Tag: movies

  • Backrooms and Obsession get competition: Call it old versus new and nostalgia versus the future

    Backrooms and Obsession get competition: Call it old versus new and nostalgia versus the future

    The box office battle of the new week begins.

    There are going to be a couple of things to watch very closely over the next several days, namely how well Obsession and The Backrooms perform during their next weekend at the box office now that some fresh competition is arriving.

    Remember, Obsession was originally scheduled to hit streaming this week, but that date was pushed back due to its continued success in theaters. Meanwhile, The Backrooms just keeps plugging away, posting surprisingly strong numbers even on weeknights. Neither film appears ready to disappear just yet.

    This week, however, brings us a pair of nostalgia-fueled challengers. One is built on 1980s superheroes and the other on early 2000s comedy. Whether either one connects with modern audiences remains to be seen.

    Scary Movie 6 premieres this weekend, as does Masters of the Universe. Both films have generated anticipation and, in theory, should attract decent crowds. Yet early projections suggest that the He-Man adaptation could be surprisingly ill-fated at the box office, while Scary Movie 5 may not be nearly as funny as audiences had hoped.

    While regular moviegoers have not yet fully weighed in, paid reviewers certainly have. For the most part, the reviews for Masters of the Universe have been lukewarm, while Scary Movie 6 has been getting hit even harder.

    If we were to compare them to beverages, Masters of the Universe would be a flat seltzer water and Scary Movie 6 would be that same seltzer after somebody microwaved it.

    As a matter of fact, when comparing the two films, Masters of the Universe should easily dominate the box office. The question is whether Generation X and older Millennials can convince their kids to care about He-Man. The kids may not be all right when it comes to 1980s nostalgia. The decade is long gone, and nostalgia for it may have finally started running out of steam.

    Then again, Scary Movie has its own problem. If the jokes don’t make people laugh, nothing else really matters.

    There is one important caveat, however. Critics have never been particularly fond of movies like Scary Movie. They didn’t like the earlier Scary Movie films. They didn’t like many of the National Lampoon’s movies. They weren’t exactly champions of The Naked Gun either. Irreverent comedies that exist primarily to make audiences laugh have often received a chilly reception from reviewers.

    We’ll see how it all plays out.

    Maybe the critics are right.

    Maybe audiences will disagree.

    And maybe, just maybe, Obsession and The Backrooms will once again dominate the weekend.

    To be determined at a theater near you.

  • $$ HORROR HOT AT BOX $$

    $$ HORROR HOT AT BOX $$

    Box office watchers are saying to prepare for a possible shock this weekend.. both BACKROOMS and OBSESSION continue to score high and rake in cash … Meanwhile the 2000s called and asked for the Mandalorian back..

    MORE..

    Kane Parsons has won over a younger generation.. his film is connecting with the under-35 demo (a massive 87% turnout since Thursday night) with Backrooms now on track to hoard a $76M to $79M after a $33M-$35M Friday at 3,442 theaters, which includes Thursday night’s $10.4M. Some are expecting an $80 mil opening!

    But even bigger is Curry Barker’s horror world..

    A24/Chernin Entertainment co-financed movie isn’t even hurting business for Focus Features’ Curry Barker Obsession, which is going over $100M in its third frame after what’s shaping up to be a 3-day of $25M at 2,780 theaters …

    Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu has seen a 69% drop from its first week..

    DEVELOPING

  • If He-Man fails of the box office you sure can’t blame the marketing campaign!

    If He-Man fails of the box office you sure can’t blame the marketing campaign!

    As we’ve written before, we’re still not sure if the He-Man movie coming out in June is going to do well or not. But if it doesn’t do well, you certainly can’t blame the advertising team, because they are doing a heck of a job promoting the crap out of this movie.

    Now, in the run-up to the film, some absolutely amazing Masters of the Universe posters have been released, with 18 character posters produced so far. Some fans have complained that the movie itself doesn’t seem to have the bright colors and visual style of the classic cartoon, but these posters showcase a beautiful array of colors, scenery, and character designs that look very much inspired by the 1980s comic series and classic action figures.

    The posters feature Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Camila Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Fisto, James Purefoy as King Randor, Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena, Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto, James Wilkinson as Mekaneck, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Goat Man.

    At this point, the fandom is definitely alive and well, but a large portion of that fandom is made up of Gen Xers and millennials who grew up with these characters. Let’s hope the posters and the movie itself connect with younger audiences as well, because if they do, Masters of the Universe could become something much bigger than just a nostalgia trip.

    Meet the characters of Masters of the Universe with a series of 18 new character posters:

    • Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man
    • Jared Leto as Skeletor
    • Camila Mendes as Teela
    • Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms
    • Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn
    • Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress
    • Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Fisto
    • James Purefoy as King Randor
    • Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena
    • Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto
    • James Wilkinson as Mekaneck
    • Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Goat Man
    • Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops
    • Jon Xue Zhang as Ram-Man
    • Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw
    • James Apps as Spikor
    • Beast Man
    • Battle Cat

    Based on the classic Mattel toy line, the sci-fi action-adventure film opens in theaters — including Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and D-BOX — on June 5 via Amazon MGM Studios.

    After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia, where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Man-At-Arms, and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.

    Travis Knight (Bumblebee) directs from a script by Chris Butler (ParaNorman), Aaron & Adam Nee (The Lost City), and David Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).

    Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, Steve Tisch, and DeVon Franklin produce, with Ynon Kreiz, Bill Bannerman, and David Bloomfield serving as executive producers.

    Mattel launched Masters of the Universe with a toy line in 1982 followed by the “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” cartoon from 1983-1985. The franchise now includes multiple animated series, toy lines, comics, video games, and books, along with a 1987 live-action film.

  • Gremlins Secret Screening Shows Assembly Cut for First Time!

    Gremlins Secret Screening Shows Assembly Cut for First Time!

    The Hollywood Reporter published this exclusive over the weekend, this is truly amazing, Gremlins stands out there all would have loved to be in the screening…

    According to the report, this rough assembly cut of Gremlins runs around 2 hours, 35 minutes long, and it was unveiled as part of a secret screening attended by a select group of filmmakers and fans. This particular cut is from Joe Dante’s personal collection, and Ian Grant from The Gremlins Museum cleaned up and digitized the footage from Dante’s personal VHS tape.

    Even cooler.. Zach Galligan even notes that the cut features “stuff I have absolutely no memory of having shot.” He also makes it clear that the Gremlins assembly cut features both previously released deleted scenes (you’ll find them on physical media) and most importantly, brand new footage Gremlins fans have NEVER seen up to this point!

    READ THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER ..

    We can’t wait for Gremlins 3 but this two-hour plus original Gremlins movie might be even more exciting if it’s ever released for wide audiences as it should be. The greatest Christmas movie of all time..

  • A return to the Blair Witch re-project

    A return to the Blair Witch re-project

    Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams, stars of the original 1999 The Blair Witch Project, will serve as executive producers on Lionsgate’s upcoming reboot, along with the first movie’s directing team of Eduardo Sánchez, Daniel Myrick and Gregg Hale.

    Eh.. color us unimpressed ? Maybe it will for fine but that movie was made in a magic time when movies still felt like magic…

    Could this remake be a little too late to make a difference??

  • ACME.. Warner.. Warner .. Acme… so many similarities?

    ACME.. Warner.. Warner .. Acme… so many similarities?

    For years, the Road Runner has been uncaught because of defective products from ACME.. Wile E. Coyote never had a chance..

    Will Forte will now represent.

    This movie has been shelved for a long time but later this summer, on August 29, it is finally being released into theaters..

    Deadline reports, while Warner Bros. long ago completed and tested the film, also starring John Cena and Lana Condor, they shelved it all the way back in the fall of 2023 amid rampant cost-cutting efforts led by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. The move ignited outrage not only among the film’s key creatives, but across Hollywood at large, leading the studio to shop the project. Multiple studios placed bids, but Ketchup Entertainment wound up landing the project in a deal valued at around $50M, as we first reported last March.

    It was shelved in 2023 when WBD CEO David Zaslav decided to cancel it – along with a number of other films and shows – in order to receive a tax write-down.

    Even Will Forte said at the time, “My thoughts were that it’s f–king bulls–t. It is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better than it got,” he said. “I can not tell you possibly why the decision was made to not release it. But it makes my blood boil.”

    As the movie finally sets on releasing, let’s not forget the LONE PROTESTER outside of Warner who wanted to bring attention to the movie not being released!


    The people who begged for this movie better go see it in theaters. This isn’t just a movie anymore, it’s a message to big movie companies!

  • We finally watched Undertone so you don’t have to. Although you might very well want to

    We finally watched Undertone so you don’t have to. Although you might very well want to

    It was good!


    There may be some spoilers here. Maybe not. That’s kind of the nature of this one.


    First off, there are people far smarter than us—or at least people who say they are—who have already broken this film down and latched onto the meaning behind the title. Undertone isn’t just a name. It’s the entire point.


    Our main protagonist, Evie, is the host of the Undertone podcast alongside Justin. The premise is simple enough: they’re playing ten anonymous audio files sent in by someone who refuses to explain who they are or why they sent them. Evie plays the skeptic, Justin leans into belief, and together they perform that balance for the show.


    But as the movie unfolds, it becomes clear Evie isn’t really a skeptic. She’s hiding.


    She’s masking fear, depression, and something deeper that she doesn’t want to confront. When she finds out she’s pregnant, the film quietly reveals another layer… this is not a joyful moment for her. It’s unwanted. And just like the recordings being forced into her life, it’s something she didn’t ask for but now has to face.
    From there, the movie settles into a slow, uncomfortable rhythm. We’re introduced to distorted audio, demonic undertones buried in nursery rhymes, and recordings that feel wrong in ways that are hard to explain. It’s not about what you hear. It’s about what you don’t hear. The silence. The gaps. The suggestion that something is just beneath the surface.


    At the same time, Evie’s mother is dying.


    And this is where the movie starts to hit differently.


    While her mother fades in the next room, Evie retreats into headphones, noise cancellation, and the world of the podcast. She’s drowning out reality while simultaneously immersing herself in something just as disturbing. It’s not just avoidance… it’s a form of coping. Or maybe it’s a form of surrender.
    A lot of people have analyzed this film and pulled meaning from it. There are layers here, and most of them are subtle. But the last ten minutes? Subtle is gone.


    The final stretch is chaotic. Loud. Disjointed. Almost overwhelming.


    The movie has been quiet for so long, relying on tension and sound design instead of cheap jump scares. Then suddenly, everything breaks. It mirrors Evie’s emotional collapse as her mother’s death rattle fills the room. It’s uncomfortable, messy, and confusing… just like grief.



    Everyone is going to walk away from Undertone with a different interpretation. But if you’ve ever cared for someone who was dying, this movie is going to land in a way that’s hard to shake. You hide from it. You distract yourself. You consume media that somehow reflects what you’re going through, hoping to find meaning in the pain.


    That’s the undertone of this film… PAIN.


    Evie isn’t a skeptic because she doesn’t believe. She’s a skeptic because she needs to be. Because believing means confronting everything she’s trying to avoid.


    And in the end, loss doesn’t come cleanly. It comes with agony, confusion, fear, and despair.
    This movie has all of it.


    Like we said… we watched Undertone so you don’t have to. But honestly, you probably should.


    It may not be the “scariest movie of the year” like every trailer claims these days, but it might be one of the most effective. And depending on where you are in life—whether you’ve experienced loss or you’re in the middle of it—the undertone of this film might hit you harder than anything else you’ll see this year.

  • Why the sad face when we’re going to get a clay face

    Why the sad face when we’re going to get a clay face

    The excitement is real right now. A brand new trailer dropped today for Clayface, and it’s got people talking in a big way.

    This isn’t your typical DC rollout either. The film is directed by James Watkins and stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a disfigured actor who undergoes a transformation that turns him into something far more terrifying than anyone expected. The budget is reportedly around $40 million, which is actually pretty modest by superhero standards… but in a weird way, that almost adds to the intrigue. This feels less like a blockbuster and more like a calculated risk. A horror-driven swing inside the DC universe.
    And you can feel that immediately in the trailer.


    What we’re seeing is full-on body horror. Clayface appears with what looks like bandages wrapping around his face like a mummy, cutting between strange flashbacks and moments that feel completely ungrounded. Then there’s that final shot… his face looks human for a split second before he swipes it downward like a glitchy computer program and it just dissolves into nothing. It’s unsettling in a way that DC hasn’t really leaned into before. This isn’t just dark… it’s uncomfortable.


    What makes this even more interesting is that it doesn’t appear to be directly tied to Batman. From everything out there right now, Batman isn’t expected to actually show up. That said, this is still Gotham, and you can almost guarantee the presence will be felt through references, atmosphere, and the world itself. Honestly, that might be the smarter move. Let Clayface stand on his own and let the horror breathe.


    And speaking of that… the timing couldn’t be better. An October release puts this right in the heart of Halloween season, and if DC plays this right with a steady rollout of trailers throughout the year, the hype could build in a very real way. This has the chance to pull in not just comic fans, but horror fans too… and that’s a lane DC hasn’t fully owned yet.


    I’ll be honest, though… part of my excitement comes from something a little more personal. I’ve always liked Clayface. Going back to playing as him in Lego Batman: The Videogame on the Wii and Wii U, he was this big, goofy, fun character. Not the main villain, not the most popular… but memorable. And now seeing that same character turned into something this disturbing and serious… it’s kind of wild in the best way. It taps into that nostalgia but flips it on its head.


    The movie looks great. It looks scary. And yeah… that $40 million budget might be a little scary too when you start thinking about box office expectations. It’s way too early to know how this thing is going to perform, but if the tone lands and the marketing keeps building like this, don’t be surprised if this ends up being one of the more talked-about DC releases in a long time.


    This might be the one that quietly changes everything.

  • FACE OF DEATH WEEKEND

    FACE OF DEATH WEEKEND

    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie which is posting $18.7 million Friday on its way to a $71M three-day total at 4,284 theaters, off 46% week over week, will end up being the number 1 film for the weekend again..

    FACES OF DEATH doesn’t stand a chance to get that big..

    As a matter of fact, FACES OF DEATH has received little media attention.. little advertising.. little notoriety besides on horror sites or genre forums..

    And those horror sites have not been too nice..

    Bloody Disgusting wrote:

    Smart commentary and a clever approach get Faces of Death off to a strong start, but it lacks the conviction to see its bolder ideas through to its forgettable and far too conventional end. Whereas watching the 1978 film felt like a rite of passage, this update superficially wades into ideas already covered more chillingly in films like Red Rooms.

    Others have not been nicer..

    It is getting a less than stellar opening reception on ROTTEN TOMATOES..

    Faces of Death opens in 1,600 movie houses…

  • Jamie Lee Curtis they wrote

    Jamie Lee Curtis they wrote

    Well this announcement may not be too exciting to every generation people over a certain age will highly anticipate Jamie Lee Curtis starring in a Murder She Wrote movie coming out in December of 2027

    Jamie Lee Curtis’ “Murder, She Wrote” adaptation has tapped “Pitch Perfect” and upcoming “Legally Blonde” prequel director Jason Moore is going to direct ..

    Disappears to be a very Niche movie idea. Jamie Lee Curtis obviously has the horror movie cred and many people who are not alive anymore fondly would recall Angela Lansbury giving us a weekly mystery murder show. We’ll see how it works..