Why Magnolia Took Its Biggest Swing Yet on Bob Odenkirk’s ‘Normal’
Magnolia Pictures launched Bob Odenkirk’s action‑thriller *Normal* on a record‑wide 2,000‑plus screens, marking the distributor’s most aggressive rollout to date. The film earned $2.65 million domestically its opening weekend, placing seventh with a modest $1,286 per‑screen average. Compared with Magnolia’s 2024 sleeper hit *Thelma*, *Normal* secured more screens but delivered a lower per‑screen yield despite a larger marketing push. Industry observers note the gamble highlights the challenges indie distributors face when scaling genre titles without a strong word‑of‑mouth platform.
23 Years of Obsession Led to the Most Revealing Yasujirō Ozu Documentary Yet
Turner Classic Movies will debut “The Ozu Diaries,” a documentary that draws on Yasujirō Ozu’s personal diaries, home movies, and family archives. Filmmaker Daniel Raim, who has studied Ozu for 23 years, uses these primary sources to explore the director’s...
‘Two Seasons, Two Strangers’ Review: Sho Miyake Is One of Japan’s Most Perceptive Modern Filmmakers
Japanese director Sho Miyake’s latest feature, Two Seasons, Two Strangers, captured the Golden Leopard at the 2025 Locarno International Film Festival and will open in New York’s Metrograph on April 24, 2026, with a limited expansion planned. The film intertwines...
Neil Jordan’s ‘Mona Lisa’ Arrives on 4K UHD in a New Restoration — Watch the Trailer
Neil Jordan’s neo‑noir *Mona Lisa* is getting a brand‑new 4K UHD release from Arrow Video on May 11, 2026. The restoration, approved by Jordan, features a Dolby Vision transfer that restores Roger Pratt’s vivid colour palette. The limited‑edition set adds interviews, a...
A24’s ‘Elden Ring’ Film Adaptation From Alex Garland Will Go IMAX-Big in 2028
A24 announced that Alex Garland will direct a live‑action adaptation of the hit video game “Elden Ring,” slated for a March 3, 2028 theatrical release. The film will be shot in IMAX and features an ensemble cast that includes Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw,...
The 65mm Show to Watch Is ‘Beef’ Season 2
Netflix’s drama “Beef” returns for Season 2 with a striking visual overhaul. Cinematographer James Laxton switched to the ARRI 265, a 65 mm‑size sensor that he says makes the series the first long‑form show to use the camera. The large‑format gear lets the...
‘Euphoria’: Sam Levinson on Season 3’s Western Connection and Why They Shot on 65mm Film Stock
HBO’s *Euphoria* is stepping into a new visual era with Season 3, shooting the first ever TV episodes on 65 mm film stock. Creator Sam Levinson and cinematographer Marcell Rév chose the large‑format celluloid to achieve wider, more objective frames that echo...
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...
‘Mad Bills to Pay’ Director Joel Alfonso Vargas Knows He’s Living an Indie Film ‘Cinderella Story’
Joel Alfonso Vargas’s debut feature Mad Bills to Pay debuted at Sundance 2025 to rave reviews and has since screened at Berlin and New Directors/New Films before a limited theatrical rollout by Oscilloscope Laboratories. The Bronx‑born writer‑director used a semi‑improvised, one‑setup shooting style to capture...
How the ‘Blue Heron’ Editor Turned the Director’s Childhood Into One of 2026’s Best Films
Canadian director Sophy Romvari’s debut “Blue Heron,” a semi‑autobiographical family drama set on Vancouver Island, has emerged as one of 2026’s most acclaimed films. Editor Kurt Walker, who transitioned from on‑set DIT to post‑production editor, crafted a complex temporal structure...
ATX TV Festival Sets Lineup for Inaugural Indie TV Pilot Competition, Adds Indie-Focused Programming
The ATX Television Festival announced its inaugural Indie TV Pilot Competition and Showcase, slated for May 28‑31, 2026 in Austin. The program will screen independently produced pilots that lack worldwide distribution, with a judging panel of industry creatives selecting a...
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Steals the Show at Disney’s CinemaCon, but Don’t Forget ‘The Dog Stars’ and ‘Wild Horse Nine’
Disney’s CinemaCon 2026 showcase highlighted the much‑anticipated "Avengers: Doomsday" trailer, unveiled alongside a new Infinity Vision PLF format and a September re‑release of "Endgame." The event also delivered first looks at non‑Marvel titles such as "The Dog Stars" (opening Aug 28)...
Paramount Chief David Ellison Makes His Promise to CinemaCon and Delivers Johnny Depp and Billie Eilish
Paramount Pictures used its first post‑merger CinemaCon to unveil an aggressive new slate, promising at least 30 films a year after combining with Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. The studio announced a third Top Gun film, Johnny Depp’s Dickens adaptation "Ebenezer" for...
Do the Universal Monsters Still Matter, or Are They Already Dead?
Universal Studios continues to lean on its century‑old monster roster—Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and others—as a potential revenue engine, but recent attempts have stumbled. The 2017 Dark Universe, anchored by a high‑budget Mummy reboot, collapsed after a box‑office flop, pushing...
Bob Odenkirk’s Transformation Into John Wick Is Just Beginning
Bob Odenkirk is pivoting from comedy and drama to become a dedicated action star, teaming with "John Wick" writer Derek Kolstad and producer Marc Provissiero. The trio has formed an informal creative partnership to develop studio‑grade action movies that blend...