NEW MOVIES: July 31 – Aug 6, 2025, “The Bad Guys 2,” “Architecton,” “Naked Gun,” “Together”

THE BAD GUYS 2

The Bad Guys 2 is a 2025 American animated heist comedy film loosely based on the children’s book series The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The sequel to The Bad Guys (2022), it was directed by Pierre Perifel, co-directed by JP Sans, and written by Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen. The film stars Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, and Alex Borstein, reprising their roles from the first film, alongside Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova, and Natasha Lyonne, who join the cast. The film sees the Bad Guys come out of retirement and join forces with an all-female criminal squad to perform one last heist.

Perifel stated that he would love to do a sequel to The Bad Guys in March 2022, before the release of the first film. Two years later, DreamWorks Animation announced a sequel, with Perifel and the voice cast returning, while Sans served as co-director. Lyonne joined the cast in July 2024, with the involvement of Brooks and Bakalova being announced in November. Daniel Pemberton composed the score, returning from the previous film.

The Bad Guys 2 was released in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2025, and is scheduled for release in the United States on August 1.

Premise

The Bad Guys 2 follows the crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws who are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys. However, they’re pulled out of retirement and forced to do “one last job” by an all-female squad of criminals.

— Deadline[4][5]

Voice cast

In addition, Jorge R. Gutierrez was cast in an undisclosed voice cameo role. [‡ 2]

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ARCHITECTON

Architecton is a 2024 documentary film written and directed by Viktor Kossakovsky, exploring how stone and concrete architecture reflect the values of various societies.[3]

The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on 19 February 2024,[4] where it was nominated for the Golden Bear and the Berlinale Documentary Film Award.[5] It was released on 3 October 2024 in Germany by Neuer Visionen and is scheduled for release in the United States on August 1, 2025, by A24.

Content

Kossakovsky presents a poetic meditation on architecture and how the design and construction of buildings from the ancient past reveal our destruction—and offer hope for survival and a way forward. He reflects on the rise and fall of civilizations, focusing on a landscape project by the Italian architect Michele De Lucchi. The project utilizes imagery from the temple ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon, dating back to the 1st century AD. It contrasts with the recent destruction of cities in Turkey following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in early 2023.

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NAKED GUN

The Naked Gun is an upcoming American action comedy film directed by Akiva Schaffer, who co-wrote the script with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. It serves as a legacy sequel to Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994) and is the fourth film in The Naked Gun franchise. The film stars Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., alongside Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, and Danny Huston.

Neeson plays ‘Frank Drebin Jr.,’ the son of Leslie Nielsen’s character, and is joined by Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser in the new comedy. Doug Hyde contributed to this story by David Daniel. Only one man has the particular set of skills to lead the Police Squad and save the world.

The Naked Gun is scheduled for release in the United States by Paramount Pictures on August 1, 2025.

Cast

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TOGETHER

Together is a 2025 supernatural body horror film written and directed by Michael Shanks in his directorial debut.[2] The film stars real-life married actors Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple who move to the countryside but find themselves encountering a mysterious force that horrifically causes changes in their bodies.[3]

Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie 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.

Together premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025, and is scheduled for release in the United States by Neon on July 30, 2025, and in Australia by Kismet Movies on July 31.

Plot

Millie Wilson gets a job teaching elementary school English and moves to the countryside with her longtime boyfriend, aspiring musician Tim. Shortly before the move, Millie proposes to Tim at a going-away party held by their friends, but he hesitates to respond, embarrassing her.

One day, while hiking, they fall into a cave during a rainstorm and resolve to spend the night there. Tim drinks from a pool in the cave, then recounts a traumatic incident from his childhood in which he found his mother in bed with his father’s rotting corpse. Upon waking up the next morning, Tim and Millie find their legs stuck together with a glue-like substance, but dismiss the incident after separating.

Tim begins to experience episodes where he becomes inexplicably physically drawn to Millie, despite the couple previously experiencing a lack of sexual intimacy, but pulls back after regaining consciousness, much to Millie’s frustration and bewilderment. Millie’s coworker Jamie shows up at their home to welcome them to the neighborhood, and she invites him in for dinner. The couple recounts their experience at the cave; Jamie explains that the cave is the site of an abandoned church.

Millie drops Tim off at the train station so he can travel to town for a musical gig, but Tim experiences another episode and drags himself back to Millie’s workplace. An outraged Millie confronts him in a bathroom stall, whereupon they have sex, after which their genitals become stuck together. As they painfully force themselves to separate, Jamie spots them. Millie later visits Jamie’s house to apologize. In the ensuing conversation, she begins to open up about some of the problems she and Tim have been facing in their relationship. Jamie encourages her not to let go of her “other half,” then begins to reminisce on his relationship with his seemingly deceased husband. Still, Millie abruptly leaves after spotting a disoriented Tim outside.

Tim visits a doctor, who dismisses his symptoms as panic attacks and prescribes him muscle relaxant pills before mentioning that a local couple, Simon and Keri, recently went missing. Using EXIF data from their social media photos, Tim discovers that they visited the same cave he and Millie fell into and unsuccessfully tries to convince Millie that the two of them may suffer the same fate as Simon and Keri. That night, both Tim and Millie lose control of their bodies, crawling toward each other and contorting into impossible shapes until their arms become partially fused. Tim manages to prevent any further fusion after consuming his pills in a panic, subsequently passing out and awakening tied to a chair, where Millie saws through their fused limb. As Millie is about to drive them to the hospital, she realizes she has left her keys at Jamie’s house and orders Tim to wait for her while she retrieves them. He secretly returns to the cave and finds Simon and Keri, now completely fused as a grotesque humanoid.

Cast

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7/28/2025 #TheBadGuys2 #Architecton #NakedGun #Together

 

NEW MOVIES: July 24-30, 2025, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Oh, Hi!” “Four Letters of Love,” “Shoshana”

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a 2025 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Fantastic Four. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the second reboot of the Fantastic Four film series. The film is directed by Matt Shakman from a screenplay by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer. It features an ensemble cast including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the titular team, alongside Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson. In the film, the Fantastic Four must protect their 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world from the planet-devouring cosmic being Galactus (Ineson).

20th Century Fox began work on a new Fantastic Four film following the failure of Fantastic Four (2015). After the studio was acquired by Disney in March 2019, control of the franchise was transferred to Marvel Studios, and a new film was announced that July. Jon Watts was set as director in December 2020 but stepped down in April 2022. Shakman replaced him that September when Kaplan and Springer were working on the script. Casting was underway by early 2023, and Friedman joined to rewrite the script in March. The film is differentiated from previous Fantastic Four films by avoiding the team’s origin story. Pearson joined to polish the script by mid-February 2024, when the main cast was announced. Filming occurred from July to November 2024 at Pinewood Studios in England, and on location in England and Spain.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps had its world premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on July 21, 2025, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 25 as the first film in Phase Six of the MCU. A sequel is in development.

Premise

On the 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic parallel Earth-828,[3][4][5] the Fantastic Four must protect their world from the planet-devouring cosmic being Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer.[3]

Cast

  • Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic:
    A highly intelligent scientist and the leader of the Fantastic Four who can stretch any part of his body to great lengths.[6][4] Director Matt Shakman described Reed as “the most scientifically intelligent person” on the planet and a combination of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Robert Moses.[4] Pascal said it was Reed’s mind that was most important to him, rather than the character’s physicality, and he considered “the brilliance of an octopus” when approaching the character.[7]
  • Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman:
    Reed’s pregnant wife, Johnny’s sister, and a member of the Fantastic Four who can generate force fields and turn invisible.[6][8] She is the head of the Future Foundation, which has achieved global demilitarization and peace. Shakman described Sue as “the most emotionally intelligent person” on the planet. Kirby enjoyed synthesizing the various comic portrayals of Sue into her version of the character, focusing on motherhood as the through-line. The actress said she was obsessed with the comics run where Sue takes on the negative persona “Malice“, and she included elements of that version in her portrayal so Sue would not be “the stereotype of a goody, sweet mother”.[4]
  • Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing:
    Reed’s best friend, a former astronaut, and a member of the Fantastic Four whose skin has been transformed into a layer of orange rock, granting him superhuman strength and durability.[6][4] Moss-Bachrach found comparisons between Grimm and his character Richie Jerimovich in the series The Bear (2022–present), noting both were “deeply loyal people” and “fighters with a fierce sense of code, morality, and family.”[9] Moss-Bachrach portrays the Thing through motion capture and computer-generated imagery (CGI) rather than prosthetic makeup,[10] and discussed that process with Mark Ruffalo, who portrays the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) using the same technology.[11] In addition to Moss-Bachrach performing his scenes in a motion-capture suit, some takes were re-filmed with the actor using different body extensions or a stand-in wearing a life-sized Thing costume to help the other actors reference the space that the character takes up.[4] Shakman consulted scientists and studied desert rocks to find the best reference for the Thing’s appearance;[12] a specific desert rock that matched his desired look for the Thing, referred to as “Jennifer,” was also filmed on set as a lighting reference for the visual effects team.[13]
  • Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch:
    Sue’s brother and a member of the Fantastic Four who can control fire and fly.[6][14] While Quinn was a fan of Chris Evans‘s portrayal of the character in the 20th Century Fox films Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), he did not base his portrayal on Evans’s.[15] Quinn and producer Kevin Feige discussed Johnny’s womanizing in previous portrayals and concluded that this would not be considered “sexy” by modern audiences. Quinn wanted his version to be “less callous with other people’s feelings” and more self-aware of his attention-seeking behavior, while still having a lot of bravado and humor. Shakman noted that Johnny is also smart and heroic, despite undercutting that with jokes.[4]
  • Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer:
    Galactus’s metallic-skinned herald who travels through space on a surfboard-like craft.[16][17] Garner said there was a “mysterious energy” to the character and her relationship with Galactus.[17] She portrayed the Silver Surfer through motion capture,[18] combining research on surfing poses with statuesque non-surf poses from the comic books. Garner wanted the character to “[move] elegantly, like a dance.”[17]
  • Natasha Lyonne[19]
  • Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man:
    The ruler of Subterranea, an underground society whose inhabitants refer to themselves as Moloids.[20][21] Shakman compared Elder to a leader of a labor union with humanity and a focus on community and taking care of his people.[20]
  • Ralph Ineson as Galactus:
    A gigantic cosmic being who consumes the life force of planets.[22][4] Shakman called him a “humongous, 14-billion-year-old, planet-devouring cosmic vampire.” Ineson did not think Galactus was evil, calling him a “god of sorts” and a “big, planet-eating guy, simply doing what a big, planet-eating guy does.” The actor spent time “ruminating” at the top of tall buildings to prepare for the role. Feige loved the introduction of Galactus in the comics and had long wanted to use him.[23] Ineson stated that Galactus does not care about a planet’s life since “it’s his food”, only sparing them if there is something that “interests” him there.[20] Feige shared a clip of the character from the video game Fortnite Battle Royale (2017) as a reference for how he should be portrayed.[24] The film uses a comic book-accurate design, in contrast with the cloud-like design in Rise of the Silver Surfer.[23] Galactus’s purple and blue armor was built for Ineson to wear, as it was important to Shakman that someone was “embodying the part”.[4] Ineson had a support crew to keep him cool between takes because of the armor.[20]

Additionally, Matthew Wood voices the Fantastic Four’s robot companion H.E.R.B.I.E. (Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics), who generally serves as Reed’s assistant.[4][25] Shakman said H.E.R.B.I.E. is “slightly put-upon” yet “charming and adorable” and invaluable to the team.[25] Also appearing are Ada Scott as Franklin Richards, the newborn son of Reed and Sue;[26] Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert, the talk show host of The Ted Gilbert Show;[27] and Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols, the Future Foundation’s chief of staff [better source needed] [28][29][independent source needed] Shakman’s daughter Maisie appears as a child saved by the Human Torch from falling debris.[2] Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith, who portrayed the team in the unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four film, have been cast in undisclosed roles.[30] Robert Downey Jr. is also expected to appear as Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom in a post-credits scene [better[31] source needed] though Shakman has said Doctor Doom is “not a part of [his] film.”[32]

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OH, HI!

Oh, Hi! is a 2025 American romantic comedy film directed by Sophie Brooks and co-written with Molly Gordon. Starring Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, and John Reynolds, the film centers on a new couple (Gordon and Lerman) who go on a weekend road trip that takes an unexpected turn.

The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025 and is scheduled to be given a limited theatrical release in the United States on July 25, 2025, by Sony Pictures Classics.

Plot

Iris and Isaac go on a romantic weekend road trip.[2][3] Their first night at the rental house, they engage in some sexual bondage play. In the afterglow and while he is chained to the bed, Isaac mentions that he is not looking for a relationship at this point, which is quite different from where Iris felt they stood. She refuses to unlock him. The next day, she spends twelve hours trying to win him over while he still remains in chains. When this fails, she calls in the help of her friend Max, who arrives with her boyfriend Kenny. When it is realized that they are actually all committing criminal kidnapping, various options are considered. Iris and Max try brewing a witch’s memory erasure formula (which Isaac drinks), followed by a naked ritual which should complete the effect. When Isaac awakens in the morning, he appears to have forgotten everything after the sexual encounter, and cheerfully heads down to the kitchen with Iris, Max, and Kenny to make some breakfast. He excuses himself to go get an ingredient that he had left in the car, but then hops in the car and drives away, as it is revealed that he had overheard the magic plan and was just faking in order to get a chance to escape. Fleeing on rain-soaked roads, Isaac gets in an accident. Police find the wrecked car but not the driver. Iris goes looking for him, finding him in a valley, too injured to walk. They reach an understanding of each other’s positions and their own blame, and he gets taken away in an ambulance.

Cast

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FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE

Four Letters of Love is a 2025 film adaptation of his book of the same name by Niall Williams and directed by Polly Steele. It is starring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham-Carter and Gabriel Byrne.

Synopsis

Nicholas and Isabel were made for each other, but how will they ever know it? As ghosts, fate, and the sheer power of true love pull them together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.

Cast

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SHOSHANA

Shoshana is a 2023 British biographical thriller film directed by Michael Winterbottom.

The film is set in 1930s/1940s British Mandatory Palestine. It follows the tragic love story of Shoshana Borochov (Irina Starshenbaum), daughter of one of the founders of socialist Zionism, and British police officer Tom Wilkin (Douglas Booth),[1] while Wilkin and fellow police officer Geoffrey J. Morton (Harry Melling)[2] hunt for Zionist militant Avraham Stern (Aury Alby).[3]

Plot

Set in 1938, the film takes place in Tel Aviv, where tensions are high as the British, under their League of Nations mandate, attempt to maintain order in a city with a mixed Arabian and Jewish population. Thomas Wilkin, a British deputy superintendent of the Palestinian police, becomes romantically involved with Shoshana, the daughter of Ber Borochov, a co-founder of the Zionist labor movement.

Cast

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7/21/2025 #TheFantasticFour:FirstSteps #Oh,Hi! #FourLettersofLove #Shoshana

NEW MOVIES: July 17-23, 2025, “Eddington,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Smurfs,” “Year of the Fox”

EDDINGTON

In May 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg in Eddington, New Mexico, pitting neighbor against neighbor.

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I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER

I Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1997 American slasher film directed by Jim Gillespie and written by Kevin Williamson. It stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr., with supporting roles played by Johnny Galecki, Bridgette Wilson, Anne Heche, and Muse Watson. The first installment in the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise, it is loosely based on the 1973 novel by Lois Duncan.[6] The film centers on four teenage friends who are stalked by a hook-wielding killer one year after covering up a car accident in which they supposedly killed a man. It also draws inspiration from the urban legend known as “the Hook“, as well as the slasher films Prom Night (1980) and The House on Sorority Row (1982).

Williamson was approached to adapt Duncan’s source novel by producer Erik Feig. Where Scream, released the previous year, contained prominent elements of satire and self-referentiality, Williamson’s script for I Know What You Did Last Summer reworked the novel’s central plot to resemble a straightforward 1980s-era slasher film.[7]

I Know What You Did Last Summer was released theatrically in the United States on October 17, 1997. It received a mixed reception from critics and was a sizeable commercial hit, grossing $125.3 million worldwide on a budget of $17 million, staying in first place at the U.S. box office for three consecutive weeks. The film was parodied in Scary Movie (2000) and is frequently referenced in popular culture, as well as being credited alongside Scream with revitalizing the slasher genre in the 1990s.[8]

A sequel followed the film, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), in which Hewitt, Prinze Jr., and Watson reprised their roles. A straight-to-video standalone sequel, I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006), featured an entirely new cast. Following a television series adaptation released by Amazon Prime Video in 2021, a legacy sequel to the first two films is scheduled to be released by Sony Pictures on July 18, 2025.

Plot

On July 4, 1996, in Southport, North Carolina, Julie James and her friends Ray Bronson, Helen Shivers, and Barry Cox drive to the beach. On the way back, they accidentally hit a pedestrian. Julie’s friend Max passes by them on the road, and they hide their crime from him to buy themselves more time to decide what to do. Barry and Helen try to dump the body in the water, but the pedestrian wakes up and grabs Helen. Barry pushes him into the water, and the group swears never to discuss what happened.

One year later, Julie returns home from college for the summer. The friends have gone their separate ways, with none of them pursuing their dreams due to struggling with the incident. Julie receives a letter stating, “I know what you did last summer!” She and Helen take the note to Barry, who suspects Max. Julie meets Ray, who now works as a fisherman. Max is killed by a figure in a raincoat wielding a hook. That night, Barry is ambushed by the assailant stealing and driving his car.

Julie researches newspaper articles, believing that the man they ran over was a local named David Egan. Helen and Julie meet David’s sister, Missy, at her home. Missy explains that a friend of David’s named Billy Blue visited her to pay his respects. That night, the killer sneaks into Helen’s house and cuts off her hair while she sleeps.

The following morning, Julie finds Max’s corpse wearing Barry’s stolen jacket and covered in crabs in the trunk of her car. When she brings the others to see it, the body has been removed. Julie, Helen, and Barry confront Ray, who claims to have also received a letter. Julie goes back to visit Missy, while Barry and Helen participate in the 4th of July parade. Missy reveals that David allegedly committed suicide out of guilt for the death of his girlfriend, Susie Willis, in a car accident, and shows David’s suicide note. As the writing matches that of the note she received, Julie realizes it was not a suicide note but a death threat.

At the Croaker Beauty Pageant, Helen witnesses Barry being murdered on the balcony but finds no sign of the killer or Barry. The killer murders the police officer escorting her home. Helen runs to her family’s store, where the killer murders her sister Elsa. She escapes and runs toward the street, but the killer slashes her to death.

Julie finds an article mentioning Susie’s father, Ben Willis, and realizes Ben was the man they had run over a year earlier, moments after he killed David to avenge his daughter. She goes to tell Ray, but notices Ray’s boat is called Billy Blue. A fisherman knocks Ray unconscious, inviting Julie to hide on his ship. On the boat, she finds photos and articles about her and her friends, as well as pictures of Susie. The boat leaves the docks, and the fisherman is revealed to be Ben Willis, targeting them in revenge for leaving him for dead.

Ben chases Julie below deck, where she uncovers the bodies of Helen and Barry in the icebox. Ray awakens and goes to rescue Julie. He ultimately uses the rigging to sever Ben’s hand and send him overboard. He explains that he posed as David’s friend and visited Missy out of guilt. The couple reconciles, relieved not to have killed anyone after all.

One year later, Julie is in college in Boston. As she enters the shower, Julie notices the words “I still know” written in the steam on the shower door right before a dark figure crashes through it.

Cast

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SMURFS 2

The Smurfs (French: Les Schtroumpfs; Dutch: De Smurfen) is a Belgian comic franchise centered on a fictional colony of small, blue, humanoid creatures who live in mushroom-shaped houses in the forest. The Smurfs was created and introduced as a series of comic characters by the Belgian comics artist Peyo (the pen name of Pierre Culliford) in 1958, wherein they were known as Les Schtroumpfs.

There are more than 100 Smurf characters, and their names are based on adjectives that emphasize their characteristics, such as “Jokey Smurf”, who likes to play practical jokes on his fellow Smurfs. “Smurfette” was the first female Smurf to be introduced in the series. The Smurfs wear Phrygian caps, which came to represent freedom during the modern era.

The word “smurf” is the original Dutch translation of the French “schtroumpf”, which, according to Peyo, is a word he invented during a meal with fellow cartoonist André Franquin when he could not remember the word “salt.”[1][2][3]

The Smurfs franchise began as a comic and expanded into advertising, films, TV series, ice shows, video games, theme parks, and toys. By 2008, the franchise had generated $4 billion in revenue, making The Smurfs one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.[4]

Characters

Papa Smurf is the leader of the community. Other Smurfs are generally named after their primary personality trait, for example, Brainy, Greedy, Vanity, Lazy, Clumsy, Hefty, Jokey, Dreamy, and Grouchy, or their profession, for instance, Poet, Actor, Handy, Harmony, Farmer, Clockwork, Painter, Tailor, Miner, Architect, Reporter, Timber, Barber, and Doctor Smurf, much like Disney’s Seven Dwarfs. The first female Smurf, Smurfette, was created by Gargamel to lure the other Smurfs. Papa Smurf then changed her into what we see today. The non-Smurf characters who would appear later would include their enemies: the wizard Gargamel, his cat Azrael, an ugly witch Hogatha, and Gargamel’s godfather Balthazar; and their friends: the page Johan and his young friend Peewit, and the wizard Homnibus. There are more than 100 Smurfs.[17]

Sociological discussion

In 1998, writer Marc Schmidt wrote a parody article citing the Smurfs as an example of the impact of socialism in continental European culture.[65][66] In 2011, Schmidt’s essay was scrutinized in a response essay by Kate Krake, who examined the nature of cultural theory built on textual observation and warned against creating false allegories out of texts like The Smurfs.[67]

French sociologist Antoine Buéno described Smurf society in a 2011 book as a totalitarian and racist utopia with antisemitic tones.[68][69][70] Studio Peyo head Thierry Culliford, the son of Peyo, dismissed Buéno’s accusations as “grotesque and frivolous.”[71]

References

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YEAR OF THE FOX

YEAR OF THE FOX follows Ivy, a teenager navigating Aspen’s party scene amidst her adoptive parents’ bitter divorce. As she watches her community provide cover for predatory behavior, Ivy struggles to find her path without losing herself.

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7/14/2025 #Eddington #IKnowWhatYouDidLastSummer #Smurfs2 #YearoftheFox

NEW MOVIES: July 10-16, 2025, “Superman,” “Sovereign,” “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight,” “Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story”

SUPERMAN

Superman is a 2025 American superhero film based on the eponymous character from DC Comics. Written and directed by James Gunn, it is the first film in the DC Universe (DCU) produced by DC Studios and the second reboot of the Superman film series. David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent / Superman alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. The film follows Superman’s journey to reconcile his alien heritage with his adoptive human family.

Development on a sequel to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film Man of Steel (2013) began in October 2014, with Henry Cavill set to reprise his role as Superman. Plans changed after the troubled production of Justice League (2017), and the Man of Steel sequel was no longer moving forward by May 2020. Gunn began work on a new Superman film around August 2022. In October, he became co-CEO of DC Studios with producer Peter Safran, and they began work on a new DC Universe. Gunn was revealed to be writing the film in December. The title Superman: Legacy was announced the next month, Gunn was confirmed to be directing in March 2023, and Corenswet and Brosnahan were cast that June. The subtitle was dropped by the end of February 2024, when filming began in Svalbard, Norway. Production primarily took place at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional location filming conducted in Georgia and Ohio. Filming wrapped in July. The film takes inspiration from the comic book All-Star Superman (2005–2008) by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, among others.

Superman premiered at the TCL Chinese Theater on July 7, 2025, and is scheduled to be released by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States on July 11. It is the first film of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

Premise

The film follows Clark Kent / Superman‘s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his adoptive human family in Smallville, Kansas.[4]

Cast

Clark Kent actor David Corenswet during filming in 2024, wearing glasses and a suit while carrying a newspaper and a briefcase
Lois Lane actress Rachel Brosnahan during filming in 2024, holding an umbrella
Stars David Corenswet (left) and Rachel Brosnahan (right) filming Superman in June 2024
  • David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman:
    A survivor from the destroyed planet Krypton who lives on Earth as a superhero. He hides his identity at his day job, working as a journalist for the Daily Planet in Metropolis.[5][6] Director James Gunn stated that Corenswet’s Superman is approximately 25 years old, making him more established than Tom Welling’s version from the CW series Smallville (2001–2011), but younger than Henry Cavill‘s version in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).[7] Producer Peter Safran described the film’s take on the character for the DC Universe (DCU) as “the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way” and “kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned.”[8] Gunn said Clark is becoming successful as both a journalist and a superhero in the film, but new elements in his life leave him unbalanced. These include being “madly in love” with his colleague Lois Lane and making friends with other superheroes who think he is naive. The film illustrates how these elements influence Clark’s values and choices,[9] which are flawed and propel him on a personal journey. Corenswet differentiated the roles between Clark’s interactions with his parents, his job at the Daily Planet, and his role as Superman. He described Superman as a “public-facing character” who wants to present himself as calm yet authoritative. Corenswet drew inspiration for Clark from the comic book All-Star Superman (2005–2008) by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, as well as the posture of Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in the 1978–1987 Superman film series. He was also inspired by Clark’s voice and demeanor, as well as his brother-in-law, whom he described as the “quietest, most wonderful man,” despite his height of 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters) and his weight of 270 pounds. He described Clark as a “big presence” who is “desperately trying to be as small as possible and as quiet as possible.”[10] Gunn consulted DC Comics writer Tom King regarding the “suspension of disbelief” regarding other characters’ acceptance of Clark’s dual identity, which was attributed to the use of hypnotic glasses that subtly distorted his appearance. Gunn included this in the film, noting that it had “kind of been forgotten” from the comic book canon.[11]
  • Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane:
    A reporter for the Daily Planet who is a colleague of Clark [6][12] and “isn’t so sure about him” and needs to be convinced about being in a relationship with him.[9][10] Brosnahan described Lois as “fiercely intelligent” and feisty.[13] She consulted with several journalists to help her portray Lois as a modern reporter, contrasting with the character’s original comic appearances and previous screen portrayals.[14]
  • Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor:
    The CEO of LuthorCorp and the arch-nemesis of Superman,[12][15][16] hates Superman for having the power to do everything but not aligning with Luthor’s own beliefs.[17][18] Hoult described Luthor as obsessive, determined, and relentless and wanted the character to be perceived as a credible threat to Superman. He already has his end goal in sight and is motivated by a range of emotions, including a desire to be recognized for his scientific genius.[18] Hoult was inspired by Michael Rosenbaum‘s Lex Luthor in Smallville and by billionaire Steve Jobs for Luthor’s uniform, choosing to work out for the role based on the depiction of Luthor in All-Star Superman.[18][19] His son Joaquin shaved Hoult’s head in preparation for the role.[20] Gunn drew inspiration for the character from Brian Azzarello’s limited comic book series Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (2005), as well as Jerry Siegel’s portrayal of Luthor as a “reckless scientific genius” in comic books from the 1950s and 1960s.[21]
  • Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mister Terrific:
    A superhero and inventor who uses a variety of high-tech gadgets to fight crime,[12][22] and is a member of the Justice Gang sponsored by Maxwell Lord.[23] Gathegi described his character as an “atheist who believes in justice”, and said Holt found meaning in “knowledge” after experiencing the death of his wife.[23]
  • Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho:
    An archaeologist and superhero who can “transmute elements in his body into various forms.”[24] He becomes a member of the Justice Gang.[25]: 5:17–6:04; 8:54  Carrigan said it was refreshing to play a superhero after previously portraying the Batman villain Victor Zsasz in the television series Gotham (2014–2019). He felt that he could bring some “authenticity and truth” to the role by comparing Metamorpho’s concerns about his abilities to Carrigan’s alopecia.[26]
  • Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner / Green Lantern:
    An abrasive galactic peacekeeper in the Green Lantern Corps [22] and a Justice Gang member [23] whom Fillion described as a fearless, overconfident jerk.[27] Fillion drew inspiration for Gardner speaking his mind with no filter from Estelle Getty‘s Sophia Petrillo from the sitcom The Golden Girls (1985–1992). Fillion referred back to the character’s origin story, in which Gardner was hit by a bus and fell into a coma, which he believed “flipped the switch” for his personality, making him “off a little bit.”[28] The film retains the character’s “iconic bowl cut haircut” from the comics,[22] which Fillion insisted on having despite some discussions about changing his hairstyle.[28]
  • Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl:
    A superhero with wings and various melee weapons who is a Justice Gang member. She is reincarnated from an alien, retaining her memories and past trauma with a grumpy demeanor.[29][22] Merced felt that the self-awareness and comedic aspects of the film helped Saunders “make light of [her] trauma.”[29] Merced’s short height of 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 meters) differentiates her from other DCU heroes.[22] Merced felt that her role as Anya Corazón in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film Madame Web (2024) helped prepare her to play Hawkgirl, though she did not tell the Superman filmmakers about that role in case they did not want her to play both.[30]

Additionally, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell respectively play Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark’s adoptive human parents.[31][32] Vince and Howell studied tapes of the parents of The Howard Stern Show personality and Charred Walls of the Damned drummer Richard Christy to develop their Kansan accents in the film.[33] Wendell Pierce plays Perry White, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet.[34] Pierce said that White is “always grumpy” because Luthor had an affair with White’s wife and that White’s second child may be Luthor’s; Pierce said White’s “driving force” throughout the film is wanting to “get to” Luthor in light of this.[25]: 16:19–16:43 Pierce asked his friends for information on the character because he hadn’t read comic books growing up.[35] Other staff at the Daily Planet include Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, a boyish young photographer;[36] Beck Bennett as reporter Steve Lombard;[37] Mikaela Hoover as columnist Cat Grant; and Christopher McDonald as reporter Ron Troupe.[38] Sara Sampaio plays Eve Teschmacher, Luthor’s assistant and girlfriend,[39][23], while Terence Rosemore plays Luthor’s henchman Otis.[40]

Frank Grillo reprises his role as A.R.G.U.S. director Rick Flag Sr. from the animated DCU series Creature Commandos (2024–present);[41][42] María Gabriela de Faría appears as Angela Spica / The Engineer, an ally of Luthor whose abilities come from nanotechnology built into her body and has “an edge,” ahead of a planned film about the Authority, the team that she is a member of in the comics;[43][23][44] and Milly Alcock is introduced as Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El / Supergirl ahead of her film, Supergirl (2026).[45] Gunn’s brother, Sean, appears as tech billionaire and businessman Maxwell Lord, the head of LordTech, which funds the corporate-sponsored Justice Gang.[23][29] Sean said they ignored past depictions of Lord when creating their version, including Peter Facinelli‘s portrayal in the Arrowverse series Supergirl (2015–2021) and Pedro Pascal‘s in the DCEU film Wonder Woman 1984 (2020).[46]

Grace Chan and prior Gunn collaborators Alan Tudyk, Michael Rooker, Pom Klementieff, and Gunn’s wife Jennifer Holland voice the Superman robots, who aid Superman at the Fortress of Solitude; the former three respectively voice “Twelve,” “Four”, and “Five”,[47][48][49] while Holland is uncredited.[50] Bradley Cooper and Angela Sarafyan voice Superman’s Kryptonian parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, in a sequence where the Superman robots replay a recorded message as Superman recovers.[51] Stephen Blackehart appears as Sydney Happersen, one of Luthor’s assistants.[52] Michael Rosenbaum also has an undisclosed voice role.[53] Christopher Reeve’s son, ABC News correspondent Will Reeve, is set to make a cameo appearance as a news reporter.[54] Dog actor Jolene stood in for Clark’s superpowered dog Krypto, whom Gunn described as a “not-so-good-good-boy”. The character was primarily created with visual effects [55][9] and was 3D modeled after Gunn’s dog Ozu.[56]

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SOVEREIGN

Sovereign is a 2025 American action crime thriller film written and directed by Christian Swegal and starring Nick Offerman, Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Mann, Nancy Travis, Martha Plimpton, and Dennis Quaid.

Based on the events surrounding the West Memphis police shootings in 2010, the film is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2025.[2][3]

Premise

“Based on real events, the story follows a father and son (Offerman and Tremblay) who identify as Sovereign Citizens, a group of anti-government extremists, as they venture across the country and find themselves in a standoff with a chief of police (Dennis Quaid) that sets off an intense manhunt with tragic consequences.”

Cast

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DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT

Depicts 8-year-old Bobo’s life on her family’s Rhodesian farm during the Bush War’s final stages. It explores the family’s bond with Africa’s land and the war’s impact on the region and individuals through Bobo’s perspective.

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ABRAHAM’S BOYS: A DRACULA STORY

Abraham van Helsing moves his two sons to the United States in an attempt to escape their past.

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7/7/2025 #Superman #Sovereign #Don’tLet’sGoToTheDogsTonight #Abraham’sBoys:ADraculaStory

NEW MOVIES: July 3-9, 2025, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “40 Acres,” “Kill the Jockey,” “videoheaven”

JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH

Jurassic World Rebirth is a 2025 American science fiction thriller film directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp.[3] A standalone sequel to Jurassic World Dominion (2022), it is the fourth Jurassic World film and the seventh installment overall in the Jurassic Park franchise. The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Ed Skrein.

Work on the film began shortly after the release of Dominion, when executive producer Steven Spielberg recruited Koepp to help him develop a new installment in the series. Koepp previously co-wrote the original Jurassic Park film (1993) and wrote its sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). Development of Rebirth was first reported in January 2024. Edwards was hired as director a month later, and casting commenced shortly thereafter. Principal photography occurred in Thailand, Malta, and the United Kingdom from June to September 2024.

Jurassic World Rebirth premiered on June 17, 2025, at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London and was released in the United States and Canada on July 2. The film has received mixed reviews from critics.

Premise

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, Earth’s environment has largely proven inhospitable to the remaining populations of dinosaurs and other de-extinct prehistoric animals. The surviving creatures now reside in remote, tropical locales, reminiscent of the environments where they once flourished. Zora Bennett, a covert operative, is recruited by ParkerGenix, a pharmaceutical company, to collaborate with paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis and team leader Duncan Kincaid on a top-secret mission.[4][5][6]

They infiltrate Ile Saint-Hubert, a forbidden island in the Atlantic Ocean, once used by InGen as a dinosaur research facility.[7] The team’s objective is to locate the three largest remaining prehistoric species from land, sea, and air. The biomaterials of these creatures hold the key to a revolutionary drug capable of saving countless human lives. Along the way, the team encounters a shipwrecked civilian family, and both groups find themselves stranded. They discover that the island is home to mutated, failed dinosaur experiments that have thrived in isolation for decades.[4][5][8] Among them is the Distortus rex, a deformed, mutant Tyrannosaurus rex with six limbs.[9]

Cast

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40 ACRES

40 Acres is a 2024 Canadian post-apocalyptic thriller written and directed by R. T. Thorne (in his feature directorial debut). The film stars Danielle Deadwyler as a matriarch of descendants of African American farmers who settled in 1875 in rural Canada after the American Civil War. They are trying to survive in a decimated future two hundred years later. It is set to be released by Mongrel Media in Canada.[2]

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024.[3]

Cast

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KILL THE JOCKEY

Kill the Jockey (Spanish: El jockey)[1] is a 2024 sports comedy-drama thriller film co-written and directed by Luis Ortega, starring Nahuel Pérez Biscayart alongside Úrsula Corberó and Daniel Giménez Cacho.

The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Lion and the Queer Lion.[2][3] The film was selected as the Argentine entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards but was not nominated.[4]

Premise

Jockeys Abril and Remo race for a powerful mobster named Sirena until Remo accidentally kills a valuable race horse. Abril must find Remo in Buenos Aires and bring him to safety before Sirena tracks him down.[5]

Cast

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VIDEOHEAVEN

Videoheaven is a 2025 documentary film which explores the role of video stores in Hollywood cinema. It was directed by Alex Ross Perry.[1]

The film premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in January 2025.

Documentary

As VHS became the dominant home video format in the early 1980s and consumer demand for new and classic films grew, the need for a space where people could rent the still-expensive-to-purchase tapes created an opening for the proliferation of the video store. While the shift from the cinema to the home had ramifications that the film industry is still contending with, it also opened new, exciting horizons for cinephiles to interact with the medium. Barriers of time collapsed, and suddenly the full scope of film history was available to fans—the ability to manipulate movies using simple tools like fast forward, rewind, and pause functions on a VCR gave movie buffs the power to engage with their favorite films in entirely new ways. The video store provided a forum to discuss these films with fellow cinephiles. Factors like these gave rise to the video store’s power as a consumer mecca and a sociocultural hub.

Drawing inspiration from the work of scholars like Daniel Herbert and filmmakers like Thom Anderson, whose seminal Los Angeles Plays Itself is a crucial progenitor, auteur filmmaker and pop culture public intellectual Alex Ross Perry’s 10-years-in-the-making essay-documentary Videoheaven is a fascinating, beautiful, absorbing exploration of the video store as a vitally important site of film culture. Mining footage from an eclectic range of sources and aided by a wryly evocative voiceover from Maya Hawke, Perry’s latest is a crucial contribution to the canon of films about film culture. —Jason Gutierrez.

Cast & Credits
Directed by

Alex Ross Perry
Producer
Andrew Adair, Jake Perlin, Daniel Herbert
Screenwriter
Alex Ross Perry
Editor
Clyde Folley

 

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7/1/2025 #JurassicWorldRebirth #40Acres #KillTheJockey #Videoheaven

NEW MOVIES: June 26-July 2, 2025, “F1: The Movie,” “M3gan 2.0,” “Sorry, Baby,” “Ice Road 2: Vengeance”

F1: THE MOVIE

F1 (marketed as F1 the Movie) is a 2025 American sports drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski with a screenplay written by Ehren Kruger, from a story the two developed. It is based on the Formula One World Championship, created in collaboration with the FIA, its governing body. The film stars Brad Pitt in the lead role, alongside Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem.

F1 premiered on June 16, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 27, during the weekend of the Austrian Grand Prix. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Premise

Sonny Hayes, a Formula One driver who raced in the 1990s, has a severe crash that forces him to retire from Formula One and start racing in other disciplines while working as a taxi driver. A Formula One team owner and friend, Ruben, contacts Hayes and asks him to come out of retirement to mentor rookie prodigy Joshua “Noah” Pearce for the Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP).[3]

Cast

  • Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a New York City cab driver, professional gambler and nomadic racer-for-hire who was a Formula One driver in his youth and would later return to F1 to drive for APXGP.
  • Damson Idris as Joshua “Noah” Pearce, a hotshot rookie who drives for APXGP and becomes Sonny’s teammate and main rival
  • Kerry Condon as Kate McKenna, the APXGP technical director
  • Tobias Menzies as Peter Banning, a member of the APXGP board of directors who wants Ruben to sell APXGP to other interests.
  • Kim Bodnia as Kaspar Molinski, the APXGP team principal who used to work for Scuderia Ferrari as a rear jackman
  • Javier Bardem as Ruben Cervantes, APXGP team owner and former F1 driver who is Sonny’s friend and former teammate
  • Shea Whigham as Chip Hart, the owner of Chip Hart Racing
  • Will Merrick as Nickleby, Sonny’s APXGP race engineer
  • Joseph Balderrama as Rico Fazio, Joshua’s APXGP race engineer
  • Sarah Niles as Bernadette Pearce, Joshua’s mother
  • Samson Kayo as Cashman, Joshua’s manager
  • Abdul Salis as Dodge Dowda, the APXGP chief mechanic
  • Callie Cooke as Jodie, an APXGP mechanic who is a tyre gunner
  • Layne Harper as Press

Simone Ashley was cast in an undisclosed role, but her appearance was cut.[4][5]

Formula One drivers and personnel

All ten Formula One teams and their drivers in the 2023 season will appear as themselves, including:[6]

Formula One personnel that appear in the film include:

Sky Sports F1 commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft provide commentary for races depicted in the film.[7] in the film. Cameo appearances include three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Benoît Tréluyer and Hamilton’s dog Roscoe.

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M3GAN 2.0

M3GAN 2.0 (pronounced “Megan 2.0”) is a 2025 American science fiction action film[3] written and directed by Gerard Johnstone from a story by Johnstone and Akela Cooper. A sequel to M3GAN (2022), the plot follows M3GAN (model 3 generative android) being rebuilt to combat a humanoid military robot built using M3GAN’s technology that is attempting an AI takeover.

Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, and Jenna Davis return to star, alongside Ivanna Sakhno, Aristotle Athari, Timm Sharp, and Jemaine Clement. Jason Blum and James Wan return as producers under their respective Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster companies.

M3GAN 2.0 premiered in New York on June 24, 2025, and is scheduled to be released in the United States by Universal Pictures on June 27.

Premise

Two years after the events of M3GAN, Gemma has become an author and an advocate for regulation of artificial intelligence while trapping a still-active M3GAN in a small, harmless robotic doll. However, M3GAN’s technology has been stolen and used by a defense contractor to create a military robot called AMELIA (autonomous military engagement logistics and infiltration android), who becomes self-aware, turns on her creators, and attempts an AI takeover. Facing imminent destruction, Gemma’s niece Cady convinces her to rebuild M3GAN with advanced upgrades so she can fight AMELIA.[4]

Cast

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SORRY, BABY

Sorry, Baby is a 2025 American black comedy drama film written and directed by Eva Victor and produced by Barry Jenkins. Victor also has a starring role alongside Naomi Ackie and Lucas Hedges.

It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2025, where it received critical acclaim. It is scheduled to be released by A24 on June 27, 2025.[2]

Premise

A college professor tries to recover from a sexual assault.[3]

Cast

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ICE ROAD 2: VENGEANCE

Ice Road: Vengeance is an upcoming American action thriller film written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. It is the direct sequel to The Ice Road (2021). Liam Neeson returns from the first film, alongside Fan Bingbing, Bernard Curry, and Geoff Morrell.

Mike (Liam Neeson) goes to Nepal to sprinkle his brother’s ashes on Mount Everest. When Mike and his mountain guide come upon mercenaries while traveling on a tour bus, they are forced to fight to save themselves, the passengers, and the country.

The film will be released in the United States in select theaters on June 27, 2025.

Cast

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6/25/2025 #F1:TheMovie #M3gan2.0 #Sorry,Baby #IceRoad2:Vengeance

NEW MOVIES: June 19-25, 2025, “Bride Hard,” “Elio,” “28 Years Later,” “Animal.”

BRIDE HARD

BRIDE HARD

Bride Hard is an upcoming American action comedy film directed by Simon West and written by Shaina Steinberg, from a story by Steinberg and CeCe Pleasants. It stars Rebel Wilson as a secret agent who serves as the maid of honor at her childhood best friend’s lavish wedding, which is taken hostage by mercenaries. The film also stars Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Gigi Zumbado, Stephen Dorff, and Justin Hartley.

Cast

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ELIO

ELIO

Elio is an upcoming American animated science fiction adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, it was written by Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones.[2] The film stars the voices of Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, and Shirley Henderson. It follows an eleven-year-old boy named Elio Solis (Kibreab) who accidentally becomes the intergalactic ambassador of planet Earth after being beamed up to the Communiverse by aliens for making contact. He must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms and navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions.

Elio is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on June 20, 2025.[3] The film has received positive reviews from critics.

Premise

For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers—in Disney and Pixar’s all-new feature film Elio, the universe calls back! The cosmic misadventure introduces Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession. So, when he’s beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide, Elio’s all in for the epic undertaking. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s leader, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions, and somehow discover who and where he is truly meant to be.[4]

— Pixar

Voice cast

  • Yonas Kibreab as Elio Solis, an eleven-year-old boy who is mistakenly identified by the aliens as Earth’s ambassador[5]
  • Zoe Saldaña as Olga Solis, Elio’s aunt.[5] Solis was originally written as Elio’s mother and set to be voiced by America Ferrera.[6] However, because the directors wanted to “deepen Elio’s motivation for wanting to be abducted by aliens”, the character was rewritten with Ferrera leaving the project due to scheduling conflicts in August 2024.[7] Sharafian stated that “it felt like a relationship with a mother and son was a bit too much.”[8]
  • Remy Edgerly as Glordon, a worm-like alien whom Elio befriends.[9] His design was influenced by studies of larval insects and microbiotic creatures, including the tardigrade. Animation supervisor Jude Brownbill described Glordon as “sort of mysterious, creepy, off-putting, a work with a bunch of teeth”.[8]
  • Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, a bulky, worm-like alien warlord and ambassador who is Glordon’s father[5]
  • Jameela Jamil as Questa, a radiodont-like alien ambassador[5]
  • Shirley Henderson as OOOOO, a blue gelatinous liquid supercomputer.[5] Described as “a Swiss Army knife made of droplets”, Travis Hathaway stated that “she can become a screen, she can become a vinyl player, she can become a projector, she can manifest as a pen for Elio to write with”.[8]
  • Brendan Hunt as Gunther Melmac[10]
  • Matthias Schweighöfer as Tegmen, an alien ambassador.[11] Schweighöfer will also voice Tegmen in the film’s German dub.[citation needed]
  • Brandon Moon as Helix, an alien ambassador[citation needed]
  • Naomi Watanabe as Auva, an alien ambassador.[12] Watanabe will also voice Auva in the film’s Japanese dub.[citation needed]
  • Ana de la Reguera as Turais, an alien ambassador[citation needed]
  • Anissa Borrego as Mira, an alien ambassador[citation needed]

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28 YEARS LATER

28 YEARS LATER

28 Years Later is an upcoming post-apocalyptic horror film produced and directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. The third installment in the 28 Days Later film series, following 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007), it stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. The film marks the return of Boyle, Garland, and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle to the series, all of whom worked on the original movie, with Cillian Murphy also serving as executive producer.

Columbia Pictures is scheduled to release it in the United Kingdom and the United States through Sony Pictures Releasing on June 20, 2025. It was shot back-to-back with its sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple which was directed by Nia DaCosta, written by Garland, and produced by Boyle and Garland.[4]

Premise

Twenty-eight years after the Rage virus escaped a medical research laboratory, survivors have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One group lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway. When a father and his son leave the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, they discover the secrets, wonders, and horrors of the outside world.[5]

Cast

Main article: List of characters in the 28 Days Later film series

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ANIMAL.

ANIMAL.

Premise

Animal unmasks a century-long conspiracy of political, economic, and religious forces that have twisted our natural bond with meat, enslaving us to ill health and Big Pharma dependency. Through bold interviews, historical revelations, and groundbreaking science, it shatters nutritional myths and dares us to reclaim the ancestral diet that fueled our evolution.

Dr. Shawn Baker
Sally Norton
Judy Cho

https://youtu.be/5eeDCoD5q74

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6/17/2025 #BrideHard #Elio #28YearsLater #Animal. 

 

NEW MOVIES: June 12-18, 2025, ” How to Train your Dragon,” “Materialists,” “The Unholy Trinity,” “Next Sohee”

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

How to Train Your Dragon is a media franchise from DreamWorks Animation and loosely based on the book series of the same name by British author Cressida Cowell. It consists of three feature films: How to Train Your Dragon (2010), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019). The franchise also contains five short films: Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010), Book of Dragons (2011), Gift of the Night Fury (2011), Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014) and How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming and How to Train Your Dragon: Snoggletog Log (both 2019). A live-action remake of the first film is scheduled for release by Universal Pictures in June 2025. A sequel is also scheduled for June 2027.

The television series based on the events of the first film, DreamWorks Dragons, began airing on Cartoon Network in September 2012. The first and second seasons were titled Dragon: Riders of Berk and Dragons: Defenders of Berk respectively. After the two seasons on Cartoon Network, the series was given the new title Dragons: Race to the Edge. The characters are older and it served as a prequel to the second film, running from June 2015 to February 2018.[1] A second series, titled Dragons: Rescue Riders, began airing on Netflix in 2019 and features a completely different cast and locale than the original series of films and TV shows, but is set in the same universe. A third series, Dragons: The Nine Realms, began streaming on Hulu and Peacock in December 2021, with Rescue Riders transferring to Peacock beginning with the third season under the Heroes of the Sky subtitle. Unlike past entries in the franchise, The Nine Realms is set in the 21st century, specifically around 1,300 years after the events of The Hidden World.

The franchise primarily follows the adventures of a young Viking named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (voiced by Jay Baruchel), son of Stoick the Vast, leader of the Viking island of Berk. Although initially dismissed as a clumsy and underweight misfit, he soon becomes renowned as a courageous dragons expert, alongside Toothless, a member of the rare Night Fury breed as his flying mount and closest companion. Together with his friends, he manages the village’s allied dragon population in defense of his home as leader of a flying corps of dragon riders. Upon becoming leaders of their kind, Hiccup and Toothless are forced to make choices that will truly ensure peace between people and dragons. Dean DeBlois, the director of the film trilogy, described its story as “Hiccup’s coming of age“, taking place across a span of five years between the first and second film, and a year between the second and third film.[2]

The film series has been highly acclaimed, with each film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, in addition to the first film’s nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Score.

Live-action remakes

How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

Main article: How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film)

In February 2023, a live-action remake of the first animated film was announced to be in development, to be produced by Marc Platt Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures, and will mark DreamWorks’ first live-action film. Dean DeBlois was set to return to write and direct, with John Powell returning to write the score. It was originally scheduled for release on March 14, 2025, but due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, it was delayed to June 13 of that year.[19][20][21][22]

Premise

As an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2027)

In April 2025, a live-action remake of the second animated film was officially announced at CinemaCon. It is set to be released on June 11, 2027.[23]

Cast

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MATERIALISTS

MATERIALISTS

Materialists is an upcoming American romantic comedy film written and directed by Celine Song, and starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal.

It is scheduled to be released in the United States by A24 on June 13, 2025, and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing International

Premise

A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.

Cast

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THE UNHOLY TRINITY

THE UNHOLY TRINITY

The Unholy Trinity is a 2024 American western action film written by Lee Zachariah, directed by Richard Gray, and starring Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson and Brandon Lessard.

Premise

Buried secrets of an 1870s Montana town spark violence when a young man returns to reclaim his legacy and is caught between a sheriff determined to maintain order and a mysterious stranger hell-bent on destroying it.

Cast

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NEXT SOHEE

NEXT SOHEE

Next Sohee (Korean: 다음 소희; RR: Daeum sohui) is a 2022 South Korean drama film, directed by Jung Ju-ri and starring Bae Doona and Kim Si-eun. The film revolves around a business-oriented high school student, Sohee (Kim Si-eun), who has to go on field training at her call center, and a female detective, Yu-jin, who investigates her subsequent death. It is loosely inspired by the real-life suicide of a girl on a similar temporary training program.[3] It was selected as the first Korean closing film at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and screened in the Critics’ Week section for special screenings.[4]

The film was screened on May 25, 2022, at Espace Miramar in Cannes and received a 7-minute standing ovation.[5] It was also screened as the closing film at the 26th Fantasia International Film Festival. It won the Best Director award in the Cheval Noir competition category and the Best Asian Feature silver award in the Audience Award category. It was released on February 8, 2023, in South Korea.[6]

Synopsis

The film is about Sohee (Kim Si-eun), a high school student who starts training for a subcontracted position at a call center. She is unable to bear the stressful work culture. A mysterious incident leads to her death. Detective Oh Yoo-jin (Bae Doona) starts an investigation into her death.[7]

Plot

Sohee a high school student who enjoys dancing in her spare time is called in by one of her teachers who informs her that he has finally managed to get her an externship spot in a company called Human and Net, one of the many call service centers for S-Plus Korea Telecom(a fictional telecommunications company). Before starting her externship, Sohee had to attend a training session, which turned out to be just makeup lessons and body shaming of the trainees. Once she starts her externship, Sohee learns quickly that the company’s main goal is to increase and maintain sales of S-Plus’s subscription services to their customers instead of helping them when they have decided to cancel their services or face technical difficulties. She is advised to stall the customers as much as possible so they will eventually change their minds and decide to keep their services or buy others that S-Plus telecom provides. Throughout her externship, Sohee has to deal with the verbal abuse of rude customers who yell and swear at her, even experiencing an incident where a customer insinuates himself carrying out sexual assault on her, to which she loses her temper and yells back. Sohee also notices how she is getting exploited by the company as she is underpaid with the excuse of being an extern. Sohee also occasionally has to attend team meetings, including getting reprimanded for not being the top-performing call center under S-Plus. Junho, Sohee’s manager, is the only person in the call center who understands and tries to help Sohee and the other workers as much as possible. One day while walking to work, Sohee witnesses the discovery of Junho’s dead body in his car parked outside the parking lot of the company building. It is implied that he committed suicide by self-inducing carbon monoxide poisoning. It turns out that Junho felt guilty about exploiting the labour of the externs and had sent in whistleblower complaint letters to upper management, yet this was ignored.

A new female manager takes over, focusing on sales and driving them up. She pressures Sohee to sign a form that rebukes the complaints made by Junho (which Sohee unwillingly signs). At a company dinner, Sohee fights with one of the externs, who grudgingly blames her for performing so well, causing the other externs to add pressure to increase their sales. After experiencing only partially paid work yet again, even though she is now hitting sales targets, Sohee focuses on processing customer requests to cancel their subscriptions and services from S-Plus instead of persuading them to pay more for other services. Her manager witnesses this and angrily reprimands Sohee, Sohee calls out the blatant exploitation of externs in the company as well as the multiple instances of her underpaid work, to which the manager mocks Sohee for being poor and always grubbing for money, this angers Sohee and she hits the manager and is Subsequently put on three days of unpaid disciplinary leave of absence. While on leave and suffering from the guilt of signing the form stating Junho’s claims that the company mistreated externs were false, Sohee silts her wrists while on a drunk night out with a friend and is subsequently hospitalized. Sohee requests to quit her externship, but Sohee’s teacher scolds her and tells her to return to work. Depressed at the prospect of returning to the call center and slightly intoxicated from drinking alcohol, Sohee commits suicide by jumping into a reservoir after a night out with friends.

The second half of the film follows the investigations of Yoojin, a female detective officer into the suicide of Sohee after her body is found as well as reinvestigations of Junho’s suicide, which further details Human and Net’s violation of labour laws on their workers to drive up sales as well as Sohee’s high school’s irresponsible choices of externship placements for their students to meet an employment rate. Throughout the investigations, the human and net and the school’s management constantly blamed Sohee for her suicide, citing that she was undisciplined and had temper issues. Yoojin tries to take legal action against these institutions for their actions leading up to Sohee’s suicide, but is constantly reprimanded by her own superior to let go of the case as it is causing them trouble. The movie ends with Yoojin tearfully watching an old video recording of Sohee practicing a dance routine in a studio, which was the only video left on Sohee’s now-retrieved phone before she turned it off and committed suicide. It is unknown to the viewers whether the human and net or the school ultimately changed their unsafe practices following the suicide of Sohee.

Cast

  • Bae Doona as Yoo-jin[8]
  • Kim Si-eun as So-hee[9]
  • Sim Hee-seop as Lee Jun-ho
  • Park Woo-young as Dong-ho[10]
  • Yoo Jung-ho as Manager of the SAVE department of the call center[11]
  • Choi Hee-jin as Lee Bo-ram[12]
  • Jung Hoe-rin as Jun-hee[13]
  • Park Soo-young as Vice Principal[14]
  • Kim Woo-kyum
  • Song Yo-sep

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6/10/2025 #HowToTrainYourDragon #Materialists #TheUnholyTrinity #NextSohee

 

New Movies: June 5-11, 2025, “John Wick: Ballerina,” “The Ritual,” “I Don’t Understand You,” “The Life of Chuck”

JOHN WICK: BALLERINA

JOHN WICK: BALLERINA

Ballerina (marketed as From the World of John Wick: Ballerina) is an upcoming American action thriller film that is the fifth film in the John Wick franchise, serving as a spin-off set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). It is directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten. It also stars Ana de Armas in the lead role, alongside Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Norman Reedus in supporting roles. Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick (in his final screen appearance), Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves reprise their roles from the previous films.

Lionsgate acquired Hatten’s spec script for the film in 2017, leading to his contribution to the final script for Parabellum and serving as the lead writer for Chapter 4. In October 2019, Wiseman was hired as director, with Chad Stahelski confirmed as a producer by May 2020. Ballerina was officially announced in April 2022, with de Armas confirmed to replace Unity Phelan, who portrayed the character in Parabellum, in the lead role; by that December, the rest of the main cast was rounded out.  Principal photography began soon after, taking place in Prague, Czech Republic. Additional action sequences were shot starting in February 2024.

Ballerina is scheduled to be released on June 6, 2025.

Premise

Taking place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4,[6] Eve Macarro, a ballerina-assassin, begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma and sets out to exact revenge for her father’s death.[7]

Cast

  • Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ballerina who is beginning to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.[7] According to co-star Ian McShane, the character is protected by Winston and Charon in the New York Continental Hotel during the film.[8]
    • Victoria Comte as young Eve
  • Anjelica Huston as the Director[9]
  • Gabriel Byrne as the Chancellor,[10] the film’s main antagonist, who leads the town against Eve.[8][11]
  • Lance Reddick as Charon, the concierge at the Continental Hotel in New York, Winston Scott’s friend, and John Wick’s acquaintance.[12] This was Reddick’s final appearance as Charon and his overall final on-screen appearance, released posthumously.[13]
  • Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine, a mysterious man.  [14]Reedus admired Keanu Reeves for the film series’ demanding “I-need-a-bottle-of-Advil-all-day-long type of job. Reedus contrasted the tightly choreographed fight scenes in the film with the “loose” and “sloppy” ones in his series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023–present).[15]
  • Ian McShane as Winston Scott, the enigmatic owner of the New York Continental Hotel and friend of John Wick.[16]
  • Keanu Reeves as John Wick, a professional hitman and legendary assassin who has gained a reputation for his skills and is on the run from the High Table.

Sharon Duncan-Brewster appears as Nogi, Eve’s mentor.[17] Choi Soo-young plays Katla Park, Eve’s first field mission protectee.[18] Catalina Sandino Moreno,[19] Jung Doo-hong,[20] and David Castañeda also appear in the film.[21]

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THE RITUAL

THE RITUAL

The Ritual is a 2025 American horror film directed by David Midell and written by Midell and Enrico Natale. Based on a true story, it follows priests Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino) and Joseph Steiger (Dan Stevens) as they attempt to put aside their differences to save an allegedly possessed young woman, Emma Schmidt (Abigail Cowen), through a series of dangerous exorcisms.  The film is set to be released by XYZ Films on June 6, 2025.

Cast

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I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU

I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU

I Don’t Understand You is a 2024 comedy horror film written and directed by David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano. It stars Nick Kroll, Andrew Rannells, Morgan Spector, Eleonora Romandini, and Amanda Seyfried. The film is about a gay couple vacationing in Italy who plan to adopt a baby without any knowledge of the Italian language or transportation.

Plot

Dom and Cole are a wealthy gay couple living in Los Angeles. They are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a trip to Italy. There, they receive a much-anticipated call from Candace, who is expecting a child that Dom and Cole are considering adopting.

They visit Daniele, an old friend of Dom’s father, who arranges a dinner for their anniversary at a farm restaurant in Orvieto that has been closed for several months. The cook wants to reopen her restaurant just for them. However, the directions are not very precise, and they get lost in the middle of rural nowhere on the way there. Their rental car gets stuck in the mud during a heavy rainstorm. A grumpy farmer with a shotgun shows up, and they initially assume the worst, but the man helps them, and when they get to the restaurant, they are warmly welcomed by the owner, Zia Luciana. The food is fantastic, although the staunch vegetarian Cole is forced to try a pizza with horse sausage.

Cast

  • Nick Kroll as Dom
  • Andrew Rannells as Cole
  • Morgan Spector as Massimo
  • Eleonora Romandini as Francesca
  • Amanda Seyfried as Candice
  • Nunzia Schiano as Zia Luciana
  • Paolo Romano as Daniele
  • Nicola Acunzo as Carabineiri Officer
  • Giuseppe Attanasio as Rimaldo
  • Jessamine Burgum as Young Mother
  • Valerio Da Silva as Waiter
  • Cecilia Dazzi as Ilaria
  • Arcangelo Iannace as Farmer
  • Fabio Salerno as Detective
  • Leonardo Verni as Jacopo

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THE LIFE OF CHUCK

THE LIFE OF CHUCK

The Life of Chuck is a 2024 American science fiction drama film written and directed by Mike Flanagan. It is based on Stephen King’s 2020 novella of the same name. The film stars Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Jacob Tremblay, and Mark Hamill. Its plot follows Charles “Chuck” Krantz, whose life is chronicled in reverse chronological order and seemingly impacts the world and universe around him.

Summed up, Mike Flanagan made a deep, multilayered yet beautiful film about the value of life.

The Life of Chuck premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024, where it won the People’s Choice Award. It is scheduled to be released in select theaters in the United States by Neon on June 6, 2025, before expanding nationwide on June 13.

Cast

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6/3/2025 #JohnWick:Ballerina #TheRitual #IDon’tUnderstandYou #TheLifeofChuck

NEW MOVIES: May 29 – June 4, 2025, “Karate Kid: Legends,” “The Phoenician Scheme,” “Bring Her Back,” “To Live and Die and Live”

KARATE KID: LEGENDS

KARATE KID: LEGENDS

Karate Kid: Legends is a 2025 American martial arts drama film directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Rob Lieber. It is the sixth film in The Karate Kid franchise, following the 2010 film of the same name, and is set after the events of the television series Cobra Kai (2018–2025).  [3]It stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, both reprising their roles from the franchise, while introducing Ben Wang as the main lead alongside Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen. It is the first film in the series not to be produced by Jerry Weintraub, who died in 2015.[4][5] It is also the first PG-13-rated entry in the Karate Kid film series.

The film was confirmed to be developed in September 2022, with Entwistle set to direct and Lieber set to write the screenplay in November 2023. It serves as a continuation of the franchise’s original films, Cobra Kai, which starred Macchio, and the 2010 film starring Chan, merging them in a single shared universe.  [6]Casting took place from November 2023 to April 2024. Filming took place from April to June 2024.

Produced by Columbia Pictures and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, Karate Kid: Legends premiered in Mexico City on May 8, 2025, and is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on May 30.

Plot

Mr. Han is the revered shifu (master) of a large wuguan (kung fu school) in Beijing, China, with many young students learning his ancient way of kung fu. Among them is Li Fong, a quiet teenager living in the wuguan and hiding from his mother, a doctor who soon arrives to bring him back. She accepts a job position in New York City and makes Li promise to give up martial arts and violence before they leave China, after Li’s brother was stabbed to death by his defeated rival.

Li struggles to adjust and is unable to make friends at school. He meets Mia Lipani, the daughter of Victor Lipani, a former boxer turned traditional Italian pizzeria owner. Li and Mia develop a romantic relationship, but they are confronted by Connor Day, Mia’s aggressive ex-boyfriend and champion fighter at a local dojo known for its underground-style karate competitions. Connor violently beats Li, prompting his mother to assign him a tutor named Alan, whom Li befriends.

Li eventually clashes again with Connor. Though he defends himself, Connor is a stronger fighter. Li attempts to use a flying kick he once learned from his older brother, but Connor counters it, exploiting Li’s vulnerability mid-air and defeating him.

One night, Li witnesses Victor being attacked by thugs sent by his creditor, O’Shea, who also happens to own Connor’s dojo and is a karate sensei. Forced to intervene, Li defeats the attackers. Grateful, Victor confides in Li that he once boxed professionally and is planning a comeback to pay off his debt and save the pizzeria, and he asks Li to train him. Though hesitant initially, Li agrees, believing he will not be fighting himself. Li later becomes Victor’s employee in his pizzeria.

Cast

Main article: List of The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai characters
Ben Wang plays the main character, Li Fong.
  • Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, a revered shifu of a wuguan in Beijing, where Li Fong trains before leaving China with his mother for New York
  • Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, the Miyagi-do karate sensei who teaches Li the ways of Miyagi karate.
  • Ben Wang as Li Fong, a young Chinese boy mentored by Mr. Han who leaves Beijing with his mother to start a new life in New York
  • Joshua Jackson as Victor Lipani, Mia’s father, who is a former boxer turned pizzeria owner where Li works
  • Sadie Stanley as Mia Lipani, Victor’s daughter, who is a love interest to both Li and Connor
  • Ming-Na Wen as Dr. Fong, Li’s mother, who is reluctant to her son’s martial arts practice
  • Aramis Knight as Connor Day, a karate prodigy and Li’s rival
  • Wyatt Oleff as Alan, Li’s tutor and friend, who lends him his rooftop garden with pet pigeons as a training ground
  • Shaunette Renée Wilson as Ms. Morgan, a schoolteacher in New York, where Li attends as a new student

Additionally, Jennifer-Lyn Christie has been cast in an undisclosed role.  William Zabka reprises his role as Johnny Lawrence from previous media in the franchise.

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THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME

The Phoenician Scheme is a 2025 espionage black comedy film produced, written, and directed by Wes Anderson from a story he conceived with Roman Coppola.  [2]The film features an ensemble cast that includes Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, and Hope Davis. An international co-production between the United States and Germany, it was produced by Anderson’s company, American Empirical Pictures, and Steven Rales’s company, Indian Paintbrush.

Anderson talked about the film in June 2023 while promoting Asteroid City; he said it had already been written before the 2023 WGA strike began. That September, he revealed that del Toro and Cera were planned to join the cast, and he hoped to begin filming soon after the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike ended. The rest of the cast signed on between January and June 2024. Filming occurred at Babelsberg Studio in Germany, between March and June 2024, with cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel. Frequent Anderson collaborator Alexandre Desplat returned to compose the score.

The Phoenician Scheme had its world premiere in the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2025 [3]. It will be released theatrically in the United States by Focus Features on May 30 and in Germany by Universal Pictures on June 29, 2025. The film received generally positive reviews.

Premise

Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.

Cast

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BRING HER BACK

BRING HER BACK

Bring Her Back is an upcoming Australian supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou and written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman. Produced by Causeway Films and RackaRacka, in association with Salmira Productions and South Australia Film Corporation,[4] the film stars Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, and Sally Hawkins.

It will be theatrically released by Sony Pictures Releasing International‘s Stage 6 Films in Australia on 29 May 2025.

Plot

A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.

Cast

  • Billy Barratt as Andy
  • Sally Hawkins as Laura
  • Sora Wong as Piper
  • Jonah Wren Phillips as Oliver
  • Sally-Anne Upton as Wendy
  • Stephen Phillips as Phil
  • Mischa Heywood as Cathy
  • Liam Damons
  • Olga Miller as Macia

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TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE

TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE

To Live and Die and Live is a 2023 American drama film written and directed by Qasim Basir. It stars Amin Joseph.

The film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023, and was released theatrically in the United States on May 16, 2025.

Plot

TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE follows a film director who returns to Detroit to bury his stepfather and settle his accounts, but his struggles with addiction and loss may finish him before he finishes the task. As old and new relationships unfold, he’s forced to confront the emotional and psychological toll of his past and the dark side of his city’s vibrant, gritty landscape.

Cast

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5/27/2025 #KarateKid:Legends #ThePhoenicianScheme #BringHerBack #ToLiveandDieandLive

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