Today's Movies Pulse
Paramount cleared to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, creating new streaming heavyweight
The U.S. Justice Department approved Paramount Global's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, saying the deal will not substantially lessen competition in the media sector. While federal regulators see the combined company as a robust streaming alternative, state authorities in California, New York and others are gearing up for separate antitrust challenges.
‘Back to Us’: Emotionally Charged Kenyan Look at the Complexity of Breakups
Kenyan director Jennifer Gatero’s new romantic drama *Back to Us* debuted at Nairobi Cinema on April 11. The film delves into the tangled emotions of breakups, highlighting how unspoken baggage and friendship shape romantic bonds. Critics praised the tight first act, flashback structure, and the chemistry of leads Quincy Rapando and Kate Snow, while noting a slower, repetitive second act. *Back to Us* will later stream globally on Gatero’s Avant Cinema video‑on‑demand platform.
Amazon Delays PVOD to Cash in on Strong IMAX Run
I’m happy to laud Amazon MGM for pushing Project Hail Mary back to IMAX dates this weekend and extending the time before PVOD release. But also… they are doing it because the movie is holding great and they will make...
17 Terrible Performances by Brilliant Actors
The article catalogs 17 widely‑criticized performances by actors usually regarded as elite, ranging from Tom Hanks in *Cloud Atlas* to Meryl Streep in *Into the Woods*. Each entry notes the film’s broader failures and often cites Razzie nominations or public...
‘Mercy’ Claims No. 1 Spot on Disc Sales Chart
MGM’s thriller *Mercy* claimed the No. 1 spot on the Circana VideoScan disc‑sales chart for the week ended April 11, driven by strong HD‑format performance. HD discs accounted for 47 % of its first‑week sales, with regular Blu‑ray contributing 30 % and 4K discs...
Surviving Earth: Review
Surviving Earth, Thea Gajic’s debut feature, premiered at SXSW 2025, chronicling Yugoslav musician Vlad’s struggle to stay sober while rebuilding his life through music. Set in Bristol, the film spotlights Vlad’s bond with his daughter Maria, whose support becomes the...
The Mummy and Normal Both Earn Mediocre C+ Scores
New wide releases The Mummy and Normal are unimpressing auds at the same level. Both have a CinemaScore of C+.
Netflix Rolls Out Four Colombia Initiatives After ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ Success
Netflix announced four new initiatives to grow Colombia’s film and TV ecosystem, citing the success of its flagship series ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude.’ The move follows the streamer’s recent office openings in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina and marks its...
Inside ‘Playback,’ a Rare SAG-Affiliated Microdrama With a Musical Spin | Exclusive
Scott Brown’s Second Rodeo released “Playback,” a 100‑minute musical microdrama that became one of the first SAG‑signatory productions after influencer Hannah Stocking joined the cast. The series, shot in seven days across Mexico City and Los Angeles, features 17 original...
‘Roommates’ Review: Mediocre Netflix Buddy Comedy Is Almost a Good Horror Film
Netflix’s “Roommates” is a Happy Madison‑style buddy comedy that falls short of laugh‑out‑loud moments but offers a surprisingly dark undercurrent. The film follows college roommates Devon and Celeste, whose uneasy partnership spirals into moral ambiguity that could have been framed...
Indian Star Yash Unveils Global Gangster Film ‘Toxic’ at CinemaCon
Indian actor Yash, with producer Namit Malhotra, presented the character‑driven gangster film “Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grownups” at CinemaCon 2026, confirming an English‑language production and a worldwide release on June 4, 2026. The debut highlights a growing strategy among Indian filmmakers...
Top 15 Must‑See CinemaCon Films and Oz Sphere Preview
The 15 Most Anticipated Movies at CinemaCon on @TheBigPic, with @MattBelloni. Plus our Sphere visit to see THE WIZARD OF OZ. https://t.co/OCHkOJvAIu
(Podcast) Downstream 116: Ceramic Dalmatian
The Downstream 116 podcast covers several media‑industry shifts, starting with Jeopardy’s push into streaming and a playful nod to its recent loss on the game show. Hosts reminisce about Netflix’s evolution, note Paramount+’s deeper integration with Pluto TV, and speculate...
The Next Best Picture Podcast – Interview With “Wasteman” Stars David Jonssan & Tom Blyth
"Wasteman" is a 2025 British prison drama directed by Cal McMau, starring David Jonsson and Tom Blyth as desperate cellmates. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, where critics praised its gritty direction and powerful performances. Following the...
‘Dhurandhar 2’ Hits ₹1,103 Crore Net in India, Surpasses $130 Million in 29 Days
Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ logged a net of ₹1,103 crore ($133 million) in India by its 29th day, pushing worldwide earnings to ₹1,733.20 crore ($209 million). The figures underscore the film’s ability to draw audiences despite the concurrent IPL season.
Cinemacon Also Brought Us Regina King, Colman Domingo, and Spaceballs
Regina King headlines Paramount’s upcoming fantasy epic Children of Blood and Bone, directed by Gina Prince‑Bythewood. The film adapts Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling novel set in a magical African kingdom and features an all‑star cast including Viola Davis, Idris Elba and Chiwetel...
Stories Without Safety Nets
A new wave of indie films is breaking out of festivals and finding theatrical and streaming homes. The post spotlights three 2026 releases—Mile End Kicks, a Montreal music‑scene coming‑of‑age drama; No Other Choice, Park Chan‑wook’s stylized survival tale; and The...
Michael Could Set A New High Bar For Music Biopics At The Box Office
Director Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biopic *Michael* is slated for an April 24, 2026 release and is projected to earn $75‑90 million domestically in its opening weekend. Those figures would eclipse the $60 million debut of *Straight Outta Compton* and could challenge the $82 million opening...
3 Best New to Prime Video Movies You Need to Stream This Weekend (April 17–April 19)
Prime Video adds three new movies for the weekend of April 17‑19, covering action, comedy and drama. Edgar Wright’s 2025 remake of The Running Man delivers a satirical, high‑stakes thriller starring Glen Powell. Mark Wahlberg leads Peter Farrelly’s raunchy comedy Balls Up,...
Double Feature of ‘The Crawling Hand’ and ‘The Slime People’ Due on DVD April 21 From VCI and MVD
VCI Entertainment and MVD Entertainment Group are issuing a double‑feature DVD on April 21, 2026 that pairs the 1960s sci‑fi cult classics *The Crawling Hand* and *The Slime People*. Both titles have been meticulously restored in 4K from their original 35 mm negatives,...
Wayans Brothers Tease ‘White Chicks’ Sequel “Can Happen” If ‘Scary Movie 6’ Does Well: “We’re Game”
The Wayans brothers indicated that a sequel to their 2004 hit White Chicks could move forward if the upcoming Scary Movie 6 performs well at the box office. Scary Movie 6 is slated for a June 5 theatrical release and reunites Marlon and Shawn Wayans with Anna...
A Path to Profitability in an Industry Built on Fear?
The No Film School podcast featured Kino co‑founders Brit MacRae and Daril Fannin discussing how insecure screeners, fragmented feedback, and fear‑driven distribution hinder independent film profitability. They explained Kino’s shift from an interactive streaming concept to a B2B platform that...
Hollywood Fears Retaliation After Anti‑Paramount Letter
"The worry is that this letter, and people who signed it, end up becoming Larry Ellison’s blacklist." Brian Lowry's latest column for @get_status is about Hollywood's growing concerns with Paramount WBD deal—and how major figures are speaking out, even though they...
Sandra Bullock Wants You to Make AI Your "Friend"
Sandra Bullock told industry insiders at CinemaCon and the CNBC Changemakers Summit that Hollywood should stop fearing AI and start treating it as a creative ally. Confronted with fan‑made AI trailers for "Practical Magic 2," she joked about her digital...
Disney’s New Imax Competitor Has 1 Major Issue
Disney unveiled "Infinity Vision" at CinemaCon 2026, a new certification for Premium Large Format (PLF) theaters promising larger screens, sharper picture and premium sound. The badge is intended to help audiences locate the most immersive venues for upcoming blockbusters like...
India-Based Digikore Studios Releases ‘Kingdom Games’ Trailer
India‑based Digikore Studios unveiled the trailer for its 90‑minute 4K animated feature *Kingdom Games*, slated for worldwide theatrical release on July 24. The studio employed an AI‑assisted pipeline that touched every production stage, compressing tasks that once took weeks into hours...
Consumers Put A WBD-Paramount Merger On Probation
Warner Bros. Discovery’s pending acquisition of Paramount is set for a shareholder vote on April 23, 2026, marking the most critical stage of a deal that would consolidate film, TV, streaming and news assets. Forrester’s March 2026 Consumer Pulse Survey of 540 U.S....
Ben Wheatley's Neo-Western “Normal” Disappoints Expectations
Ben Wheatley’s chilly, FARGO-esque neo-western NORMAL is surprisingly underwhelming. I expected far better results from a small town shoot-em-up by Bob Odenkirk and Derek Kolstad. My review: https://freshfiction.tv/normal-review-ben-wheatleys-chilly-neo-western-severely-underwhelms/
David Harbour Cast as Trautman in New Rambo Origin
Excl: David Harbour joins Noah Centineo in Rambo origin story JOHN RAMBO. He will play Major Trautman, originally played by Richard Crenna in the 1980s movies. https://t.co/ZxRl8yrzAZ
The Next Best Picture Podcast – Interview With “Erupcja” Stars Jeremy O. Harris, Lena Góra, And Director Pete Ohs
Erupcja, a 2025 drama directed by Pete Ohs, debuted in the Centerpiece section of the Toronto International Film Festival and later screened at Film at Lincoln Center’s New Directors program. The film stars pop star Charli XCX, Polish actress Lena...
David Harbour Teams with John Rambo; Powell Scores Min
...scoops via @HeatVisionBlog newsletter: David Harbour joins JOHN RAMBO...John Powell composing the score for MINIONS & MONSTERS. Plus: inside a comic art crime & a record comic art auction. And the Overlook horror fest. https://t.co/8RRRn0ry1O
Hollywood Rebounds: Massive Movie Production After Pandemic Slump
I’ve got good news for you guys: Hollywood is making a lot of movies. The pivot is remarkable. It has been at least six years, since the advent of COVID, that declining attendance, a flood of investment in streaming, the erasure...
The Biggest News From CinemaCon 2026
CinemaCon 2026 spotlighted Paramount’s Top Gun 3 development, confirming Tom Cruise’s return alongside producer Jerry Bruckheimer, while Disney unveiled the original animated film Hexed and its voice‑cast. The event also introduced a Snoop Dogg biopic starring Jonathan Daviss, slated to begin filming next summer. These announcements...
Project Hail Mary Streaming Plans Delayed as IMAX Return Extends Theatrical Run
Amazon MGM announced that the Ryan Gosling‑led sci‑fi film *Project Hail Mary* will stay in theaters longer, adding a limited one‑week IMAX engagement starting this weekend. The studio confirmed the movie will not move to streaming soon, pushing back its...
New Trailer Reveals Un‑Romantic Comedy Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day
Un-Romantic Comedy Movie 'Virginia Woolf's Night & Day' Full Trailer https://t.co/HJZxHXKcQW #NightAndDay #VirginiaWoolf #HaleyBennett #JackWhitehall https://t.co/dhcrM6PmyA
Project Hail Mary Won't Be Streaming At Home Anytime Soon (And The Reason Is Solid)
Amazon MGM Studios announced at CinemaCon that the theatrical window for Ryan Gosling’s sci‑fi hit "Project Hail Mary" will be extended, delaying its debut on Prime Video. The film, directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, has already earned $518 million...
Will Marielle Heller’s FernGully Be the First Good Live-Action Adaptation?
Amazon MGM Studios announced a live‑action adaptation of the 1992 animated classic FernGully, with acclaimed director Marielle Heller attached to helm the project. Heller, known for Nightbitch and the Mister Rogers biopic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, brings a...
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Is Best Enjoyed Knowing This Beforehand
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy hits U.S. theaters this weekend as a straight‑up horror entry from Warner Bros. and Blumhouse. The film stars Jack Reynor and Laia Costa and follows a family’s nightmare after their missing daughter returns from the desert....
How to Stream ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ World Premiere Red Carpet Online
The sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada" will debut at a star‑studded red carpet in New York on April 20, with a live broadcast on Disney+ and Hulu. Both platforms are offering free‑trial periods—Hulu + Live TV provides a three‑day trial, while the...
Jason Statham Returns in Action‑Packed ‘The Beekeeper 2’ Trailer Debut at CinemaCon
Jason Statham’s sequel ‘The Beekeeper 2’ premiered a high‑octane trailer at CinemaCon, revealing expanded action, a new director and fresh cast members. The footage builds on the original’s $162 million box‑office success and hints at a global conspiracy that could redefine...
The Stars and the Moon Are Holes in the Sky (2025) by Haruhiko Arai Film Review
Haruhiko Arai’s latest film, “The Stars and the Moon Are Holes in the Sky,” opened internationally at the Hong Kong International Film Festival after its December 2025 Japanese release. The 122‑minute black‑and‑white drama channels the Japanese New Wave of the...
Jeremy O. Harris on Juggling Theater, ‘Erupcja,’ and Why He Became a Producer
Tony‑nominated playwright Jeremy O. Harris, famed for Broadway’s “Slave Play” and the screenplay of “Zola,” co‑wrote and appears in the indie drama “Erupcja,” which debuted at MoMA and the New Directors/New Films festival. He serves as the inaugural creative director...
A Chat With L.A.’s New Film Czar on ‘Baywatch’ — and How the City Is Trying to Cut Red Tape
Los Angeles has installed a new film liaison, Steve Kang, to streamline permitting and reduce bureaucratic friction for productions. Kang’s authority, granted by Mayor Karen Bass, enabled rapid approvals for the Baywatch reboot, including a 20% discount on a city...
The Live Nation Verdict Won’t Fix Tickets. It Should Rattle Hollywood
A federal jury ruled that Live Nation functioned as a monopoly in the concert and ticketing markets, marking a rare antitrust victory for state regulators. While the decision could force a Ticketmaster spin‑off, the core drivers of high prices—limited supply...
Classic Sylvester Stallone Movie Returns to Theaters in 4K With an Exciting Bonus
The iconic 1976 sports drama *Rocky* is returning to cinemas in a newly remastered 4K version to celebrate its 50th anniversary, with limited screenings from November 7‑11. The event, organized by Amazon MGM Studios, Park Circus, and Fathom Entertainment, will also...
Matt Smith Confirmed for New Mystery Thriller with an Ending 'You Won't See Coming'
Matt Smith has been confirmed to star alongside Imogen Poots in the upcoming mystery‑thriller *The Salamander Lives Twice*. The plot follows a debonair amnesiac who washes ashore on a remote island clutching a locked briefcase and a Rolex, meeting a...
Alberto Vázquez’s ‘Decorado’ Scoops Top Feature Prize at 9th Quirino Awards; Colombia, Portugal Share Major Wins
Alberto Vázquez’s animated feature “Decorado” won Best Feature Film at the 9th Ibero‑American Animation Quirino Awards in Tenerife, adding to his previous Quirino wins. The co‑production between Spain and Portugal also secured an animated‑feature Goya earlier this year. Spain led...
Lord of the Rings: Popular Horror Director Would ‘Drop Everything’ to Direct New Movie
Lee Cronin, the director behind Evil Dead Rise and the upcoming 2026 remake of The Mummy, said he would "drop everything" to helm a new Lord of the Rings project. He also voiced a desire to take on the Nightmare...
FernGully Returning as Live-Action Movie, Years After Those Avatar Jokes
Amazon MGM announced a live‑action adaptation of the 1992 animated classic FernGully, with indie filmmaker Marielle Heller writing and directing. The studio deliberately sidesteps the term “remake,” positioning the project as a tribute that will extend the film’s environmental themes...
CinemaCon Confidential: The Good, The Bad & The Buttons
The author reflects on CinemaCon 2026, marking his tenth consecutive visit to the Las Vegas trade show. He describes the event as a "Truman Show" where journalists, exhibitors and executives recycle the same conversations year after year. A minor controversy dubbed...
The Next Best Picture Podcast – Interview With “The Christophers” Stars Ian McKellen & Michaela Coel
The Christophers, a 2025 black‑comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed Solomon, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to strong critical acclaim, especially for its screenplay and the performances of Sir Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel. The film, now...