Today's Movies Pulse
US Justice Dept. Clears Paramount’s Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
The U.S. Justice Department approved Paramount Global’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, concluding the merger would not substantially lessen competition in traditional television markets. Regulators noted the combined company would provide a strong alternative in the video‑streaming market while competition in live‑programming and film‑studio segments remains robust.
Cannes 2026 Movies Sold So Far: ‘Paper Tiger,’ ‘The Devils’ 4K Restoration, and ‘Minotaur’ Find Homes Early
At Cannes 2026, several high‑profile titles have already been sold ahead of the festival. Warner Bros.’ new indie label Clockwork will release the restored Ken Russell classic “The Devils,” while Neon has picked up James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” its first collaboration with the director, and added a slate of nine other films. MUBI secured Andrey Zvyagintsev’s long‑awaited “Minotaur,” and Janus Films bought Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “The Samurai and the Prisoner.” The acquisitions highlight Neon’s aggressive push and a growing appetite for diverse international content.
Mark Ruffalo Calls on State AGs to Stop Paramount-WBD Merger
Actor Mark Ruffalo and antitrust analyst Matt Stoller have published a New York Times op‑ed urging state attorneys general to block the pending Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger. They argue the deal would further consolidate Hollywood, reducing the number of studios that foster risky,...
Sounds Like ‘The Batman: Part II’ Is Swinging For ‘The Dark Knight’s Crown
The Batman: Part II is slated to start shooting in London next month after a series of production delays. Robert Pattinson and Andy Serkis have confirmed returns, while casting talks involve high‑profile talent such as Barry Keoghan, Sebastian Stan and Scarlett Johansson. The film’s release...
The Golden Globes Have a New Timetable, Eligibility Rules, and Campaign Guidelines That Tackle AI Usage
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the 84th Golden Globes will be held on Sunday, January 10, 2027, returning to the second weekend in January. A detailed timetable opens submissions on June 1, 2026, with nominations slated for December 7, 2026. The HFPA introduced AI usage...
Paramount Partners with Warner Music for Star Biopics
When a Global #BoxOffice phenomenon such as #MICHAEL happens, Hollywood does what it does best: more of it! #Paramount is leading the charge, striking a first look deal with #WarnerMusic to release films/biopics based on WMG’s artists, including #Madonna, #DuaLipa, #EdSheeran,...
Ruffalo and Stoller Argue Paramount Merger Must Be Halted
Mark Ruffalo & Matt Stoller on why the Paramount merger can and should he stopped (gift link) https://t.co/NZfcLcN49b
Historic Oxford Cinema Under Threat as Oriel College Refuses to Extend Lease
The Ultimate Picture Palace, a Grade II‑listed cinema opened in 1911 in east Oxford, faces closure because Oriel College will not extend its lease beyond 2037. The venue, recently turned community‑owned after more than 1,200 supporters raised funds, has seen ticket...
Avoiding Conflict Kills Both Film and Critique
reviewed JIMPA, a film about a director who’s too afraid of conflict, which is, itself, too afraid of conflict review: https://t.co/Oo0cLSRz4S https://t.co/d4GJyc6MnU
You Can Now Stream Sam Raimi’s Send Help
Sam Raimi’s horror‑comedy *Send Help*, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, began streaming on Hulu on May 7, 2026. The film follows an underappreciated female executive stranded on a desert island with her domineering boss, mixing survival thrills with a...
Tuner Launches Early Dolby Cinema Screenings—Must‑see
This movie is a must-see (and hear): Tuner' Will Kick Off Theatrical Run Early Dolby Cinema Screenings https://t.co/yLEK9uC4Ss
In Italy, a Link Between the Cannes Film Festival and the Far East Film Festival
The Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy, has formalized a partnership with Cannes’ Marché du Film, one of the world’s premier film markets. The 28th edition of FEFF showcased about 75 Asian titles, ranging from genre fare to...
New Che Guevara Documentary at Cannes Shows There Is More to Know
"Che Guevara: The Last Companions" debuted in Cannes’ special screenings, directed by Christophe Dimitri Réveille. The film follows the three surviving members of the roughly 50 guerrillas who fought alongside Guevara in the 1960s. It opens with the chaotic moments after Guevara’s...
Dark Fairytale “Another World” Trailer Debuts in US
New US Trailer for Dark Fairytale 'Another World' HK Animated Film https://t.co/MuqWMDOj3S #animation #HongKong #AnotherWorld #TommyKaiChungNg https://t.co/1F4X8FdMwC
You Don’t Have a Film in the Festival. You Still Need a Publicist
Jane Owen, founder of Jane Owen Public Relations, argues that attending major film festivals without a publicist is a costly mistake, even for producers, financiers, tech firms, and actors who have no film in competition. Since the 1980s, festivals like...
Break Up Studio Streaming Monopoly After Deal Block
The line that stuck out to me in this op-ed from Mark Ruffalo and Matt Stoller was what comes after they block the WBD-Paramount deal. "Go on the offensive and work to break up the studio streaming system that is...
Paramount Signs Film Deal for Potential Biopics With Warner Music Group
Paramount has inked a multi‑year first‑look deal with Warner Music Group, granting the studio access to WMG’s vast catalog for the development of music biopics. The agreement includes collaboration with Unigram, led by Amanda Ghost, and will involve artists or...
Festival Favorite ‘Tuner’ Will Kick Off Theatrical Run with the Best Sound Your Ticket Dollars Can Buy
Daniel Roher’s festival‑hit ‘Tuner,’ starring Leo Woodall as a hyper‑sensitive piano tuner‑turned‑safe‑cracker, is set for a theatrical rollout anchored by an exclusive Dolby Cinema preview on May 17 at AMC locations. The film’s sound design, led by Oscar‑winning Johnnie Burn, is engineered...
Andie Ju and Jing Ai Ng Interview
Grace Han interviews Director Jing Ai Ning and actress Andi Ju about their feature debut “FORGE,” which will screen at CAAMFest this weekend. The film explores a women‑run art‑crime storyline with Asian‑American anti‑heroes, marking a rare genre blend in indie cinema. Production took...
At the Cannes Film Festival, French Cinema Is Front and Center
Pierre Salvadori’s comedy “The Electric Kiss” will open the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 7, 2026. The film, set in 1920s Paris, follows a fake psychic who cons a widower and then falls in love with him. Cannes rules require the...
90s Nostalgia Returns with Mortal Kombat Sequel Trailer
Want to relive the 90s? Watch the trailer for the 1997 #MortalKombat sequel. I'm speechless. https://t.co/8IaTurTOaN
Mortal Kombat 2 Film Producer Asks ‘Why the F**k’ Critics Who ‘Have Never Played the Game’ Were Allowed to Review...
Producer Todd Garner publicly rebuked several critics of the newly released Mortal Kombat 2, accusing them of lacking any familiarity with the game’s lore. The film currently sits at 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 48 on Metacritic, reflecting mixed reactions....
Backrooms Director Kane Parsons Is Horror’s Next Great Storyteller
Twenty‑year‑old Kane Parsons is set to helm A24’s horror thriller *Backrooms*, slated for a May 29 theatrical release. The film adapts the viral “Backrooms” internet meme—a liminal‑space horror concept that originated on 4chan and spread through YouTube and Reddit. Parsons, who...
Simone Ashley Leads New Thriller “This Tempting Madness” Trailer
Simone Ashley in Mysterious Thriller 'This Tempting Madness' Trailer https://t.co/wrFEqybrvP #ThisTemptingMadness #SimoneAshley #AustinStowell #thriller https://t.co/Ejz8xdqRH7
Simone Ashley in Mysterious Thriller 'This Tempting Madness' Trailer
Vertical has dropped the U.S. trailer for the indie thriller "This Tempting Madness," marking the feature‑directorial debut of Jennifer E. Montgomery. The film stars Simone Ashley as Mia, a woman emerging from a coma with fragmented memories and a missing...
Babadook Director Jennifer Kent’s Next Film Is a James Tiptree Jr. Adaptation
Jennifer Kent, the director behind horror hits *The Babadook* and *The Nightingale*, is set to helm a new feature adaptation of James Tiptree Jr.’s Hugo‑winning novella *The Girl Who Was Plugged In*. Sophie Thatcher has been cast as the disfigured protagonist...
Amazon MGM Studios Rolls Out Mexican Action Blockbuster “Vengeance” With Global Theatrical Window
Amazon MGM Studios released "Vengeance," the first Mexican original to receive an exclusive theatrical window before streaming, and the film quickly claimed the No. 1 spot on Prime Video in markets from Nigeria to Italy. Producer Pablo Cruz says the success...
The Mandalorian & Grogu Predicted to Underperform
Do you agree with The ACE? #TheMandalorianAndGrogu is gonna underperform (link to full article: https://t.co/0ZLwPpzBxk) https://t.co/9eMEhNsfBa
Exclusive: ‘The Last Whale Singer – King Karl the Walrus of Karltopia’ Clip
Viva Kids released an exclusive clip from its upcoming animated feature The Last Whale Singer, slated for U.S. theatrical release on June 5. The film follows Vincent, a young humpback whale who must find his voice to protect the ocean, blending...
Matthew Lillard Joins Cast Of Superman Sequel Man Of Tomorrow
Matthew Lillard has been added to the cast of DC Studios' upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, slated for a July 9 2027 release. The film continues James Gunn's rebooted Superman storyline, pairing David Corenswet's hero with Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor against...
Epic Abbott & Costello Monster
Wow. This is a whole movie compared to what was shown at CinemaCon. Still Abbott & Costello meet Monsters, but epic. https://t.co/Glau5atjYG
Review: Blue Film
Elliott Tuttle’s indie arthouse drama *Blue Film* follows Aaron, a Los Angeles cam‑girl‑turned‑sex‑worker, as he meets a mysterious client for a $50,000 night. The film unfolds as a two‑hander, probing power dynamics, honesty, and intimacy between Aaron (Kieron Moore) and his...
Nine Connectors and Lufthansa Loses the Oscar
Anthropic unveiled nine MCP connectors that embed its Claude AI directly into leading creative software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Blender, Autodesk Fusion, Ableton, and SketchUp. The integrations let Claude act as a “second brain,” executing commands inside timelines, node...
Interview: Florian Fernandez • Head, Short Film Corner | Rendez-Vous Industry - “We Always Aim to Create Spaces Where Everyone...
The Short Film Corner | Rendez‑vous Industry, part of Cannes’ Cinéma de Demain, ran May 17‑20, 2026, showcasing its established Creative Programmes—Focus SCRIPT, Focus WiP, and Focus COPRO’—which have propelled short films into major festival selections. This year the initiative marked the fifth anniversary of its...
Final Trailer Revives Classic Cinema in Minions & Monsters
Cinema History Revisited in 'Minions & Monsters' Movie Final Trailer https://t.co/LGXuRiaVSb #Minions3 #animation #sequel #PierreCoffin #MinionsAndMonsters #Illumination https://t.co/XGc68A63n0
The Girl Princes (2013) by Kim Hye-Jung Documentary Review
Kim Hye‑jung’s 2013 documentary The Girl Princes chronicles the all‑female Yeoseong Gukgeuk troupes that performed male folklore heroes in post‑war Korea. By blending archival material with contemporary interviews, the film reveals how these performers challenged gender norms and survived state...
"Perfect" Thriller that Was "One of the Best Movies of 2025" Has Just Landed on Prime Video
The Long Walk, a Stephen King‑based thriller directed by Francis Lawrence, is now streaming on Prime Video in the UK. The dystopian 1970s tale follows 50 boys in a lethal walking contest where three warnings mean instant death, with the survivor...
Sam Worthington Escapes Prison in I Will Find You Teaser
Sam Worthington Must Break Out of Prison in 'I Will Find You' Teaser https://t.co/2E14dXlWut #IWillFindYou #SamWorthington #BrittLower #HarlanCoben #Netflix #thriller
Sam Worthington Must Break Out of Prison in 'I Will Find You' Teaser
Netflix unveiled the first‑look teaser for "I Will Find You," a new family thriller set to debut on June 18, 2026. The series adapts Harlan Coben’s 2023 novel and follows an innocent father, played by Sam Worthington, who must escape...
PBS Teams With Indie Film Producer ITVS for Independent Lens Creator Lab, Inaugural Lineup Revealed (EXCLUSIVE)
PBS and independent film co‑producer ITVS have unveiled the inaugural Independent Lens Creator Lab, a six‑month accelerator that offers up to $36,000 in production funding per participant. The program will guide six creators as they produce up to 12 vertical‑format...
New Europe Film Sales Unveils a Diverse Slate at the Marché Du Film - Cannes 2026 - Marché Du Film
New Europe Film Sales is showcasing a broad slate at Cannes' Marché du Film, headlined by the animated fantasy "Nina and the Goddess of Thunder" and the Irish family animation "Julián". The lineup also includes auteur‑driven titles such as "A...
Review: I Won't Die for Love - Films / Reviews - Spain/Belgium
Marta Matute’s debut feature *I Won’t Die for Love* captured the top prize at the Málaga Film Festival, winning the Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film. The drama also secured Best Actress for Júlia Mascort, Best Supporting Actor for Tomás del Esnal, and...
Interview: Barbara Orlicz, Anita Piotrowska • President and Artistic Director, Krakow Film Festival - “The Krakow Film Festival Aims to...
The Krakow Film Festival, entering its seventh decade, announced Anita Piotrowska as its new artistic director alongside President Barbara Orlicz. The duo pledged to preserve the event’s historic focus on documentaries, shorts and animation while expanding into auteur‑driven, hybrid formats that challenge...
Matt Shakman Is the Next Director to Visit the Planet of the Apes Franchise
Matt Shakman, known for directing the Marvel series *WandaVision* and the upcoming *Fantastic Four*, has been tapped to helm the next *Planet of the Apes* film. He will reunite with screenwriter Josh Friedman, who penned the 2024 installment *Kingdom of...
Joan Collins Says Her Wallis Simpson Biopic Is a “Passion Project”
Joan Collins will star as Wallis Simpson in the upcoming biopic *My Duchess*, a project she describes as a lifelong passion. The film, written by Louise Fennell and directed by veteran filmmaker Mike Newell, focuses on Simpson’s final years in...
People Want to Watch Your Film. Now Go Find Them.
Ian Tarbert, a veteran indie film marketer, shared a behavior‑first framework for getting movies in front of audiences. He stresses budgeting P&A from day one and tailoring spend to a film’s scale, whether that’s a $250 micro‑campaign or a $250,000...
‘Alice and Steve’ Trailer Unveiled as Disney+ Sets June Premiere for “Wrong-Com” Series
Disney+ unveiled the trailer for “Alice and Steve,” a six‑part “wrong‑com” series debuting June 8. The show stars Nicola Walker, Jemaine Clement, Joel Fry and Yali Topol Margalith, and follows a mother’s feud when her best friend dates her adult daughter. It...
Eddie Redmayne & Miles Teller in Talks for Doug Liman Spy Thriller ‘Star One’
Eddie Redmayne and Miles Teller are in talks to headline “Star One,” a spy thriller directed by Doug Liman. The film, based on an extraordinary true CIA mission, pits a daring operative against a methodical strategist on a perilous cross‑border...
Zlín Film Festival Unveils Competition Titles for Its 66th Edition - Festivals / Awards - Czech Republic
The Zlín Film Festival, the world’s oldest and largest children’s film event, opens its 66th edition (May 28‑June 3) with the world premiere of the Czech family fantasy *When Parents Turn Divine*. The festival also celebrates the 90th anniversary of Zlín Film...
Interview: Danae Spathara • Producer, Heretic - “Positioning a Film Internationally Starts with the Story Itself” - Producers on the...
Greek producer Danae Spathara, Heretic’s representative at Cannes’ Producers on the Move 2026, discussed how she positioned the debut feature *Kyuka – Before Summer’s End* for an international audience. She explained the shift to stop‑motion animation with the upcoming feature...
Crowdfunding: A New Alternative to Financing Difficulties in French Animation
A French animated feature, Jim Queen, turned to community crowdfunding to cover a shortfall in its budget and premiered a partially funded cut at Cannes’ midnight slot. The film raised roughly €200,000 (about $215,000) from fans, supplementing traditional tax credits...