The Wizard of the Kremlin (2025)
The Wizard of the Kremlin, directed by Olivier Assayas, debuted at the Venice Film Festival 2025 and is now playing in UK cinemas. The political thriller follows former Putin adviser Vadim Baranov, portrayed by Paul Dano, as he navigates the chaotic post‑Soviet power shift, intersecting with oligarchs and a young American academic. Featuring Alicia Vikander, Jude Law and Tom Sturridge, the film blends personal drama with a sweeping recount of Putin’s ascent and the Yeltsin era. While the direction and historical scope earn praise, critics note uneven chemistry between the leads.
Jakkuppatti (2026) by Anand T Film Review
Independent filmmaker Anand T’s debut short, “Jakkuppatti,” set in his native Dharmapuri village, confronts entrenched patriarchy and rising sexual violence in contemporary India. Drawing on 2019 crime data that a rape occurs every 16 minutes, the film weaves multiple village...
A24 Making TV Rivals Miserable; Tax Incentive State Guide; New Jobs Pivot Emerges
A24 is intensifying its push into television, a move that is forcing traditional broadcast and streaming rivals to reevaluate their content strategies. At the same time, a newly released guide ranks U.S. states by the generosity of their film‑and‑TV tax...
The Sunday Morning Movie Presents: The Lathe Of Heaven (1980) Run Time 1H 37M
The Sunday Morning Movie reviews the 1980 PBS‑made‑for‑TV adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel *The Lathe of Heaven*. While the film suffers from low‑budget production values and dated special effects, critics note that it captures the novel’s unsettling premise...
New Release Review - THE GATES
The Gates, directed by John Burr, reimagines the 80s‑90s survival thriller by placing three Black college friends inside an affluent, predominantly white gated community. While the premise promises a sharp commentary on race and class, the film falters on tension,...
Exit 8 – The BRWC Review
Japanese director Genki Kawamura adapts the indie game “The Exit 8” into a 95‑minute thriller that traps its protagonist in a looping subway tunnel. The film uses interactive, anomaly‑spotting sequences to comment on Japan’s salary‑man culture, but its narrative drifts when...
Historic Milestone for Malaysian Cinema as Majid Majidi Attends Private Screening of “LIFE – Living In Fear Everyday”
Iranian Oscar‑nominated director Majid Majidi attended a private screening of the Malaysian micro‑budget silent short “LIFE – Living In Fear Everyday,” marking the first time a Malaysian short has been shown in his presence. Director Justin Franz, who shot the...
We’re Nothing At All (2026) by Herman Yau Film Review
Herman Yau’s new social drama “We’re Nothing At All” premiered at the Hong Kong International Film Festival and entered theaters, pulling roughly US$500,000 in its first two weeks. The film re‑imagines a 1998 Wuhan bus bombing in Hong Kong, focusing...
A Dance With Rainbows (2025) by Lee Yi-Shan Film Review
Lee Yi‑shan’s feature debut, “A Dance with Rainbows,” premiered at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, where Yu An‑shun captured the Best Actor award. The film follows 20‑year‑old amateur boxer Ling, whose personal and family struggles unfold amid underground match...
Tulips - Amber Wilkinson - 20300
Tulips is a 16‑minute UK short film directed by Rhys Prichard that dramatizes a grandfather’s struggle with dementia as his family confronts his loss of independence. The narrative follows his daughter‑in‑law’s teenage daughter, Sophie, who films the moment in an...
“Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Getaway” Coming Soon To Disney+
Disney+ will debut an animated adaptation of Jeff Kinney’s 12th ‘Diary Of A Wimpy Kid’ book, “The Getaway,” later this year, timed for the holiday season. The film follows Greg Heffley’s family as a tropical vacation spirals into comedic chaos....
Friday Box Office: ‘Normal’ Is No ‘Nobody’ as ‘Mother Mary’ Opens Well in Five Theaters
Friday’s domestic box office was dominated by holdovers, with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie pulling $7.43 million and staying on track for a $30 million weekend. Among new releases, the crime thriller Normal earned $1.06 million in 2,060 theaters, positioning it for a...
The Next Best Picture Podcast – “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy”
The Next Best Picture Podcast released a new episode reviewing Lee Cronin’s reimagining of "The Mummy," starring Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, and others. Produced by horror veterans James Wan and Jason Blum, the film adopts a darker, more brutal tone reminiscent...
'Mummy' Friday Box Office: Sometimes Original Is Better
Warner Bros. released Lee Cronin’s reboot of "The Mummy" during a pre‑summer weekend that saw overall box‑office receipts dip about 39% from the same period in 2025. The film opened to mixed‑negative reviews, earning a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes...
Magdalena Bay’s 'Imaginal Disk' Movie Will Premiere This June at the 2026 Tribeca Festival
Magdalena Bay’s visual‑album film *Imaginal Disk* will debut at the 25th Tribeca Film Festival on June 4, 2026, with a world‑premiere screening followed by a stripped‑back performance and a discussion led by director Amanda Kramer. The feature, directed by Kramer—who...
New Release Review - COUTURE
French director Alice Winocour’s new drama “Couture” unfolds during Paris Fashion Week, following horror‑film director Maxine (Angelina Jolie) as she races to shoot a promotional short while grappling with a breast‑cancer diagnosis. The film also tracks a South Sudanese teen...
Shanghai Daughter (2026) by Agnis Shen Zhongmin Bad Accent Review
"Shanghai Daughter," the debut feature by Agnis Shen Zhongmin, premiered at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival and later screened at Hong Kong. The film follows a woman tracing her father’s past during the Down to the Countryside Movement, blending...
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...
(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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Exclusive Horror-on-Sea Take Over Day Interview with ‘Dreamland Awaits’ Writer-Director Demeter Lóránt
Writer‑director Demeter Lóránt discusses his atmospheric horror film *Dreamland Awaits*, which will debut at the Southend Film Festival’s Horror‑On‑Sea Take Over Day on June 6. The low‑budget, three‑person production leans on an 80s aesthetic, practical effects, and a bold red‑blue‑yellow colour...
The Next Best Picture Podcast – Interview With “Mile End Kicks” Filmmaker Chandler Levack
Mile End Kicks, a 2025 Canadian romantic comedy written and directed by Chandler Levack, follows aspiring author Grace Pine (Barbie Ferreira) as she moves to Montreal, swaps a book project on Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill for a love triangle with members of...
CinemaCon: Sony Kicks the Can
Sony opened its CinemaCon showcase with a light‑hearted stand‑up routine before rolling out a clip from the animated drama *The Breadwinner* and teasing a new live‑action comedy. Tom Rothman used the stage to argue for longer theatrical windows, shorter pre‑show...
The Un Certain Regard Jury For The 2026 Cannes Film Festival
Leïla Bekhti, the award‑winning French actress, will preside over the Un Certain Regard jury at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, which runs May 12‑23, 2026. She is joined by Senegalese producer Angèle Diabang, Lebanese composer Khaled Mouzanar, Italian director Laura Samani, and French...
I Wish I Had a Better Answer.
The post spotlights a curated list of Canadian indie films, with Sophy Romvari’s debut feature Blue Heron positioned as the standout narrative of the year. Romvari mines her family’s painful past, using a child‑to‑adult perspective shift to upend coming‑of‑age conventions. The...
Classic Corner: Bad Day at Black Rock
John Sturges’s 1957 film *Bad Day at Black Rock* follows war‑scarred veteran Macreedy, played by Spencer Tracy, as he confronts a hostile desert town that hides the murder of a Japanese‑American farmer’s father. The movie fuses Western, film‑noir, and social‑justice...
‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Final Trailer Debuts at CinemaCon
Lucasfilm premiered the final trailer for “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, sparking immediate excitement among fans. The film is set in the aftermath of the Empire’s collapse, following the battle‑scarred Mandalorian Din Djarin and...
CinemaCon: Angel Spreads Its Wings
At this year’s CinemaCon, Angel Studios opened the “Cinema Showcase,” signaling its ambition to be seen as a mainstream studio rather than a niche faith‑based distributor. The event also featured a combo slot for smaller distributors, with K‑Row Entertainment pulling...
Call of Duty Movie Gets a Release Date – and We'll Be Playing on the Next Xbox by the Time...
The Call of Duty movie has been given an official release date of June 30, 2028, confirming Activision's commitment to a full‑scale film adaptation. Producers Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg, known for gritty dramas, will also co‑write the screenplay, though...
AMC’s Adam Aron Ignites a CinemaCon Civil War
At CinemaCon, AMC CEO Adam Aron publicly challenged the evolving studio‑theater relationship, prompting a heated response from independent exhibitors. Meanwhile, WarnerMount founder David Ellison pledged 30 films a year with 45‑day theatrical exclusives and a 90‑day streaming hold‑back, offering his...
CinemaCon 2026 Recap: Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios opened CinemaCon 2026 by reaffirming its box‑office dominance, noting it has been the #1 studio for nine of the past ten years. New CEO Josh D’Amaro’s recent appointment was barely mentioned, as Disney emphasized continuity for theater...
New Trailer and Poster for Psychological Drama THE CURRENTS
Milagros Mumenthaler’s new psychological drama *The Currents* debuts its trailer and poster ahead of a U.S. theatrical launch on May 29, 2026. The film follows Argentine fashion designer Lina, played by Isabel Aimé González Sola, who survives a near‑fatal plunge into a Swiss...
“Get Out” Star Betty Gabriel and “Nuremberg” Director James Vanderbilt to Attend Ebertfest 2026
Ebertfest 2026, the 27th and final edition of the Champaign‑based film festival, announced two new special guests: actress Betty Gabriel, who will join a post‑screening Q&A for Jordan Peele’s Oscar‑winning “Get Out,” and writer‑director James Vanderbilt, slated to discuss his...
Disney Launches Infinity Vision
Disney announced Infinity Vision, a new certification that marks premium large‑format (PLF) theaters meeting strict technical standards. The program, developed with global exhibition partners, highlights the biggest screens, laser projection and immersive audio. It will debut with the September re‑release...
Gorilla Story Review: David Attenborough’s Most Personal and Emotional Film Yet
At 99, Sir David Attenborough returns to Rwanda for "Gorilla Story," an intimate Netflix documentary that revisits the gorilla family he first filmed half a century ago. The film follows the descendants of the original group, blending personal recollection with...
Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2015) by Emily Ting Film Review
Emily Ting’s 2015 indie romance "Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" follows Chinese‑American toy designer Ruby (Jamie Chung) and American banker Josh (Bryan Greenberg) as they wander the neon‑lit streets, forging a fleeting connection that resurfaces a year later on the...
A Savage Art Review
Bill Banowsky’s documentary *A Savage Art* chronicles the five‑decade career of political cartoonist Patrick Oliphant, whose work has spanned ten U.S. presidents. The film leverages unprecedented access to Oliphant, his family, peers, and journalists, weaving archival footage with hundreds of...
New to MUBI/VOD - THE SECRET AGENT
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s new film *The Secret Agent* transports viewers to 1970s Brazil, where a university professor becomes a fugitive after a smear campaign brands him a communist. Wagner Moura anchors the drama as Armando, navigating a labyrinth of corrupt...
First Trailer for Ridley Scott’s THE DOG STARS, Starring Jacob Elordi
Ridley Scott’s new post‑apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars dropped its first trailer, unveiling a bleak future devastated by a lethal flu virus. The film adapts Peter Heller’s novel and is scripted by Mark L. Smith, featuring Jacob Elordi alongside Josh...
The Calf Doll (2026) by Ankur Hooda Documentary Review
Ankur Hooda’s 2026 documentary *The Calf Doll* follows a grieving Haryana farmer who taxidermies his dead calf to confront loss, intertwining rural hardship with surreal performance. The film blends observational footage, improvised TikTok interludes, and staged scenes, creating a hybrid...
The Floor Remembers – Short Film Review
The Floor Remembers, a 15‑minute short directed by Jayme Kaye Gershen, chronicles the Miami Roller Rink—a 40‑year‑old community hub that has survived multiple name changes and ownership shifts. Gershen spent a year observing the rink before filming, allowing the space’s rhythms...