“The First Omen” is a 2024 movie written and directed by Arkasha Stevenson starring Nell Tiger Free. With Ralph Ineson, Sônia Braga and Bill Nighy.
Hulu has done it again: the streaming network has taken a classic horror film, “The Omen” (1976), and created an intriguing prequel that pays homage to and respects the original. The prequel vividly depicts the birth of Damien with stunning effects and a sense of spectacle. It also expresses a profound respect and reverence for one of the greatest horror films of all time.
Plot Summary
A novice arrives to take her vows as a nun but soon finds herself entangled in a demonic plot where priests are attempting to bring the Anti-Christ to life.
The First Omen “The First Omen”: A Grand Tribute and a Novel Movie
Comparing a prequel with its iconic 70s horror movie original may seem inevitable. The original was...
Hulu has done it again: the streaming network has taken a classic horror film, “The Omen” (1976), and created an intriguing prequel that pays homage to and respects the original. The prequel vividly depicts the birth of Damien with stunning effects and a sense of spectacle. It also expresses a profound respect and reverence for one of the greatest horror films of all time.
Plot Summary
A novice arrives to take her vows as a nun but soon finds herself entangled in a demonic plot where priests are attempting to bring the Anti-Christ to life.
The First Omen “The First Omen”: A Grand Tribute and a Novel Movie
Comparing a prequel with its iconic 70s horror movie original may seem inevitable. The original was...
- 6/6/2024
- by Martin Cid
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
True Brit Entertainment has picked up Michael Sarnoski’s thriller The Death Of Robin Hood for release in UK-Ireland. The film is set to star Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer.
A24 will release in the US. WME Independent is representing sales.
The US feature sees Robin Hood grappling with his past life of crime and murder, and faced with a shot at redemption. Production is set to start around February 2025 with shoot location yet to be confirmed. Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett are producing through Ryder Picture Company and Alexander Black for Lyrical Media. Lyrical Media is fully financing the film.
A24 will release in the US. WME Independent is representing sales.
The US feature sees Robin Hood grappling with his past life of crime and murder, and faced with a shot at redemption. Production is set to start around February 2025 with shoot location yet to be confirmed. Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett are producing through Ryder Picture Company and Alexander Black for Lyrical Media. Lyrical Media is fully financing the film.
- 6/3/2024
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: David Hare, one of the UK’s foremost playwrights and a double Oscar nominee, is in an unsparing mood about the state of UK politics. This comes as leaders of the country’s two major parties parry in the cut and thrust of the July 4 general election.
Hare’s view, he tells Breaking Baz, is that there is in fact not enough cut and thrust, what with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak going to the polls “because he’s as fed up with this government as the rest of us.”
The dramatist, director,and screenwriter tells me that the Tories are coming up daily with “harebrained” election promises while Labour, its chief opponent, “is trying to be sober, say nothing and do nothing.”
He fears, though, that Labour is taking up “a defensive crouch“ when it should be thrusting.
“Something always goes disastrously wrong unless you are active and on...
Hare’s view, he tells Breaking Baz, is that there is in fact not enough cut and thrust, what with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak going to the polls “because he’s as fed up with this government as the rest of us.”
The dramatist, director,and screenwriter tells me that the Tories are coming up daily with “harebrained” election promises while Labour, its chief opponent, “is trying to be sober, say nothing and do nothing.”
He fears, though, that Labour is taking up “a defensive crouch“ when it should be thrusting.
“Something always goes disastrously wrong unless you are active and on...
- 6/3/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
What To Watch This Weekend: Aranmanai 4, Panchayat Season 3 ( Photo Credit – YouTube )
May 2024 ends, and so does the working week for most of you. If you are wondering what to watch this weekend online and in theatres, you’ve come to the right place. This week, there’s Panchayat Season 3 to engage you in an amazing story. In movies, Mr & Mrs Mahi has hit the theatres too.
From movies to web shows, we have mentioned everything that will help you decide what you want to watch this weekend.
What to Watch This Weekend on Ott Amazon Prime Video Panchayat Season 3
Let’s go back to Phulera and see the drama unfold again. Panchayat Season 3 was released earlier this week and received amazing reviews. The Hindi web show stars Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, and others.
Trending Knives Out 3 Cast Guide: All The Actors Who Have Joined ‘Wake Up Dead Man...
May 2024 ends, and so does the working week for most of you. If you are wondering what to watch this weekend online and in theatres, you’ve come to the right place. This week, there’s Panchayat Season 3 to engage you in an amazing story. In movies, Mr & Mrs Mahi has hit the theatres too.
From movies to web shows, we have mentioned everything that will help you decide what you want to watch this weekend.
What to Watch This Weekend on Ott Amazon Prime Video Panchayat Season 3
Let’s go back to Phulera and see the drama unfold again. Panchayat Season 3 was released earlier this week and received amazing reviews. The Hindi web show stars Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, and others.
Trending Knives Out 3 Cast Guide: All The Actors Who Have Joined ‘Wake Up Dead Man...
- 5/31/2024
- by Pooja Darade
- KoiMoi
In Netflix sci-fi epic series 3 Body Problem, British actor Alex Sharp stars as Will Downing, a terminally-ill scientist who not only manages profound romantic heartbreak, but ultimately transcends the limits of human existence.
Plucked straight out of Julliard to play the lead character of Christopher Boone in the Marianne Elliott-directed stage production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Sharpe won a Tony for the role. He went on to star opposite Lily Collins in the film To the Bone, as activist Rennie Davis in The Trial of the Chicago 7 and with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson in The Hustle, before playing opposite Bill Nighy in Living and with Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter in One Life, the 2023 film about British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who rescued hundreds of Jewish children from occupied Poland.
3 Body Problem, from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff...
Plucked straight out of Julliard to play the lead character of Christopher Boone in the Marianne Elliott-directed stage production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Sharpe won a Tony for the role. He went on to star opposite Lily Collins in the film To the Bone, as activist Rennie Davis in The Trial of the Chicago 7 and with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson in The Hustle, before playing opposite Bill Nighy in Living and with Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter in One Life, the 2023 film about British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who rescued hundreds of Jewish children from occupied Poland.
3 Body Problem, from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff...
- 5/31/2024
- by Antonia Blyth
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Wild Robot” is a new animated science-fiction adventure film based on the book, written and directed by Chris Sanders, starring Lupito Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O'Hara, Bill Nighy, Kit Connor, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Matt Berry and Ving Rhames. releasing September 20, 2024 in theaters:
“…’Rozzum 7134’ aka ‘Roz’, a futuristic robot, washes ashore on a deserted island. From there a tale of survival and discovery begins when Roz becomes the unexpected protector to an orphaned gosling, named ‘Brightbill’.
“Together they struggle to survive the harsh environment, but only succeed with the help of a close-knit group of misfit animals, who become first friends, then family.
“Ultimately Roz and company save the island from a robotic invasion by Roz's manufacturer, looking to bring her back to civilization by any means necessary…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…’Rozzum 7134’ aka ‘Roz’, a futuristic robot, washes ashore on a deserted island. From there a tale of survival and discovery begins when Roz becomes the unexpected protector to an orphaned gosling, named ‘Brightbill’.
“Together they struggle to survive the harsh environment, but only succeed with the help of a close-knit group of misfit animals, who become first friends, then family.
“Ultimately Roz and company save the island from a robotic invasion by Roz's manufacturer, looking to bring her back to civilization by any means necessary…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 5/31/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
The 10 Best Ella Purnell Movies and TV Shows, Ranked Worst to Best (Photo Credit – Instagram)
Following Amazon’s adaptation of the popular post-apocalyptic video game series Fallout, Ella Purnell, shot to fame and immediately became a household name. Purnell plays Lucy MacLean, a young lady who was raised in the Vaults and now chooses to live alone in the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
However, Purnell is not new to the Hollywood scene. Since making her screen debut in the romance movie Never Let Me Go (2010), starring alongside Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield, Purnell has painstakingly crafted an incredible career, making appearances in a wide range of motion pictures and television shows. Check out our list of some of the best works of Ella Purnell ranked from worst to best.
10. ‘Kick-Ass 2’
Produced by Jeff Wadlow of Truth or Dare, Kick-Ass 2 follows the formula for a sequel, building on the superhero story...
Following Amazon’s adaptation of the popular post-apocalyptic video game series Fallout, Ella Purnell, shot to fame and immediately became a household name. Purnell plays Lucy MacLean, a young lady who was raised in the Vaults and now chooses to live alone in the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
However, Purnell is not new to the Hollywood scene. Since making her screen debut in the romance movie Never Let Me Go (2010), starring alongside Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield, Purnell has painstakingly crafted an incredible career, making appearances in a wide range of motion pictures and television shows. Check out our list of some of the best works of Ella Purnell ranked from worst to best.
10. ‘Kick-Ass 2’
Produced by Jeff Wadlow of Truth or Dare, Kick-Ass 2 follows the formula for a sequel, building on the superhero story...
- 5/30/2024
- by Aastha Soni
- KoiMoi
2024 is half over and while we have seen some brilliant horror films come out this year I don’t think it has been such a great year for the genre. With most horror films flopping at the box office and the dreaded Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey sequel coming out it all felt wrong. But don’t worry because I have picked out the 10 best horror films that have come out this year. I haven’t ranked the films in the article and I will update the list as more films come out.
Late Night with the Devil (AMC+ & Prime Video Add-On)
Late Night with the Devil is a supernatural horror film written and directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes. The 2024 film is set in 1977 and it follows the story of Jack Delroy, a talk show host on Night Owl which was watched by the insomniacs all around the country.
Late Night with the Devil (AMC+ & Prime Video Add-On)
Late Night with the Devil is a supernatural horror film written and directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes. The 2024 film is set in 1977 and it follows the story of Jack Delroy, a talk show host on Night Owl which was watched by the insomniacs all around the country.
- 5/29/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Civil War is a fictional war drama film written and directed by Alex Garland. The A24 film is set in the near future in a dystopian future suffering from a civil war. We follow the story of a group of journalists racing against time to get to Washington D.C. so that they can interview the President before the rebel factions take over the White House and kill the President. Civil War stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nick Offernman, Sonoya Mizuno, Jefferson White, Nelson Lee, Evan Lai, Jesse Plemmons, Karl Glusman, Jin Ha, and Juani Feliz starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the war drama and a story about journalists in Civil War here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Madras Cafe (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Viacom 18 Motion Pictures
Madras Cafe is a political action thriller film directed by Shoojit Sircar.
Madras Cafe (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Viacom 18 Motion Pictures
Madras Cafe is a political action thriller film directed by Shoojit Sircar.
- 5/28/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
"The First Omen" was one of the biggest movie surprises of the year. What could've easily been a cheap, lazy cash-in on IP awareness turned out to be an inventive, smart, and surprisingly disturbing horror movie that just happens to be a prequel. As Witney Seibold wrote in his /Film review: "In an age when long-in-the-tooth horror franchises like 'Halloween' and 'The Exorcist' are being tiresomely revived without a trace of creativity, it's refreshing and splendid to see a picture that is thoughtfully menacing, uniquely stylish, deathfully intense, and utterly terrifying. 'The First Omen' is a film of dank, bloody, spittle-flecked dread, made no less powerful by the foregone conclusion."
In "The First Omen," we follow a young novitiate (Nell Tiger Free) who is sent to help at an orphanage in Rome. Once there, she begins to experience terrifying visions that hint at a grand conspiracy involving unspeakable evil.
In "The First Omen," we follow a young novitiate (Nell Tiger Free) who is sent to help at an orphanage in Rome. Once there, she begins to experience terrifying visions that hint at a grand conspiracy involving unspeakable evil.
- 5/22/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Basado en el best-seller de David Gilbert.
Según anuncia Deadline, Bill Nighy (“Living”), Noah Jupe (“A Quiet Place”), George MacKay y Matt Smith (“The Crown”) protagonizarán el debut en inglés del cineasta argentino Pablo Trapero (“El Clan”) “& Sons”, cuyo guion ha sido escrito por la ganadora del Oscar Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”).
La película “& Sons” está basada en la novela homónima de David Gilbert. Andrew es un novelista más conocido en el mundo como A.N. Dyer. Escribió su primer libro a los 27 años y se convirtió en un clásico instantáneo, vendiendo 45 millones de ejemplares. Andrew se despierta una mañana convencido de que está a punto de morir. Sabe que se le acaba el tiempo y necesita arreglar los vínculos más importantes de su vida, así que reúne a sus hijos para que estén con él. Han pasado casi 20 años desde que un “incidente” destrozó el hogar de los Dyer.
Según anuncia Deadline, Bill Nighy (“Living”), Noah Jupe (“A Quiet Place”), George MacKay y Matt Smith (“The Crown”) protagonizarán el debut en inglés del cineasta argentino Pablo Trapero (“El Clan”) “& Sons”, cuyo guion ha sido escrito por la ganadora del Oscar Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”).
La película “& Sons” está basada en la novela homónima de David Gilbert. Andrew es un novelista más conocido en el mundo como A.N. Dyer. Escribió su primer libro a los 27 años y se convirtió en un clásico instantáneo, vendiendo 45 millones de ejemplares. Andrew se despierta una mañana convencido de que está a punto de morir. Sabe que se le acaba el tiempo y necesita arreglar los vínculos más importantes de su vida, así que reúne a sus hijos para que estén con él. Han pasado casi 20 años desde que un “incidente” destrozó el hogar de los Dyer.
- 5/20/2024
- by Marta Medina
- mundoCine
Maisie Williams has joined the cast of Morgan Matthews’ road movie 500 Miles alongside Bill Nighy and Roman Griffin Davis.
The Game Of Thrones, The New Look and Pistol star will play free-spirited street musician Kait who joins sixteen-year-old runaway Finn (Griffin Davis), on a journey across land and sea to reach Finn’s estranged grandfather (Nighy), living off-the-radar on Ireland’s west coast.
Beta Cinema continues to pre-sell 500 Miles at the Marché du Film in Cannes, having sold the project to True Brit Entertainment for UK & Ireland during the EFM with Zygi Kamasa joining as an executive producer.
Beta Cinema...
The Game Of Thrones, The New Look and Pistol star will play free-spirited street musician Kait who joins sixteen-year-old runaway Finn (Griffin Davis), on a journey across land and sea to reach Finn’s estranged grandfather (Nighy), living off-the-radar on Ireland’s west coast.
Beta Cinema continues to pre-sell 500 Miles at the Marché du Film in Cannes, having sold the project to True Brit Entertainment for UK & Ireland during the EFM with Zygi Kamasa joining as an executive producer.
Beta Cinema...
- 5/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
The genre-bending detective fiction series that is quickly becoming everybody’s favorite of the year is Sugar. The Apple TV+ series created by Mark Protosevich is set in Los Angeles and it follows the story of a private detective John Sugar as he is hired by a big-time film producer Jonathan Siegel to find his missing granddaughter Olivia. While, trying to find Olivia, Sugar stumbles into something far more dangerous than he could have anticipated. Sugar stars Colin Farrell in the lead role with Amy Ryan, James Cromwell, Sydney Chandler, Nate Corddry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Dennis Boutsikaris starring in supporting roles. If you loved the mystery and thrill of Sugar here are some similar shows you could check out next.
The Man Who Fell to Earth (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Showtime
The Man Who Fell to Earth is a sci-fi drama series created by Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman.
The Man Who Fell to Earth (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Showtime
The Man Who Fell to Earth is a sci-fi drama series created by Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman.
- 5/19/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Exclusive: Oscar nominee Bill Nighy (Living), Indie Spirit nominee Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place I & II), BAFTA nominee George MacKay (1917) and BAFTA nominee Matt Smith (The Crown) are set to star in acclaimed Argentinian filmmaker Pablo Trapero’s (El Clan) English-language movie debut & Sons, which is being scripted by Oscar winner Sarah Polley (Women Talking).
Bankside Films is launching world sales on the buzzy project at this week’s Cannes market. Bankside, UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance are co-repping North American rights.
Pic is based on the novel of the same name by David Gilbert. The official synopsis reads:
“Andrew is a novelist best known to the world as A.N. Dyer. He wrote his first book when he was 27 and it became an instant classic, selling 45M copies and creating a cult around its elusive author. Andrew wakes up one morning convinced that he is about to die.
Bankside Films is launching world sales on the buzzy project at this week’s Cannes market. Bankside, UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance are co-repping North American rights.
Pic is based on the novel of the same name by David Gilbert. The official synopsis reads:
“Andrew is a novelist best known to the world as A.N. Dyer. He wrote his first book when he was 27 and it became an instant classic, selling 45M copies and creating a cult around its elusive author. Andrew wakes up one morning convinced that he is about to die.
- 5/17/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Chris Jenkins’ animated family comedy 10 Lives, in partnership with Gfm Animation. World premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the film featuring the voices of singer-songwriter Zayn Malik, Bill Nighy (Living) and more will be released wide in theaters on October 11.
The film introduces audiences to Beckett, a pampered and selfish cat who takes his life for granted until he loses his ninth life. But fate has a wild ride in store, thrusting him into a hilarious and eye-opening journey of self-realization.
Also starring Mo Gilligan (The Lateish Show), Simone Ashley (Bridgerton), Sophie Okonedo (Slow Horses), Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso) and Dylan Lewellyn (Derry Girls), the film is produced by Guy Collins and Sean Feeney. Briarcliff CEO Tom Ortenberg will join the executive producers.
In addition to starring, Malik acted as executive music producer on the film, writing and...
The film introduces audiences to Beckett, a pampered and selfish cat who takes his life for granted until he loses his ninth life. But fate has a wild ride in store, thrusting him into a hilarious and eye-opening journey of self-realization.
Also starring Mo Gilligan (The Lateish Show), Simone Ashley (Bridgerton), Sophie Okonedo (Slow Horses), Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso) and Dylan Lewellyn (Derry Girls), the film is produced by Guy Collins and Sean Feeney. Briarcliff CEO Tom Ortenberg will join the executive producers.
In addition to starring, Malik acted as executive music producer on the film, writing and...
- 5/16/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A good "Omen" prequel? Alright, which one of you jokers made a deal with the devil? Director Richard Donner's original 1976 horror classic has spawned no shortage of film sequels, plus a failed TV pilot, a sequel TV series, and a 2006 remake featuring an utterly bizarre screenwriting credit. However, director and co-writer Arkasha Stevenson's "The First Omen" is the first entry to be widely heralded as a worthy continuation. In his review for /Film, Witney Seibold described the picture as "thoughtfully menacing, uniquely stylish, deathfully intense, and utterly terrifying" before crowning it "the best horror movie of the year so far."
Sadly, early 2024 hasn't been kind to horror at the box office, and Stevenson's film was no exception. On the other hand, Disney had initially planned on punting the movie straight to Hulu before sending it to theaters, so "The First Omen" was never under pressure to become a huge hit.
Sadly, early 2024 hasn't been kind to horror at the box office, and Stevenson's film was no exception. On the other hand, Disney had initially planned on punting the movie straight to Hulu before sending it to theaters, so "The First Omen" was never under pressure to become a huge hit.
- 5/13/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Sam Claflin and Rupert Friend will star in the World War II action thriller “Perdition” from writer-director Henry Dunham (“The Standoff at Sparrow Creek”).
Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee will produce for Thunder Road Pictures, whose credits include the John Wick franchise, with Claflin executive producing.
Mister Smith Entertainment is launching international sales on the film at the Cannes Film Market with CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group co-representing North American rights.
The film, currently in pre-production, is scheduled to start principal photography this fall.
Set in December 1944 against the war-torn Belgian landscape as World War II pushes toward a brutal climax, “Perdition” follows the journey of a lone American soldier (Claflin), who miraculously survives a Pow camp execution. As he ventures into the bone-chilling landscape to save himself and a precious cargo salvaged from the camp, a ruthless Nazi SS officer on horseback (Friend) discovers his tracks...
Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee will produce for Thunder Road Pictures, whose credits include the John Wick franchise, with Claflin executive producing.
Mister Smith Entertainment is launching international sales on the film at the Cannes Film Market with CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group co-representing North American rights.
The film, currently in pre-production, is scheduled to start principal photography this fall.
Set in December 1944 against the war-torn Belgian landscape as World War II pushes toward a brutal climax, “Perdition” follows the journey of a lone American soldier (Claflin), who miraculously survives a Pow camp execution. As he ventures into the bone-chilling landscape to save himself and a precious cargo salvaged from the camp, a ruthless Nazi SS officer on horseback (Friend) discovers his tracks...
- 5/10/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Excelsior! Kartoon Studios and the UK’s Gfm Animation have teamed to develop and produce animated features based on the Stan Lee Universe.
Characters and stories from the Kartoon-controlled Stan Lee Universe will feature in the five pics, which Kartoon and Gfm will develop, finance and produce together.
A team of LA-based writers with previous experience working across Marvel projects has been assembled to develop the first scripts, working alongside Gfm in London and Kartoon in L.A. The first three treatments will be presented to distributors at the Cannes Film Festival.
Lee, who passed away in 2018, is one of the most prolific character creators of all-time. During the time he was Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief, he built the superhero universe known today and made household names of the likes of Spider-Man, Thor, Hulk and the X-Men. He eventually rose to Editorial Director and Publisher and was later named Marvel’s Chairman Emeritus,...
Characters and stories from the Kartoon-controlled Stan Lee Universe will feature in the five pics, which Kartoon and Gfm will develop, finance and produce together.
A team of LA-based writers with previous experience working across Marvel projects has been assembled to develop the first scripts, working alongside Gfm in London and Kartoon in L.A. The first three treatments will be presented to distributors at the Cannes Film Festival.
Lee, who passed away in 2018, is one of the most prolific character creators of all-time. During the time he was Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief, he built the superhero universe known today and made household names of the likes of Spider-Man, Thor, Hulk and the X-Men. He eventually rose to Editorial Director and Publisher and was later named Marvel’s Chairman Emeritus,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Vampires and werewolves are big business in mainstream media, with a veritable feast of TV shows and movies being dedicated to the mythical creatures across the decades. So when something comes along that slots straight into the mainstream zeitgeist with its gothic visuals and sexy vampires fighting pesky swearwolves, you know what’s coming next. Yup, sequels and prequels! As mentioned in our previous episode that sunk its teeth into the fun but flawed Underworld from 2003, director Len Wiseman found love with his leading lady, Kate Beckinsale. And, if you’re being massively cynical, you could perhaps suggest that their star-struck Hollywood romance is one of the main reasons a follow-up to the first movie was green-lit. Or maybe it was the decent box-office, cool world-building or maybe even the lashings of S&m clad characters? The first movie, as we discussed previously, is flawed and far from perfect but you know what,...
- 5/6/2024
- by Adam Walton
- JoBlo.com
[Editor’s note: this list was originally published in January 2024. It has since been updated with new entries.]
Emily Blunt’s first Oscar nomination was for the type of role the actress doesn’t normally play. Over the course of her career, the London-born actress has played badass action heroes, musical heroines, even delightfully bitchy supporting comic parts. But in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” Blunt goes into a totally different mode to play a embittered and humorless long-suffering wife type. It’s a jarring transformation; but, given her versatility, a predictably excellent one.
Born to a former actress and barrister in London, Blunt studied acting in boarding school and began her professional career at 18, when she debuted on a West End production of the play “The Royal Family.” In 2003 she transitioned to screen acting with the British miniseries “Boudica” and “Henry VIII,” before making her theatrical film debut as a haughty, arrogant rich girl in independent drama “My Summer of Love” in 2004.
2006 was her breakout year; she won...
Emily Blunt’s first Oscar nomination was for the type of role the actress doesn’t normally play. Over the course of her career, the London-born actress has played badass action heroes, musical heroines, even delightfully bitchy supporting comic parts. But in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” Blunt goes into a totally different mode to play a embittered and humorless long-suffering wife type. It’s a jarring transformation; but, given her versatility, a predictably excellent one.
Born to a former actress and barrister in London, Blunt studied acting in boarding school and began her professional career at 18, when she debuted on a West End production of the play “The Royal Family.” In 2003 she transitioned to screen acting with the British miniseries “Boudica” and “Henry VIII,” before making her theatrical film debut as a haughty, arrogant rich girl in independent drama “My Summer of Love” in 2004.
2006 was her breakout year; she won...
- 5/3/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Margot Robbie and Rosamund Pike are among the nominees for the National Film Awards.The stars of 'Barbie' and 'Saltburn' respectively will compete against talent including Patricia Hodge ('Arthur's Whiskey'), Jo Hartley ('Swede Caroline'), Eiza Gonzalez ('The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare') and Emma Stone ('Poor Things)' in a star-studded Best Actress category.This year's ceremony is set to take place on July 3 at the Porchester Hall in London and marks the 10th anniversary of the prestigious awards. It will feature a lineup of nominees from around the globe consisting of seasoned acting veterans and emerging young talents.The Best Actor category is equally competitive with stars including Barry Keoghan ('Saltburn), Kevin Hart ('Lift') and Ewan McGregor ('Bleeding Love') competing for the prize with Kane Robinson ('The Kitchen') and Lakeith Stanfield ('Book of Clarence').Meanwhile,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
April 25, 2024 – A trio of stellar actors give voice to the featured members of the Dickens family as Academy Award winner Kenneth Branagh portrays Charles Dickens, Oscar nominee Uma Thurman plays Catherine Dickens and Golden Globe nominee Roman Griffin Davis gives life to Walter Dickens in Mofac Animation’s upcoming The King of Kings, an animated family film inspired by a little-known short story by Charles Dickens depicting the life and times of Jesus Christ.
Renowned for his big screen adaptations of William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie tales, Branagh changes gears to portray one of the greatest authors of the ages for The King of Kings. As Charles Dickens, Branagh portrays a man conflicted between his burgeoning career and his role as father to the Dickens clan and, in particular, his youngest son Walter (Davis). It’s his wife, Catherine Dickens, brought to animated life by Thurman with an even balance...
Renowned for his big screen adaptations of William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie tales, Branagh changes gears to portray one of the greatest authors of the ages for The King of Kings. As Charles Dickens, Branagh portrays a man conflicted between his burgeoning career and his role as father to the Dickens clan and, in particular, his youngest son Walter (Davis). It’s his wife, Catherine Dickens, brought to animated life by Thurman with an even balance...
- 4/28/2024
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Annecy International Animation Film Festival has unveiled the programme for its 2024 edition, including the Competition line-up and a programme of previews from the major studios.
The 12-strong Official Competition includes Adam Elliot’s Australian feature Memoir Of A Snail, in which Succession star Sarah Snook voices a lonely hoarder of ornamental snails; and stop-motion Savages!, director Claude Barras’ first feature since his Bafta- and Oscar-nominated My Life As A Courgette.
Scroll down for the full Competition line-up
The festival will open with Michel Hazanavicius’ Competition title The Most Precious Of Cargoes, heading to Annecy from its debut in Cannes Competition.
The 12-strong Official Competition includes Adam Elliot’s Australian feature Memoir Of A Snail, in which Succession star Sarah Snook voices a lonely hoarder of ornamental snails; and stop-motion Savages!, director Claude Barras’ first feature since his Bafta- and Oscar-nominated My Life As A Courgette.
Scroll down for the full Competition line-up
The festival will open with Michel Hazanavicius’ Competition title The Most Precious Of Cargoes, heading to Annecy from its debut in Cannes Competition.
- 4/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
Kenneth Branagh has spent much of his career bringing to life the works of British writers William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie. Now he will not get a chance to play a different famed scribe. Branagh will voice star as Charles Dickens in The King of Kings, a faith-based feature inspired by the lives of both Dickens and Jesus Christ.
Uma Thurman will voice star as Catherine Dickens, the wife of the author, while Jojo Rabbit‘s Roman Griffin Davis will voice the couple’s youngest son, Walter.
The King of Kings is inspired by “The Life of Our Lord,” a Dickens short story published in 1934, decades after his death. It follows Dickens and Walter as they — and their cat Willa — become immersed in the story of Jesus.
“It is through the Dickens family that our audience experiences the life of Jesus Christ, and Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman and Roman Griffin Davis bring all the emotion,...
Uma Thurman will voice star as Catherine Dickens, the wife of the author, while Jojo Rabbit‘s Roman Griffin Davis will voice the couple’s youngest son, Walter.
The King of Kings is inspired by “The Life of Our Lord,” a Dickens short story published in 1934, decades after his death. It follows Dickens and Walter as they — and their cat Willa — become immersed in the story of Jesus.
“It is through the Dickens family that our audience experiences the life of Jesus Christ, and Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman and Roman Griffin Davis bring all the emotion,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
What more could the heart want than a sweeping romantic drama dealing with grief, loss, love, and music? The Greatest Hits is a fantasy romantic drama film written and directed by Ned Benson, the Hulu film follows the story of a young woman Lucy who had a picture-perfect romance but an accident took him away from her. But she gets a second chance when she discovers that she can travel back in time through the music they love, but her excursions in her past are interfering with a new love interest. The Greatest Hits stars Lucy Boynton, David Corenswet, and Justin H. Min in the lead roles with Nelly Furtado, Andie Ju, Austin Crute, Tom Yi, Bryan Ferry, and Retta starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the sweeping love story and the time-traveling drama in The Greatest Hits, here are some similar films you could check out next.
- 4/25/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
DreamWorks Animation will showcase a sneak peek of “The Wild Robot” at the Annecy Animation Festival (June 9-15). The preview footage will take place June 11, hosted by writer/director Chris Sanders (co-director of “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Lilo & Stitch”).
“The Wild Robot”, adapted from Peter Brown’s illustrated book and produced by Jeff Hermann, explores the bridge between technology and nature. It’s about a robot called Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) washed ashore on an uninhabited island, who must embark on a journey of survival and discovery when she inadvertently becomes the protector of an orphaned gosling bird.
The all-star voice cast also includes Pedro Pascal as fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as opossum Pinktail, Bill Nighy as goose Longneck, Kit Connor as gosling Brightbill, and Stephanie Hsu as robot Vontra; plus Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, and Mark Hamill.
The preview will be followed later that evening by a...
“The Wild Robot”, adapted from Peter Brown’s illustrated book and produced by Jeff Hermann, explores the bridge between technology and nature. It’s about a robot called Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) washed ashore on an uninhabited island, who must embark on a journey of survival and discovery when she inadvertently becomes the protector of an orphaned gosling bird.
The all-star voice cast also includes Pedro Pascal as fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as opossum Pinktail, Bill Nighy as goose Longneck, Kit Connor as gosling Brightbill, and Stephanie Hsu as robot Vontra; plus Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, and Mark Hamill.
The preview will be followed later that evening by a...
- 4/24/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Audiences will get the opportunity to preview footage from DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming animated feature “The Wild Robot” at the Annecy International Film Festival.
The studio, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will showcase “The Wild Robot” footage on June 11 with a filmmaker presentation from writer and director Chris Sanders (“The Croods”). An Artists’ Panel discussion with the film’s creative leadership team will also take place later that day.
On June 12, the filmmakers will be doing a special book signing at the Bonlieu library.
Based on Peter Brown’s book, “The Wild Robot” follows the journey of Roz, a robot who finds themselves shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. Roz soon learns to adjust to their new surroundings and finds friendship through the animals on the island. The film’s voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, Pedro Pascal as the fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as the opossum Pinktail, Bill Nighy...
The studio, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will showcase “The Wild Robot” footage on June 11 with a filmmaker presentation from writer and director Chris Sanders (“The Croods”). An Artists’ Panel discussion with the film’s creative leadership team will also take place later that day.
On June 12, the filmmakers will be doing a special book signing at the Bonlieu library.
Based on Peter Brown’s book, “The Wild Robot” follows the journey of Roz, a robot who finds themselves shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. Roz soon learns to adjust to their new surroundings and finds friendship through the animals on the island. The film’s voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, Pedro Pascal as the fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as the opossum Pinktail, Bill Nighy...
- 4/24/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
2014’s Pride, from director Matthew Warchus, is heading back into cinemas in the UK this June: more details here.
Comfortably one of the best British films of the 2010s is the wonderful Pride, an uproariously funny and really moving ensemble film set in the 1980s. Led by George MacKay, Andrew Scott, Ben Schnetzer, Faye Marsay, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, a sex toy, Paddy Considine, Bill Nighy and Freddie Fox, it felt like a movie out of nowhere when it first arrived.
Telling the story of the miner’s strike in the UK in the 1980s, and the efforts of a bunch of lesbian and gay activists to support them, it still remains something of a one-off. Penned by Stephen Beresford and directed by Matthew Warchus, the modestly-budgeted film hardly set the box office alight on its initial release, but it’s earned a rich and deserved reputation since for a film that’s well,...
Comfortably one of the best British films of the 2010s is the wonderful Pride, an uproariously funny and really moving ensemble film set in the 1980s. Led by George MacKay, Andrew Scott, Ben Schnetzer, Faye Marsay, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, a sex toy, Paddy Considine, Bill Nighy and Freddie Fox, it felt like a movie out of nowhere when it first arrived.
Telling the story of the miner’s strike in the UK in the 1980s, and the efforts of a bunch of lesbian and gay activists to support them, it still remains something of a one-off. Penned by Stephen Beresford and directed by Matthew Warchus, the modestly-budgeted film hardly set the box office alight on its initial release, but it’s earned a rich and deserved reputation since for a film that’s well,...
- 4/24/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
DreamWorks Animation’s September event movie The Wild Robot is tweaking its release plans. The family film will now open in theaters on Sept. 27, 2024, instead of a week earlier on Sept. 20.
The move gives Wild Robot some distance from Paramount’s animated Transformers One, which moved to the Sept. 20 date earlier this week.
The DreamWorks Animation film, from director Chris Sanders and starring the voice of Lupita Nyong’o, follows the journey of a robot named Rozzum unit 7134 — “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings. She gradually, however, forms friendships with the animals on the island and cares for an orphaned baby goose.
The Wild Robot is based on Peter Brown’s book of the same name, an illustrated middle-grade novel first published in 2016 that became a literary phenomenon and rocketed to No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.
The move gives Wild Robot some distance from Paramount’s animated Transformers One, which moved to the Sept. 20 date earlier this week.
The DreamWorks Animation film, from director Chris Sanders and starring the voice of Lupita Nyong’o, follows the journey of a robot named Rozzum unit 7134 — “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings. She gradually, however, forms friendships with the animals on the island and cares for an orphaned baby goose.
The Wild Robot is based on Peter Brown’s book of the same name, an illustrated middle-grade novel first published in 2016 that became a literary phenomenon and rocketed to No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.
- 4/23/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot will now go on Sept. 27 instead of Sept. 20.
The move comes in the wake of Paramount’s animated Transformers One parking on Sept. 20 (instead of Sept. 13) as the studio needed to get a foothold on Imax auditoriums.
We heard that Transformers One was moved to get further away from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as that Warner Bros Tim Burton directed, Michael Keaton starring sequel is expected to scare up a ton of September cash; that movie opening on Sept. 6.
The Wild Robot will now square off against Lionsgate’s Alexandre Aja directed horror Halle Berry thriller, Never Let Go as well as the tenth anniversary Imax re-release of Paramount/Warner Bros’ Christopher Nolan sci-fi movie, Interstellar.
The Wild Robot is based on Peter Brown’s New York Times No. 1 bestseller. The movie follows robot—Rozzum unit 7134 aka “Roz”. Roz is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and...
The move comes in the wake of Paramount’s animated Transformers One parking on Sept. 20 (instead of Sept. 13) as the studio needed to get a foothold on Imax auditoriums.
We heard that Transformers One was moved to get further away from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as that Warner Bros Tim Burton directed, Michael Keaton starring sequel is expected to scare up a ton of September cash; that movie opening on Sept. 6.
The Wild Robot will now square off against Lionsgate’s Alexandre Aja directed horror Halle Berry thriller, Never Let Go as well as the tenth anniversary Imax re-release of Paramount/Warner Bros’ Christopher Nolan sci-fi movie, Interstellar.
The Wild Robot is based on Peter Brown’s New York Times No. 1 bestseller. The movie follows robot—Rozzum unit 7134 aka “Roz”. Roz is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and...
- 4/23/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix and the Annecy Film Festival have fostered an incredible relationship over the last several years. No other major studio or distributor has been as omnipresent at the French film festival, and this year should be no different.
Netflix is planning several major sneak peeks of upcoming titles, a work-in-progress session, the world premiere of “Ultraman: Rising,” an exhibition of stop-motion figures from the upcoming Wallace & Gromit film, and two of its titles – “Blue Eye Samurai” and “Pokémon Concierge” – are screening in competition.
On Wednesday, June 12, the streamer will host Next on Netflix Animation: From Twilight of the Gods to Wallace & Gromit, a sneak peek at some of its most high-profile upcoming film and series titles.
“Wallace & Gromit” directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham and several of the film’s puppets will be in Annecy to tease their upcoming film. “Twilight of the Gods” will be presented by director Zack Snyder,...
Netflix is planning several major sneak peeks of upcoming titles, a work-in-progress session, the world premiere of “Ultraman: Rising,” an exhibition of stop-motion figures from the upcoming Wallace & Gromit film, and two of its titles – “Blue Eye Samurai” and “Pokémon Concierge” – are screening in competition.
On Wednesday, June 12, the streamer will host Next on Netflix Animation: From Twilight of the Gods to Wallace & Gromit, a sneak peek at some of its most high-profile upcoming film and series titles.
“Wallace & Gromit” directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham and several of the film’s puppets will be in Annecy to tease their upcoming film. “Twilight of the Gods” will be presented by director Zack Snyder,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Claymation legends Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham will offer stop-motion fans a sneak peek at their upcoming Wallace & Gromit film at this year’s Annecy animation festival.
The still-untitled feature will see inveterate, cheese-loving inventor Wallace designing a “smart gnome” for the family garden who begins to develop a mind of its own. As events spiral out of control, it is up to faithful dog Gromit to put things right. Park and Crossingham co-directed the film, based on a story by Park and a screenplay from Shaun the Sheep and Gnomeo & Juliet writer Mark Burton.
The film, which will premiere on Netflix worldwide outside the U.K., where it will have a first-release window on the BBC, is the second feature from Aardman Animations based on the beloved characters, following the Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) and the series of award-winning shorts, including Oscar-winners The Wrong...
The still-untitled feature will see inveterate, cheese-loving inventor Wallace designing a “smart gnome” for the family garden who begins to develop a mind of its own. As events spiral out of control, it is up to faithful dog Gromit to put things right. Park and Crossingham co-directed the film, based on a story by Park and a screenplay from Shaun the Sheep and Gnomeo & Juliet writer Mark Burton.
The film, which will premiere on Netflix worldwide outside the U.K., where it will have a first-release window on the BBC, is the second feature from Aardman Animations based on the beloved characters, following the Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) and the series of award-winning shorts, including Oscar-winners The Wrong...
- 4/22/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On April 5th, 20th Century Studios gave a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here) – and the movie was surprisingly well-received, with JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray giving it an 8/10 review and Tyler Nichols writing an article about why it works so well. The movie hasn’t been burning up the box office charts; made on a budget of $30 million, it has only pulled in $36 million so far. But if a sequel were to get the greenlight, director Arkasha Stevenson knows one subject she would want to cover in the follow-up: the mystery of the jackal.
In the original The Omen, we were told that the Antichrist was born of a jackal. The First Omen digs deeper into his parentage, letting us know that it wasn’t quite as simple (although very strange) as it appeared to be in the original movie,...
In the original The Omen, we were told that the Antichrist was born of a jackal. The First Omen digs deeper into his parentage, letting us know that it wasn’t quite as simple (although very strange) as it appeared to be in the original movie,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
If there was one thing that was going to tempt movie-goers into cinemas for some mid-budget vampire action in 2003, it was probably Bill Nighy as a vampire overlord. Or, was it the marketing campaign featuring a leather clad Kate Beckinsale? I’ll let you decide… The early noughties had already brought some decent vampire action, before we were subjected to the shimmering embarrassment to the genre that was the Twilight saga. We were also just a few short years away from seeing some proper kick-ass, sexy vampire action on the small screen with Hbc’s excellent True Blood series. The vampire genre was starting to show some signs of a re-awakening, and films such as the fun but flawed Queen of the Damned from 2002 and, of course, the awesome Blade series, were leading the bloodsucking way.
Vampires have always been a popular form of escapism for audiences and they’re still massively popular now.
Vampires have always been a popular form of escapism for audiences and they’re still massively popular now.
- 4/17/2024
- by Adam Walton
- JoBlo.com
Yesterday, all their troubles seemed so far away.
In 2022, Peter Rosza and Conor Woulfe sued Universal Pictures after they rented the 2019 movie “Yesterday” on Amazon Prime Video and subsequently felt they had been bamboozled by the trailer. The film, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis, is a zany musical fantasy in which Himesh Patel, a struggling musician, is bonked on the head and wakes up in a world in which The Beatles Never Happened. As such, he starts playing their songs as if they are his own and the movie follows the expected Preston Sturges-like tropes you might expect.
The trailer for the movie featured quite a few glimpses of the alluring Cuban-born actress Ana de Armas, later Oscar-nominated for her leading turn in “Blonde,” who ended up not being in the movie at all. An early cut included her character, but that storyline was shaved down after the movie tested poorly.
In 2022, Peter Rosza and Conor Woulfe sued Universal Pictures after they rented the 2019 movie “Yesterday” on Amazon Prime Video and subsequently felt they had been bamboozled by the trailer. The film, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis, is a zany musical fantasy in which Himesh Patel, a struggling musician, is bonked on the head and wakes up in a world in which The Beatles Never Happened. As such, he starts playing their songs as if they are his own and the movie follows the expected Preston Sturges-like tropes you might expect.
The trailer for the movie featured quite a few glimpses of the alluring Cuban-born actress Ana de Armas, later Oscar-nominated for her leading turn in “Blonde,” who ended up not being in the movie at all. An early cut included her character, but that storyline was shaved down after the movie tested poorly.
- 4/17/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
The Phantom of the Opera is sometimes considered one of the Universal Monsters. I get it. From the 1925 version that gave us one of the most infamous unmasking sequences ever courtesy of the great Lon Chaney Sr., through the Hammer iteration with Herbert Lom, all the way up to the 2004 film that gave a lot of us our intro to Gerard Butler. Speaking of that movie, its inspiration and reason for its existence was the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical that premiered in October of 1986 and has had runs all the way through as recently as 2021. 1989 was the beginning of its U.S. tour and we got not one but Two Phantom movies that year. Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge is cheesy and may just be more well known due to our friend Joe Bob featuring it on the Last Drive In recently. Here in the JoBlo Horror kitchen today...
- 4/16/2024
- by Andrew Hatfield
- JoBlo.com
As the calendar flips to the end of March, a fresh batch of movies and TV shows make their way onto various streaming platforms. While this week’s lineup may not feature blockbuster hits, it certainly offers a diverse selection that could capture your interest. Here’s a curated list of seven new streaming highlights to check out before diving into the new month. The Beautiful Game Netflix The Beautiful Game, landing on Netflix, is a poignant drama that intertwines the passion for soccer with the pressing issue of homelessness. Bill Nighy stars as a widower who finds solace in coaching England’s
The post Stream 7 New Titles on Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and More This Week first appeared on TVovermind.
The post Stream 7 New Titles on Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and More This Week first appeared on TVovermind.
- 4/13/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
If you thought babysitting was tough, try stopping the birth of the Antichrist. The First Omen sweeps you into a visually lush 1970s Rome, serving up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy. Although you might find yourself guessing the twists before they unfurl, the film keeps its grip with a dark, rich portrayal of evil’s origins. It’s all for you, Damien.
“[The First Omen serves] up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy.”
From the opening scenes, the film devilishly dazzles with a rich color palette that superbly captures the eerie 1970s Rome, replete with political unrest, religious skepticism and foreboding religious iconography. The grandeur of the Eternal City is captured in sweeping vistas, which, combined with a robust orchestral score, elevates the production value to a level that’s a rarity in modern horror flicks. There...
“[The First Omen serves] up a sumptuous feast for the eyes that’s as stylish as it is shadowy.”
From the opening scenes, the film devilishly dazzles with a rich color palette that superbly captures the eerie 1970s Rome, replete with political unrest, religious skepticism and foreboding religious iconography. The grandeur of the Eternal City is captured in sweeping vistas, which, combined with a robust orchestral score, elevates the production value to a level that’s a rarity in modern horror flicks. There...
- 4/12/2024
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
Universal brought its CinemaCon presentation to a heartfelt finale in Las Vegas on Wednesday with a 30-minute segment dedicated to the glittering jewel of its 2024 release slate, Wicked.
Leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the witches Elphaba and Glinda from the magical Land of Oz, introduced footage to the first part of Jon Chu’s Broadway adaptation, which recently wrapped production in London and is scheduled to open on November 27. The second instalment comes out on November 26, 2025.
Chu fought back tears as he joined the film’s producer Marc Platt, who won a Tony for the Broadway show,...
Leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the witches Elphaba and Glinda from the magical Land of Oz, introduced footage to the first part of Jon Chu’s Broadway adaptation, which recently wrapped production in London and is scheduled to open on November 27. The second instalment comes out on November 26, 2025.
Chu fought back tears as he joined the film’s producer Marc Platt, who won a Tony for the Broadway show,...
- 4/11/2024
- ScreenDaily
Universal brought its CinemaCon presentation to a heartfelt finale in Las Vegas on Wednesday with a 30-minute segment dedicated to the glittering jewel of its 2024 release slate, Wicked.
Leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the witches Elphaba and Glinda from the magical Land of Oz, introduced footage to the first part of Jon Chu’s Broadway adaptation, which recently wrapped production in London and is scheduled to open on November 27. The second instalment comes out on November 26, 2025.
Chu fought back tears as he joined the film’s producer Marc Platt, who won a Tony for the Broadway show,...
Leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the witches Elphaba and Glinda from the magical Land of Oz, introduced footage to the first part of Jon Chu’s Broadway adaptation, which recently wrapped production in London and is scheduled to open on November 27. The second instalment comes out on November 26, 2025.
Chu fought back tears as he joined the film’s producer Marc Platt, who won a Tony for the Broadway show,...
- 4/11/2024
- ScreenDaily
Three-time Oscar-nominated director Chris Sandlers and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o previewed unfinished footage of DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” at CinemaCon — what Sandlers says took inspiration from Disney classics and Hayao Miyazaki’s work, resulting in an original visual style that he described as “a Monet painting in a Miyazaki forest.”
Based on Peter Brown’s book, the story follows Roz, a robot voiced by Nyong’o, who is accidentally marooned on an uninhabited island. There, the city robot meets and learns from the animals in her new environment.
In this rich world, a fox meets and advises Roz. “You need to learn how things work on this island, and kindness is not a survival skill,” the fox says.
Soon Roz watches a gosling hatch, who believes Roz is his mother. They form a bond as Roz tries to figure out how the baby can learn to swim and fly.
Based on Peter Brown’s book, the story follows Roz, a robot voiced by Nyong’o, who is accidentally marooned on an uninhabited island. There, the city robot meets and learns from the animals in her new environment.
In this rich world, a fox meets and advises Roz. “You need to learn how things work on this island, and kindness is not a survival skill,” the fox says.
Soon Roz watches a gosling hatch, who believes Roz is his mother. They form a bond as Roz tries to figure out how the baby can learn to swim and fly.
- 4/11/2024
- by Carolyn Giardina
- Variety Film + TV
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire were the monsters with the mostest at the box office this weekend, as Dev Patel‘s much buzzed-about feature directorial debut Monkey Man and supernatural franchise installment The First Omen both opened behind expectations.
Neither genre film ever had a chance of taking away the No. 1 spot from Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Godzilla x Kong, but had hoped for a bigger slice of the proverbial box office pie. Godzilla, from filmmaker Adam Wingard, is proving to be a significant victory for Josh Grode’s Legendary Pictures on the heels of Dune: Part Two, which is the top-grossing film of the year to date with $660.7 million in global ticket sales through Sunday. And Godzilla is also a big win for Warner Bros. and Legendary’s MonsterVerse series, at a time when many franchises are struggling to remain fresh.
Godzila x Kong topped the chart...
Neither genre film ever had a chance of taking away the No. 1 spot from Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Godzilla x Kong, but had hoped for a bigger slice of the proverbial box office pie. Godzilla, from filmmaker Adam Wingard, is proving to be a significant victory for Josh Grode’s Legendary Pictures on the heels of Dune: Part Two, which is the top-grossing film of the year to date with $660.7 million in global ticket sales through Sunday. And Godzilla is also a big win for Warner Bros. and Legendary’s MonsterVerse series, at a time when many franchises are struggling to remain fresh.
Godzila x Kong topped the chart...
- 4/7/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s a primate face-off at the box office this weekend, plus some old-fashioned Antichrist horror on the side. Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” looks to stick on top of domestic charts, holding off the opening weekend bows of Universal’s beat-em-up “Monkey Man” and 20th Century Studios’ horror revival “The First Omen.”
That kaiju victory lap probably has less to do with the staying power of “The New Empire” than the strength of its competition though. The blockbuster monster mash earned $8.5 million on Friday, down a steep 77% from its opening day a week ago. “The New Empire” could be eyeing a drop north of 60% across the three-day frame — not a superlatively large decline from a blockbuster’s opening weekend, but still a pretty sizable one. It puts in perspective the impressively slim 44% drop that fellow Legendary production “Dune: Part Two” faced in its sophomore outing.
That kaiju victory lap probably has less to do with the staying power of “The New Empire” than the strength of its competition though. The blockbuster monster mash earned $8.5 million on Friday, down a steep 77% from its opening day a week ago. “The New Empire” could be eyeing a drop north of 60% across the three-day frame — not a superlatively large decline from a blockbuster’s opening weekend, but still a pretty sizable one. It puts in perspective the impressively slim 44% drop that fellow Legendary production “Dune: Part Two” faced in its sophomore outing.
- 4/6/2024
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Plot: A young novitiate in Rome (Nell Tiger Free) is warned by an ex-communicated priest (Ralph Ineson) that she’s at the center of a sinister conspiracy at her church dedicated to spawning the anti-Christ.
Review: I’ve always really enjoyed The Omen as a franchise. Even as a kid, I found something about the original trilogy centring around Damien Thorn especially gripping. However, I never had much use for the cheap TV movie sequel (Omen IV: The Awakening) or the scene-for-scene remake, which, despite a game cast, didn’t come close to recapturing the grisly spirit of Richard Donner’s original.
As such, I figured The First Omen would be just another would-be franchise starter, but I have to give 20th Century Studios and Disney credit – they made one hell of a cool horror flick (pun intended). In some ways, it’s a bit like Wonka (bear with...
Review: I’ve always really enjoyed The Omen as a franchise. Even as a kid, I found something about the original trilogy centring around Damien Thorn especially gripping. However, I never had much use for the cheap TV movie sequel (Omen IV: The Awakening) or the scene-for-scene remake, which, despite a game cast, didn’t come close to recapturing the grisly spirit of Richard Donner’s original.
As such, I figured The First Omen would be just another would-be franchise starter, but I have to give 20th Century Studios and Disney credit – they made one hell of a cool horror flick (pun intended). In some ways, it’s a bit like Wonka (bear with...
- 4/5/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
This article contains major The First Omen spoilers.
It is said the Devil is in the details, and the details are quite devilish, indeed, in The First Omen. The surprisingly stylish and adroit chiller from first-time feature director Arkasha Stevenson takes the well-worn Hollywood formula of making a “story before the story” prequel, and actually conjures something drenched in atmosphere, originality, and modern urgency. Most of the time.
While the movie has a despairing timeliness in 2024 with its parable about a patriarchal system attempting to control and use women’s bodies to achieve their own power-hungry ends, The First Omen is still also a prequel to a film that was released almost 50 years ago. As such, it is forced to conclude where The Omen begins. And in the case of a franchise as steeped in opaque mysticism and religious dread as this, that kind of ending might baffle newcomers to the series.
It is said the Devil is in the details, and the details are quite devilish, indeed, in The First Omen. The surprisingly stylish and adroit chiller from first-time feature director Arkasha Stevenson takes the well-worn Hollywood formula of making a “story before the story” prequel, and actually conjures something drenched in atmosphere, originality, and modern urgency. Most of the time.
While the movie has a despairing timeliness in 2024 with its parable about a patriarchal system attempting to control and use women’s bodies to achieve their own power-hungry ends, The First Omen is still also a prequel to a film that was released almost 50 years ago. As such, it is forced to conclude where The Omen begins. And in the case of a franchise as steeped in opaque mysticism and religious dread as this, that kind of ending might baffle newcomers to the series.
- 4/5/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
This week's Empire Podcast has more guests than the Overlook Hotel, all chatting to Chris Hewitt about their new movies. First, producer Jordan Peele tells Chris why he was so taken by Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man, that he came on board to help it get a theatrical release. Plus, they also talk why Peele is no longer acting. [15:40 - 30:56 approx] Then, Rufus Sewell — who plays Prince Andrew in Scoop, a film based on the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis — and director Philip Martin talk about the task of playing one of the most famous men on the planet. [44:28 - 59:38 approx] And finally, while The First Omen — the prequel to The Omen, which shall henceforth be known as The Second Omen — is a terrifying tour de force, Chris' interview with its stars, Nell Tiger Free and Bill Nighy, is anything but as they talk about being dressed by the Vatican, being hit by lightning,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Chris Hewitt
- Empire - Movies
Dev Patel’s extreme action film Monkey Man swings into the top spot during Thursday previews at the box office, exorcising Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen with $1.4M to the origin story’s $725K. Monkey Man’s preview screening started at 5 Pm at 2,750 theaters on Thursday, while The First Omen screened at 7 Pm.
Meanwhile, Adam Wingard’s Monsterverse rumble, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, punched its way past $100M on Thursday, with estimates calling for $32M during its second weekend in cinemas. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire continues to dominate IMAX screens, while Monkey Man and The First Omen play on Plf screens.
Here’s the official synopsis for Monkey Man courtesy of NBCUniversal:
“Monkey Man is an action thriller about one man’s quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to victimize the poor and powerless systemically.
Inspired by the legend of Hanuman,...
Meanwhile, Adam Wingard’s Monsterverse rumble, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, punched its way past $100M on Thursday, with estimates calling for $32M during its second weekend in cinemas. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire continues to dominate IMAX screens, while Monkey Man and The First Omen play on Plf screens.
Here’s the official synopsis for Monkey Man courtesy of NBCUniversal:
“Monkey Man is an action thriller about one man’s quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to victimize the poor and powerless systemically.
Inspired by the legend of Hanuman,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Stars: Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sônia Braga, Tawfeek Barhom, Maria Caballero, Charles Dance, Billy Nighy, Nicole Sorace | Written by Tim Smith, Arkasha Stevenson, Keith Thomas | Directed by Arkasha Stevenson
Typical. You wait years for a movie about a teenage American nun who becomes mysteriously pregnant when she travels to an Italian nunnery and then two come along at once. Consequently, The First Omen – a prequel to the 1976 horror classic – has had its thunder stolen somewhat by Michael Mohan’s excellent Sydney Sweeney-starring nunsploitation picture Immaculate (which is still in cinemas), but still delivers its fair share of tense atmospherics, jump scares and impressive body horror.
The film begins in 1971, with virginal young American novice Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) travelling to Rome, where she’s met by kindly Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), before beginning her apprenticeship at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will eventually take her vows. Soon, Margaret’s...
Typical. You wait years for a movie about a teenage American nun who becomes mysteriously pregnant when she travels to an Italian nunnery and then two come along at once. Consequently, The First Omen – a prequel to the 1976 horror classic – has had its thunder stolen somewhat by Michael Mohan’s excellent Sydney Sweeney-starring nunsploitation picture Immaculate (which is still in cinemas), but still delivers its fair share of tense atmospherics, jump scares and impressive body horror.
The film begins in 1971, with virginal young American novice Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) travelling to Rome, where she’s met by kindly Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), before beginning her apprenticeship at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will eventually take her vows. Soon, Margaret’s...
- 4/5/2024
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
The horror prequel “The First Omen” and the action thriller “Monkey Man” arrive in theaters this weekend, but they’ll be no match for the mighty force of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”
20th Century Studios’ “The First Omen” opened with $725,000 in previews at the box office, while Universal’s “Monkey Man” opened a bit higher with $1.4 million.
It may be a close finish, but “The First Omen” is expected to pull away and finish in second place behind “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” The horror movie, a prequel to 1976’s classic “The Omen,” is projected to make between $14 million and $15 million in its opening weekend. “Monkey Man,” which was directed, co-written and stars Dev Patel, aims for a $12 million launch.
Last week’s box office champ, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” beat expectations and opened with a very strong $80 million. In its second weekend, Warner Bros....
20th Century Studios’ “The First Omen” opened with $725,000 in previews at the box office, while Universal’s “Monkey Man” opened a bit higher with $1.4 million.
It may be a close finish, but “The First Omen” is expected to pull away and finish in second place behind “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” The horror movie, a prequel to 1976’s classic “The Omen,” is projected to make between $14 million and $15 million in its opening weekend. “Monkey Man,” which was directed, co-written and stars Dev Patel, aims for a $12 million launch.
Last week’s box office champ, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” beat expectations and opened with a very strong $80 million. In its second weekend, Warner Bros....
- 4/5/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Dev Patel‘s highly anticipated feature directorial debut Monkey Man bested 20 Century’s supernatural franchise horror pic The First Omen in Thursday night previews at the domestic box office.
Monkey Man earned $1.4 million in previews, compared to $725,000 for The First Omen, a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film. For the full weekend, tracking has been predicting a close race between the two films for second place with $12 million to $14 million each.
Legendary and Warner Bros.’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is easily expected to stay No. 1 in its second outing after opening to a notable $80 million, well ahead of expectations. On Thursday, it jumped the $100 million mark domestically and and could near or clear $300 million globally by Sunday.
Universal is distributing Monkey Man at the behest of Jordan Peele, who was so impressed with Patel’s film that Peele’s Monkey Paw Productions boarded the project and brought it to Universal,...
Monkey Man earned $1.4 million in previews, compared to $725,000 for The First Omen, a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film. For the full weekend, tracking has been predicting a close race between the two films for second place with $12 million to $14 million each.
Legendary and Warner Bros.’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is easily expected to stay No. 1 in its second outing after opening to a notable $80 million, well ahead of expectations. On Thursday, it jumped the $100 million mark domestically and and could near or clear $300 million globally by Sunday.
Universal is distributing Monkey Man at the behest of Jordan Peele, who was so impressed with Patel’s film that Peele’s Monkey Paw Productions boarded the project and brought it to Universal,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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