“Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part One” did not do well at the box office.  Despite an extensive promotion campaign which included a heavily circulated clip of Tom Cruise literally driving a motorcycle off the cliff of a mountain, the movie just did not click with audiences.  Failing to capture the lightning in a bottle success of Cruise’s previous 2022 effort “Top Gun: Maverick.”  Some attributed the movie’s poor performance to the ‘Barbenheimer’ craze that took over summer 2023. 

Continue reading ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ Teaser: Tom Cruise Returns for Newest Spy Thriller Installment In May at The Playlist.

Awards season quickly approaches. And one of the hottest films expected to make a push later this year is “September 5.” The period thriller about the ABC Sports crew that covered the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis was picked up by Paramount Pictures and will make it into theaters in November, with an expected wider release in December. Reviews for the movie have been very positive thus far, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “an enlightening, altogether gripping experience.” There have been comparisons to similarly compelling newsroom dramas like “All the President’s Men” and “Spotlight.”

Like those films mentioned, particular praise may appear in the form of Oscar nominations early next year.

Continue reading ‘September 5’ Trailer: Peter Sarsgaard-Starring Munich Olympics Thriller Arrives November 29 at The Playlist.

“Yellowstone” reignited the Western genre for millions and millions of fans, while also acting as a sort of career comeback for Kevin Costner.  Emboldening the star to go so far as to self-finance his own cinematic two-part Western epic, “Horizon: An American Saga,” based solely on the popularity of the series.  His attempt to capitalize on the resurgence of his movie star status and the hugely successful neo-Western TV show came up short however. 

Continue reading ‘Yellowstone’ Trailer: Taylor Sheridan’s Neo-Western Drama Returns For Season 5 Part 2 On November 10 at The Playlist.

The erotic thriller that depicts an older woman having an illicit affair with a young man has been done effectively in the past. “Notes on a Scandal” and the Hulu series “A Teacher” come to mind. And more recently, Todd Haynes’ “May December.” However, with the upcoming film “Babygirl,” there’s a new, more contemporary approach, as promised by Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera.

Continue reading ‘Babygirl’ Trailer: Nicole Kidman’s Acclaimed New A24 Erotic Thriller Arrives In Theaters December 20 at The Playlist.

The original “Nosferatu,” from all the way back in 1921, is scary. The German expressionist silent film, directed by early Hollywood filmmaker F.W. Murnau, is well-paced and shot with many shadows and sharp angles, producing a menacing effect. Plus, Max Schreck, as the lead Count Orlok, is just eerie and scary in the role. Enough so that a movie, “Shadow of the Vampire,” was made as a fictitious account of Schrek’s wild behavior on set.

Continue reading ‘Nosferatu’ Trailer: Robert Eggers’ Gothic Horror Remake Arrives December 25 at The Playlist.

“Thunderbolts*” will feature a less well-known Marvel super-team. Unlike the “Avengers” and “Fantastic Four” franchises, which have enjoyed a steady level of popularity in the comic medium for over five decades, giving them a built-in audience for their film adaptations, “Thunderbolts*,” a more obscure Marvel property, will have to win the affection of its audience to some extent upon its theatrical release. While this is not totally unfamiliar territory for Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios, having introduced three movie installments of the relatively unpopular “Guardians of the Galaxy” comic series to massive critical acclaim and commercial success in the last decade, it is still a risk that Feige and Marvel are willing to take.  

Continue reading ‘Thunderbolts*’ Teaser: Marvel’s Latest Super Team Hits Theaters May 2025 at The Playlist.

Call it art imitating life.  Marielle Heller (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “A Beautiful Day in the Neigborhood”) was at the top of the list for Amy Adams and author Rachel Yoder to write and direct “Nightbitch.”  What was not expected was Heller bringing real life experience to the project.  For a body-horror/comedy that closely tracks the struggles of a recent mother, her raising of her children, and her slow transformation into, no joke, a dog, Heller, oddly enough, took direct inspiration from her life.  As she recently expressed in an article for Vanity Fair:

“I was writing it after being isolated in my house for a year” during the pandemic…And my husband…was on production, so I was alone with two kids for the first time.

Continue reading ‘Nightbitch’ Trailer: Amy Adams Stars in Marielle Heller’s Body-Horror Comedy at The Playlist.

When canceling a series, Netflix will face some controversy.  Fans are quick to flock to social media to object to such a decision.  But if viewership doesn’t match a show’s budget, pulling the plug is something the streamer will do both without warning and regardless of the opinions of the viewing public.  Just look at “Glow,” “Mindhunter,” and “Altered Carbon,” to name a few series that got the proverbial ax.

Continue reading ‘Emily In Paris’ Season 4 Part 2 Trailer: Lily Collins’ Romantic Comedy Series Returns In September at The Playlist.

It seems like it’s been forever.  Since first being announced in June 2021, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” has titillated fans with all the possibilities. The film is a semi-rare American anime feature from a major studio, which alone makes it a very intriguing offering from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation.

While it hasn’t been forever, the “War of Rohirrim” has faced delays due partly to the SAG-AFTRA strikes in the summer of 2023. 

Continue reading ‘Lord Of The Rings: The War Of Rohirrim’ Trailer: Kenji Kamiyama’s Much Anticipated Animated Epic Arrives December 12 at The Playlist.

Unlike his fellow ‘70s movie brats Martin Scorcese and Steven Spielberg, it’s been many years since Frances Ford Coppola has had a definitive hit in Hollywood.  He’s yet to achieve a kind of career resurgence ala Scorcese, and has struggled to produce consistent, quality work like Spielberg.  

Yet, still, maybe this all turns around with “Megalopolis.” After securing a distribution deal with Lionsgate Films (that had him putting up 20 million dollars of his own money), as well as an agreement with IMAX to have a limited release, it looks like moviegoers will get a chance to see the $100 million dollar, personally financed, epic that divided audiences in its initial premiere at Cannes.

Continue reading ‘Megalopolis’ Trailer: Francis Ford Coppola’s Self-Financed Epic Arrives September 27 at The Playlist.

Spider-Man’s Rogues Gallery is arguably the best in all of comics. Only Batman might have the edge over the wall-crawler regarding baddies. Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Sandman, Venom, and Carnage are only a few iconic villains from the Marvel comics’ pages. Each has epic origins and storylines that could be adapted into successful feature films, but this has not been the case lately. “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Morbius,” and “Madame Web” have all fallen short of expectations.

Continue reading ‘Kraven The Hunter’ Trailer: Aaron Taylor-Johnson Leads Sony’s Latest ‘Spider-Man’ Spinoff at The Playlist.

One of the hotly anticipated shows set to arrive in 2025 is the second season of “Andor.” At D23, fans were treated to a trailer and featurette for the upcoming sci-fi series that serves as a prequel to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” though unfortunately, it wasn’t placed online. While initially expected to arrive at the end of 2024, it was pushed back mainly due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes in 2023. But the wait is almost over.

Continue reading ‘Andor’ Season 2: ‘Star Wars’ Series Returns In 2025; Alan Tudyk & Ben Mendelsohn Confirmed at The Playlist.

Today, at Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, Marvel, Pixar, and the Disney Studios brands were showcased, but Lucasfilm fans were thrilled, too. On stage to update various Lucasfilm projects, President Kathleen Kennedy revealed more details about the space childhood adventure series “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” and unveiled the first teaser trailer to the crowd.

Created and written by Jon Watts (Sony’s Marvel-produced ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy) and Christopher Ford (“Chaos Walking,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming”), “Skeleton Crew” follows four kids who get lost in a faraway galaxy and must find their way home.

Continue reading ‘Skeleton Crew’ Teaser Trailer: Jon Watts’ New ‘Star Wars’ Spin-Off Arrives December 3 at The Playlist.

From everything that’s been gathered so far, “Blink Twice” looks to be a twisted combination of “Saltburn” and HBO’s “White Lotus.” A seemingly exotic getaway that slowly transforms into something more menacing and dark. A place where everything is not as it seems for the lead protagonist, who’s reeled in by the charm of her host and romantic idol. Considering the success of last year’s “Saltburn” and the Mike White TV series, this is a winning formula.

Continue reading ‘Blink Twice’ Trailer:  Zoe Kravitz’s Twisted Thriller Directorial Debut Arrives August 23 at The Playlist.

One of the hotly anticipated movies to kick off Phase 6 for Marvel Studios is “The Fantastic Four.” Onstage at San Diego Comic-Con today, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige and director Matt Shakman discussed the upcoming reboot. During the panel, it was announced the film is actually called “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” An additional logo, some footage, and news about Michael Giacchino composing music was also revealed to the excited audience.

Continue reading ‘The Fantastic Four’ Gets New Title ‘First Steps’ [Comic-Con] at The Playlist.

The ragtag group of misfits uniting for some common goal premise is arguably getting a bit played. Both the “Suicide Squad” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchises have employed this story set-up to largely profitable effect in the last decade. James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” didn’t light up the box office because it was released during the pandemic.

Continue reading ‘Borderlands’ Trailer: Cate Blanchett Leads A Band Of Misfits In New Sci-fi Action Comedy Arriving August 9 at The Playlist.

While Vince Vaughn hasn’t disappeared, he has arguably been away from the spotlight for a number of years. Producing and starring in films nowhere near as popular as his early comedies “Wedding Crashers,” “Dodgeball,” and “The Break-Up.” His dramatic portrayal of a crime lord in the second season of “True Detective” was poorly received. But to be fair, critics and audiences alike unfairly scrutinized a series coming off a monumental first season that was a game-changer for the anthology crime format.

Continue reading ‘Bad Monkey’ Trailer: New Vince Vaughn Crime Comedy Series From A ‘Ted Lasso’ Creator Arrives August 14 at The Playlist.

“The Elephant Man,” “Mask,” and “Wonder have all prominently portrayed characters with extensive facial deformities caused by some genetic anomaly. These movies involved actors donning make-up and prosthetics to effectively represent these characters and their dealings with a cruel and abusive modern society, as well as their resulting perseverance and bravery in confronting such obstacles and attempting to lead an everyday life. 

“A Different Man,” not surprisingly, is different.

Continue reading ‘A Different Man’ Trailer: Sebastian Stan’s Bizarre Noirish Thriller Arrives September 20 at The Playlist.

It’s been over two decades, with years of speculation and delays and a long development process that, at one time or another, had names like John Logan (“Gladiator,” “The Last Samurai, “Penny Dreadful”), singer Nick Cave, and actors Chris Hemsworth and Barry Keoghan attached. As well as story ideas that ranged from prequel to resurrection to depictions of the afterlife.

Continue reading ‘Gladiator II’ Trailer: Ridley Scott’s Highly Anticipated Sequel Arrives November 22 at The Playlist.

Josh Hartnett’s career has surprised some in the last ten years. The star burst onto the scene in the late ’90s, starring in “Halloween H2O” and “The Faculty.” Through most of the aughts, he soared in the Hollywood limelight with movies like “Black Hawk Down,” “40 Days and 40 Nights,” and “Lucky Number Slevin.” And then, roughly ten years ago, he seemingly disappeared.

Continue reading ‘Trap’ Trailer: Josh Hartnett Stars In M. Night Shyamalan’s Newest Thriller Coming In August at The Playlist.

The festival circuit has treated writer, director, and actor Megan Park well. Her debut feature, “The Fallout,” made a big splash at the 2021 South by Southwest Festival. The drama film about a young girl and her friends recovering from a school shooting was both a grand jury winner and a special jury winner. (read our review).

“My Old Ass,” Megan Park’s most recent feature, premiered at this past January’s Sundance Film Festival.

Continue reading ‘My Old Ass’ Trailer: Megan Park’s Sundance Comedy With Aubrey Plaza Hit Arrives in Theaters September 13 at The Playlist.

They say any press is good press. In the entertainment industry, it’s a saying often applied to predominantly bad news or publicity for a celebrity. A great example is the predicament that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson finds himself in with the upcoming release of his movie “Red One.” In recent months, there has been some controversy surrounding Johnson’s behavior on the set of the upcoming holiday feature. For a star who’s popularly known for his somewhat classy behavior and hard work ethic while filming, it comes as a surprise that certain individuals have come forward to say that Johnson was tardy, arriving late to the production set on numerous occasions, causing delays, and ballooning the movie’s budget by nearly $50 million. 

Continue reading ‘Red One’ Trailer: Dwayne Johnson & Chris Evans’ Christmas Action Comedy Set To Arrive November 15 at The Playlist.

Fede Alvarez is no stranger to horror franchises with devoted fanbases. Having directed the “Evil Dead” remake back in 2013. That being said, with “Alien: Romulus,” Alvarez tackles another famed film property that first crept into the psyches of filmgoers back in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s “Alien” and was further made iconic with James Cameron’s “Aliens.” Since the beginning, the movies have provided a degree of shock, disgust, and gore.

Continue reading ‘Alien: Romulus’ Trailer: Fede Alvarez’s Newest Installment Of The Sci-fi Horror Franchise Arrives August 16 at The Playlist.

Nicolas Cage never went away, but he’s had a recent career resurgence. “Pig” and “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” were both critical successes for the star. Last year’s more commercial “Renfield” put Cage’s talent front and center as he took on the iconic, villainous role of Dracula. And the surreal, nuanced turn in “Dream Scenario” even put him back in the Oscar conversation last year, even if he ultimately missed a nomination.

Continue reading ‘Longlegs’ Trailer: Nicolas Cage & Maika Monroe Star In Oz Perkins’ Serial Killer Horror Arriving July 12 at The Playlist.

Comic book universes can venture far from their core storylines in a bid to attract more viewers (*cough* Marvel) despite producing content that grows increasingly less relevant.  Creators expect an audience to continually binge on the newest adaptation or sequel to get the slightest morsel of a new character or narrative twist that may or may not ever materialize later on. Thankfully “The Boys” showrunner Eric Kripke is well aware of that when talking about the upcoming season of the hit series.

Continue reading ‘The Boys’ Season 4 Trailer: The Bloody & Brutal Comic Book Adaptation Returns To Prime Video In June at The Playlist.