One of Universal’s tentpole Summer 2025 releases is “Jurassic World: Rebirth”, which opens nationwide on Wednesday July 2nd. Ever since Steven Spielberg directed the original, visually groundbreaking “Jurassic Park” in 1993 (which was re-released in IMAX 3D in 2013, which is how I saw it for the first time), the studio can’t get enough of […]
Gerard Butler is doing something pretty unique: reprising the role of an animated character he voiced… in live-action form. He will once again play Hiccup’s father Stoick in the new live-action version of the iconic DreamWorks animated movie “How to Train Your Dragon”. This is one of Universal’s tentpole releases for the summer, opening on […]
1996’s action adaptation of the TV series “Mission: Impossible” was the highest grossing film of that year for Paramount, with $181 million at the domestic box office. It was the studio’s second biggest release of the 1996-1999 period, only behind “Titanic”. Sequel “Mission: Impossible II” was the Paramount winner for the year 2000, with an […]
“A Minecraft Movie” is the first gigantic release of 2025, with well over $300 million and counting at the domestic box office. “Captain America: Brave New World” got to $200M, but half of that was in its initial Thursday through Monday Presidents’ Day weekend stretch. They’re the only two films to earn at least $100M […]
Michael B. Jordan is a SAG Awards winner as part of the ensemble of Marvel blockbuster “Black Panther”. His performance also earned him a Critics Choice Best Supporting Actor nomination. A few years earlier, Jordan was up for the Lead Actor Independent Spirit Award for his breakthrough work in “Fruitvale Station”. His director on both […]
He’s a Tony and five time Emmy winner, as well as an Academy Award nominee (for playing Ike Turner, Sr. in “What’s Love Got to Do With It”). Much of the time, whenever Laurence Fishburne appears in a movie, he elevates the material and the experience. This April Fishburne lends his talents to two major […]
Gal Gadot’s first major film role was as Gisele in 2009’s “Fast & Furious” revival that served as the starting point for one of Universal’s most successful contemporary franchises. She returned for a few more installments, including a cameo in 2023’s “Fast X”. She was also in 2010 action romantic comedies “Date Night” and “Knight […]
It’s been one of the most unpredictable awards seasons of the past 15 years. So, who’s going to take home Oscars this Sunday night, during the live televised ceremony hosted by Conan O’Brien? Here are my official predictions: Best Picture — “Anora” Best Director — Sean Baker, “Anora” Best Actor — Timothee Chalamet, “A Complete […]
On March 14th (originally Feb. 28), Ketchup Entertainment will release “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” in theaters nationwide. The Warner Bros. Animation feature debuted at the Annecy International Film Festival last June to rave reviews. I screened it in October and spoke with director Peter Browngardt about the zany Daffy […]
“Captain America: Brave New World” was supposed to be released in theaters last May. The Hollywood strikes delayed the Marvel Cinematic Universe action film, starring Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford, to this Valentine’s Day, February 14th. (Unfortunately, McDonald’s couldn’t change the production timeline on its tie-in toys, which were still in Happy Meals in May. […]