Shepherd and Bel Powley. Set across the UK...
Disney Appoints Ex‑Google Product Chief to Lead Streaming
🔥 The most interesting/exciting part of Disney's leadership reorg that is not getting talked about is that former Google/YouTube chief product officer Adam Smith has been elevated to co-head of Disney's DTC businesses. Placing a tech/product person, without legacy...
Morte Cucina (2025) by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang Film Review
Thai auteur Pen‑Ek Ratanaruang returns with the 2025 thriller “Morte Cucina,” premiering at Helsinki’s Cine Aasia festival. The film follows Sao, a Muslim‑origin chef who exacts revenge on her childhood oppressor using her culinary mastery, intertwining flashbacks of community persecution...
"Stranger Things: Tales From '85" Coming to Select Theaters on April 18
Netflix will hold limited theatrical screenings of the first two episodes of its new animated series "Stranger Things: Tales from ’85" on April 18 across 34 U.S. theaters and select venues. Tickets become available March 18 at 8 AM PT through AMC, and...
Netflix Announces New True-Crime Documentary "The Crash" Premiering May 15
Netflix announced a new true‑crime documentary titled “The Crash,” premiering on May 15, 2026. The film recounts a 2024 Ohio crash where 17‑year‑old driver Mackenzie Shirilla collided with a brick building, killing two passengers. Directed by Gareth Johnson and produced by RAW,...
Spanglish Movies Launches FLOUtv with FAST Channels TV
Spanglish Movies has launched FLOUtv, a free ad‑supported streaming TV (FAST) platform delivering Spanish‑language films, series and cultural programming across the United States and Latin America. Powered by FAST Channels TV’s white‑label infrastructure, the service offers more than 80 linear...
Romcom “BASIC” Unpacks Social Media’s Love Complications
Over on @Variety, I reviewed chelseadevantez’s BASIC - and fell head over heels for this romcom about the complexities that arise in our relationships with social media and romances. Ashley Park and Leighton Meester are absolutely terrific. My SXSW review:...
Projected Loss Far Exceeds $90M Budget Gap
Budget: $90M X 2.5 = $225M Stands at roughly $22M globally Loss should be much larger than -$90M
2026 Box Office: Scott Mendelson Finally Picks Most Important Movie For Every Major Studio
Scott Mendelson has released his annual "most critical release" list, naming one flagship film for each major studio in 2026. The selections focus on domestic theatrical performance, reflecting heightened scrutiny as studios undergo consolidation. Mendelson emphasizes that the chosen titles...
Warner Bros. Unveils 50+ Looney Tunes Vault Classics
Warner Bros. Releases Over 50 More Looney Tunes Classics from the Vault https://t.co/mHwfkAdHIE via @IndieWire
Daily Wire to Cast Kristy Swanson as Conservative Buffy
the stars are aligning for the Daily Wire to make a movie with Kristy Swanson as an old, conservative Buffy
Ep. 189 Berlinale 26: Arrú, Black Burns Fast, The Education of Jane Cumming
In episode 189 of The Seventh Row podcast, Alex Heeney spotlights three Berlinale 2026 films directed by women: Elle Sofe Sara’s Sámi musical *Arrú*, Sandulela Asanda’s queer South African drama *Black Burns Fast*, and Sophie Heldman’s 19th‑century period piece *The Education of Jane...
Villeneuve Promises a More Thrilling, Fresh Dune Part Three
At yesterday's Dune: Part Three trailer event, Denis Villeneuve explained how this new film will be different from the previous two. More thrilling, new tone, new look, new planets, new sound, and new personal connections. (1/2) https://t.co/MOM46wPjHS
Royal Couple's Netflix Rift Reveals Hollywood Struggles
Inside Meghan and Harry’s Falling Out With Netflix — and Why the Royal Couple Is Struggling in Hollywood https://t.co/YKmRoTS059 via @variety
“We’re Becoming More and More Disconnected as a Society”: Alex Prager on DreamQuil
Alex Prager’s sci‑fi drama DreamQuil premiered at SXSW, exploring an AI‑driven personal assistant that supplants a mother’s role, with Elizabeth Banks playing both the human Carol and her AI double. The screenplay, co‑written with her sister during the pandemic, blends...
Independent Creators Must Sell to Truly Own Their Work
Variety’s 10 Creators to Watch on Going Independent and Why ‘To Make Something and Own Something, You Have to Sell Something’ https://t.co/JLoEWzTTZg via @variety
Movie Business Struggles, Yet Distribution Startups Multiply
The Movie Business Has Never Been Harder, So Why Are All These New Distribution Companies Launching? https://t.co/0fH8NhD3Wu via @variety
AI-Generated Feature ‘Raphael’ Anchors MBC C&I’s Hong Kong FilMart Slate (EXCLUSIVE)
South Korean broadcaster MBC C&I’s AI Contents Lab showcased its most ambitious slate at Hong Kong FilMart, headlined by “Raphael,” an 80‑minute feature billed as one of the world’s first fully AI‑generated movies. The lineup also includes AI‑driven dramas such...
Dune 3 Trailer Reveals Chalamet‑Zendaya Conflict, New Villain
‘Dune 3’ Trailer: Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya Are at War as Franchise Jumps 17 Years and Debuts Robert Pattinson’s Shape-Shifting Villain https://t.co/xHX4laWALx via @variety
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So let’s just go ahead and put this, HAIL MARY and THE ODYSSEY in the BP race. That leaves seven spots
A Kieran Culkin Level of Effort (None) and Brevity (Lots)
The Culturework post lambasts the Oscars 2027 ceremony, calling its production a "Kieran Culkin level of effort"—minimal yet overly brief. It highlights the perceived snub of rising star Jacob Elordi and critiques the show’s lack of substantive moments. The author...
Dune: Part Three Trailer Promises Massive Box‑Office, Oscar Run
Epic trailer drops for #Dune3! Opens DEC 18 with IMAX scrns. Colossal DEC #boxoffice (and Oscar nominations) incoming. #DuneMovie #Dune https://t.co/JVHyxK7krh
Brian K. Vaughan Co-Wrote Dune Part 3 Screenplay
Buried under the sands of the new DUNE PART 3 trailer is that Brian K Vaughan, the creator of Y THE LAST MAN & SAGA, co-wrote the screenplay.
Lanaya (2025) by Clyde Capistrano Film Review
Filipino crime drama Lanaya, directed by Clyde Capistrano, earned Best International Film and Best Music Score at the Saskatchewan International Film Festival and later screened at the Sinag Maynila Film Festival. The film, a product of a mentor‑mentee partnership with...
Dune Part Three Trailer Delivers Epic Visual Spectacle
The first trailer for DUNE: PART THREE is as epic as movie trailers get. Looks absolutely incredible. December 18. #DuneMovie https://t.co/BtBZNIJuPl
The Bride Flops with $225K Opening, $11.5M Total
#TheBride hits new low of $225K Monday for $11.5M domestic total against $90M budget Good thing WB did so well Sunday night to mask this DISASTER 💀💀💀 https://t.co/jO9ZQ0PIWZ
Vietnamese Horror ‘Phi Phong: The Blood Demon’ Sells To Multiple Territories Through Mockingbird
Bluebells Studios’ horror feature *Phi Phong: The Blood Demon* has been sold to more than ten territories through Mockingbird Pictures, launching in Vietnam on April 24 to coincide with the Reunification Day holiday. The film, directed by Do Quoc Trung and...
Hoppers and Super Mario Galaxy Boost Box Office
Between Hoppers and the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the box office should be doing alright https://t.co/Kb0Rh7NdVs
Father‑Son Enjoy Early Project Hail Mary Screening
Discovered there was an early screening tonight of Project Hail Mary about 20 minutes from home. My son and I snagged tickets and thoroughly enjoyed it. Two thumbs down. #projecthailmary https://t.co/Klmb3XsAMP
‘Wheel of Time’ Star To Headline Gritty New Crime Drama
Guy Ritchie’s new series *Young Sherlock* has quickly become a Prime Video hit, starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin alongside Dónal Finn, Natascha McElhone and others. The show adapts Andrew Lane’s young‑adult novels and is already a defining streaming arrival of early 2026. Riding that...
Oscar Short Film Tie Highlights Tiny Voting Body
For only the seventh time in Academy history, a category ended in a tie...best live-action short film. One studio executive joked to @Variety in the lobby, “If you needed any other proof that only 200 people vote in the shorts,...
Busboys Trailer Delivers Hilarious Duo David Spade, Theo Von
Funny Trailer for 'Busboys' Comedy with David Spade and Theo Von https://t.co/nvhHyJkvuB #BusBoys #TheoVon #DavidSpace #comedy https://t.co/c68BGwXeRX