Hey, what’s the highest-grossing movie of the year? What’s the highest-grossing animated movie of all time? The answers are the same, and it’s Ne Zha 2, the Chinese smash which has earned $2.2B worldwide, surpassing Inside Out 2‘s $1.7B, and Lilo & Stitch‘s $975M for the year. And now it’s coming to the United States courtesy of A24 next month.
Ne Zha 2 will hit theaters in the US, Canada, and New Zealand on August 22nd in IMAX, 3D, and other premium formats.
Of course, this will be an English-dubbed version of Ne Zha 2, and THR confirms that Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh is the first person added to the voice cast. This reunites Yeoh with A24, the studio behind her Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Directed by Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 is based on the titular Chinese mythological hero, a demigod with immense powers who fights against his destiny to destroy the world.
Jiaozi also directed 2019’s Ne Zha which earned $742M globally.
SYNOPSIS: After the catastrophe, although the souls of Nezha and Aobing were saved, their bodies would soon be shattered. Taiyi Zhenren planned to use the seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies.
Yeoh expressed her excitement in a statement…
“I’m honored to be part of Ne Zha 2, a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be. Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”
Shawn Levy has obviously hit the big time with Deadpool & Wolverine, Stranger Things, Free Guy, and the Star Wars movie he has coming up. But he’s been making hit movies for a long time. Remember his Cheaper by the Dozen? The Pink Panther? Just Married? All him, too. But it was Night at the Museum that showed he could be a major franchise filmmaker. He directed all three live-action movies and produced the 2022 animated sequel, and now Levy is back and leading a new reboot.
Deadline reports Levy will produce a Night at the Museum reboot, or a “reimagining” of the historical fantasy comedies. Hired to write the screenplay is Tripper Clancy, known for Stuber, Die Hart, and I Am Not Okay with This.
Ben Stiller starred in the first three Night at the Museum movies beginning in 2006, playing a night security guard at the American Museum of Natural History who discovers that the exhibits come to life in the evening after everyone has left. The first movie was followed in 2009 by Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, and 2014’s Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. Levy directed the live-action movies while Matt Danner directed the animated Kahmunrah Rises Again, a Disney+ exclusive.
This new movie will feature all new characters in a fresh story, so it’s unlikely that Stiller (or other franchise favorites such as Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, or Rami Malek) will return.
Up up and away! This episode of Cinema Royale to the ultimate boyscout, the hero of heroes, the Last Son of Krypton, Superman! I’m joined by Chris Bumbray of Joblo.com to talk about (free of major spoilers) the most anticipated movie of the summer! Has James Gunn knocked it out of the park with Superman? Or will this go the way of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, and pretty much everything after Richard Donner’s classic?
We talk about the politics of Gunn’s Superman, why Mister Terrific and Guy Gardner are so awesome, and whether Krypto is man’s best friend or should be put in a shelter. Of course, we also discuss David Corenswet’s performance, his chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor compared to other portrayals of the infamous bald villain.
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Originally titled Spider & Jesse, the opioid drama What We Hide boasts an impressive cast of established young stars. McKenna Grace, known for her roles in I, Tonya and the recent Ghostbusters movies, stars alongside Tony nominee Jesse Williams and Where the Crawdads Sing actress Jojo Regina in the film about two sisters who hide the body of their dead mother to avoid being separated.
The film is directed and written by Dan Kay, from a story developed with Julia Keller.
Also in the cast are Forrest Goodluck, Malia Baker, Fernanda Andrade, and Stranger Things‘ Dacre Montgomery.
SYNOPSIS: After their mother’s fatal overdose, sisters Spider (Mckenna Grace) & Jessie (Jojo Regina) hide her body to avoid being separated by the strained foster care system. But with the local sheriff (Jesse Williams) asking questions and their mom’s drug dealer (Dacre Montgomery) lurking, their future becomes uncertain. How far will they go to keep their secret?
Gravitas Ventures will release What We Hide into select theaters on August 8th, followed by digital on August 29th.
Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke) and SpongeBob SquarePants (Tom Kenny) in The Spongebob Movie: Search For Squarepants from Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon.
You might be asking yourself why Paramount and Nickelodeon keep putting out SpongeBob SquarePants movies after all of this time? Well, that’s easy. The three feature films have combined for $470M globally, with the series continuing to be very popular into its sixteenth season after launching in 1999. A new trailer has been released for the fourth film, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, which hits theaters this Christmas.
While most of the voice cast remains loyal to the long-running show, Mark Hamill takes over as the voice of the Flying Dutchman, one of SpongeBob’s regular foes. Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence voice their regular characters, while new additions George Lopez, Ice Spice, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola and Regina Hall are likely taking on new characters.
SYNOPSIS: SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can’t miss cinematic event ever…The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman – a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate – on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.
The film is directed by Derek Drymon (Hotel Transylvania: Transformania) from a script by Pam Brady (Smurfs) and Matt Lieberman (Free Guy).
Superman is the most recognizable superhero in the world, and for good reason. He’s been around almost as long as there have been comic books. He’s also one of the toughest to modernize and to keep, well, “cool”, because his values, the goodness and heroism that he represents, don’t change even as the rest of the world does. While I was a bigger fan of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel than most, I think it’s fair to say there hasn’t been a truly great Superman movie since Richard Donner’s 1978 classic. DC Studios co-chief James Gunn has given himself quite a challenge launching the DCEU with Superman, featuring an unproven actor, David Corenswet, in the suit and cape. But if anyone could be trusted to do it with heart, humor, and exciting superheroic action it’s Gunn, who delivers the promising start that we all had hoped for.
This is the most fun Superman has been in ages, and that’s no slight on Snyder’s vision, but dark and gloomy isn’t what people were looking for, nor was it right for the character. Gunn brings that same dynamic, kinetic, quirky spirit and eclectic needle drops that made us fall in love with his Guardians of the Galaxy. And while there’s a lot of nostalgia there’s also something a bit edgy about this movie, in that it doesn’t follow the typical structure of a superhero movie. There’s no origin story. We’ve all seen it, we all know it. In fact, the story starts with Superman already an established hero, and one who has just lost a crucial battle against a metahuman pissed off that his homeland was prevented from waging war against a weaker neighbor.
If that sounds a bit like Russia invading Ukraine, well, Gunn has openly said that his Superman is a “political” movie. There are lots of little nods to our world right now, including a Trumpian dictator making a grab for power, vast xenophobia regarding Superman’s status as an alien/immigrant to our planet, and social media toxicity driving the 24hr news cycle. This stuff will likely be very polarizing depending on where you are politically, but personally, I like a filmmaker who has a perspective and isn’t afraid to share it.
Gunn’s Superman is absolutely jam-packed with, well, everything he could throw at it. In some ways it’s a jumbled mess, but it’s never boring and there’s always something huge going on. The story finds Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) using his brains and his money to foment hatred towards Superman, forcing people to question whether he is truly here to protect humanity or to destroy. Hoult’s version of Luthor is the nastiest we’ve ever seen on film, with shades of both Trump and Elon Musk in his petty jealousies, ruthlessness, and willingness to corrupt the truth to sort his own ends. He employs entire legions of armored soldiers, one metahuman equal to Superman in power, and the nanite-fueled Engineer ( María Gabriela de Faría). There’s also a giant monster smashing through Metropolis like Godzilla, a separate pocket universe used as a prison for all of Luthor’s enemies, and did I mention the Justice Gang?
A lot of time is spent introducing the Justice Gang, although that’s not their actual name, it’s just the one the always-arrogant Guy Gardner, played perfectly (with bowl haircut!!) by Nathan Fillion, prefers. We also see Edi Gathegi who steals the show as Mister Terrific, using his T-Spheres with acrobatic ease and his brains to combat Luthor. Isabela Merced doesn’t get to do much but scream and smash things as Hawkgirl, but you get the feeling there’s a lot more for her in the future. We also see a surprisingly sympathetic turn by Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, who is forced to use his element-shifting ability against Superman. This is just a small taste of what the movie is loaded up with, including Frank Grillo who returns as Rick Flag Sr. in a role that is destined to be much bigger. Loads of cameos from Gunn favorites only add to this movie’s ability to keep you on your toes.
Gunn skillfully finds time for everyone to get their moment, which is no small feat. That Corenswet, arguably the least recognizable actor in the entire movie, never feels slighted is a credit to him. His version of Superman is different than Henry Cavill, Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, and even Tom Welling. They all were great at displaying Superman’s humanity, courage, and even physical power, but Corenswet brings a fresh-faced quality and a bit more humor than the rest. He’s quick to drop a quip, to express frustration, and to fall in love. He even loves his Pa and Ma Kent (played by John Carroll Lynch and Neva Howell), and there’s a really beautiful sequence when he returns home to Kansas and reconnects with his roots.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan, doesn’t get nearly enough time. I like that they are already an item when we meet them, albeit keeping it secret from everyone else. It’s also interesting to see how Lois, far more worldly than Clark ironically, doesn’t share his hopefulness and that causes disagreements. She sees him as naive, and questions his actions constantly. I’m not sure Brosnahan and Corenswet share much romantic chemistry, but the Lois/Clark exchanges, especially over journalistic integrity, are terrific.
There’s one character that I’ve mostly left out and he’s going to be the breakout star of Superman. That, of course, is Krypto. Yes, the super-dog is in the movie and he’s in it A LOT. Sometimes it feels like we’re watching a Krypto movie. The super-canine is everywhere and crucial to the plot, and he’s not exactly “Kryptonian’s Best Friend”, either. This pup needs obedience lessons ASAP, but Krypto is also a blast to have around which is why the screening I attended had audiences howling and wanting a dog of their own.
My gut tells me that James Gunn’s Superman is going to be very divisive, but I also hope that people give it a chance. Gunn is telling a big story, but there is an even bigger beating heart underneath that red and blue costume. It’s not just CG spectacle, although there’s plenty of that, too, with Gunn making sure that this looks like a comic book come to life. Is Superman perfect? No, but I believe Gunn has given this iconic comic book hero his best shot to connect with a new, wider audience than he has in far too long.
Elliot (Karl Glusman) was working another ritzy event at his catering gig when he saw her. The sexy woman carrying herself with elegance and class – oozing that boss lady energy. Before he knew it they were staring at each other and Sophie (Alicia Silverstone) took charge in Pretty Thing. After that wild first night Elliot couldn’t wait to see her again. He didn’t expect that to be in Paris though.
Sophie is introducing Elliot to a world he never imagined. European cities, fancy restaurants, swanky hotels, top shelf everything. Most importantly her. She is like no one Elliot has met before. Elliot doesn’t understand what a woman like Sophie would want with a guy like him. College dropout, no real hobbies, living with mom, and living paycheck to paycheck. What he does know is that he has hit the jackpot, and he’ll make sure he never lets it slip through his fingers…no matter the cost.
Justin Kelly directed the film while Jack Donnelly wrote the script. Kelly has several films under his belt however Pretty Thing is Donnelly’s feature length debut. Pretty Thing is relatively compact and it’s runtime goes by without any lulls. The script doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it need to. Donnelly delivers a pretty straightforward product that gives Silverstone and especially Glusman the chance to show their range.
Glusman and Silverstone have an aura that is present from almost the jump, both together and apart. Silverstone with a mysterious and seductive strength and Glusman seemingly a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Kelly & co provide a fantastic score to accompany the onscreen intensity. Pretty Thing has a few shots that stand out and will be hard to forget. It’s important to note that when they say erotic thriller, they mean it. Pretty Thing doesn’t necessarily have any nudity, but it is definitely a sexually charged movie. Certain aspects hold the film back – most notably a disappointing finale – however the film is worth a watch.
Pretty Thing is open in select theaters and digital now from Shout! Studios.
Today has seen the pieces falling into place for Michael B. Jordan’s remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, a film he’ll star in and direct. With Taylor Russell already aboard, Deadline reports Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone and Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh have joined the art heist thriller. *UPDATE* THR adds that Jordan will reunite with Black Panther co-star Danai Gurira, who is the latest to join the cast.
Jordan will direct and star as Thomas Crown, an iconic role previously played by the late Steve McQueen in the 1968 movie, and by Pierce Brosnan in the 1999 film directed by action filmmaker John McTiernan. So Jordan has pretty big shoes to fill. Gurira is expected to play Crown’s confidante, with the action moving to Europe.
The Thomas Crown Affair centers on a wealthy playboy and part-time art thief who enters a tangled, passionate game of cat-and-mouse with an insurance investigator.
Drew Pearce wrote the latest screenplay.
Gladstone joining the cast is big, as she’s been keeping a low profile since Killers of the Flower Moon brought her into the spotlight. She’s recently starred in Fancy Dance, The Wedding Banquet, and the Hulu series Under the Bridge.
Branagh has been incredibly busy since he directed Belfast to seven Oscar nominations in 2021. He has continued to star in and direct Hercule Poirot films, including Death on the Nile and A Haunting in Venice. He will next direct the psychological thriller The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde.
Mexican filmmaker Michel Franco has always made quiet, contemplative films to tremendous acclaim, such as his 2012 breakout drama After Lucia which won the Un Certain Regard at Cannes. But his last two movies, Sundown (reviewed here) and Memory (reviewed here) have attracted the most attention of his career, and that has cranked up the excitement for his latest, Dreams, starring Jessica Chastain. Too bad it’s still without a release date.
A new international trailer offers our best look at Dreams, which stars Chastain, Isaac Hernández, Rupert Friend, and Marsha Bell. Franco directs and writes the screenplay.
SYNOPSIS: Fernando (Isaac Hernández), a young ballet dancer from Mexico, dreams of international recognition and a life in the US. Believing his lover, Jennifer (Jessica Chastain), a socialite and philanthropist, will support him, he leaves everything behind— narrowly escaping death in the process. However, his arrival disrupts Jennifer’s carefully curated world. She will do anything to protect both their futures— and the life she has built.
The film premiered at Berlin earlier this year, where it received strong early reviews. Greenwich Entertainment has the distribution right, so hopefully we’ll hear more about a release date soon.
Earlier this year at Sundance, I had one of the most enjoyable moviegoing experiences of my life watching Together with a packed crowd for its world premiere screening. NEON quickly scooped up the entertaining body horror led by Dave Franco and Alison Brie, and it’s been a long wait for the film to finally arrive in theaters. But that wait ends this month, and ahead of it here’s one more trailer for the film that I believe will be the sleeper hit of the summer.
Written and directed by Michael Shanks, Together centers on Tim and Millie, who are at a crossroads after many years together. Uprooting their big city life for the countryside, they really only have one another to rely on, and that level of codependency can cause problems. Things get worse when they encounter a supernatural force that drives them even closer together.
Similar to previous trailers, I still feel that too much is being revealed, but it shouldn’t take much away from the film which has plenty of surprises up its sleeve. Suffice it to say, Franco and Brie’s incredible comedic and romantic chemistry is absolutely essential to Together‘s success. It was among my favorite films at Sundance, and if you can check out my review here if you don’t mind some spoilers.
SYNOPSIS: Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie (Franco and Brie) find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country. Abandoning, all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.
Also starring Damon Herriman, Together opens in theaters on July 30th.
