Today's Movies Pulse
Netflix’s ‘Office Romance’ tops weekly streaming with nearly 21 M views
Jennifer Lopez’s rom‑com *Office Romance* claimed the top spot on Netflix’s overall chart, logging 20.9 million views through June 7. The platform’s English‑language TV chart was led by the three‑part documentary *Michael Jackson: The Verdict* with 17.8 million views.
NextGen Oscarwatcher: The Calm Before the Storm of Cannes
The 79th Cannes Film Festival is shaping up as a pivotal launchpad for next year’s Oscar race, with a slate of international titles gaining early buzz. Highlights include Cristian Mungiu’s English‑language drama *Fjord*, Paweł Pawlikowski’s black‑and‑white *Fatherland*, and ambitious Asian entries from Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Na Hong‑jin. The author updates his Oscar prediction lists, moving *Digger* to the top of makeup and production design slots and reshuffling other categories. A detailed ranking across Best Picture, Director, Acting and technical awards underscores the fluid nature of awards‑season speculation.
Mortal Kombat 2's Weak $38.5M Opening Stalls Sequels
ooof #MortalKombat2 weekend actual comes in lower at $38.5M all plans for any additional MK films gotta be quashed https://t.co/YtUR6FewyE
Netflix’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ Cast List So Far & Character Breakdowns
Netflix is launching its first adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s *The Magician’s Nephew*, the series’ chronological opener, with a star‑studded cast that includes Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig and Carey Mulligan. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film promises a high‑budget fantasy experience that diverges...
Karuppu Trailer: Suriya Dons the Gown Again, but Wields an Aruval This Time. Watch
The Tamil‑language mass‑masala film Karuppu, starring Suriya and Trisha, drops worldwide on May 14, 2026. Directed by RJ Balaji in his third outing, the 145‑second trailer showcases Suriya as a ruthless lawyer wielding an aruval. The project is produced by Dream...
The Fantasy of Deer Warrior (1961) by Zhang Ying Film Review
The restored 1961 Taiwanese fantasy "The Fantasy of Deer Warrior" is being screened at the 2026 Queer East Festival. The low‑budget film features adult actors in handmade animal costumes who reenact Aesop‑style fables and surreal, campy scenes. Its eclectic soundtrack...
LA500 2026: Bill Kramer
Bill Kramer, chief executive of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, oversees roughly $1 billion in assets, a $180 million operating budget, and a global workforce of more than 700 staff. His portfolio includes the Oscars, the Academy Museum, member...
Florence Pugh's "Utterly Brilliant" British Period Drama Lands New UK Streaming Home
British period drama *Lady Macbeth*, starring Florence Pugh, has secured a new UK streaming home on Prime Video and BFI Player. The film, praised for its taut storytelling and Pugh’s award‑winning performance, holds an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score from 198 critics....
Introducing Our Movie Industry + Film Festivals Event Schedule Page
FirstShowing, celebrating two decades of release‑date tracking, has unveiled a new Film Events Schedule page for 2026. The portal aggregates dates for the world’s leading film festivals—from Cannes and Sundance to Rotterdam and Busan—alongside major awards ceremonies such as the...
Star-Studded Cast Unveils ‘The Five Star Weekend’ Trailer
Garner, Hall, Sevigny, Chan in 'The Five Star Weekend' Official Trailer https://t.co/2C8pOZgEPb #TheFiveStarWeekend #JenniferGarner #ReginaHall #ChloeSevigny #GemmaChan #Nantucket https://t.co/gbfowXDezF
Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘The Buried Giant’ Stop-Motion Animated Movie: Everything We Know As Of 2026
Guillermo del Toro’s adult stop‑motion adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel *The Buried Giant* is officially in production at Netflix, a project first announced in 2023 and reaffirmed during his May 2026 British Film Institute speech. The film will be animated by ShadowMachine,...
The Alan Ritchson Movie ‘Motor City’ Sounds Like Ultra-Stylish ‘Reacher’ in ’70s Detroit
Alan Ritchson headlines the new action thriller Motor City, a 1970s Detroit revenge tale that premiered at the Venice Film Festival and opens in U.S. theaters on July 24. The film leans heavily on visceral, dialogue‑sparse combat, positioning Ritchson’s muscular performance...
Finally Watching Zach Cregger’s “Weapons” On Blu‑ray
Bought the Blu-ray of “Weapons,” directed by Zach Cregger, which I missed during its theatrical run. Unfortunately, it looks like there’s no Japanese 4K UHD release. Tonight, I’m watching “Weapons” on Blu-ray. I’ve already seen his previous film, “Barbarian.” https://t.co/mPsbLqUAe6
Shape of Momo Set for Release on May 29 with Support From Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media
Award‑winning independent feature *Shape of Momo*, directed by Tribeni Rai, will hit theaters across India and Nepal on May 29, 2026. The film arrives with distribution support from Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media and executive production from Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti...
DC Heroes and Villains Join Warner Bros. At Annecy 2026
DC Super Heroes, Villains to Share Limelight With Warner Bros. Animation at Annecy 2026 Showcase https://t.co/FImNelTbw4 via @variety
Sean Penn Stars in Ukrainian War Animals Film Trailer
Official Trailer for 'Animals in War' Ukrainian Film Featuring Sean Penn https://t.co/8agxj0xtR7 #AnimalsinWar #animals #Ukraine #SeanPenn https://t.co/BdTRAHxhbO
Official Trailer for 'Animals in War' Ukrainian Film Featuring Sean Penn
Omnibus Entertainment and Film Movement have dropped the official trailer for *Animals in War*, a Ukrainian anthology film that uses animal protagonists to illustrate the ecological toll of the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. The project, featuring Oscar‑winner Sean Penn in one segment, debuted...
Balan The Boy Locks June 19, 2026 Release Ahead of Premiere at Marché Du Film During Cannes Film Festival 2026
The Indian drama *Balan The Boy* is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on June 19, 2026, after its market screening at the Marché du Film during Cannes 2026. Backed by KVN Productions and Thespian Films, the film will debut...
Speed Racer: Emile Hirsch on Audiences Catching Up to the Wachowskis’ Masterpiece
When the Wachowski‑directed *Speed Racer* debuted in May 2008, it earned $93.9 million against a $120 million budget and was panned by critics for its hyper‑stylized visuals. The film opened a week after *Iron Man* and weeks before *The Dark Knight*, further...
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (2025)
Diego Céspedes’ debut feature, The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo, blends queer identity, myth and western imagery within a stark Chilean mining town. The film earned top honors at Cannes and San Sebastián, highlighting its visual ambition and festival appeal....
First Look at What’s Coming to Netflix in June 2026
Netflix’s June 2026 slate blends blockbuster licensed titles with a wave of original programming. The month opens with the full Creed trilogy and the 2006 Rocky Balboa film, while new library additions include Oscar‑winner Poor Things and the final season of...
Star Wars Actor Michael Pennington Dies at 82
Michael Pennington, ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’ Actor, Dies at 82 https://t.co/XxbARy2P0G via @variety
Seattle International Film Festival 2026 Review - THREE OF A KIND
The Seattle International Film Festival showcased Charlotte Brodthagen’s debut feature, Three of a Kind, a Danish family drama set during a fraught Christmas. The film follows three generations of women—Luis, her mother Christel, and grandmother Vivi—as they grapple with terminal...
Vedang Raina Pens Heartfelt Note for Imtiaz Ali, A. R. Rahman and Irshad Kamil After ‘Maskara’ Releases: “Grateful Beyond Imagination”
Actor Vedang Raina’s rendition of “Maskara” from Imtiaz Ali’s upcoming film “Main Vaapas Aaunga” has resonated with audiences for its soft romantic tone. Raina posted a behind‑the‑scenes video and a heartfelt Instagram note thanking director Imtiaz Ali, composer A.R. Rahman...
Apex’s Charlize Theron & Baltasar KormákurTo Reteam
Universal Pictures will produce "Six Clean Kills," reuniting director Baltasar Kormákur and star Charlize Theron after their Netflix thriller "Apex." The film adapts an unpublished novel by Stan Parish, who also writes the screenplay, and will be produced under Theron's...
Northern Soul: Still Burning (2026)
Northern Soul: Still Burning, directed by Alan Byron, is a documentary that weaves interviews, archival clips, and live club footage to chart the endurance of the UK’s Northern Soul scene. It highlights iconic tracks such as “Do I Love You...
Jon Favreau Isn't "Exactly" Sure Why He Was Asked for The Mandalorian and Grogu to Be the First Star Wars...
Director Jon Favreau says he isn’t entirely sure why Disney chose *The Mandalorian* and Grogu for the first Star Wars theatrical release in seven years, but he sees a chance to draw a new audience. The film, slated for May 22, will...
‘Is God Is’ Review: Aleshea Harris Makes Her Mark With a Brash, Blazing Female Revenge Thriller
‘Is God Is’ is Aleshea Harris’s first feature‑directorial effort, adapting her 2018 Off‑Broadway play into a 99‑minute R‑rated revenge thriller. The film follows twin sisters, played by Kara Young and Mallori Johnson, as they hunt their abusive father, blending blaxploitation swagger, spaghetti‑western...
“IS GOD IS”
Aleshea Harris makes her feature‑film debut with “Is God Is,” an adaptation of her award‑winning stage play. The story follows scarred twins Anaia and Racine as they grapple with a death‑bed mother’s command to kill their abusive father, the man...
Bhagyashree Reveals Why She Outearned Salman Khan in Maine Pyar Kiya: ‘It’s a Simple Business’
Bhagyashree disclosed that she earned roughly ₹1.5 lakh (about $1,800) for the 1989 hit Maine Pyar Kiya, double Salman Khan’s ₹75,000 ($900) fee. She attributed the gap to supply‑and‑demand dynamics and the perception that actresses were more replaceable. The interview also highlighted Salman’s four‑to‑five‑month...
Share-Owning Journalism Orgs Press Paramount For Company Docs On Corrupt Trump Merger Dealings
A coalition of press watchdogs, including the Freedom of the Press Foundation and Reporters Without Borders, has sent Paramount a five‑day deadline to produce internal documents related to its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros and alleged Trump‑linked deals. The groups...
Green Lake (2025) by Zhu Linwei Short Film Review
Chinese filmmaker Zhu Linwei’s 29‑minute short "Green Lake" serves as his Beijing Film Academy MFA graduation project and delves into a decaying Yunnan fertilizer factory haunted by personal trauma. The film earned a Best Live‑Action Short nomination at the 62nd...
Meta Hits Cannes As Sponsor With Host Of Gen Z Stars Including Reece Feldman, Enora Hope & Zainab Jiwa
Meta has secured a multi‑year official partnership with the Cannes Film Festival, positioning the tech giant as a primary sponsor. The company will showcase its AI, wearable tech, and social platforms from a new "Meta House" venue, featuring a lineup...
Outlander's Sam Heughan Addresses James Bond Casting After Being Told He "Wasn't Charismatic Enough"
Sam Heughan revealed he once auditioned for James Bond before Daniel Craig and was told he wasn’t charismatic enough. He now jokes that he’s too old for 007, perhaps suited to play Bond’s dad or a villain. Meanwhile, Amazon MGM’s...
Jaya Bachchan Called Shah Rukh Khan’s Film ‘Most Nonsensical’, Amitabh Bachchan Was Shocked
Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan publicly labeled Shah Rukh Khan’s 2022 blockbuster *Happy New Year* the "most nonsensical" film she’s ever seen during a special screening. Shah Rukh Khan replied graciously, saying the movie was meant for a light‑hearted audience. Despite...
New Trailer and Poster for Spanish Drama FORASTERA
Spanish filmmaker Lucía Aleñar Iglesias’s debut feature Forastera, an expansion of her earlier short, captured the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. The drama follows teenager Cata (Zoe Stein) on Mallorca as she confronts grief after her...
A Guide to Kabuki Theatre in Film
Kokupo, the Japanese epic about a young actor’s rise in the kabuki world, has become Japan’s highest‑grossing live‑action film and earned an Academy Award nomination for hair and makeup. The film’s UK launch is accompanied by a curated guide to...
Box Office Report: Devil Wears Prada, Michael Hit Milestones
Box office data this weekend shows the sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2 pulling $433 million worldwide on a $100 million budget, eclipsing the 2006 original by $107 million and ranking as the fifth‑highest‑grossing film of 2026. At the same time, Antoine Fuqua’s...
EXCLUSIVE: JUSTIN BALDONI EYES ‘IT ENDS WITH US’ SEQUEL — EVEN WITHOUT BLAKE LIVELY
Actor‑producer Justin Baldoni’s legal battle with Blake Lively over the “It Ends With Us” franchise has been settled, allowing Wayfarer Studios to revisit the sequel, “It Starts With Us.” Baldoni says he can finally focus on production again after months...
Michael Jackson Biopic Passes $500 Million at Global Box Office – as Sony Music Reaps Streaming Windfall From Catalog Stake
The Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" has amassed $577 million worldwide in three weekends, becoming the highest‑grossing music biopic domestically and the second ever to top $500 million. Its release triggered a 95% surge in streams of Jackson’s catalog, adding five million monthly...
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Has Already Taken More Money than the First Movie After only 10 Days
The Devil Wears Prada 2 has amassed $433.2 million worldwide in just ten days, overtaking the original’s $326.7 million total. Its $233 million opening weekend was the second‑biggest of the year, and a modest 44% drop in the second weekend left it at $43 million...
Pinocchio: Unstrung Gets Summer Release Date
The dark fantasy horror film Pinocchio: Unstrung, written and directed by Rhys Frake‑Waterfield, is slated for a summer theatrical release on July 24, 2024. The movie reimagines Carlo Collodi’s classic tale with a gruesome twist, featuring voice talent Jude Evan...
Paramount‑Warner $111 B Merger Stumbles Amid Trump‑Era Political Allegations and Hollywood Protest
Paramount Global's $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery is under fire after a legal filing alleges the company promised former President Donald Trump editorial cuts at CNN for regulatory leniency. Simultaneously, actor Mark Ruffalo leads a 4,000‑plus artist campaign demanding...
Ryan Gosling's "Flawless" Sci-Fi Hailed as a "Masterpiece" Is Now Available to Watch at Home
Ryan Gosling’s sci‑fi blockbuster *Project Hail Mary* has earned $655 million worldwide, making it the second‑largest film of 2026 so far. The movie, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is now available for digital purchase and rental, with prices around...
Kyoto Animation to Adapt 'Ending Credits Running on the Sea' Into Animated Film
Kyoto Animation announced it will adapt the manga "Ending Credits Running on the Sea" into an animated feature slated for 2027. The adaptation, directed by Taichi Ishidate—known for Violet Evergarden—was revealed with a teaser trailer and a poster featuring protagonist...
Family‑Owned Hollywood Service Firms Shut Down as Film Production Slumps
Legacy providers of set storage, transportation and costume rentals are closing as Los Angeles film shoot days have fallen nearly 50% since 2019. The wave of shutdowns, highlighted by Triscenic Production Services and Quixote, underscores a broader contraction in the...
Classroom 4
Classroom 4 is an award‑winning documentary directed by Eden Wurmfeld that follows historian Reiko Hillyer’s university‑level course on the history of crime and punishment, taught inside a minimum‑security prison in Portland, Oregon. The class, part of the three‑decade‑old Inside‑Out Prison Exchange...
To Earn some Countries' Film Tax Incentives, You Have to Pass the Test
Film and TV tax incentives now exist in nearly 48 countries, offering rebates up to 40% to lure productions away from Hollywood. To qualify, each nation applies a cultural test that scores a project on content, local contribution, hubs, and...
Casting without Borders: Inside Top Casting Directors' Global Search for Talent
Veteran casting directors are leveraging digital platforms and global networks to source talent worldwide, as shown by Carla Hool’s search for the Virgin Mary in Alejandro Monteverde’s biblical epic and Meredith Tucker’s collaborations on The White Lotus. Tools such as...
Cinema Pairing: Japan X Malaysia Presents Two Double-Bill Screenings Exploring Cultural Exchange Through Cinema
The Japan Foundation, together with GSC International Screens, is hosting "Cinema Pairing: Japan × Malaysia" from May 15‑17, 2026 at GSC Mid Valley Megamall. The three‑day programme offers double‑bill screenings that pair classic Japanese titles with contemporary Malaysian films, each accompanied by filmmaker talks....
Cannes Film Festival Preview: 4 Story Lines to Watch For
The 79th Cannes Film Festival opens Tuesday with a noticeably lighter Hollywood footprint, featuring fewer English‑language titles and no major summer blockbusters. Festival director Thierry Frémaux bolstered the program with a surprise anniversary screening of the original *The Fast and...