Movie News

The doctor is in. Marvel’s much-anticipated “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” grossed a sum north of 90 million on Friday, putting the superhero sequel on the path to becoming the biggest domestic opening of 2022 so far.

The MCU entry is likely to outpace early box office predictions, which pegged the second “Strange” with a final total of 160 million to 180 million for its first weekend. Current projections indicate that the film could land a tally higher than 200 million once all the numbers are finalized after Sunday.

With nearly 100 million already in the tank from 4,534 locations, Disney’s “Multiverse of Madness” should outpace the 134 million debut of Warner Bros.’ comic book competitor “The Batman” to become the biggest domestic box office opening of the calendar year.

When all the numbers are tallied, it looks like “Multiverse of Madness” will land a domestic opening more than twice as high as the original 2016 “Doctor Strange,

LIl Nas X, the FX series “Pose,” and the children’s staple “Sesame Street” were all recognized Friday at the 33rd annual GLAAD Media Awards.

In addition, the LGBTQ+ organization honored “Power Rangers” in the kids & family category, and the Broadway productions “Company” and “Thoughts of a Colored Man.”

Judith Light received GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award from recent Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, while “Star Trek: Discovery” star Wilson Cruz received the Vito Russo Award at the star-studded ceremony.

The New York ceremony was hosted by Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Peppermint. The event also featured special performances from Dove Cameron and Michael R. Jackson, who performed from his Pulitzer-Prize winning Broadway musical “A Strange Loop.”

Last month, an L.A. ceremony recognized additional winners, including the comedy series “Hacks” and the Disney/Marvel movie “Eternals.”

Here’s a complete list of Friday’s winners:

Kenneth Welsh, a prolific Canadian actor who appeared in over 240 movies and TV projects including “The Aviator,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Twin Peaks,” has died. He was 80.

Welsh’s death was announced by the Canadian acting union Actra in Toronto on Friday, calling him “one of Canada’s all-time great performers, with hundreds of memorable roles spanning decades.”

Welsh “passed peacefully last evening surrounded by those closest to him,” Pam Winter, a partner at Toronto’s Gary Goddard Agency, also told CBC News. No cause of death was given.

Actra Toronto is extremely saddened today by the passing of Kenneth Welsh. Ken was one of Canada’s all-time great performers, with hundreds of memorable roles spanning decades. He will be greatly missed. Our condolences to his loved ones. pic.twitter.com/SqcV3Wmhqk

— Actra Toronto (@ACTRAToronto) May 6, 2022

Welsh memorably played the villain and crazed FBI agent Windom Earle in

Heads up, kaiju fans — Jeremy Robinson's "The Nemesis Saga" novels are being adapted for television. The first book in the series, "Project Nemesis," is going to be a television series from Sony TV and Original Film, and here's the really exciting part: "John Wick" co-director Chad Stahelski is at the helm, taking on both directorial and executive producer roles.

Deadline broke the news of the series going into development, though details are limited at this time. The "Project Nemesis" novel was also adapted into a comic book series from American Gothic Press, so Stahelski and whoever ends up writing the series will have plenty of material to...

The post John Wick Director Chad Stahelski to Direct Kaiju TV Show Project Nemesis appeared first on /Film.

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

Content Warning: "Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable" is an exploitation film from the 1970s and features depictions of rape, incest, abortion, and graphic violence. This piece will discuss some of these elements, so reader discretion is advised. 

The Movie: "Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable"/"Joshuu sasori: Kemono-beya"

Where you can stream it: Prime Video through AMC+, free with ads on Tubi, Arrow, and Shudder

The Pitch: The "Female Prisoner Scorpion" films, starring Meiko Kaji as Nami Matsushima (better known as "Sasori" or "Scorpion")...

The post The Daily Stream: Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable is a Shockingly Timely Tale of Female Vengeance appeared first on /Film.

Fred Savage has been fired from "The Wonder Years" reboot, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The former star of the 1988 coming-of-age series was working as an executive producer and director on the ABC show's reboot, which began in 2021.

According to THR, three separate allegations were made against Savage, and an investigation has already been launched and concluded. The actor-filmmaker was dismissed based on the results of the investigation. A statement from 20th Television says the following:

Recently, we were made aware of allegations of inappropriate conduct by Fred Savage, and as is policy, an investigation was launched. Upon its completion,...

The post Fred Savage Fired From The Wonder Years After Investigation Into Inappropriate Conduct appeared first on /Film.

Comic creator George Pérez, widely considered a legend for his character-defining work at Marvel and DC, has passed away at the age of 67.

Following his retirement in 2019 due to failing eyesight and other health issues, the iconic artist and writer known for such titles as "The New Teen Titans," "Infinity Gauntlet," and "Crisis On Infinite Earths" revealed in December 2021 that he was diagnosed with inoperable stage 3 pancreatic cancer, and opted out of any sort of radiation therapy or chemotherapy because of a low chance of success in his case. Instead, Pérez spent his final months surrounded by the love...

The post New Teen Titans Co-Creator and Renowned Comic Book Artist George Pérez Has Died appeared first on /Film.

Mickey Gilley, the country singer-songwriter who crossed over into mainstream pop culture after his club was featured as the backdrop of 1980’s “Urban Cowboy,” died in Branson, Mo. on Saturday. He was 86 years old.

News of Gilley’s death was confirmed by his management at 117 Entertainment Group. The musician had recently completed a road tour, performing in ten shows through April. “He passed peacefully with his family and close friends by his side,” according to a statement by his representation.

Credited with popularizing the Urban Cowboy movement, Gilley’s music, including hit songs like “Stand By Me,” “Room Full of Roses” and “Lonely Nights,” created a bridge from the artist’s country roots to an ascension on pop charts.

Born in Natchez, Miss. on March 9, 1936, Gilley grew up surrounded by music, learning how to play piano from his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis. He later moved to Houston to work in

Warning: spoilers ahead for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

Every big post-"Avengers" superhero movie requires some suspension of disbelief. Where's everyone who could help this hero? Do they draw straws to take turns saving the world? In "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," the logistics of Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch's search for her family is even more confounding.

In the movie, Wanda Maximoff (Olsen) goes fully darksided while in pursuit of what she sees as the perfect alternate universe -- in which the kids she dreamed up in "WandaVision," Tommy and Billy (Jett Klyne and Julian Hilliard), exist and are...

The post Elizabeth Olsen Explains Quicksilver and Vision's Absence From Multiverse of Madness appeared first on /Film.

Decades ago, it would have been almost unthinkable that “Star Wars” fans would clamor to see more of the characters from George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. But that’s exactly what’s happening, as Ewan McGregor is returning to the franchise for “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” a new Disney+ series that marks one of the spring’s most anticipated television events.

Mythology from the prequel films informed much of “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett,” but “Obi-Wan Kenobi” is Disney’s biggest dive back into the prequel world thus far. And their timing might be perfect, as the series is coming out as many fans discover a new appreciation for the prequel trilogy that they once derided.

One “Star Wars” fan who recently revisited “The Phantom Menace,” “Attack of the Clones,” and “Revenge of the Sith” was Ewan McGregor. The star recently stopped by “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and revealed that he

I’ve never been one to strictly follow ratings advice, and neither did my parents: The first two movie theater experiences of my life were “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” (1989) and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991), at the tender ages of four and six. During “Halloween,” I ran out of the theater once a rake was shoved into the forehead of a sheriff, so I didn’t find out how the movie ended for another decade.

But despite my early indoctrination into horror, when friends have asked, “Can I bring my kids to see ‘Doctor Strange’ this weekend,” I’ve answered, “I don’t think I would.”

The Motion Picture Association’s film ratings board has existed since 1968, but the system created to assist parents in deciding what films are appropriate for children continues to make sometimes-inexplicable choices that can leave parents as confused as ever.

Take Marvel Studios

Job security in the film industry is never a sure thing. In this moment, it might look particularly fragile if you work in a vulnerable department of Netflix or a redundant division of Warner Bros. To that list, you could also add film festival programmers — and they should have some of the most secure jobs in the industry.

Consider how Netflix stock hits a new low each day in part to an overreliance on algorithms and too much content that not enough people watch. The overwhelming amount of global content production has forced even the biggest streamers to realize that curatorial decisions matter more than pure data, which means the skillsets of a programmer — and it is a skill — should be at their highest demand. This is particularly true for film festivals, which are defined by curation.

And yet recent events speak to the fragility of the profession. Last month,

Variants are all the rage these days in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First, we met a number of different Lokis on DIsney+. Then, some Spider-Men showed up to rehabilitate some former foes from across the Spider-Verse. And thanks to Sam Raimi's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," every version of Benedict Cumberbatch's Master of the Mystic Arts thinks they know best.

But if you thought we were done seeing multiples, guess again. While we don't know exactly if she's a variant or not, Natalie Portman returns to the MCU as Dr. Jane Foster in "Thor: Love and Thunder" with a mighty...

The post Thor Odinson and Mighty Thor Team Up In New Image From Love and Thunder appeared first on /Film.

“Thor: Love and Thunder” is one of the summer’s most anticipated films with Taika Waititi’s return to the director’s chair and Natalie Portman’s return to the role of Jane Foster. Portman first played the character in 2011’s “Thor” and reprised the role for the 2013 sequel “Thor: The Dark World,” but has been noticeably absent from the MCU ever since. When she returns to the franchise this summer, it will be in a bigger way than ever before.

“Thor: Love and Thunder” takes inspiration from “The Mighty Thor,” an acclaimed comic book run from Jason Aaron that sees Jane Foster become a Thunder God herself. While Jane Foster was purely a supporting character in earlier films, fans can expect to see her wielding Thor’s hammer and getting in on the action in Waititi’s new movie.

Portman’s return to the “Thor” universe is a major coup for Waititi,

Callin’ out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer’s here and the time is right, for dancing in the street. They’re dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street), down in New Orleans (dancing in the street). In New York City (dancing in the street). All we need is music, sweet music, there’ll be music everywhere. There’ll be swingin’ and swayin’ and records playing, dancing in the street. Oh, it doesn’t matter what you wear.

Continue reading Summer 2022 Movie Preview: 50 Must-See Films To Watch at The Playlist.

George Pérez, a legend of DC Comics frequently considered one of the best comic book artists of all time, died Friday from pancreatic cancer. He was 67.

Last December, Pérez announced that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The news of his death was shared by his close friend, Constance Eza, who posted a statement on Pérez’s Facebook page and her personal Twitter.

“Everyone knows George’s legacy as a creator,” Eza’s statement reads. “His art, characters and stories will be revered for years to come. But, as towering as that legacy is, it pales in comparison to the legacy of the man George was. George’s true legacy is his kindness. It’s the love he had for bringing others joy — and I hope you all carry that with you always.”

Thank you. All of you, for the love and support you have shown George through all of this.

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

There are moments in cinema history that, when it really comes down to it, are part of a relatively small collection of moments that helped to truly define movies as we know them. The kind of moment that both feels big in the moment and gets even bigger with some time spent reflecting upon it. 

One of those moments celebrated its tenth anniversary this week, as Marvel's "The Avengers" first hit theaters in...

The post Tales From The Box Office: 10 Years Ago The Avengers Redefined Blockbuster Filmmaking appeared first on /Film.

Potential spoilers for both "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" follow.

There was something slightly depressing about watching "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" in theaters this week. There was a lot to love about this movie: Elizabeth Olson gave an amazing performance as Wanda, and because Sam Raimi was given some freedom to do his thing, we got to enjoy the first Marvel movie in a while that was genuinely scary. Wanda's murder spree was incredibly violent, feeling real in a way that sets this movie apart from the rest of the MCU. Watching Wanda chase after...

The post Everything Everywhere All At Once is the Superior Multiverse of Madness Movie appeared first on /Film.

“Barry” made its long-awaited return to HBO this month, along with fan favorite NoHo Hank. Anthony Carrigan continues to steal scenes as the misunderstood gay Chechnen mobster, a role which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2019.

Carrigan appears shirtless in an early episode, and fans were quick to speculate about his character’s tattoos. In a new appearance on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, the actor shed some light on their meanings

“They all tell a very specific story because they’re essentially prison tattoos,” Carrigan said. “Any particular mob will hunt me down because it’s pretty serious when you rock those kinds of those kinds of tattoos! They do have real meanings in terms of prison culture and what Hank has been through.”

Season 3 of “Barry” has received nearly universal acclaim, with critics praising the show’s increasingly dark tone as nearly every character continues to spiral.

In his review,

Sommer Carbuccia’s time-traveling comedy short “Mac & Cheese” was awarded best film at the 2022 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Awards. “Mac & Cheese” took home a total of three prizes at the annual event, with Amanda Pinto winning best director and Jake Nathanson scoring best editor.

The ceremony returned in-person for the first time in two years on Thursday night at Sony Pictures Studios’ Cary Grant Theater in Los Angeles. Christine Bélange and Liz Whitmere won the writing prize for their work on “Superhero Inc.” while “Seven” star Natalie Trevonne was saluted with best actor.

Jennifer Montzingo’s “Ily”, which centered on a group of disabled actresses, earned the nod for best awareness campaign. At the beginning of the awards presentation, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group president Josh Greenstein gave opening remarks and introduced the challenge’s founder, Nic Novicki.

Presenters included “Sound of Metal” star Paul Raci, “As We See It” actors Rick Glassman,