A24 Releases $200 Million Movies Now
A24’s indie‑horror film *Backrooms* has crossed $213 million worldwide, becoming the studio’s first $200 million‑plus release. The $10 million budget movie topped box‑office charts in 42 territories and out‑earned previous A24 hits like *Marty Supreme* in just two weekends. The surprise blockbuster signals a strategic pivot for the boutique distributor toward higher‑budget, commercially viable projects while retaining its taste‑maker brand. Executives see the success as a blueprint for future big‑IP adaptations such as an *Elden Ring* film.
The Best Case for Competition in Streaming? Netflix’s ‘Michael Jackson: The Verdict’ — Opinion
Netflix launched the three‑part docuseries “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” on June 3, 2026, offering a detailed look at the pop star’s 2005 criminal trial and the allegations omitted from Lionsgate’s biopic “Michael.” The Lionsgate film, backed by the estate, has grossed...
Michael Mann’s ‘Manhunter’ Set to Return to Theaters on Its 40th Anniversary, Now with a New ‘Final Cut’
Michael Mann’s 1986 thriller *Manhunter* is returning to U.S. cinemas on July 24, 2026 as a newly restored "Final Cut" celebrating its 40th anniversary. The version was rebuilt from a 4K scan of the original 35 mm negative, with HDR/SDR color grading...
‘The Last Day’ Review: Alicia Vikander Leads This ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ Interpretation, but Victoria Pedretti’s Performance Steals the Show
Rachel Rose’s debut feature *The Last Day* reimagines Virginia Woolf’s *Mrs. Dalloway* as a modern, single‑day drama set in suburban New York. Alicia Vikander plays Julia, a housewife juggling a Fourth‑of‑July party, grief, and personal anxieties, while Victoria Pedretti portrays Taylor,...
‘Office Romance’ Review: Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein Commit a Million HR Violations in a Glossy Netflix Rom-Com
Netflix is debuting the rom‑com "Office Romance" on June 5, 2026, starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein. The film follows a powerful airline CEO navigating a hyper‑sexualized workplace while a new lead counsel flouts modern HR norms. Critics note the movie’s formulaic plot...
Amazon Prime Video Is Publishing Its Own Netflix-Style Weekly Top 10 Lists, Just Without Any Numbers
Amazon Prime Video has begun publishing weekly Top 10 lists for its original films and series, mirroring Netflix’s public charts but without any viewership numbers. The inaugural week (May 25‑31) saw "Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War" top the film list and "Off Campus" lead...
Netflix’s True Crime Miniseries ‘The Witness’ Turns a Real-Life Bungled Investigation Into a Methodical Drama
Netflix is launching the three‑part true‑crime miniseries “The Witness” on June 4, dramatizing the 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell and the Metropolitan Police’s botched investigation. The series runs alongside a companion documentary that adds depth to the family’s trauma and the investigative...
‘How to Rob a Bank’ Trailer: Zoë Kravitz and Nicholas Hoult Star in David Leitch’s Cat-and-Mouse Thriller
David Leitch’s next heist thriller, “How to Rob a Bank,” drops its first trailer, showcasing a star‑studded cast led by Zoë Kravitz and Nicholas Hoult. The film follows a crew of social‑media‑obsessed robbers whose livestreamed crimes attract a veteran FBI...
‘A Mosquito in the Ear’ Trailer: A New Family Tries to Blend in This Charming Festival Favorite
“A Mosquito in the Ear,” Nicola Rinciari’s directorial debut, opened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and captured the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema. Adapted from Andrea Ferraris’s graphic novel, the drama follows an American couple’s attempt to...
Neon’s Tom Quinn Worries About ‘Lack of Competition’ in a Merged Hollywood
Neon chief Tom Quinn warned that mega‑mergers among major studios threaten the competitive balance that indie distributors rely on. Speaking at the Produced By conference, he singled out the looming Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery deal as a scenario that could cripple creative risk‑taking....
What’s Getting Nominated (and What Should Be Nominated) for Animated Series at the 2026 Emmy Awards
The piece predicts the 2026 Emmy nominees for Best Animated Series, noting that legacy shows like The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers will likely return, while South Park is the odds‑on favorite after a buzz‑worthy Trump‑satire season. It highlights under‑the‑radar contenders Long Story Short...
‘Terrifier’ Director Damien Leone Heads to a Studio for Next Film ‘Tortures of the Damned,’ with Sam Raimi Producing
Damien Leone, the director of the ultra‑gory "Terrifier" franchise, has secured a deal with Lionsgate to produce an original horror film titled "Tortures of the Damned," produced alongside Sam Raimi’s Ghost House label. The project follows the commercial breakout of "Terrifier" 3, which...
‘Backrooms,’ ‘Obsession,’ and Why Two Gen Z Horror Directors Are Taking Over Hollywood
Two Gen Z directors are reshaping horror cinema. Focus Features backed 26‑year‑old Curry Barker’s “Obsession” with a $15 million budget, and the film posted a rare 40 % box‑office increase in its second weekend. Meanwhile A24 turned 20‑year‑old Kane Parsons’s YouTube series “Backrooms”...
Jorge R. Gutierrez Won’t Make AI-Generated ‘Punky Duck’ Series at Amazon MGM After Backlash
Jorge R. Gutierrez, Emmy‑winning director of The Book of Life, has pulled his AI‑generated animated series “Punky Duck” from Amazon MGM’s pilot program after intense online backlash. The series was one of three projects greenlit under Amazon’s GenAI Creators’ Fund,...
‘Fatherland’ Trailer: Sandra Hüller Takes a Profound Road Trip with Her Father, Thomas Mann, in Cannes Winner
Pawel Pawlikowski’s black‑and‑white road drama “Fatherland” captured Cannes attention, earning him the Best Director award alongside Los Javis. The film, starring Sandra Hüller as actress‑writer Erika Mann, follows a 1949 journey from Frankfurt to Soviet‑occupied Weimar as she escorts her...