It’s kind of been a minute since we’ve heard from Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur. Starting his career with acclaimed Icelandic films and thrillers like “101 Reykjavík,” “The Sea,” and “A Little Trip to Heaven,” he then graduated to Hollywood filmmaking, taking on commercial action and thriller efforts like “Contraband,” “2 Guns,” and the mountain climbing film “Everest” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and an ensemble American cast.
Continue reading ‘Touch’ Trailer: Filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur’s Romantic Thriller Opens July 12 at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Touch’ Trailer: Filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur’s Romantic Thriller Opens July 12 at The Playlist.
- 4/24/2024
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
"I'm not going back." Focus Features has revealed the first trailer for a movie titled Touch, the latest from Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur. After making action movies like Contraband, The Deep, 2 Guns, and Everest, Kormákur has returned to his homeland of Iceland to make more intimate movies again. This one is a passionate love story "years & miles in the making." Adapted from the best-selling novel by Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, Touch is a romantic and thrilling story that spans several decades and continents. Touch follows one widower's emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out. Starring Egill Ólafsson as old Kristófer, with Palmi Kormakur as young Kristófer, plus Kōki, Masahiro Motoki, Sigurdur Ingvarsson, and Yoko Narahashi. His first love is a Japanese woman he met while in London, but her father takes her away and he loses contact with her for 50 years.
- 4/24/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
CBS Studios and the BBC’s period drama series “King & Conqueror” has revealed additional cast members, including “The Crown’s” Luther Ford and “Game of Thrones” actor Joseph Mawle, as it begins production in Iceland.
According to its official plot description, “King & Conqueror” is “the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.”
Additional cast members include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Jean-Marc Barr, Geoff Bell, Elliot Cowan,...
According to its official plot description, “King & Conqueror” is “the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.”
Additional cast members include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Jean-Marc Barr, Geoff Bell, Elliot Cowan,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Ellise Shafer and K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Emily Beecham and Clémence Poésy have joined James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the cast of the period drama series King and Conqueror, about the Battle of Hastings, from CBS Studios.
The show is based on the 11th-century figures Harold of Wessex, played by Norton (Happy Valley, Bob Marley: One Love) and William of Normandy, or William the Conqueror, portrayed by Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones).
Beecham (1899, Little Joe) will play Edith Swanneck, “the wife of Harold Godwinson who has never quite found her place in Harold’s family,” according to a plot description. “She married Harold for love and protection, but never expected her husband to end up fighting for the English crown.” Poésy (In Bruges, The Tunnel) will play Matilda, the wife of William of Normandy. “Raised in the cutthroat world of the royal court, she has realized that in order to succeed she has to be more devious,...
The show is based on the 11th-century figures Harold of Wessex, played by Norton (Happy Valley, Bob Marley: One Love) and William of Normandy, or William the Conqueror, portrayed by Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones).
Beecham (1899, Little Joe) will play Edith Swanneck, “the wife of Harold Godwinson who has never quite found her place in Harold’s family,” according to a plot description. “She married Harold for love and protection, but never expected her husband to end up fighting for the English crown.” Poésy (In Bruges, The Tunnel) will play Matilda, the wife of William of Normandy. “Raised in the cutthroat world of the royal court, she has realized that in order to succeed she has to be more devious,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you were to design a global sales agent in a lab, they would come out looking a lot like Tamara Birkemoe.
Born in Italy to Chilean parents and raised between Sweden and Rome before moving to the U.S. for film school, the multilingual exec has been a force on the indie film scene since her first job, straight out of UCLA, for Mark Damon’s Mdp Worldwide. For the next 16 years, Birkemoe put in time at Mdp (later Media 8 Entertainment) and then at Foresight Unlimited, the production and sales group Damon set up in 2005. The slate she oversaw ranged from studio-released big-budget action fare, such as Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor and Baltasar Kormákur’s 2 Guns, both Universal Pictures films, which grossed $155 million and $132 million worldwide, respectively; to Kevin Costner starrer The Upside of Anger, a New Line release that earned $28 million worldwide; and Patty Jenkins’ low-budget true-crime drama Monster,...
Born in Italy to Chilean parents and raised between Sweden and Rome before moving to the U.S. for film school, the multilingual exec has been a force on the indie film scene since her first job, straight out of UCLA, for Mark Damon’s Mdp Worldwide. For the next 16 years, Birkemoe put in time at Mdp (later Media 8 Entertainment) and then at Foresight Unlimited, the production and sales group Damon set up in 2005. The slate she oversaw ranged from studio-released big-budget action fare, such as Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor and Baltasar Kormákur’s 2 Guns, both Universal Pictures films, which grossed $155 million and $132 million worldwide, respectively; to Kevin Costner starrer The Upside of Anger, a New Line release that earned $28 million worldwide; and Patty Jenkins’ low-budget true-crime drama Monster,...
- 2/16/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mark Wahlberg has been as passionate about fitness as he’s been with his acting career. His Pain and Gain co-star Dwayne Johnson has a very similar lifestyle as well. But there was one aspect of Wahlberg’s schedule that Johnson shared he couldn’t do.
Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg once revealed their workout schedules Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg | Uri Schanker/Getty Images
Wahlberg and Johnson have always been some of the most disciplined actors in the film industry. Johnson has often documented his grueling bodybuilding routine, which includes eating several high-protein meals a day and early Am workouts. Wahlberg’s work ethic isn’t too different.
“Oh, man. Between my physical fitness and my faith, I have so much discipline in my life. And I have such a positive outlook on life, the opportunities that I have, and the things I’ve been able to accomplish in my life,...
Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg once revealed their workout schedules Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg | Uri Schanker/Getty Images
Wahlberg and Johnson have always been some of the most disciplined actors in the film industry. Johnson has often documented his grueling bodybuilding routine, which includes eating several high-protein meals a day and early Am workouts. Wahlberg’s work ethic isn’t too different.
“Oh, man. Between my physical fitness and my faith, I have so much discipline in my life. And I have such a positive outlook on life, the opportunities that I have, and the things I’ve been able to accomplish in my life,...
- 1/7/2024
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Executive worked with Ppp head Tamara Birkemoe at Screen Media, Foresight Unlimited.
Tamara Birkemoe is expanding the executive ranks at Los Angeles-based sales and financing company Palisades Park Pictures and has brought on Kyle Bellinger as vice president of distribution and marketing.
Birkemoe and Bellinger reunite after working together for many years at Screen Media and Foresight Unlimited. Effective immediately, Bellinger will oversee marketing and publicity for Palisades’ robust roster of films and manage distribution operations, working closely with the company’s international network of partners.
Palisades Park Pictures’ current slate includes Nick Vallelonga’s upcoming romance That’s Amore! starring John Travolta,...
Tamara Birkemoe is expanding the executive ranks at Los Angeles-based sales and financing company Palisades Park Pictures and has brought on Kyle Bellinger as vice president of distribution and marketing.
Birkemoe and Bellinger reunite after working together for many years at Screen Media and Foresight Unlimited. Effective immediately, Bellinger will oversee marketing and publicity for Palisades’ robust roster of films and manage distribution operations, working closely with the company’s international network of partners.
Palisades Park Pictures’ current slate includes Nick Vallelonga’s upcoming romance That’s Amore! starring John Travolta,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Actor Denzel Washington has had his fair share of love scenes in his long career. For many female actors, shooting love scenes can be uncomfortable when they have to remove clothing. But one actor insisted to undress for Washington in this action thriller.
Denzel Washington’s co-star felt she needed to be topless for their love scene even though she didn’t have to be Denzel Washington | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Washington collaborated with Mark Wahlberg first time in his 2013 feature 2 Guns. He signed on for the project because he needed to star in something light after doing the heavy drama Flight. A lighthearted romp with Wahlberg was exactly what he needed. But the actor also found himself teaming up with a familiar face in actor Paula Patton.
Patton originally collaborated with Washington several years ago in Deja Vu. 2 Guns would see the two reunite as love interests, and...
Denzel Washington’s co-star felt she needed to be topless for their love scene even though she didn’t have to be Denzel Washington | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Washington collaborated with Mark Wahlberg first time in his 2013 feature 2 Guns. He signed on for the project because he needed to star in something light after doing the heavy drama Flight. A lighthearted romp with Wahlberg was exactly what he needed. But the actor also found himself teaming up with a familiar face in actor Paula Patton.
Patton originally collaborated with Washington several years ago in Deja Vu. 2 Guns would see the two reunite as love interests, and...
- 11/4/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Universal and DreamWorks Animation have rescheduled the release of the live-action adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon” from March 14, 2025, to June 13, 2025, the companies said Friday.
The live-action adaptation takes the place of and untitled film, which has been pushed to July 2, 2025.
Three-time Oscar nominee Dean DeBlois, who co-directed the 2010 blockbuster hit with Chris Sanders, and directed both the sequel in 2014 and the threequel in 2019, will write, direct and produce this live-action offering.
The film will be produced by three-time Oscar nominee Marc Platt, Dean DeBlois and Emmy winner Adam Siegel.
The “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy, inspired by Cressida Cowell’s book series, stands as a significant achievement for the animation studio founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg. It has earned a total of $1.6 billion worldwide and received three Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature, and won the Golden Globe award for “How to Train Your Dragon 2.”
“How to Train Your Dragon...
The live-action adaptation takes the place of and untitled film, which has been pushed to July 2, 2025.
Three-time Oscar nominee Dean DeBlois, who co-directed the 2010 blockbuster hit with Chris Sanders, and directed both the sequel in 2014 and the threequel in 2019, will write, direct and produce this live-action offering.
The film will be produced by three-time Oscar nominee Marc Platt, Dean DeBlois and Emmy winner Adam Siegel.
The “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy, inspired by Cressida Cowell’s book series, stands as a significant achievement for the animation studio founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg. It has earned a total of $1.6 billion worldwide and received three Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature, and won the Golden Globe award for “How to Train Your Dragon 2.”
“How to Train Your Dragon...
- 11/3/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Hiroshi Shinagawa, Japanese comedian, director, screenwriter, and one-half of the comedy duo “Shinagawa Shoji,” will direct zombie mockumentary feature Among the Dead, Bloody Disgusting has learned. It’s the first screenplay from the freshly-minted father/daughter duo, Andy Cosby and Charlie Danger, collectively known as Midnight Pizza.
This will also be the first project emanating from the co-production and co-financing venture between US-based People of Culture Studios and Japan’s Yoshimoto Kogyo Co.
Among the Dead is an English-language Paranormal Activity-style found footage zombie movie written by esteemed comic book creator, film producer, and screenwriter Andy Cosby and Charlie Danger Cosby, along with some help from Brian Caldirola, Patrick Hasson and Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria.
“As the rest of the world finds its equilibrium in the aftermath of an undead apocalypse, one emotionally unstable man abandons friends and family to go live among the few remaining zombies before they’re all gone.
This will also be the first project emanating from the co-production and co-financing venture between US-based People of Culture Studios and Japan’s Yoshimoto Kogyo Co.
Among the Dead is an English-language Paranormal Activity-style found footage zombie movie written by esteemed comic book creator, film producer, and screenwriter Andy Cosby and Charlie Danger Cosby, along with some help from Brian Caldirola, Patrick Hasson and Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria.
“As the rest of the world finds its equilibrium in the aftermath of an undead apocalypse, one emotionally unstable man abandons friends and family to go live among the few remaining zombies before they’re all gone.
- 9/19/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Japanese comedian Shinagawa Hiroshi has been set as the director of “Among the Dead,” the first project flowing from the co-production and co-financing venture between U.S.-based People of Culture Studios and Japan’s Yoshimoto Kogyo.
The previously-announced project is an English-language, found footage zombie movie in which, following an apocalypse of the undead, one emotionally unstable man abandons friends and family to go live among the few remaining zombies before they’re all gone.
The screenplay was written by father/daughter duo, Andy Cosby and Charlie Danger Cosby, collectively known as Midnight Pizza. Other writing credits go to Brian Caldirola, Patrick Hasson and Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria.
Shinagawa is one-half of the comedy duo Shinagawa Shoji, alongside Tomoharu Shoji, and has a considerable acting filmography in his own right including “Deadman Inferno,” “One Third,” and “Drop.” Shinagawa additionally served as director, writer, and starred in the 2011 comedy-drama “Slapstick Brothers.
The previously-announced project is an English-language, found footage zombie movie in which, following an apocalypse of the undead, one emotionally unstable man abandons friends and family to go live among the few remaining zombies before they’re all gone.
The screenplay was written by father/daughter duo, Andy Cosby and Charlie Danger Cosby, collectively known as Midnight Pizza. Other writing credits go to Brian Caldirola, Patrick Hasson and Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria.
Shinagawa is one-half of the comedy duo Shinagawa Shoji, alongside Tomoharu Shoji, and has a considerable acting filmography in his own right including “Deadman Inferno,” “One Third,” and “Drop.” Shinagawa additionally served as director, writer, and starred in the 2011 comedy-drama “Slapstick Brothers.
- 9/19/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Multimedia Music has closed a deal to acquire the music publishing rights from the film music library of Millennium Media, which includes titles such as “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “London Has Fallen,” “Angel Has Fallen,” “Hitman Wife’s Bodyguard,” “Hellboy,” “The Outpost,” “Mechanic: Resurrection,” “Rambo: Last Blood,” “Blackbird,” “Acts of Vengeance” and “The Expendables 4.”
The deal follows Multimedia Music’s recent music partnership with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, and its acquisition of STX Entertainment’s music library.
The Millennium Media library includes music from leading composers including Brian Tyler, Atli Orvarsson, Mark Isham, Trevor Morris, David Buckley and Benjamin Wallfisch.
Multimedia Music will co-publish the catalog with current co-owner and administrator Kobalt Music.
James Gibb, who founded Multimedia Music with colleague Phil Hope, said: “Millennium Media consistently produces high caliber, commercial films made for the big screen that have earned over $2 billion at the box office. We are thrilled to have secured this catalog,...
The deal follows Multimedia Music’s recent music partnership with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, and its acquisition of STX Entertainment’s music library.
The Millennium Media library includes music from leading composers including Brian Tyler, Atli Orvarsson, Mark Isham, Trevor Morris, David Buckley and Benjamin Wallfisch.
Multimedia Music will co-publish the catalog with current co-owner and administrator Kobalt Music.
James Gibb, who founded Multimedia Music with colleague Phil Hope, said: “Millennium Media consistently produces high caliber, commercial films made for the big screen that have earned over $2 billion at the box office. We are thrilled to have secured this catalog,...
- 9/14/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Ever wonder just how realistic a big screen bank heist is? Well, there’s really only one way to find out – Ok, two, but we don’t recommend participating in one – and that’s by asking an actual bank robber. According to Cain Vincent Dyer, who took part in over 100 bank robberies over the course of two-and-a-half years, the one from 1991’s Point Break is a 10/10 example…even if it did have its flaws.
Dyer heaped much praise on the time frame that the group laid out in Point Break, saying 90 seconds would be ideal for grabbing and going before the police arrive. “Typically, once you go into a bank and the alarm is set, depending on where law enforcement is in relation to the bank, it’ll typically take about a minute and a half. You have a group of guys that are all going after the drawers, and...
Dyer heaped much praise on the time frame that the group laid out in Point Break, saying 90 seconds would be ideal for grabbing and going before the police arrive. “Typically, once you go into a bank and the alarm is set, depending on where law enforcement is in relation to the bank, it’ll typically take about a minute and a half. You have a group of guys that are all going after the drawers, and...
- 8/20/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Stars: Clayne Crawford, Max Martini, Juliene Joyner, Nicoye Banks, Jaren Mitchell, E.K. Spila, Lucky Johnson | Written by William Kaufman, Paul Reichelt | Directed by William Kaufman
Somewhere in New Orleans’ Irish Channel, “The Channel” to its residents, Jamie wakes up from nightmares about his time in Afghanistan and gives his baby girl to her grandmother before hopping into a van like any other man heading off to work. And he is on his way to work, but the job site is a bank that he, his brother Mic, and several other ex-Marine buddies are about to rob.
It should be easy for a well-disciplined and heavily armed group of men. Get in, beat the vault code out of the manager, grab the cash and get out before anyone can react. Instead, the cops are waiting for them when they leave the building. The ensuing shootout leaves cops and robbers dead and...
Somewhere in New Orleans’ Irish Channel, “The Channel” to its residents, Jamie wakes up from nightmares about his time in Afghanistan and gives his baby girl to her grandmother before hopping into a van like any other man heading off to work. And he is on his way to work, but the job site is a bank that he, his brother Mic, and several other ex-Marine buddies are about to rob.
It should be easy for a well-disciplined and heavily armed group of men. Get in, beat the vault code out of the manager, grab the cash and get out before anyone can react. Instead, the cops are waiting for them when they leave the building. The ensuing shootout leaves cops and robbers dead and...
- 8/4/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
August is here, and a bounty of noteworthy new movies and TV shows are coming to Amazon Prime Video this month. If it’s new release films you’re looking for, Paramount’s excellent (and very funny) “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” arrives on the streaming service on Aug. 25 after first streaming on Paramount+, while the Elizabeth Banks-directed action-comedy “Cocaine Bear” will be streaming on Aug. 15.
There’s also a Prime Video original film hitting this month in the form of “Red, White & Royal Blue” on Aug. 11, based on the book of the same name by author Casey McQuiston. The LGBTQ romantic comedy stars Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine in the story of a prince who falls in love with the son of the president of the United States.
And Thursday Night Football comes to Prime Video starting Aug. 24.
Check out a complete list of what...
There’s also a Prime Video original film hitting this month in the form of “Red, White & Royal Blue” on Aug. 11, based on the book of the same name by author Casey McQuiston. The LGBTQ romantic comedy stars Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine in the story of a prince who falls in love with the son of the president of the United States.
And Thursday Night Football comes to Prime Video starting Aug. 24.
Check out a complete list of what...
- 8/1/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
With its list of new releases for August 2023, Prime Video is relying on a heaping dose of fun library movies.
The first of the month brings a big influx of worthwhile flicks, including Galaxy Quest, Saw, F9: The Fast Saga, and Jurassic Park (the last two via Amazon’s Freevee free streaming option). Then some other recents hits arrive later on like the appropriately titled Cocaine Bear on Aug. 15 and the Chris Pine-starring Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on Aug. 25.
August also sees the arrival of a major Amazon Original movie in the form of Red, White & Royal Blue. Based on a New York Times bestselling book, this LGBTQ romance follows a U.S. president’s son and a British prince. Over on the TV side of things, Prime Video subscribers can check out the Sigourney Weaver project The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart on Aug. 4 and Harlan Coben’s Shelter on Aug.
The first of the month brings a big influx of worthwhile flicks, including Galaxy Quest, Saw, F9: The Fast Saga, and Jurassic Park (the last two via Amazon’s Freevee free streaming option). Then some other recents hits arrive later on like the appropriately titled Cocaine Bear on Aug. 15 and the Chris Pine-starring Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on Aug. 25.
August also sees the arrival of a major Amazon Original movie in the form of Red, White & Royal Blue. Based on a New York Times bestselling book, this LGBTQ romance follows a U.S. president’s son and a British prince. Over on the TV side of things, Prime Video subscribers can check out the Sigourney Weaver project The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart on Aug. 4 and Harlan Coben’s Shelter on Aug.
- 8/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Ashland Hill Media Finance has launched a global sales company headed by industry veteran Tamara Birkemoe.
Palisades Park Pictures is launching ahead of next month’s Cannes Film Festival, with operations in Los Angeles and London. The venture, which will soon unveil its inaugural slate of projects, comes a year after the launch of Ashland Hill, which was set up last May by Joe Simpson, Simon Williams and Jonathan Bross.
Ashland Hill will continue its operations financing films, while Ppp will board sales on a handful of Ashland Hill Media Finance titles in addition to a slate of third-party titles.
Birkemoe will serve as CEO, and will work out of Los Angeles and London. The company’s executive committee will include Simpson, Williams and Bross as well as industry stalwart Mark Damon.
Birkemoe began her career in production and distribution at Mdp and Media 8 Entertainment before heading Damon’s Foresight Unlimited for 16 years,...
Palisades Park Pictures is launching ahead of next month’s Cannes Film Festival, with operations in Los Angeles and London. The venture, which will soon unveil its inaugural slate of projects, comes a year after the launch of Ashland Hill, which was set up last May by Joe Simpson, Simon Williams and Jonathan Bross.
Ashland Hill will continue its operations financing films, while Ppp will board sales on a handful of Ashland Hill Media Finance titles in addition to a slate of third-party titles.
Birkemoe will serve as CEO, and will work out of Los Angeles and London. The company’s executive committee will include Simpson, Williams and Bross as well as industry stalwart Mark Damon.
Birkemoe began her career in production and distribution at Mdp and Media 8 Entertainment before heading Damon’s Foresight Unlimited for 16 years,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Outer Banks Season 3 easily climbed to the top of Netflix‘s English-language TV charts for the week of February 20 to February 26.
The third installment hit the streamer on February 23, racking up 154.97M hours viewed — which was more than three times the amount of time audiences spent watching anything else on Netflix this week.
The series actually claimed three spots on the English TV List, as audiences revisited Seasons 1 (35.1M hours viewed at No. 4) and Season 2 (23.86M hours viewed at No. 7).
The limited series Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal also premiered on Netflix last week, coming in at No. 2 with 40.1M hours viewed. Season 1 of Perfect Match locked in 39.5M hours viewed (No. 3 on the list) after dropping four additional episodes on February 21. The final four episodes will debut on February 28.
You Season 4 and Wednesday are also still holding onto spots in the Top 10. Others on the list include Season 5 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive,...
The third installment hit the streamer on February 23, racking up 154.97M hours viewed — which was more than three times the amount of time audiences spent watching anything else on Netflix this week.
The series actually claimed three spots on the English TV List, as audiences revisited Seasons 1 (35.1M hours viewed at No. 4) and Season 2 (23.86M hours viewed at No. 7).
The limited series Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal also premiered on Netflix last week, coming in at No. 2 with 40.1M hours viewed. Season 1 of Perfect Match locked in 39.5M hours viewed (No. 3 on the list) after dropping four additional episodes on February 21. The final four episodes will debut on February 28.
You Season 4 and Wednesday are also still holding onto spots in the Top 10. Others on the list include Season 5 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive,...
- 2/28/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
M. Night Shyamalan’s “Knock at the Cabin” (Universal/$19.99), his final film at the studio before moving to Warner Bros. Discovery , was #1 on all VOD charts in its first week in release. This comes, as usual for Universal titles, after its third weekend in theaters. By contrast, the director’s 2021 “Old” waited more than two months.
It held off a challenge from “The Whale” (A24/$19.99), which took second place at iTunes and Vudu, and #4 at Google Play. Darren Aronofsky’s film, fresh off Brendan Fraser’s SAG Best Actor award, spent more than two months as a theatrical exclusive.
Four Universal titles took 12 of the 30 possible slots this week, or 40 percent. All were released after their third weekend of wide release; all but “The Fabelmans” remain at the premium $19.99 price. “Puss in the Boots: The Last Wish” is second or third on all charts and “M3GAN” (with an unrated version...
It held off a challenge from “The Whale” (A24/$19.99), which took second place at iTunes and Vudu, and #4 at Google Play. Darren Aronofsky’s film, fresh off Brendan Fraser’s SAG Best Actor award, spent more than two months as a theatrical exclusive.
Four Universal titles took 12 of the 30 possible slots this week, or 40 percent. All were released after their third weekend of wide release; all but “The Fabelmans” remain at the premium $19.99 price. “Puss in the Boots: The Last Wish” is second or third on all charts and “M3GAN” (with an unrated version...
- 2/27/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Netflix Top 10 (Week of February 13): ‘You’ and ‘Your Place or Mine’ remain atop charts for 2nd week
Netflix has released the Top 10 viewing numbers for the week of February 13, and without any new high-profile releases last week, the charts mostly remained the same as last time. Penn Badgley’s series “You” and the Reese Withspoon-Ashton Kutcher rom-com “Your Place or Mine” did well again, the latter presumably helped by Valentine’s Day last Tuesday.
The fourth season of “You” ended up in the Top 10 in 88 countries with 64.1 million hours viewed, down from 92 million views its launch week with the first five episodes having 38 million views. The first and third seasons also continue to be watched with 22.4 million and 15.6 million hours, respectively.
By comparison, “Your Place or Mine” increased its views to 52.8 million hours vs. the previous week’s 51.2 million views. Again, the romantic comedy from “The Devil Wears Prada” scribe Aline Brosh McKenna probably got a nice bump from V-Day. Other movies returning to the...
The fourth season of “You” ended up in the Top 10 in 88 countries with 64.1 million hours viewed, down from 92 million views its launch week with the first five episodes having 38 million views. The first and third seasons also continue to be watched with 22.4 million and 15.6 million hours, respectively.
By comparison, “Your Place or Mine” increased its views to 52.8 million hours vs. the previous week’s 51.2 million views. Again, the romantic comedy from “The Devil Wears Prada” scribe Aline Brosh McKenna probably got a nice bump from V-Day. Other movies returning to the...
- 2/22/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Season 4 of You has once again found itself at the top of Netflix‘s English-language TV charts for the week of February 13 to February 19.
The first five episodes of the season, which debuted on February 9, racked up an addition 64.1M hours viewed. The episodes landed in the Top 10 in 88 countries. The remaining five episodes of Season 4 will drop on March 9.
The launch of the latest installment also prompted audiences to revisit the series, as all three previous seasons appeared in the Top 10 this week. Season 1 sat at No. 3 with 22.4M hours viewed, Season 2 was No. 10 with 15.1M hours viewed, and Season 9 was at No. 9 with 15.6M hours viewed.
Perfect Match Season 1, which debuted on Valentine’s Day, scored second place and 24.7M hours viewed with just the first four episodes. The next four episodes dropped on the service Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Ginny & Georgia Season 2 dropped to seventh place, picking up...
The first five episodes of the season, which debuted on February 9, racked up an addition 64.1M hours viewed. The episodes landed in the Top 10 in 88 countries. The remaining five episodes of Season 4 will drop on March 9.
The launch of the latest installment also prompted audiences to revisit the series, as all three previous seasons appeared in the Top 10 this week. Season 1 sat at No. 3 with 22.4M hours viewed, Season 2 was No. 10 with 15.1M hours viewed, and Season 9 was at No. 9 with 15.6M hours viewed.
Perfect Match Season 1, which debuted on Valentine’s Day, scored second place and 24.7M hours viewed with just the first four episodes. The next four episodes dropped on the service Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Ginny & Georgia Season 2 dropped to seventh place, picking up...
- 2/21/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
It took a price reduction, but Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” (Universal/$5.99) is finally getting some significant viewing. With it down to standard VOD cost ($5.99) rather than its initial home viewing cost of $19.99, it is listed on the three charts below for the first time. And it got above #4 anywhere, hitting #1 on iTunes.
The film has been a major box office disappointment, with only $17 million in domestic grosses and $30 million worldwide with virtually all its take already in. That makes its performance as a home revenue asset that much more important.
Its low level of theatrical interest suggested that it might be a challenge to reach viewers willing to pay its initial premium cost. But it is now at a price where its awards attention, strong reviews, and of course Spielberg’s reputation have all boosted it as expected.
“The Fabelmans” is one of three films to take #1 spots. The...
The film has been a major box office disappointment, with only $17 million in domestic grosses and $30 million worldwide with virtually all its take already in. That makes its performance as a home revenue asset that much more important.
Its low level of theatrical interest suggested that it might be a challenge to reach viewers willing to pay its initial premium cost. But it is now at a price where its awards attention, strong reviews, and of course Spielberg’s reputation have all boosted it as expected.
“The Fabelmans” is one of three films to take #1 spots. The...
- 2/20/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Looking for something new to watch on Amazon Prime Video? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve thumbed through the list of every new movie added to Prime Video in February and put together a curated list of some of the best the streaming service has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a rom-com, family film, horror flick or just plain great movie, we’ve got you covered.
Check out our list of the best new movies on Amazon Prime Video in February 2023 below.
“Almost Famous”
Cameron Crowe’s masterpiece “Almost Famous” feels like a letter from an old friend, and in that way it serves as a pretty terrific comfort movie. Inspired by Crowe’s experiences as a young reporter for Rolling Stone, the film follows a teenager who somewhat cons his way into going on the road with a breakout band called Stillwater for a profile in Rolling Stone magazine.
Check out our list of the best new movies on Amazon Prime Video in February 2023 below.
“Almost Famous”
Cameron Crowe’s masterpiece “Almost Famous” feels like a letter from an old friend, and in that way it serves as a pretty terrific comfort movie. Inspired by Crowe’s experiences as a young reporter for Rolling Stone, the film follows a teenager who somewhat cons his way into going on the road with a breakout band called Stillwater for a profile in Rolling Stone magazine.
- 2/19/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Oliver Wood, whose work as a cinematographer included such big-budget action films as The Bourne Identity and two of its sequels, along with studio comedies like Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, has died. He was 80.
Wood died Monday, Feb. 13, surrounded by loved ones at his Hollywood home following a battle with cancer, his agent Ann Murtha told The Hollywood Reporter.
He is known for working with a long list of prominent directors, including John Woo on Face/Off (1997); Adam McKay on Talladega Nights (2006), Step Brothers (2008), The Other Guys (2010) and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013); Edward Zwick on Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016); Antoine Fuqua on The Equalizer 2 (2018); and Daniel Espinosa on Safe House (2012), Child 44 (2015) and Morbius (2022). His work on Paul Greengrass’ The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) earned Wood a BAFTA Award nomination for best cinematography.
Born on Feb. 21, 1942, in London, Wood moved to New York City at age 19 and...
Wood died Monday, Feb. 13, surrounded by loved ones at his Hollywood home following a battle with cancer, his agent Ann Murtha told The Hollywood Reporter.
He is known for working with a long list of prominent directors, including John Woo on Face/Off (1997); Adam McKay on Talladega Nights (2006), Step Brothers (2008), The Other Guys (2010) and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013); Edward Zwick on Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016); Antoine Fuqua on The Equalizer 2 (2018); and Daniel Espinosa on Safe House (2012), Child 44 (2015) and Morbius (2022). His work on Paul Greengrass’ The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) earned Wood a BAFTA Award nomination for best cinematography.
Born on Feb. 21, 1942, in London, Wood moved to New York City at age 19 and...
- 2/18/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Multimedia Music has closed an eight-figure deal to acquire the music publishing and music master rights from the entire film music library of STX Entertainment, including film titles such as “Bad Moms,” “The Gentlemen,” “Den of Thieves,” “Greenland” and “The Foreigner,” and music from leading composers including Hans Zimmer, Cliff Martinez, Marcelo Zarvos, Hauschke, Chris Lennertz, Andrew Lockington, Clinton Shorter and Nicholas Britell.
The Multimedia Music deal does not include rights in any of STX’s current or future films, which include Michael Mann’s “Ferrari”, “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre”(Guy Ritchie’s latest film, which STX is currently distributing internationally and Lionsgate will be releasing domestically), Guy Ritchie’s “The Covenant” (slated for release by Amazon and MGM on April 21), “My Spy 2”, and “I Slept with Joey Ramone” (starring Pete Davidson for Netflix).
Multimedia Music partner James Gibb, who leads the company with Phil Hope, said: “We...
The Multimedia Music deal does not include rights in any of STX’s current or future films, which include Michael Mann’s “Ferrari”, “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre”(Guy Ritchie’s latest film, which STX is currently distributing internationally and Lionsgate will be releasing domestically), Guy Ritchie’s “The Covenant” (slated for release by Amazon and MGM on April 21), “My Spy 2”, and “I Slept with Joey Ramone” (starring Pete Davidson for Netflix).
Multimedia Music partner James Gibb, who leads the company with Phil Hope, said: “We...
- 2/16/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
On the way from Yoshimoto Kogyo and People of Culture Studios is a zombie mockumentary titled Among the Dead, and Variety brings us the first word about the project this week.
Among the Dead is set to be a found footage film.
Variety details, “Its story is set as the world finds its equilibrium after an undead apocalypse. One emotionally unstable man abandons his friends and family to go live among the last remaining zombies before they are all gone. He hopes to better understand the zombies and document their final days, but his efforts become a document of his final days instead.”
Andrew Cosby wrote the script.
Wada Ryoichi (“Ghost in the Box”) will be producing Among the Dead.
The post ‘Among the Dead’ – Zombie Mockumentary Hopes to Better Understand the Undead appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
Among the Dead is set to be a found footage film.
Variety details, “Its story is set as the world finds its equilibrium after an undead apocalypse. One emotionally unstable man abandons his friends and family to go live among the last remaining zombies before they are all gone. He hopes to better understand the zombies and document their final days, but his efforts become a document of his final days instead.”
Andrew Cosby wrote the script.
Wada Ryoichi (“Ghost in the Box”) will be producing Among the Dead.
The post ‘Among the Dead’ – Zombie Mockumentary Hopes to Better Understand the Undead appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 12/1/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
People of Culture Studios, a company where Andrew Cosby – co-creator of the Syfy series Eureka, serves as chief creative officer, is teaming up with Japanese talent agency Yoshimoto Kogyo to produce and finance a found footage zombie mockumentary called Among the Dead. Cosby is producing the film alongside Wada Ryoichi, whose stage play Ghost in the Box is credited for inspiring the Japanese zombie comedy One Cut of the Dead (which was recently remade as the French film Final Cut).
Variety reports that Among the Dead begins as the world finds its equilibrium after an undead apocalypse. One emotionally unstable man abandons his friends and family to go live among the last remaining zombies before they are all gone. He hopes to better understand the zombies and document their final days, but his efforts become a document of his final days instead.
Cosby wrote the screenplay with Patrick Hasson and Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria.
Variety reports that Among the Dead begins as the world finds its equilibrium after an undead apocalypse. One emotionally unstable man abandons his friends and family to go live among the last remaining zombies before they are all gone. He hopes to better understand the zombies and document their final days, but his efforts become a document of his final days instead.
Cosby wrote the screenplay with Patrick Hasson and Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria.
- 12/1/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
U.S.-based People of Culture Studios (PoC Studios) has entered into a co-production and co-financing venture with major Japanese talent agency Yoshimoto Kogyo that will see the two companies produce “Among the Dead,” a zombie mockumentary film.
“Among The Dead” is a found footage title written by comic book creator, film producer, and screenwriter Andrew Cosby, who also serves as PoC’s chief creative officer, with Patrick Hasson and Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria. Executive producers are PoC founder Labid Aziz and Mike Ikeda.
Its story is set as the world finds its equilibrium after an undead apocalypse. One emotionally unstable man abandons his friends and family to go live among the last remaining zombies before they are all gone. He hopes to better understand the zombies and document their final days, but his efforts become a document of his final days instead.
Production is by Cosby and Wada Ryoichi, a...
“Among The Dead” is a found footage title written by comic book creator, film producer, and screenwriter Andrew Cosby, who also serves as PoC’s chief creative officer, with Patrick Hasson and Juan Carlos Saizarbitoria. Executive producers are PoC founder Labid Aziz and Mike Ikeda.
Its story is set as the world finds its equilibrium after an undead apocalypse. One emotionally unstable man abandons his friends and family to go live among the last remaining zombies before they are all gone. He hopes to better understand the zombies and document their final days, but his efforts become a document of his final days instead.
Production is by Cosby and Wada Ryoichi, a...
- 12/1/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Ben Platt is calling out the criticisms of the “Dear Evan Hansen” movie.
The 2021 film, which starred a then-27 year old Platt as a high school student, received immediate backlash for the odd makeup choices to de-age the “Pitch Perfect” actor. Vulture compared the film to the age-bending “The Orphan” horror movie, while IndieWire’s coverage likened Platt’s looks to that of a “serial killer” and the D-rated review drew attention to the “cascade of glaring distractions that continuously point out the artificiality of the genre.”
Now, Platt is addressing the hit-musical-turned-movie box office flop heard ’round Broadway.
“It was definitely a disappointing experience and difficult,” Platt told The New York Times. “It definitely opened my eyes to the Internet and how horrific it can be.”
Platt added, “You’d think, after doing ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ onstage for four years, I would have already known that. I try my...
The 2021 film, which starred a then-27 year old Platt as a high school student, received immediate backlash for the odd makeup choices to de-age the “Pitch Perfect” actor. Vulture compared the film to the age-bending “The Orphan” horror movie, while IndieWire’s coverage likened Platt’s looks to that of a “serial killer” and the D-rated review drew attention to the “cascade of glaring distractions that continuously point out the artificiality of the genre.”
Now, Platt is addressing the hit-musical-turned-movie box office flop heard ’round Broadway.
“It was definitely a disappointing experience and difficult,” Platt told The New York Times. “It definitely opened my eyes to the Internet and how horrific it can be.”
Platt added, “You’d think, after doing ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ onstage for four years, I would have already known that. I try my...
- 11/1/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Focus Features announced on Thursday that principal photography has begun on Baltasar Kormakur’s upcoming film “Touch,” a romantic thriller set during the Covid-19 pandemic that will begin shooting in London.
Based on Olafur Johann Olafsson’s novel released in August, “Touch” follows an elderly Icelandic man named Kristofer (Egill Olafsson) who is forced to shut down his restaurant because of the pandemic. But as the world begins to shut down, he receives a message from a woman named Miko, whom he dated nearly 60 years ago when they were students in London before she suddenly disappeared. In a race against time and the spread of the virus, Kristofer travels to England and Japan to find Miko.
Kormakur most recently directed the thriller “Beast” starring Idris Elba, which barely broke even at the box office with 56.5 million grossed globally against a 36 million budget. He has also directed “Everest” starring Jason Clarke...
Based on Olafur Johann Olafsson’s novel released in August, “Touch” follows an elderly Icelandic man named Kristofer (Egill Olafsson) who is forced to shut down his restaurant because of the pandemic. But as the world begins to shut down, he receives a message from a woman named Miko, whom he dated nearly 60 years ago when they were students in London before she suddenly disappeared. In a race against time and the spread of the virus, Kristofer travels to England and Japan to find Miko.
Kormakur most recently directed the thriller “Beast” starring Idris Elba, which barely broke even at the box office with 56.5 million grossed globally against a 36 million budget. He has also directed “Everest” starring Jason Clarke...
- 10/6/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmaker’s Podcast #292: ”Beast” – roaring to success with Baltasar Kormákur, director...
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmaker’s Podcast #292: ”Beast” – roaring to success with Baltasar Kormákur, director...
- 9/5/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Idris Elba fights a lion. This is what Beast promises, and this is what Beast delivers. No more. No less. The purity of it — the bald-faced simplicity! — is sort of beautiful.
This is where we are in the cursed summer of 2022. We quaver with existential ennui as the planet tries to throw us off with pandemics, heatwaves, wildfires, landslides, dust storms, droughts and floods. But we can cheer in a whistling-past-the-graveyard way as Idris Elba punches a prodigious pissed-off pussycat in the, well, puss, as if to say, “Not today, Mother Nature! Not today!”
To be fair to the lion, he is absolutely correct to be pissed off: poachers killed his whole family, and tried to kill him too, so he is out for revenge. All homo sapiens are in his sights. You may want to root for the lion instead. We humans are only getting what we deserve.
Faster,...
This is where we are in the cursed summer of 2022. We quaver with existential ennui as the planet tries to throw us off with pandemics, heatwaves, wildfires, landslides, dust storms, droughts and floods. But we can cheer in a whistling-past-the-graveyard way as Idris Elba punches a prodigious pissed-off pussycat in the, well, puss, as if to say, “Not today, Mother Nature! Not today!”
To be fair to the lion, he is absolutely correct to be pissed off: poachers killed his whole family, and tried to kill him too, so he is out for revenge. All homo sapiens are in his sights. You may want to root for the lion instead. We humans are only getting what we deserve.
Faster,...
- 9/1/2022
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
It's a week of lists at the cinema. Mr Malcolm is checking of women's attributes, while Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur takes on a thriller all of his own in this safari survival flick - all the big beasts are on it, a good looking leading man, jump scares, family tension (in this case dad-and-daughter issues) and, because this is a safari film, hand-to-hand combat with an animal bent on vengeance. And while there's nothing wrong with these ingredients, although they are surely close to their sell-by date, they are used in such familiar and predictable fashion even Idris Elba's A-list qualities and Kormákur's ability to shoot a solid action scene, honed on the likes of 2 Guns and Everest, can't elevate its B-movie plotting and script.
Elba plays Dr Nate Samuels, whose medical credentials like everything else are very clearly established long before they are needed. He has come to.
Elba plays Dr Nate Samuels, whose medical credentials like everything else are very clearly established long before they are needed. He has come to.
- 8/25/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Photo: 'Beast' Idris Elba is also universally known as the actor who stars in blockbuster and franchise films like ‘Hobbs and Shaw,’ and his past roles of Heimdall, a sole guardian and Thor’s best friend in the ‘Thor’ movies. Additionally, he has been well-known for being an actor who would be willing to work on personal films by portraying Nelson Mandela in ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Fame’ and acting as a commandant in ‘Beast of No Nation’ – a war drama that focuses on a boy who is child soldier of a civil war that takes place in an African country. Now, Idris takes the challenge of starring in an adventure-horror film ‘Beast.’The movie is directed by Baltasar Kormakur. In the past, Baltasar made the survival drama film ‘Adrift’ which focused on a couple (played by Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin) who are far adrift in the...
- 8/23/2022
- by Marco Castaneda
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Just as it looked like the summer movie season was winding down without any well-loved franchises in sight, “Dragon Ball” has come to town.
“Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” looks to top domestic box office charts for the weekend after scoring 10.7 million on its opening day. The Crunchyroll release is projecting a 20 million opening from 3,007 locations, which marks the widest release ever for the distributor. It’s also the widest release ever for an anime film, which includes a massive footprint in premium format auditoriums like Imax, 4Dx and Dolby Cinemas.
The debut marks a notable uptick from the 9.8 million domestic opening scored by 2018’s “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” the preceding entry in the saga. It’s also a comparable figure to the 18 million debut enjoyed by Funimation’s “Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie” in March of this year. Both comparisons illustrate how anime features have taken on a sizable...
“Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” looks to top domestic box office charts for the weekend after scoring 10.7 million on its opening day. The Crunchyroll release is projecting a 20 million opening from 3,007 locations, which marks the widest release ever for the distributor. It’s also the widest release ever for an anime film, which includes a massive footprint in premium format auditoriums like Imax, 4Dx and Dolby Cinemas.
The debut marks a notable uptick from the 9.8 million domestic opening scored by 2018’s “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” the preceding entry in the saga. It’s also a comparable figure to the 18 million debut enjoyed by Funimation’s “Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie” in March of this year. Both comparisons illustrate how anime features have taken on a sizable...
- 8/20/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
“It’s the law of the jungle,” one character says fairly early on in Beast — “early” as in after we’ve established that a lion decides to become a four-legged vigilante once some poachers slaughter his pride, but before this one-cat army sets his sights on our hero and his family. The way the man inhales and pauses before he delivers the next line suggests he’s about to drop some serious science: “The only law that matters here.” Ah. Ok!
To be fair, there are other laws that also apply to this survivalist thriller.
To be fair, there are other laws that also apply to this survivalist thriller.
- 8/19/2022
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
In an age where most movies without franchise potential are relegated to streaming, it’s refreshing to see Beast receive a theatrical release. Director Baltasar Kormȧkur delivers a lean adventure that plays well on a big screen with an engaged audience. It’s not quite Jaws with claws, but it’s a fun creature feature nonetheless.
Idris Elba stars as Nate Samuels, a widowed doctor who takes his daughters Norah and Mer on vacation to Africa to catch up with old friend Martin (Sharlto Copley). But a tour into the wild puts them at the mercy of a rogue lion that’s been spooked by poachers and is eager to defend its turf against human threats.
At just over 90 minutes, Beast is admirably focused without feeling rushed. Ryan Engle’s screenplay hints at the threat in its opening sequence, sets up the requisite family tensions, and peppers the story liberally...
Idris Elba stars as Nate Samuels, a widowed doctor who takes his daughters Norah and Mer on vacation to Africa to catch up with old friend Martin (Sharlto Copley). But a tour into the wild puts them at the mercy of a rogue lion that’s been spooked by poachers and is eager to defend its turf against human threats.
At just over 90 minutes, Beast is admirably focused without feeling rushed. Ryan Engle’s screenplay hints at the threat in its opening sequence, sets up the requisite family tensions, and peppers the story liberally...
- 8/19/2022
- by Chris Williams
- CinemaNerdz
Idris Elba in Beast. Pic credit: Lauren Mulligan/Universal Pictures
Beast as a premise could be as ridiculous as Snakes on a Plane. Idris Elba fighting a lion sells itself as an over-the-top idea in the same vein as Jason Statham fighting a shark in The Meg.
To this writer’s surprise, Beast is an unexpected thrill. Director Baltasar Kormákur is mostly known for throwaway action movies like 2 Guns and Contraband. He also directed the forgettable survival true story Adrift. With Beast, audiences will ask themselves where this director has been hiding.
With all this said, is Beast worth a trip to the theaters? Here is our full review of the man versus nature survival movie starring Idris Elba.
The film centers on Nathan Samuels (Idris Elba), a widowed father who decides to return to South Africa with his daughters after the death of his wife, a native of the country.
Beast as a premise could be as ridiculous as Snakes on a Plane. Idris Elba fighting a lion sells itself as an over-the-top idea in the same vein as Jason Statham fighting a shark in The Meg.
To this writer’s surprise, Beast is an unexpected thrill. Director Baltasar Kormákur is mostly known for throwaway action movies like 2 Guns and Contraband. He also directed the forgettable survival true story Adrift. With Beast, audiences will ask themselves where this director has been hiding.
With all this said, is Beast worth a trip to the theaters? Here is our full review of the man versus nature survival movie starring Idris Elba.
The film centers on Nathan Samuels (Idris Elba), a widowed father who decides to return to South Africa with his daughters after the death of his wife, a native of the country.
- 8/18/2022
- by John Dotson
- Monsters and Critics
In a multiplex mad for the multiverse and fanatical for franchises, never forget the simple pleasures of a self-contained, high-concept pitch: Idris Elba fights a lion. There, screenwriter Ryan Engle found one. He did it. It’s brilliant. And yet, for all of Engle’s inspired ideas on what a big-budget studio movie can be, he made one fatal mistake when building “Beast”:
That’s no diss on Elba, who remains one of our most charismatic and eminently watchable movie stars. Nor is it a ding against the two talented young actresses (Iyana Halley and Leah Jeffries) who play his daughters. Hell, it’s not even a mark against director Baltasar Kormákur’s vision, which is often at its most compelling when the action-centric filmmaker dips his toes into horror territory. It all goes back to the genius idea to pit Elba against a big cat, which Engle kicks...
That’s no diss on Elba, who remains one of our most charismatic and eminently watchable movie stars. Nor is it a ding against the two talented young actresses (Iyana Halley and Leah Jeffries) who play his daughters. Hell, it’s not even a mark against director Baltasar Kormákur’s vision, which is often at its most compelling when the action-centric filmmaker dips his toes into horror territory. It all goes back to the genius idea to pit Elba against a big cat, which Engle kicks...
- 8/18/2022
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The pitch is pretty strong. It’s Idris Elba versus a lion. It’s Jaws on land. And it’s from a director who has well-proven teeth when it comes to the action and disaster movie genres. Icelander Baltasar Kormákur, who made true story-based adventures Everest and The Deep, as well as actioners including 2 Guns and Contraband, has a further connection to the material. When he was little, he wanted to be “a lion scientist.”
“I have always been fascinated by animals, but [particularly] lions. So I was like, ‘Okay, this is something I would love to do,’” he tells Den of Geek magazine. Kormákur is talking to us from London, where he’s currently in the edit suite putting the finishing touches on the movie. He had one condition when agreeing to the project: “I made it clear that, if I was to do this movie, I would have to shoot it in Africa.
“I have always been fascinated by animals, but [particularly] lions. So I was like, ‘Okay, this is something I would love to do,’” he tells Den of Geek magazine. Kormákur is talking to us from London, where he’s currently in the edit suite putting the finishing touches on the movie. He had one condition when agreeing to the project: “I made it clear that, if I was to do this movie, I would have to shoot it in Africa.
- 8/15/2022
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
Stars: Courtney Oliviér, Fay Smalling, Elizabeth Trieu, Haley Raines, Jason Kirkpatrick, Alexander Biglane, Leila Anastasia Scott | Written by Christine Chen, Camille Gladney | Directed by Christine Chen
Erzulie is a Haitian voodoo goddess and a protector of women and children. It’s also the title of the debut feature from director Christine Chen and her co-writer Camille Gladney which places the goddess in a Louisianna swamp with some vacationing women who are going to need some protection.
Wendy, Zoe, Violet, and Allison (Haley Raines; His Stretch of Texas Ground) are getting together for a much-needed vacation. The city has shut down Wendy’s project and fired her and Zoe is getting over an abusive relationship.
Unfortunately, this isn’t going to be the relaxing trip they planned. The river is off-limits after a gator ate a tourist. The resort owner’s son Rhett is letting a company dump toxic waste in said river.
Erzulie is a Haitian voodoo goddess and a protector of women and children. It’s also the title of the debut feature from director Christine Chen and her co-writer Camille Gladney which places the goddess in a Louisianna swamp with some vacationing women who are going to need some protection.
Wendy, Zoe, Violet, and Allison (Haley Raines; His Stretch of Texas Ground) are getting together for a much-needed vacation. The city has shut down Wendy’s project and fired her and Zoe is getting over an abusive relationship.
Unfortunately, this isn’t going to be the relaxing trip they planned. The river is off-limits after a gator ate a tourist. The resort owner’s son Rhett is letting a company dump toxic waste in said river.
- 6/11/2022
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
If you’ve been putting off watching the terrifically adventurous Brendan Fraser-led “The Mummy” again, now’s the time to prioritize it. The 1999 film is one of a bevy of movies leaving HBO Max in June, the full list of which you can read below.
Also leaving HBO and HBO Max this month is a bevy of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies, “Rounders,” “She’s All That” and “Real Steel.”
If you’re looking to prioritize some selections, “Presumed Innocent” is one of Harrison Ford’s most underrated films (featuring one of his best performances) and the Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman comedy “Identity Thief” is good for some solid laughs.
Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max below.
Also Read:
Here’s What’s New on HBO and HBO Max in June 2022
June 9:
12 Strong, 2018
June 30:
2 Guns, 2013
20 Feet From Stardom, 2013 (HBO)
All Dogs Go To Heaven,...
Also leaving HBO and HBO Max this month is a bevy of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies, “Rounders,” “She’s All That” and “Real Steel.”
If you’re looking to prioritize some selections, “Presumed Innocent” is one of Harrison Ford’s most underrated films (featuring one of his best performances) and the Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman comedy “Identity Thief” is good for some solid laughs.
Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max below.
Also Read:
Here’s What’s New on HBO and HBO Max in June 2022
June 9:
12 Strong, 2018
June 30:
2 Guns, 2013
20 Feet From Stardom, 2013 (HBO)
All Dogs Go To Heaven,...
- 6/3/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
From The Shallows to Crawl, the man vs. beast subgenre of thriller has had a new resurgence. Now, it’s Everest and 2 Guns director Baltasar Kormákur’s turn to try his hand with Beast, arriving this August. Led by Idris Elba, who also has George Miller’s new movie landing a few weeks later, the first trailer has now debuted.
The film follows Elba’s character as a father returning to South Africa with his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion. Also starring Sharlto Copley as manager of the game reserve, it looks to be a tense survival thriller as Kormákur tries something a bit more small scale.
See the trailer below.
Beast opens on August 19.
The post Idris Elba Faces a Deathly Threat in First Trailer for Baltasar Kormákur's Beast first appeared on The Film Stage.
The film follows Elba’s character as a father returning to South Africa with his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion. Also starring Sharlto Copley as manager of the game reserve, it looks to be a tense survival thriller as Kormákur tries something a bit more small scale.
See the trailer below.
Beast opens on August 19.
The post Idris Elba Faces a Deathly Threat in First Trailer for Baltasar Kormákur's Beast first appeared on The Film Stage.
- 5/26/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"It's the law of the jungle! It's the only law that matters." Universal has debuted the first official trailer for Beast, a new angry lion movie from director Baltasar Kormákur. This reminds me of the 90s hit The Ghost and the Darkness, also about rogue lions attacking people with a similar intensity as this one. Idris Elba stars in a pulse-pounding new thriller about a father and his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the savannah has but one apex predator. Iyana Halley plays Daniels' 18-year-old daughter, Meredith, and Leah Sava Jeffries plays his 13-year-old, Norah. Also co-starring Sharlto Copley as the local game reserve manager. There's only two or three real shots of the lion in this trailer, which is obviously CGI. And the final scene in this very much seems like a Jurassic Park riff in the truck...
- 5/25/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Fred Ward, who starred in films including “Henry and June,” “Tremors,” “The Right Stuff” and “The Player,” died May 8, his publicist confirmed to Variety. He was 79.
Among his other prominent roles were parts in “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins,” “Miami Blues” and “Short Cuts.”
There was a certain retro quality to the actor’s persona that made Ward seem more akin to Humphrey Bogart or John Garfield (although not quite with those actors’ level of charisma) than to his contemporaries, and it did not seem at all affected. He appeared to be the sort of fellow who hailed from the South Side of Chicago or Hell’s Kitchen, but he was actually from San Diego.
Ward most recently appeared in the second season of HBO’s “True Detective” as Eddie Velcoro, the retired cop father of Colin Farrell’s Det. Ray Velcoro.
He recurred on NBC’s “ER” as the...
Among his other prominent roles were parts in “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins,” “Miami Blues” and “Short Cuts.”
There was a certain retro quality to the actor’s persona that made Ward seem more akin to Humphrey Bogart or John Garfield (although not quite with those actors’ level of charisma) than to his contemporaries, and it did not seem at all affected. He appeared to be the sort of fellow who hailed from the South Side of Chicago or Hell’s Kitchen, but he was actually from San Diego.
Ward most recently appeared in the second season of HBO’s “True Detective” as Eddie Velcoro, the retired cop father of Colin Farrell’s Det. Ray Velcoro.
He recurred on NBC’s “ER” as the...
- 5/13/2022
- by Carmel Dagan
- Variety Film + TV
Multimedia Music today announced it has closed a deal to acquire master and publishing rights to a 48-title film score catalog from Atlantic Screen Music in what it calls a “mid-seven figure transaction.”
Atlantic Screen Music includes rights to scores including “2 Guns,” “Lone Survivor,” “The Host,” “Dredd,” “Escape Plan” and “Broken City.” Multimedia said that, cumulatively, the films have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars at the global box office and even more through ancillary channels.
Composers with works featured in the catalog include Max Richter, Lorne Balfe (“Frozen Ground”), John Paesano (“Hirokin”), John Debney (“Alex Cross”), Atticus Ross (“Broken City”), Antonio Pinto (“The Host”), Steve Jablonsky (“Lone Survivor”), Clinton Shorter (“2 Guns”) and Paul Leonard Morgan (“Dredd”).
“We are thrilled to acquire this catalog of premium film scores,” said Multimedia Music managing partner James Gibb. “Atlantic Screen Music includes scores from highly successful films produced by leading filmmakers,...
Atlantic Screen Music includes rights to scores including “2 Guns,” “Lone Survivor,” “The Host,” “Dredd,” “Escape Plan” and “Broken City.” Multimedia said that, cumulatively, the films have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars at the global box office and even more through ancillary channels.
Composers with works featured in the catalog include Max Richter, Lorne Balfe (“Frozen Ground”), John Paesano (“Hirokin”), John Debney (“Alex Cross”), Atticus Ross (“Broken City”), Antonio Pinto (“The Host”), Steve Jablonsky (“Lone Survivor”), Clinton Shorter (“2 Guns”) and Paul Leonard Morgan (“Dredd”).
“We are thrilled to acquire this catalog of premium film scores,” said Multimedia Music managing partner James Gibb. “Atlantic Screen Music includes scores from highly successful films produced by leading filmmakers,...
- 5/9/2022
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Nickelodeon is expanding its preschool series slate with greenlights for Face’s Music Party, a music variety show that combines animation and live action featuring a reimagining of its beloved ’90s Nick Jr. mascot; animated series Bossy Bear, from husband and wife team David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim (UglyDolls) and based on the popular book series by Horvath; and animated series HexVet, based on the eponymous Boom!Studios graphic novels by Sam Davies.
The new series were announced Thursday during Nickelodeon’s virtual upfront presentation along with renewals for Big Nate (Season 2) and Blaze and the Monster Machines (Season 7).
The 13-episode interactive series Face’s Music Party will feature a reimagined Face, voiced by Cedric Williams (Hunter x Hunter) as host and VJ, playing modern pop hits and revamped nursery school classics to create the ultimate music party. Face’s Music Party will premiere this summer on Nickelodeon’s preschool platforms in the U.
The new series were announced Thursday during Nickelodeon’s virtual upfront presentation along with renewals for Big Nate (Season 2) and Blaze and the Monster Machines (Season 7).
The 13-episode interactive series Face’s Music Party will feature a reimagined Face, voiced by Cedric Williams (Hunter x Hunter) as host and VJ, playing modern pop hits and revamped nursery school classics to create the ultimate music party. Face’s Music Party will premiere this summer on Nickelodeon’s preschool platforms in the U.
- 3/24/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Oliver Trevena has signed on to star alongside Aaron Eckhart and Nina Dobrev in the action-thriller, The Bricklayer, which is heading into production in Europe next month.
In the film from director Renny Harlin, based on the novel by Noah Boyd, someone is blackmailing the CIA by assassinating foreign journalists and making it look like the agency is responsible. As the world begins to unite against the U.S., the CIA must lure its most brilliant – and rebellious – operative out of retirement, forcing him to confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy.
Hanna Weg and Matt Johnson penned the script. G-Base’s Alan Siegel, Butler and Danielle Robinson are producing with Eclectic Pictures’ Heidi Jo Markel, and Millennium Media’s Jeffrey Greenstein, Les Weldon, Jonathan Yunger, Yariv Lerner and Rob Van Norden. Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson and Tanner Mobley from Millennium are serving as exec producers.
In the film from director Renny Harlin, based on the novel by Noah Boyd, someone is blackmailing the CIA by assassinating foreign journalists and making it look like the agency is responsible. As the world begins to unite against the U.S., the CIA must lure its most brilliant – and rebellious – operative out of retirement, forcing him to confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy.
Hanna Weg and Matt Johnson penned the script. G-Base’s Alan Siegel, Butler and Danielle Robinson are producing with Eclectic Pictures’ Heidi Jo Markel, and Millennium Media’s Jeffrey Greenstein, Les Weldon, Jonathan Yunger, Yariv Lerner and Rob Van Norden. Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson and Tanner Mobley from Millennium are serving as exec producers.
- 2/10/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A new year has finally arrived and HBO Max is set to open it with a bang. With its list of new releases for January 2022, HBO Max is rolling out some intriguing original series and an absolutely packed slate of library titles.
The real highlight this month comes on Jan. 13 with the release of Peacemaker. Developed by James Gunn, this series spins off John Cena’s titular character from last years’ The Suicide Squad. The show will delve into the pathology of a superhero who will achieve peace regardless of how many people need to be killed to attain it.
Also of note this month are second seasons for two major HBO series. Euphoria season 2 and The Righteous Gemstones season 2 both premiere on Jan. 9, making for quite the odd double feature. Meanwhile, the fifth and final season of superb comedy Search Party arrives on Jan. 7.
January 2022 is light as far as original movies go.
The real highlight this month comes on Jan. 13 with the release of Peacemaker. Developed by James Gunn, this series spins off John Cena’s titular character from last years’ The Suicide Squad. The show will delve into the pathology of a superhero who will achieve peace regardless of how many people need to be killed to attain it.
Also of note this month are second seasons for two major HBO series. Euphoria season 2 and The Righteous Gemstones season 2 both premiere on Jan. 9, making for quite the odd double feature. Meanwhile, the fifth and final season of superb comedy Search Party arrives on Jan. 7.
January 2022 is light as far as original movies go.
- 1/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
When Brian O’Shea founded the worldwide film sales and finance company The Exchange in 2011, streaming was still in its infancy, release windows were numerous and robust and DVD pre-sales could still provide a big chunk of a movie’s budget. In the ensuing decade, the landscape has undergone a rapid series of dramatic shifts, but the L.A.-based company has survived and prospered, acquiring, financing and selling more than 200 films, with budgets ranging from $5 million to $90 million, including Universal’s “2 Guns,” starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg; Sundance Award-winners “The Spectacular Now” and “Obvious Child,” and doc “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street.”
“We’ve had success in keeping all options open and maintaining relationships and building new relationships along the way,” says Nat McCormick, exec VP of worldwide distribution for The Exchange. “Always having our ear to the ground, we know how to best navigate things,...
“We’ve had success in keeping all options open and maintaining relationships and building new relationships along the way,” says Nat McCormick, exec VP of worldwide distribution for The Exchange. “Always having our ear to the ground, we know how to best navigate things,...
- 10/28/2021
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
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