Today's Movies Pulse
Paramount cleared to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, but states gear up for antitrust fights
The U.S. Justice Department approved Paramount Global's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, concluding it will not substantially lessen competition in the media sector. Regulators noted the combined entity would create a stronger streaming alternative while existing live‑programming and film‑studio competition remains robust. Meanwhile, California, New York and several other states are preparing separate antitrust challenges, hinting at a multi‑jurisdictional battle.
Indie Weekend Kicks Off with 8 New Films, Including 1,600‑Screen ‘Faces Of Death’
Eight independent films open on April 10, headlined by the horror remake Faces Of Death on 1,600 screens and Neon’s video‑game thriller Exit 8 on 490 screens. The slate also features Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers and a Shakespeare‑inspired project starring Riz Ahmed, underscoring a busy weekend for specialty distributors as they gear up for CinemaCon.
Netflix Combines New Thriller 'Thrash' With Tyson Fury Fight for Weekend Push
Netflix will stream heavyweight bout Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 while debuting the shark‑hurricane thriller 'Thrash' on April 12, underscoring the platform’s dual strategy of live‑sport expansion and new original movies. The fight marks a high‑profile test...
Popular Action Movie Joining Streaming — Just Months After Box Office Disappointment
Edgar Wright’s 2025 remake of *The Running Man* will debut on Amazon Prime Video on April 17, 2025, just five months after a disappointing theatrical run. The film grossed $69.5 million worldwide against a $110 million production budget, resulting in a roughly...
Nintendo's $1 Billion Mario Film Takes on Disney's Box‑Office Lead
Nintendo announced that its upcoming Super Mario Galaxy movie is projected to earn more than $1 billion worldwide, positioning the gaming giant as a direct rival to Disney in animated box‑office revenue. The move expands Nintendo’s entertainment portfolio beyond games and...
There’s a Critical Issue Facing the Movie Industry, Says Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh told Slate that the movie industry’s most pressing problem is getting audiences back into theaters, especially for mid‑budget, adult‑oriented films. He discussed his latest trio of releases—Presence, Black Box and the newly released The Christophers—and noted the disappointing...
Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel Discuss Their Pairing in ‘The Christophers’
Veteran actor Ian McKellen (86) teams with multihyphenate Michaela Coel (38) in Steven Soderbergh’s new film “The Christophers.” The plot follows McKellen’s once‑celebrated artist Julian Sklar and Coel’s art‑restorer Lori Butler as they finish hidden canvases to sell after his...
Movie Review: You, Me & Tuscany
The New York Times’ Alissa Wilkinson reviews the new romance‑drama "You, Me & Tuscany," a Netflix‑released feature that follows a divorced couple who reunite in the Tuscan countryside to settle a family estate. Wilkinson praises the film’s sun‑drenched cinematography and...
Exercise Used to Bore Bob Odenkirk. Now He’s Doing Stunts.
Bob Odenkirk, famed for "Better Call Saul," headlines his third action movie, "Normal," released on April 11, 2026. He says the film’s intense stunt work lets him vent anger stemming from a past home break‑in. In the picture, Odenkirk plays Sheriff Ulysses,...
‘Greenland 2’ Settles Into Top Spot on Disc Sales Charts
Lionsgate’s sequel *Greenland 2: Migration* debuted at No. 1 on the Circana VideoScan chart, leading overall disc sales for the week ending April 4, 2026. The title generated $17.8 million at the domestic box office and saw HD formats account for 47% of its...
Apple TV’s Epic 2-Part Sci-Fi Is Climbing the Charts on Another Streamer
Apple TV’s sci‑fi series "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is now streaming for free on Prime Video, despite traditionally requiring an Apple TV subscription. The two‑part show deepens the MonsterVerse by shifting the secretive Monarch organization from hunters to protectors of...
A New Take on Camus' 'The Stranger' By a Veteran French Stylist Digs Unto the Unspoken
French director François Ozon has released a black‑and‑white film adaptation of Albert Camus’s 1942 novel The Stranger, starring Benjamin Voisin as the detached Meursault. The movie interweaves archival footage of 1930s French‑colonial Algeria, giving visual weight to the novel’s colonial backdrop. Ozon adds...
HBO Max Launches ‘Christy’ as VPNs Become Key to Global Streaming
HBO Max added the Sydney Sweeney‑led biopic ‘Christy’ to its U.S. lineup on April 10, 2026, after a disappointing theatrical run. With no unified streaming partner outside the United States, fans are turning to VPN services to bypass regional blocks,...
Paramount+’s 10-Part Psychological Thriller Is the Perfect Weekend Binge
Paramount+ debuted "Dexter: Original Sin," a 10‑episode prequel that explores Dexter Morgan’s teenage years in Miami. Patrick Gibson steps into the titular role, supported by a veteran ensemble that includes Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey and Sarah Michelle Gellar. The series blends the...
Gerard Butler's Weird-Ass, Critically-Despised Sci-Fi Action Movie Is a Hit on YouTube — and Honestly, You Should Watch It
Gerard Butler’s 2017 disaster sci‑fi "Geostorm" bombed at the box office but has resurfaced as a YouTube hit, regularly landing in the platform’s top‑10 lists. The film endured a costly $15 million reshoot after poor test screenings and suffered release delays,...
Nighttime Sounds: Zhang Zhongchen On Magic, Memory And The Changing Chinese Countryside
Chinese director Zhang Zhongchen premiered his new magical‑realist drama “Nighttime Sounds” at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Drawing on his own rural upbringing, the film uses handheld camerawork and layered sound design to portray a ghost girl symbolising left‑behind...
Ralph Fiennes' Pick To Play Voldemort In The Harry Potter HBO Series Is Perfect
Warner Bros.’ HBO adaptation of Harry Potter will debut its first season, covering “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” this Christmas 2026. Ralph Fiennes, who originated Voldemort in the film series, said he would love to return but has effectively given...
Packer Profits From Remake Formula, Tokenizing Black Leads
Rrom ‘Obsessed’ in 2009 until ‘Little’ in 2019, Packer found fortune and glory producing remakes, rehashes and genre approximations but with Black leads as added value. https://open.substack.com/pub/scottmendelson/p/you-me-and-tuscany-will-packer-producer-rip-off-dont-remake/
Movie Good, but Book Still Reigns Supreme
We saw Hail Mary last night - It was good but not as good as the book, which I'm still reading (Which is true most of the time for me 📚). Ryan Gosling is perfect as Ryland Gosling and Rocky...
'You, Me & Tuscany' Marks A Fine Return For Will Packer's "Rip Off, Don't Remake" Formula
Universal’s romantic comedy *You, Me & Tuscany* launches with an estimated $8.5 million opening weekend against an $18 million production budget. The film, starring Hailee Berry and Regé‑Jean Page, is positioned as a modern, Italy‑set riff on *While You Were Sleeping*. It marks producer...
Sick but Impressed: Mortal Kombat 2 Trailer Dazzles
I was too sick to react, and they should’ve called this the final trailer to optimize meta data But WOW incredible trailer - movie looks 🔥👊 #MortalKombat2 #MortalKombatMovie
Faces of Death's Third Act Earns Low Grade
Crummy C CS for #FacesOfDeath This film’s crap third act shows here with this grade particularly given its “up” ending https://t.co/ZWcb9U3AJq
PVR Inox to Re‑Release Spielberg's "Jaws" In Restored 4K Starting April 17
PVR Inox announced a limited‑run 4K restoration of Steven Spielberg's 1975 shark thriller Jaws, slated for release on its screens beginning April 17. The re‑release is part of the chain’s Auteurs Curation series and aims to bring the film’s original...
In Voices: The Danny Gans Story, a Son Understands His Iconic Father
Filmmaker Andrew Davies Gans premiered *Voices: The Danny Gans Story* at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, chronicling his late father’s rise as a Las Vegas legend known for uncanny impersonations. While initially intended as a tribute, the documentary evolves...
Box Office Success Shows Audiences Shape Hollywood Production
Why the Box Office for ‘You, Me & Tuscany’ Matters: ‘Audiences Have the Power to Dictate What Gets Made in Hollywood,’ Says Producer Will Packer https://t.co/sopQKivUzh via @variety
Fox Entertainment CEO Claps Back at Vertical Dramas’ Bad Rap and Looks to the Future With Dhar Mann | Video
Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade defended vertical microdramas at TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit, arguing the format suffers from misunderstanding rather than merit. The company recently sealed a 40‑title deal with Dhar Mann Studios to expand its short‑form slate, a partnership forged in...
The Pitt Fans Will Love This Intense Medical Action Movie That Shouldn't Have Flopped
Michael Bay’s 2022 action thriller Ambulance, a high‑octane chase set inside a paramedic vehicle, failed to recoup its modest $40 million budget, grossing only $52.3 million worldwide. The film earned a 68% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 256 critics, but audiences...
The Chatterboxes (2025) by Ken Kawai Film Review
Ken Kawai’s third feature, The Chatterboxes, premiered at the 2025 Tokyo International Film Festival and follows a deaf Japanese family whose lives intersect with a Kurdish immigrant household. The film uses delayed and omitted subtitles to force viewers into the same uncertainty...
James Cameron Leads CinemaCon’s 2026 Big Screen Achievement Awards Honorees
James Cameron headlines CinemaCon’s 2026 Big Screen Achievement Awards, a star‑filled ceremony at the Dolby Colosseum in Las Vegas on April 16. The event, sponsored by Coca‑Cola and hosted by Nischelle Turner, honors Cameron alongside Queen Latifah, LaKeith Stanfield, Zoey Deutch, Adam Scott, Noah Centineo and...
Insiders Weigh Dunesday’s Clash With Avengers Impact
Is "Dunesday" good for the movie industry? Or will it be a disaster? And what are insiders saying behind the scenes about the looming showdown between "Dune: Part Three" and "Avengers: Doomsday"? @get_status' Brian Lowry has the story: https://www.status.news/p/dunesday-dune-avengers-release-date-december-18
Popular Ice Cube Comedy Movie Getting Sequel
The Ride Along comedy franchise is moving forward with a third installment, Ride Along 3, now in development. Ice Cube and Kevin Hart are in talks to reprise their lead roles, while director Tim Story and producer Will Packer are also slated to...
‘ChaO’ Review: Human-Mermaid Love Story Is a Lush Wonder
Yasuhiro Aoki’s anime film “ChaO” follows Stefan, a human engineer demoted after inventing a mermen‑friendly propulsion system, who is thrust into a politically charged marriage with the mer‑king’s daughter, ChaO. The story explores uneasy coexistence between surface dwellers and fish...
Jaafar Jackson Shines, Revealing Fame's Heartbreaking Price
Jaafar Jackson delivers a truly remarkable performance in #Michael, embodying the spirit, the ambition and the physicality of Michael Jackson in a way that's dazzling to watch. The kid is so good, and longtime fans will adore this film. Director Antoine...
Ryan Gosling's "Amazing" Forgotten Drama Lands New UK Streaming Home
The 2001 drama *The Believer*, starring Ryan Gosling as a Jewish youth who turns neo‑Nazi, has found a new home on Prime Video in the United Kingdom. Written and directed by Henry Bean, the film is loosely based on the...
Vertical Secures U.S. Rights to Nicolas Cage‑Bill Skarsgård Thriller "Lords of War"
Vertical has acquired U.S. rights to Andrew Niccol’s crime thriller "Lords of War," starring Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård. The deal, brokered ahead of CinemaCon, positions the sequel for a 2027 theatrical rollout and signals strong distributor confidence in legacy‑franchise...
Wit Studio Will Remove Ascendance of a Bookworm Anime AI Scenes
Wit Studio confirmed that generative AI was used in the opening sequence of season 4 of the anime Ascendance of a Bookworm, but the studio will replace the AI‑generated scenes with hand‑drawn artwork starting with episode 2. The original AI‑enhanced opening was...
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Is Dominating Summer Box Office Projections
The Devil Wears Prada 2, starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway, is projected to open between $85 million and $100 million domestically, making it the second‑largest summer debut after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Box‑office trackers have raised their forecasts...
Avengers: Doomsday MCU Movie Box Office Predictions Get Explosive Update
Avengers: Doomsday, the upcoming MCU sequel directed by the Russo brothers, is slated for a Dec 17, 2026 U.S. release. New tracking data cited by The Hollywood Reporter indicates the film is “exploding” on long‑lead box‑office forecasts, outpacing early expectations. The movie...
Send Help Bows After 70 Days, $94M Worldwide
Another WINTER darling saying goodbye at US #BoxOffice is #20thCenturyStudios’s horror #SendHelp. The film directed by #SamRaimi starring #RachelMcAdams & #DylanOBrien leaves theatres after 70 days & a 64.7M lifetime US run, after grossing 1k over 35 theatres on 10th &...
Inside the New Film Stock Kodak Created for ‘Euphoria’ Season 3
Kodak has launched VERITA 200D, a new medium‑speed, daylight‑balanced film stock created with cinematographer Marcell Rév for “Euphoria” Season 3. The stock targets a classic cinematic look with rich color saturation, deep blacks and warm skin tones, deliberately contrasting the ultra‑clean VISION 3...
Margot Robbie's Wuthering Heights Wraps with $240M Global Earnings
Speaking of theatre owners’ favorite bankable star #MargotRobbie, her steamy #WutheringHeights ends its theatrical run after 56 days in theatres at US #BoxOffice, with a 84M lifetime US run, after grossing 8k on 8th and final THU over the last...
Alamo's Woes Predate Change; DTLA Likely Closing Soon
Alamo was already in BIG trouble before this change Bet the DTLA location doesn’t last much longer
Georgia’s 30% Tax Credit Fuels Atlanta’s Rise as ‘Black Hollywood’
Georgia state officials introduced a 30% entertainment tax credit in 2008, prompting a wave of high‑budget movies to film in Atlanta. The incentive, combined with a 94% population surge since 1990, has cemented the city’s reputation as “Black Hollywood,” reshaping...
Paramount Acquires Elegance Bratton’s Crime Thriller ‘By Any Means’
Paramount Lands Elegance Bratton’s Crime Thriller ‘By Any Means,’ Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg https://t.co/UeaLQ4rAXV via @variety
Neon Acquires Korean Thriller ‘Hope’ Starring Fassbender, Vikander Pre‑Cannes
Neon Buys Korean Thriller ‘Hope,’ Starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/Iah7jrQhe2 via @variety
Netflix Cancels Upcoming Real-Life Drama Following Millie Bobby Brown Exit
Netflix has scrapped the planned biopic "Perfect," which would have seen Millie Bobby Brown portray Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug. Brown left the project over creative differences, prompting the studio to abandon the film despite a summer production schedule and a recent...
Three Must‑See New Releases on Prime and Netflix
Amazon Prime & Netflix Adding 12 New Releases This Weekend: The 3 to Watch https://t.co/Sf4SCVjTp4 via @TVAnswerMan
All Major Palme D'Or 2026 Contenders Finally Selected
Well there it is. They finally picked up EVERY real major Palme d'Or contender for 2026. Very very very excited about this one...
Pixar Movie Was Canceled for Having Too Much ‘Girl Power,’ More Details Revealed
Pixar shelved the in‑development feature "Be Fri" after Disney deemed its "girl‑power" focus unsuitable for a broad audience. The studio attempted a six‑week overhaul following mixed focus‑test feedback, but Disney remained dissatisfied. The cancellation aligns with recent reports of Disney‑driven...
First Look Trailer for Manuela Martelli's 'The Meltdown' At Cannes 2026
Chilean filmmaker Manuela Martelli unveiled the first‑look teaser for her second feature, The Meltdown, set to premiere in Cannes 2026’s Un Certain Regard section. The mystery drama follows nine‑year‑old Inès, played by Maya O'Rourke, whose friendship with German skier Hanna...
‘James and the Giant Peach’ Is the Most Underrated Animated Classic of the ’90s
Henry Selick’s 1996 stop‑motion/live‑action hybrid James and the Giant Peach turned 30 this Sunday, yet it remains one of the most overlooked animated classics of the 1990s. While Selick’s previous Nightmare Before Christmas grossed $100 million, James faltered at the box...