Today's Movies Pulse
Netflix’s ‘Michael Jackson: The Verdict’ draws 17 M views in first week
The three‑part documentary logged more than 17 million views in its first week, making it one of Netflix’s biggest non‑fiction hits of 2026 and debuting near the top of the platform’s global English‑language TV rankings. Directed by Nick Green, the series taps the enduring public fascination with the pop star’s 2005 trial.
'The Airbus of Production': Mediawan Backers Defend French Identity and Independence at Parliamentary Hearing
Three of Mediawan’s principal investors—Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse and KKR’s Jérôme Nommé—appeared before a French parliamentary inquiry on April 2 to address accusations of editorial interference after the group’s €1 billion‑plus acquisition of production assets from France Télévisions. The witnesses denied any influence over journalistic content and framed the deal as a strategic move to strengthen French‑language production capacity. They also emphasized that the transaction preserves national cultural identity while attracting private capital. The hearing underscores growing political scrutiny of large media consolidations involving public broadcasters.
French Animation Giant Xilam Bets Big on Original IP to Rebound From 2025 Revenue Slump
French animation studio Xilam reported a 12% drop in 2025 revenue, falling to €120 million (approximately $130 million). The company’s CEO Marc Bourdeaux announced a strategic pivot toward developing original intellectual property to revive growth. Xilam is allocating €30 million ($33 million) for new studio...
Dune: Part Three IMAX 70mm Shows Sell Out Ahead of Dec Release
Warner Bros. announced that every 70mm IMAX showing of Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three has sold out for its opening weekend, eight months before the film’s Dec. 18 release. The sold‑out status covers 19 venues across North America and London,...
A Tale of Two Trailers...
The newsletter highlights the debut of two high‑profile trailers—Supergirl and the Masters of the Universe reboot—while reflecting on a decade of DC/Marvel tentpole dominance. It revisits how Batman v Superman reshaped online criticism through SEO‑friendly Tomatometer debates and notes the...
Corey Stoll & Joel Kinnaman on Imperfect Women, the Power of Their Female Co-Stars & Why Playing Perfect Characters Is...
Corey Stoll and Joel Kinnaman discuss Apple TV+’s new drama Imperfect Women, a murder‑investigation series that centers on a wealthy victim’s hidden secrets. The actors highlight the energy their three female leads bring, emphasizing that flawed, imperfect characters resonate more with...
‘Marvel’s Spider-Man’ Composer to Score ‘Legend Of Zelda’ Film Alongside Series Icon Koji Kondo
John Paesano, known for Marvel’s Spider‑Man, will compose the score for the upcoming live‑action The Legend of Zelda film, with series legend Koji Kondo acting as a music consultant. The movie, directed by Wes Ball and starring Bo Bragason as...
Short Films in Focus: Trapped (with Sam Cutler-Kreutz)
Sam and David Cutler‑Kreutz’s short film “Trapped” follows Joaquin, a janitor‑father who is coerced by privileged seniors into a risky prank during a prep‑school homecoming. The five seniors offer him $500 to help spread mousetraps, forcing Joaquin to choose between...
Sender Cast On Turning Online Deliveries Into Existential Horror
Writer‑director Russell Goldman’s new thriller Sender turns the growing brushing‑scam phenomenon into a horror narrative. The film, starring Britt Lower and produced by Jamie Lee Curtis—whose sister fell victim to the scam—premiered at SXSW on March 14. It depicts a...
The Underground Cinema at 180 Studios Presents Season of Music Films and Documentaries
180 Studios' new Underground Cinema has launched a two‑month “Sound & Vision” season featuring weekly screenings of music‑focused films and documentaries. The program runs from April 10 to June 4, 2026 and includes titles such as Fred Again’s Secret Life...
Entertainlens 5 Predictions for the Global Content Market in 2026: Trends, Box Office, and the “East-to-West” Shift
EntertainLens forecasts a reshaped global content market in 2026, highlighted by the rise of $30‑70 million "middle‑tier" blockbusters that could capture roughly 22 % of international box‑office revenue. Pan‑Asian theatrical and SVOD earnings are projected to approach $10 billion annually in Western markets,...
Marvel Fans Think Robert Downey Jr Confirmed Two Huge Returns for Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Downey Jr posted an Easter‑themed Instagram image that appears to hint at two additional superhero appearances in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for a December 18 theatrical release. The teaser confirms his turn as villain Doctor Doom and showcases egg icons...
Brands Won’t Save Indie Film: They’re Changing It
Independent film financing is tightening while brands shift toward storytelling, seeking owned narrative IP rather than traditional ads. Brands view long‑form screen content as a strategic asset, but their budget cycles and marketing goals often misalign with filmmakers' timelines. Intermediaries...
Gaten Matarazzo Steals the Show in Pizza Movie
Stranger Things' Gaten Matarazzo makes Pizza Movie well worth your time, as he steals the show here. https://t.co/GEH1bEjVqu
Shaky-Cam Shakespeare Dooms Riz Ahmed’s Hamlet
Aneil Karia’s 2026 film *Hamlet* reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy within a modern South‑Asian London community, starring Riz Ahmed as the grieving prince. While the cultural setting offers fresh relevance, the movie is hampered by excessive handheld camera work and rapid editing...
First Look Review - CITY WIDE FEVER
Josh Heaps’ debut, City Wide Fever, is a low‑budget love letter to 1970s Italian Giallo, shot on standard‑def video to evoke gritty New York grindhouse vibes. The film follows film student Sam as she uncovers a mysterious filmmaker’s legacy, spiraling...
Steve Coogan's "Phenomenal" Irish Real-Life Drama Has Just Landed on Prime Video
Steve Coogan stars as Mick McCarthy in the true‑story drama *Saipan*, which recounts the 2002 clash between Irish captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy ahead of the World Cup. Directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa, the film premiered in...
First Trailer and Poster for Horror Comedy BUFFET INFINITY
First‑look trailer and poster reveal "Buffet Infinity," a Canadian horror‑comedy directed by Simon Glassman. The film follows two rival restaurants whose feud creates cults and a supernatural sinkhole, told through a series of low‑budget TV ads. Kevin Singh, Claire Theobald...
Cape Town Start-Up Powers Six-Month Netflix Production with the Sun
Cape Town start‑up Cinergy deployed its CineRay mobile solar PV array and CineVault battery system to power Netflix’s season 2 production of *One Piece* for 24 weeks, with an additional eight‑week off‑site deployment. The solar solution eliminated the need for diesel generators,...
New to VOD - TWINLESS
James Sweeney’s second feature, Twinless, has arrived on UK and ROI video‑on‑demand services, marking the latest push of a bold indie drama into the streaming market. The film follows Dylan O'Brien’s twin characters and a stalker played by Sweeney, using...
Bad Robot Closes LA Office, Slashes Staff After $250M Megadeal Fizzles
J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot announced it will close its Los Angeles office and cut staff after a series of under‑performing projects and a dramatically reduced studio deal. The move follows a 2019 WarnerMedia agreement worth $250 million over five years that...
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Soars to $372.5M Global Box Office, Sparks Concession Boom
Universal’s ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ pulled in $372.5 million worldwide in its first five days, driven by families and gamers. The opening boosted AMC’s attendance and sparked a surge in collectible popcorn‑bucket sales, underscoring the growing clout of video‑game franchises...
Hollywood Stars Warn of AI Piracy as Netflix Pays $600 Million for Ben Affleck's InterPositive
Ben Affleck and fellow actors are sounding alarms over AI‑driven copycat factories that threaten film copyrights. At the same time, Netflix’s $600 million purchase of Affleck’s AI startup InterPositive underscores the industry’s scramble to harness the technology responsibly.
TCS | Donovan Marsh on AI and the Future of Filmmaking
Award‑winning South African director Donovan Marsh is transitioning to AI‑driven filmmaking, using a suite of generative tools to create complex scenes from a desk. He argues that AI collapses traditional production overhead—crew, equipment, locations—into digital workflows while he still directs...
The Stranger Review – Lustrously Beautiful and Superbly Realised Modern Take on the Camus Classic
François Ozon’s new film The Stranger reimagines Albert Camus’s 1942 novella as a stark, black‑and‑white portrait of 1940s French Algeria, shot in Morocco. Benjamin Voisin leads as the detached Meursault, while Rebecca Marder plays Marie, delivering a visually sumptuous yet emotionally austere experience....
Filming Air Hunger at Sussex’s Seven Sisters for Amazon
Was nice to be back at Seven Sisters in Sussex yesterday where we shot for Air Hunger (doc coming out next month on @amazon in the Netherlands). https://t.co/sy9RwqAgNX
The Curious Case of a Pint-Sized Sleuth’s Box-Office Phenomenon
The 29th Detective Conan film, Fallen Angel of the Highway, opens in Japan on April 10, continuing a three‑decade run of annual releases that have turned the pint‑sized sleuth into a box‑office juggernaut. The franchise has amassed over ¥100 billion (about $667 million)...
Is the Family-Friendly Box Office Revival for Real?
Family‑friendly releases are driving a noticeable box‑office resurgence this spring. Universal’s “Super Mario Galaxy” opened with $191 million domestic, slightly ahead of forecasts and close to the original’s $205 million Easter debut. The sequel’s success sits alongside strong performances from Pixar’s “Hoppers”...
CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: What’s Shaping the Cinema Business
CinemaCon 2026’s Product Preview, sponsored by Vista Group, curates the flood of exhibitors into six thematic series covering ticketing, concessions, business platforms, projection, seating, and ancillary attractions. The Celluloid Junkie editorial team will publish category‑specific posts that detail new hardware...
Amy Landecker's New Romcom Scores 75% on Rotten Tomatoes
***In need of some romcom laughs? 75% on Rotten Tomatoes (just came out on Amazon Prime). Amy Landecker - insanely talented (!) - wrote, directed and acted. (me =very minor part in helping bring this to fruition) https://t.co/yoBzhMThhM
Mark Hamill on Lucasfilm Leadership Shift as Star Wars Turns 50
Mark Hamill discussed the recent leadership change at Lucasfilm and the franchise’s 50th‑anniversary milestone while unveiling his new partnership with LEGO’s SMART Play Star Wars sets. The actor’s comments blend personal family anecdotes with industry insight, underscoring the cultural weight...
Best Trailer Yet for The Devil Wears Prada 2
By far the most effective trailer for Prada 2 so far. The Devil Wears Prada 2 | Final Trailer https://t.co/lJ6kooRX7C via @YouTube
Sepideh Moafi Poised as First Persian Emmy Nominee
A breakout this season on #ThePitt is Sepideh Moafi as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi. If nominated for supporting drama actress, she would be the first Persian and Middle Eastern performer nominated in the category. https://t.co/FoExVw4ORY via @variety https://t.co/7qTHMypqLe
Netflix Show Highlights Taiwanese Religious Traditions with a Modern Flair
Netflix’s new eight‑part series “Agent from Above” spotlights Taiwan’s temple culture by following Han Chieh, a mortal vessel for the deity Nezha. The production team filmed at active and abandoned shrines, creating sets that blend traditional Taiwanese religious architecture with modern...
RUMOR: John Paesano Handling Composer Duties on The Legend of Zelda Movie
Rumors confirmed by an updated IMDB entry suggest John Paesano will compose the score for the upcoming Legend of Zelda live‑action film, scheduled for a 2027 release. The listing also reveals that series legend Koji Kondo will serve as a score consultant,...
Bugboy - Amber Wilkinson - 20292
Bugboy, a coming‑of‑age documentary by Lucas Paleocrassas, follows shy teenager Yorgos, whose eye disorder and parents’ divorce drive him toward a deep fascination with insects. The film intertwines his bug companionship—particularly with crickets named Isabella and Ferdinand—with his evolving relationship...
Nextgen Oscarwatcher: Best Actor Contenders and a Slight Cannes Preview
Tom Cruise has emerged as the frontrunner for the Best Actor Oscar with Alejandro González Iñárritu’s upcoming prestige drama *Digger*, slated for a fall release. The article also highlights a crowded field that includes John Malkovich, Matt Damon, Sebastian Stan, Ryan Gosling...
Record Pre‑Sales Surge for Dune, Michael Jackson Film, Paris Venue
But not only #DunePartThree is making the headlines with pre-sales this #Easter MON. Pre-sales also kicked off for KING OF POP #MichaelJackson’s music biopic #Michael in Europe, in MEGASTAR fashion. The iconic #LeGrandRex in #Paris celebrates over 4.500 tickets sold + sold...
Dune Part Three IMAX Pre‑Sales Sell Out in Minutes
In a press release just sent by WB, #JeffGoldstein, who’s the head of Global Distribution at the studio, celebrated the incredible performance of the sold out pre-sales for #DunePartThree select IMAX 70MM screenings in a matter of minutes, 8 months...
Official Trailer for Coming-of-Age Movie 'Mabel' About a Plant Lover
Tribeca Films has launched the official trailer for "Mabel," an indie coming‑of‑age drama directed by first‑time feature filmmaker Nicholas Ma. The movie, which debuted at the 2024 San Francisco Film Festival, will open in limited release in New York and...
Subscribe for IMAX Dune Ticket Alerts and Pre‑sale Links
You can subscribe in the official IMAX 70MM Dune website so you will get alerts when new tickets go on sale and the list and direct links to those specific theatres available for pre-sales. https://t.co/CWfJvFJDaJ
New Trailer: 'Mabel' Celebrates Plant‑Loving Coming‑of‑Age Journey
Official Trailer for Coming-of-Age Movie 'Mabel' About a Plant Lover https://t.co/0PYyTDvxVg #Mabel #indiefilm #JudyGreer #ChristineKo #comingofage https://t.co/K7UqYQeSG5
Marybeth Sprows Returns To Hallmark Media; Tatiana Erasme Promoted
Hallmark Media has bolstered its leadership team by rehiring Marybeth Sprows as senior vice president of Original Series and promoting Tatiana Erasme to vice president of Casting and Talent. Sprows, who previously led Sony Pictures Television’s faith‑and‑family division, returns to...
Werner Herzog's 3D Masterpiece Returns to IMAX Theaters in 6K
Werner Herzog’s 2010 documentary *Cave of Forgotten Dreams* is receiving a 6K IMAX restoration, with limited screenings on April 15 and 19 and a wider U.S. rollout on April 24. The new version corrects early‑era 3D flaws and delivers unprecedented...
Zendaya Makes Her Case as A24’s Box Office Queen
Zendaya headlined A24’s romantic‑comedy *The Drama*, which opened to $14.4 million, placing it near the high end of pre‑release forecasts and among the studio’s three biggest openings behind *Civil War* and *Marty Supreme*. The film’s secret twist generated strong word‑of‑mouth, earning...
HBO Max Just Added the Best Version of Alien 3
HBO Max has added the Assembly Cut of Alien 3, a longer version that more closely reflects David Fincher’s original vision. Previously limited to home‑video releases, the cut is now instantly streamable for all subscribers. The extended edit deepens character development...
Warner Bros. Announces Pre‑Sales With Only 30‑Minute Notice
Because no one knew 😭 WB literally told everyone 30 minutes before starting pre-sales 😂 No prep time not even for Batman
“I Wanted to Turn Splash on Its Head”: Tyler Cornack on Mermaid
Tyler Cornack’s new indie film *Mermaid* follows a suicidal drug‑addict who rescues an injured, feral mermaid on a Florida beach, turning a surreal premise into a dark, naturalistic comedy. The movie subverts classic mermaid tropes, presenting the creature as an animal...
Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe Review
Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe, released in April 2026, is the latest Jackie Chan vehicle and quickly earned the reputation of being his weakest outing. The sequel abandons the inventive martial‑arts humor of Chan’s recent hit The Shadow’s Edge in favor...
‘Peacemaker’s Sol Rodriguez Signs With Strand Entertainment
Actress Sol Rodriguez, best known for her role as Sasha Bordeaux on HBO Max’s DC series *Peacemaker* and as the female lead in Netflix’s *Holiday in the Vineyards*, has signed a management deal with Strand Entertainment. The agreement adds Rodriguez...
Chris Messina, Michael Peña & Esai Morales Join Sam Rockwell And Maisy Stella In Psychological Thriller ‘Tumor’
Psychological thriller "Tumor" has completed filming in Los Angeles, adding Chris Messina, Michael Peña, Esai Morales and Gigi Zumbado to a cast led by Sam Rockwell and Maisy Stella. The film, written and directed by Will Bridges, follows a low‑level...