Jake Coyle

Completed after two years of work, Coyote vs. Acme was abruptly shelved by Warner Bros., which considered the estimated $30–40 million marketing cost unjustifiable and opted for a tax write-off on the $70 million production. Public backlash from filmmakers, politicians and fans helped keep the project alive, leading Warner Bros. to sell it to independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment for about $50 million. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on 28 August, with its story about Wile E. Coyote taking Acme to court gaining new resonance as an underdog narrative about creators challenging a powerful corporation. Those involved remain grateful for the rescue but concerned about a film industry in which completed projects can be discarded for financial reasons.

The New York Film Festival announced 32 films for its 64th main slate, running from Sept. 25 to Oct. 12. James Gray’s Queens-set crime drama “Paper Tiger,” starring Adam Driver and Miles Teller, will open the festival, while Tony Gilroy’s “Behemoth!” with Pedro Pascal will serve as the centerpiece gala. Ava DuVernay’s documentary “14th,” concerning the contested constitutional amendment and following her film “13th,” will close the festival. The lineup also includes films by Pedro Almodóvar, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Andrew Haigh, Radu Jude, Lee Chang-dong, Mike Leigh, Pawel Pawlikowski, Ira Sachs, Chris Rock, and others, reflecting contemporary social and political realities. Takashi Yamazaki’s “Godzilla Minus Zero” was separately announced as a world-premiere selection.

Broken Lizard’s Super Troopers has evolved from a low-budget 2001 comedy into an enduring cult franchise. The college friends behind the film credit their long-standing friendship, road-trip experiences and audience participation with its success, despite the decline of theatrical comedy and the need to crowdfund Super Troopers 2. Super Troopers 3, distributed by Searchlight Pictures, brings back the Vermont troopers, adds an electric police car and centers on Chief O’Hagen’s retirement and a romance between Farva and Thorny’s sister. The troupe hopes the film helps revive traditional R-rated American theatrical comedy and leaves open the possibility of a fourth installment.

A survey of films portraying artificial intelligence explores recurring fears and hopes about machine sentience, autonomy and humanity’s relationship with technology. The Terminator, 2001: A Space Odyssey, WALL-E and War Games depict AI or computerized systems threatening human survival, while The Mitchells vs. the Machines critiques data exploitation and unregulated technology. Blade Runner and Simone examine artificial identities and the replacement of human performers; Her explores emotional attachment to operating systems; Interstellar presents AI as a collaborative tool; and Ex Machina focuses on consciousness, creator ego and manipulation.

Studio Ghibli Fest has grown into a major US theatrical event, with annual screenings of Hayao Miyazaki and other Ghibli classics attracting both longtime fans and younger audiences. Launched by GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment in 2017, the festival expanded from 640 to more than 1,100 locations and generated a record $16.4 million from 14 films in 2024. Streaming on HBO Max has broadened the films’ audience rather than reducing cinema demand, while the screenings provide a communal experience that helps introduce new generations to Ghibli’s work.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey opened with an estimated $264.1 million worldwide, including $124.5 million in North America and $139.6 million internationally. The Universal production surpassed Oppenheimer’s debut and became Nolan’s strongest opening since The Dark Knight Rises, despite its $250 million production budget and substantial marketing costs. IMAX screenings generated $51.8 million globally, with demand driving sold-out late-night showings and the company’s best weekend ever. Strong reviews, an A CinemaScore and limited immediate competition suggest continued momentum, though the film’s long-term performance will depend on whether its unusually high opening is front-loaded.

Luca Guadagnino’s nearly completed $40 million film “Artificial,” about Sam Altman’s 2023 firing and reinstatement as OpenAI chief executive, has been acquired by Neon after Amazon MGM Studios put it up for sale. Neon plans to release the film worldwide this year and campaign for an Oscar, building on its record with acclaimed films including “Parasite” and “Anora.”

DC Studios’ Supergirl opened to $38 million domestically and $68 million worldwide, well below its $55 million North American target and its reported $170 million budget. Its domestic debut was also slightly lower than that of the poorly reviewed Morbius. The film earned a 56 percent Rotten Tomatoes score while Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 remained the box-office leader with $70 million in its second weekend.

Toy Story 5 led the domestic box office with an estimated $70 million in its second weekend and reached $585 million globally, while Supergirl opened a distant second with $38 million in the U.S. and Canada and $30 million internationally. The DC Studios release, produced by James Gunn and Peter Safran and directed by Craig Gillespie, received weak reviews and a B- CinemaScore, falling behind several recent DC disappointments despite costing $170 million. The result underscores the broader decline in superhero-film box office, including for female-led projects, as Warner Bros. Discovery faces a possible acquisition by Paramount Skydance. Other releases included Jackass: Best and Last, Olivia Wilde's The Invite, the unexpectedly durable horror film Obsession, and Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day.

Mel Brooks is approaching his 100th birthday, reflecting on a career devoted to making people laugh. Born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn in 1926, he served in the U.S. Army, wrote for Sid Caesar and developed the “2000 Year Old Man” sketches with Carl Reiner before creating acclaimed comedies including The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety. Brooks has also been honored by the American Film Institute and is donating thousands of documents and photographs to the National Comedy Center. Despite using mortality as a source of humor, he says he enjoys living and wants to continue for as long as possible.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members, including Jenna Ortega, Jacob Elordi, Teyana Taylor, Josh O'Connor, Simu Liu and filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie. If all accept, membership will rise to 11,319, with 10,338 eligible to vote, nearly doubling the academy's size since 2016. The incoming class is 42% women, 56% from underrepresented communities and 53% from outside the United States, while the overall membership will become 64% male and 75% white. The academy is also expanding its awards, with a casting Oscar already introduced and a stunt-design award planned for 2028; the 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027, hosted by Conan O'Brien.

Toy Story 5 opened with an estimated $160 million in US and Canadian ticket sales and $152 million internationally, producing a $312 million global debut and the biggest opening weekend of the year. The Pixar sequel surpassed Toy Story 4’s franchise record despite a $250 million production budget, and its positive reviews and A CinemaScore point to sustained theatrical strength. Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day fell to second place with $17 million in its second weekend, while The Death of Robin Hood disappointed and independent releases Leviticus and Obsession delivered contrasting results. Overall summer ticket sales are up 15 percent from last year and nearly match 2019 levels, driven by a mix of major franchises, original films and breakout low-budget successes.

Chris Meledandri has built Illumination into one of Hollywood’s most reliable animation studios, generating more than $11 billion in global box-office revenue since Despicable Me debuted in 2010. The studio’s success rests on family-friendly comedy, globally oriented production, the Minions franchise and partnerships with Universal, Nintendo and Mattel. Its next film, Minions & Monsters, places the characters behind the camera and is positioned as a test of whether Illumination can maintain its momentum. Meledandri emphasizes strict budget control, with the film costing $85 million compared with Toy Story 5’s $250 million, and says Illumination is not currently incorporating generative AI because preserving jobs is a priority. Although the studio has achieved major commercial success, it has received little recognition from the Oscars; its principal challenge now may be competition from short-form digital content rather than Disney or Pixar.

Sean Penn is set to write and direct an untitled Warner Bros. film about a police officer who was present during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Bradley Cooper is reportedly in talks to play the lead in the story, which is described as focusing on an unexpected friendship and is expected to begin production in mid-2027. Penn previously attended congressional hearings on the attack alongside D.C. police officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges.

Sean Penn is slated to direct and write a Warner Bros. film about a police officer who responded to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, with Bradley Cooper reportedly in talks to star. The untitled project is described as exploring an unexpected friendship and is expected to begin production in mid-2027. The story connects the film to Penn’s attendance at the 2022 congressional hearings, where officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges testified about being assaulted. The announcement comes amid the Justice Department’s decision not to challenge Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which would place the studio under David Ellison’s control.

Curry Barker’s microbudget horror film “Obsession” has become a major box-office phenomenon, grossing $286 million worldwide after costing only $750,000 to make. Its sustained theatrical performance has made it Focus Features’ biggest hit and prompted debate about YouTube and other digital platforms as pathways for a new generation of filmmakers. Barker’s online following, connection with Gen Z audiences and commitment to original storytelling are seen as challenging Hollywood’s reliance on established franchises. Following the film’s success, Barker has completed “Anything But Ghosts” for Blumhouse and is set to write and direct a new “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” while a sequel to “Obsession” is expected.

Scary Movie led the North American weekend box office with an estimated $55 million and a $105.5 million global launch, outperforming the much more expensive Masters of the Universe, which opened to $29.3 million domestically and $25 million overseas. The result extends a streak of strong performances by lower-budget films, including A24's Backrooms and Focus Features' Obsession, both of which continued to post unusually strong returns. Backrooms became A24's highest-grossing film, while Obsession set a fourth-weekend horror record and a Focus Features domestic record. The Mandalorian and Grogu dropped to sixth place, and the overall domestic market was up 63% from the same weekend a year earlier, with annual ticket sales rising more than 13%.

German filmmaker Wim Wenders has withdrawn his 1975 film The Wrong Move from all distribution channels after renewed concern over a nude scene involving 13-year-old actress Nastassja Kinski. Wenders apologised, acknowledged that Kinski should have been better protected, and said the film would remain unavailable pending a mutually agreed solution. He plans broader discussions with Kinski, the German Film Academy and other groups about how to address controversial films from the 20th century.

Director Wim Wenders has withdrawn his 1975 film The Wrong Move from streaming, broadcast and other distribution after Nastassja Kinski criticized the nude scene she filmed at age 13 and said he failed to protect her. Wenders apologized unreservedly and said the film will remain unavailable while he seeks a mutually agreed solution with Kinski, the German Film Academy and other film organizations. He also warned that retroactive editing could set a precedent for altering other older films.

Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won his second Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Fjord, a Norway-set drama about Romanian Evangelicals facing intervention from child services. The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve. The award extended distributor Neon’s association with the festival’s last seven Palme d’Or winners, while the 79th Cannes festival was described as subdued amid limited Hollywood participation and mixed critical reactions.

Cristian Mungiu won his second Palme d’Or at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for Fjord, joining a small group of directors who have received the festival’s top prize twice. The Norway-set drama stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as Romanian Evangelicals whose children are removed by child services after an incident involving spanking, and explores political polarisation. The subdued festival featured a jury led by Park Chan-wook and several other notable contenders, while distributor Neon extended its association with the last seven Palme d’Or winners. Barbra Streisand, who received an honorary Palme d’Or, missed the ceremony because of a knee injury.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or race is unusually open, with no clear frontrunner after a relatively subdued festival and limited Hollywood presence. Films attracting attention include Pawel Pawlikowski’s Fatherland, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden, Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur and Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord, while Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s The Black Ball emerged as a late dark horse. The nine-member jury, led by Park Chan-wook, will choose among 22 films in private deliberations. Neon’s streak of association with the previous six winners adds an industry subplot, while Barbra Streisand will miss her planned honorary Palme d’Or tribute because of a knee injury.

Bruce Dern, approaching his 90th birthday, attended Cannes for the premiere of Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern, a documentary about his decades-long acting career. The film and accompanying interviews celebrate his distinctive intensity, improvisational “Dernsies,” memorable villainous roles and more than 150 screen credits, including his Cannes-winning performance in Nebraska. His daughter Laura Dern joined him at the festival and described his continuing dedication to acting, while director Mike Mendez recounted the challenge of capturing Dern’s free-ranging personality. Dern remains committed to working for the rest of his life.

David Greaves completed his late father William Greaves’s documentary assembled from footage shot at a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance artists, writers, musicians and scholars at Duke Ellington’s Harlem townhouse. After decades of delays and the deaths of William and his widow Louise, the restored film premiered at Cannes, where it received an emotional response. Neon has acquired the documentary and plans an awards campaign and fall festival run, bringing renewed attention to the Harlem Renaissance and African American history.

Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur received an enthusiastic response at Cannes and emerged as a contender for the Palme d’Or. Set during Russia’s mobilization for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the film uses a marriage and suspected infidelity to explore corruption, deception, and the brutality of Putin’s war. Zvyagintsev, who recovered from a serious illness and relocated to Paris, made the film in Latvia after leaving Russia; he said its political themes emerged through silence, gestures, and family drama rather than direct statements.

Ryusuke Hamaguchi's three-hour Cannes drama All of a Sudden has received widespread acclaim for its patient pace, humane storytelling and exploration of genuine connection. The film follows an elderly-care facility in Paris introducing the compassionate Humanitude approach, while also examining the practical limits of such ideals. Hamaguchi connects the film's caregiving themes to his opposition to exploitative or emotionally prescriptive practices in the film industry, arguing that actors and collaborators need time to respond naturally to one another. The movie's success, following Drive My Car's Oscar recognition, has made Hamaguchi a potential Palme d'Or contender.

Artificial intelligence has become a central debate at the Cannes Film Festival, where filmmakers and industry executives are weighing its creative potential against threats to jobs, consent and artistic authenticity. Steven Soderbergh used Meta’s AI tools to create surreal imagery for his John Lennon documentary, prompting criticism but defending the experiment as a way to test the limits of acceptable use. Views among filmmakers vary from Demi Moore’s pessimism to Peter Jackson’s comparison of AI with ordinary special effects, while James Gray and Flawless executive Scott Mann argue that it can be a useful tool if applied responsibly. The discussion follows new Oscar rules and proposed Hollywood safeguards covering human performances, digital replicas and synthetic performers. Cannes has not banned AI from its selections, but festival director Thierry Frémaux called for legislation and protections for artists whose work may be displaced.

James Gray’s Paper Tiger, competing for the Palme d’Or at Cannes, has drawn strong attention for Miles Teller’s performance as Irwin Pearl, a sensitive family man whose life is threatened after his brother involves him in a scheme tied to the Gowanus Canal. Gray and Teller discuss the film’s themes of environmental pollution, organized crime, family, moral compromise and the pressures of a transactional society. Teller says his experience of losing his home in wildfires helped him connect with the Pearl family’s search for security, while Gray emphasizes the difference between genuine emotion and sentimentality.

Na Hong-jin’s long-awaited Korean sci-fi epic Hope premiered at Cannes to a reaction ranging from awe and confusion to excitement. The expensive, two-hour-40-minute film begins with a dead bull and a rural police investigation before expanding into a bloody alien story involving Hwang Jung-min, Jung Ho-yeon, Zo In-sung, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. Critics praised its spectacular action and ambition while faulting its length and unwieldy structure. Na said the film grew from an exploration of xenophobia, immigration and the conflicts caused by differences in perspective, and revealed that a space-set sequel has already been written.

Steven Soderbergh’s documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview uses surviving audio from Lennon and Yoko Ono’s final major interview, recorded on the day Lennon was killed in 1980. To visualize philosophical passages in the conversation, Soderbergh used Meta’s generative AI tools for roughly 10% of the film, prompting strong criticism at Cannes. He defends the decision as transparent and artistically necessary while acknowledging that filmmakers must establish individual ethical boundaries for AI rather than follow a single industry-wide rule.

The fourth season of HBO’s The White Lotus is being filmed around the French Riviera, with Cannes’ Hôtel Martinez and Saint-Tropez’s Airelles Château de la Messardière serving as fictional White Lotus properties. Although some cast members are attending the Cannes Film Festival, filming is not expected to significantly overlap with the event, which organizers are keeping focused on its official selections. The Martinez, a long-standing festival hub, expects production to begin in a few months and anticipates closing parts of the hotel while accommodating the shoot.

Guillermo del Toro returned to Cannes for a restoration screening of Pan's Labyrinth, two decades after the film received a record 22-minute standing ovation. He recalls choosing the difficult, independently financed project over Marvel offers despite a financier withdrawing, forest fires and the demanding creation of its handcrafted landscapes and creatures. The film, set in Francoist Spain and starring Ivana Baquero as Ofelia, became a critical success, earned six Oscar nominations and won three. Del Toro and Baquero reflect on the film's lasting impact, while its practical craftsmanship takes on renewed significance amid the rise of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Cineverse and Fathom Entertainment are scheduled to rerelease it in theaters on October 9.

The opening day of the 79th Cannes Film Festival featured an honorary Palme d’Or for Peter Jackson, presented by Elijah Wood, and formal proceedings led by Jane Fonda and Gong Li. Political issues quickly took prominence, with jury member Paul Laverty condemning the war in Gaza and Hollywood’s alleged treatment of outspoken actors, while jury president Park Chan-wook argued that political content should neither disqualify nor be required of a film. The day also drew attention to James Franco’s red-carpet appearance despite past sexual-misconduct allegations and concluded with Guillermo del Toro presenting a restored version of Pan’s Labyrinth, which he said remains relevant in an era hostile to artistic resistance.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival has opened on the French Riviera with 12 days of premieres leading to the 23 May presentation of the Palme d’Or. The French period comedy The Electric Kiss opened the festival, while director Peter Jackson received an honorary Palme d’Or. Major Hollywood blockbusters are largely absent, which artistic director Thierry Frémaux linked to wider industry restructuring, including Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Cannes remains an important launchpad for Oscar contenders, with distributor Neon maintaining a strong presence after backing the previous six Palme d’Or winners. A jury led by Park Chan-wook, alongside members including Demi Moore and Chloé Zhao, will select the awards.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival opens in the South of France with 12 days of premieres culminating in the May 23 Palme d’Or ceremony. Hollywood studio films are largely absent because of concerns about reception and the expense of bringing major stars to the French Riviera, while Cannes continues to attract prominent filmmakers and strengthen its role as a launchpad for Oscar contenders. Neon has backed the previous six Palme d’Or winners and is heavily represented in this year’s competition. The festival will also honor Peter Jackson, feature a jury led by Park Chan-wook, and host numerous major stars, while serving as the setting for the upcoming fourth season of HBO’s The White Lotus.

Neon enters the 79th Cannes Film Festival as the dominant specialty distributor after winning the Palme d'Or six years in a row. The 60-person company is backing nine films, including more than a quarter of the 22 titles in competition, with major contenders from Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Na Hong-jin and James Gray. Founded on pursuing filmmakers rather than established intellectual property, Neon has also built a strong awards record through films such as Parasite, Anora and Titane, while challenging assumptions about the audience for subtitles and daring international cinema. Its success contrasts with the reduced presence of Hollywood's major studios at Cannes, although the company remains far smaller than the blockbuster distributors and depends on tailored releases and awards campaigns.

The Cannes Film Festival is set to showcase a wide-ranging group of highly anticipated films, despite limited participation from Hollywood studios. The selection includes science-fiction, drama, horror, documentary and melodrama from filmmakers such as Park Chan-wook, James Gray, Cristian Mungiu, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Steven Soderbergh and Pedro Almodóvar. Several films could emerge as awards contenders, while the festival will also honor Peter Jackson and Barbra Streisand with honorary Palme d’Ors and host production of The White Lotus.

The Cannes Film Festival is set to begin with Hollywood largely on the sidelines but with a strong selection of international premieres and potential awards contenders. Highlights include Na Hong-jin’s genre-shifting sci-fi thriller Hope; James Gray’s Russian-mafia drama Paper Tiger; films by Cristian Mungiu, Jane Schoenbrun, Pawel Pawlikowski, Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Hirokazu Kore-eda; and new work from Ira Sachs, Arthur Harari, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Steven Soderbergh and Pedro Almodóvar. Park Chan-wook will preside over the Palme d’Or jury, while Peter Jackson and Barbra Streisand will receive honorary awards. The festival will also feature a special screening of Soderbergh’s John Lennon documentary and the arrival of HBO’s The White Lotus for production of its fourth season.

The past decade has been a difficult period for major theatrical comedies, as Hollywood studios shifted toward horror and other genres. Despite that decline, strong comedies continued to emerge, often finding larger audiences after release through streaming and word of mouth. The ranking names Barbie as the decade’s best comedy, followed by Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, Glass Onion, Lady Bird and The Death of Stalin, while also highlighting films such as The Nice Guys, Palm Springs, Game Night and Confess, Fletch as examples of comedies that were overlooked or developed cult followings.

A decade after its disappointing theatrical release, Shane Black’s 1970s-set crime comedy The Nice Guys has become a widely loved cult film through cable, streaming and rental viewing. The article credits the chemistry and comic risk-taking of Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, while placing the film within Hollywood’s broader retreat from theatrical comedies in favor of franchises, horror and streaming releases. Black remains interested in making a sequel, potentially set in the 1980s, but says its cost and the original film’s box-office performance make the project difficult to sell.

The Cannes Film Festival announced its nine-member jury for the 2026 competition, with South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook serving as president. Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga, Laura Wandel, Diego Céspedes, Isaach De Bankolé and Paul Laverty will join him in deciding the Palme d’Or. The festival is scheduled to run from May 12 to 23.

Michael, Lionsgate’s authorized Michael Jackson biopic, opened to an estimated $97 million in the United States and Canada and $217.4 million worldwide, setting a record for music biopics. The film overcame poor reviews, controversy surrounding Jackson, family opposition and extensive reshoots after its original plot violated the terms of a settlement with Jordan Chandler. Although critics gave it a 38% Rotten Tomatoes score, audiences awarded it an A- CinemaScore. The film cost nearly $200 million to produce, with Universal handling most international distribution, and a sequel is expected.

With Denis Villeneuve set to direct and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing the next James Bond film, the main unresolved question is who will replace Daniel Craig. While betting favorites include Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the piece humorously considers unconventional candidates including Steve Buscemi, Sandra Hüller, Hugh Laurie, Tony Hale and Dominic West. It ultimately gives its strongest endorsement to 31-year-old Aaron Pierre, whose poise and performance in Rebel Ridge are presented as making him an especially natural fit for 007.

Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel discuss their friendship and their roles in The Christophers, in which McKellen plays an aging artist and Coel portrays an art restorer recruited to forge his famous paintings. The two actors describe quickly developing a close bond, while director Steven Soderbergh explains his minimalist approach to capturing their chemistry without distracting visual techniques. The conversation also explores acting for film versus theater, artistic legacy, compensation and the desire to remain in audiences' memories.

More than 1,000 Hollywood actors, writers, directors, and other prominent figures have signed an open letter opposing the proposed £87 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. They warn that the deal would reduce the number of major US studios to four, leading to fewer films and television shows, job losses, higher costs, and less choice for audiences. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison says the companies would remain standalone operations and release 30 films annually, while acknowledging significant cuts from duplicated roles. The merger still requires shareholder approval and government regulatory clearance.

More than 1,000 Hollywood actors, writers and directors, including Denis Villeneuve, Kristen Stewart, J. J. Abrams and Joaquin Phoenix, have signed an open letter opposing Paramount Skydance’s proposed £87 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The coalition argues that the merger would cause job losses, reduce film production and audience choice, and leave only four major US film studios. Paramount chief executive David Ellison has promised to keep the studios operating independently and release 30 films annually, while acknowledging considerable cuts from duplicated roles. The deal still requires shareholder and regulatory approval.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival will feature competition premieres from Pedro Almodovar, Paweł Pawlikowski, Ryusuke Hamaguchi and several other internationally acclaimed auteurs. Twenty-one films will compete for the Palme d’Or, while the lineup includes returning winners such as Cristian Mungiu and Hirokazu Kore-eda. Neon has acquired three competition titles and may extend its run of consecutive Palme winners. The festival is expected to have few Hollywood releases, although films and documentaries from John Travolta, Steven Soderbergh and Ron Howard will appear in other sections. Park Chan-wook will lead the jury, while Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson will receive honorary Palmes.

Family-oriented films are dominating the box office and becoming increasingly important to the survival of movie theaters. PG-rated movies led domestic ticket sales in 2024 and 2025, while animated and family-friendly franchises generated several billion-dollar hits. Studios are expanding their theatrical slates for children and families, and exhibitors are investing in experiences designed to draw Gen Alpha away from screens at home. The trend follows a pandemic-era collapse in family cinema and comes as overall attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels, adult-oriented dramas and comedies struggle, and theaters continue to close. Industry analysts see children and families as the most reliable foundation for rebuilding moviegoing, though the shift raises concerns about the decline of mid-budget films aimed at adults.

Project Hail Mary held exceptionally well in its second weekend, earning $54.5 million in North American theaters and reaching $300.8 million worldwide after two weeks. The Amazon MGM sci-fi film, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, is outperforming comparable releases such as Oppenheimer despite its nearly $200 million production cost. They Will Kill You opened to only $5 million, while Forbidden Fruits earned $1.2 million, suggesting that the steady stream of horror releases may be saturating the market. Family films remained strong as Pixar’s Hoppers took $12.2 million, though it faces major competition from Universal’s upcoming The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Project Hail Mary’s $80.5 million opening weekend became the biggest non-franchise debut since Oppenheimer and Amazon MGM’s largest box-office hit, reinforcing a recent run of successful original films. The film’s performance, alongside Hoppers, Sinners, One Battle After Another, KPop Demon Hunters and F1, suggests audiences still respond to distinctive concepts when supported by major stars, filmmakers and marketing. Franchises remain dominant and economically easier to promote, but streaming-backed studios are increasingly willing to finance original projects because theatrical revenue can also drive attention to their platforms. The article concludes that originality has regained commercial value even as Hollywood continues to rely heavily on sequels, remakes and established intellectual property.

Pixar’s Hoppers remained the top film at the U.S. box office with $28.5 million in its second weekend, a modest 37% decline after its $45.3 million debut and a strong sign of potential staying power. Universal’s Reminders of Him opened in second place with $18.3 million, exceeding expectations despite mediocre reviews and a B CinemaScore, while extending Colleen Hoover’s successful run of film adaptations. A24’s micro-budget horror film Undertone opened to $9.3 million, delivering a notable return on its $500,000 budget. Warner Bros.’ The Bride! fell 70% in its second weekend to $2.1 million, bringing its domestic total to only $11.3 million against an estimated $80–90 million production cost. Together, the three stronger releases helped bolster moviegoing ahead of the Academy Awards.

The 2026 Academy Awards are expected to become a close contest between Paul Thomas Anderson’s Warner Bros. film One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which leads with 16 nominations. Both directors could win their first Oscars, while Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalamet face a tight best-actor race. Conan O’Brien will host amid heightened security following the United States’ war with Iran, and several nominees address immigration, political repression and the broader political moment. The ceremony will also introduce a best-casting category and require academy voters to attest that they watched all nominees. Although Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters was the most-watched film of 2025, best picture is expected to favor a major theatrical release rather than a streaming title.

Associated Press film writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle offer unconventional awards for 2025 movies ahead of the Oscars. Their selections celebrate Keke Palmer’s movie-star charisma, a cat in “Sorry, Baby,” the religious dances in “The Testament of Ann Lee,” the goldfish sequence in “Splitsville,” memorable openings, costumes, locations, child performances and inventive tonal or psychedelic scenes. The piece favors distinctive filmmaking choices and underrecognized performances over standard Oscar categories.

Peter Jackson will receive an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in recognition of a career combining Hollywood blockbusters and auteur cinema with notable artistic and technological ambition. Jackson recalled his previous visits to Cannes and expressed gratitude for the honor. Although he has not directed a feature film since 2014, he has worked on documentaries and is developing new projects, including The Hunt for Gollum with Andy Serkis. He is also pursuing a scientific effort to bring the extinct giant moa back to life.

VistaVision, a high-resolution film format introduced by Paramount in 1954, is enjoying a revival after decades of dormancy. Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” shot about 80% on antique VistaVision equipment and projected in the format at only four theaters, has demonstrated both the logistical difficulties and striking visual results of the process. The Brutalist, Bugonia, Wuthering Heights, Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia film and Alejandro Iñárritu’s Digger are among the recent or forthcoming productions using the format. The revival reflects filmmakers’ renewed interest in photochemical texture and large-format presentation amid competition from streaming and home screens; audiences at Massachusetts’ Coolidge Corner Theatre responded strongly, making the film its highest-grossing feature ever.

Associated Press film writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle predict the major winners at the 98th Academy Awards. They agree that One Battle After Another remains the likely Best Picture winner despite Sinners’ late surge, while Jessie Buckley is considered a near-certain Best Actress winner. Michael B. Jordan is favored over Timothée Chalamet for Best Actor, Teyana Taylor is tipped for Supporting Actress, Sean Penn for Supporting Actor, and Paul Thomas Anderson for Director. The writers also favor The Perfect Neighbor for Documentary Feature and KPop Demon Hunters for Animated Feature, while remaining divided between Sentimental Value and The Secret Agent for International Feature.

VistaVision, a large-format film system introduced by Paramount in 1954 and largely abandoned in the early 1960s, is enjoying a resurgence among filmmakers seeking high resolution, texture and a distinctive photochemical look. Paul Thomas Anderson and cinematographer Michael Bauman used antique VistaVision cameras for roughly 80% of One Battle After Another, overcoming their noise, limited filming duration and mechanical unreliability. The Brutalist helped renew interest, while Bugonia, Wuthering Heights, Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia film and Alejandro Iñárritu’s Digger have also used the format. The film became the first wide-release movie in more than 60 years to be projected in VistaVision, prompting theaters including Massachusetts’ Coolidge Corner Theatre to borrow museum equipment and drawing unusually large audiences.

One Battle After Another remains the overall Oscar best-picture favorite after wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Producers Guild and Directors Guild, but Sinners’ ensemble victory at the Actors Awards has made the race unexpectedly competitive. Michael B. Jordan has also surged in best actor after beating the previously favored Timothée Chalamet. Jessie Buckley remains firmly ahead in best actress, while Sean Penn leads supporting actor despite competition from Stellan Skarsgård and Delroy Lindo. Supporting actress is the most unsettled category, with Teyana Taylor, Wunmi Mosaku and Amy Madigan all viable contenders, though Madigan currently has the strongest momentum.

Catherine O’Hara received a posthumous award for best female actor in a comedy series at the 32nd Actor Awards for her role as Patty Leigh in The Studio. Seth Rogen accepted the award, praising O’Hara as a gifted and kind collaborator, while The Studio also won best comedy series and best male actor in a comedy series for Rogen.

The Actor Awards, formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards, are positioned as the final major precursor before the Oscars. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another enters as the favorite for best ensemble after wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Producers Guild Awards, while Ryan Coogler’s Sinners could inject uncertainty with an upset. Several individual acting categories remain difficult to predict, including best male actor, where Timothée Chalamet and Robert Aramayo are prominent contenders, and the supporting categories. Harrison Ford is set to receive the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, presented by Woody Harrelson, while Kristen Bell hosts the ceremony, which streams on Netflix.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” won the Producers Guild of America’s Daryl F. Zanuck Award for best feature film, strengthening its position as the leading contender for the Academy Award for best picture. The film has also won at the Directors Guild, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, while PGA and Oscar winners have closely aligned in recent years. Anderson acknowledged Warner Bros. executives Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy amid the reported sale of Warner Bros. Discovery to Paramount Skydance. The PGA also honored “KPop Demon Hunters,” “My Mom Jayne,” “The Pitt” and “The Studio” in their respective categories.

Park Chan-wook will preside over the jury at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Korean to hold the position. A regular at Cannes, he previously won the Grand Prix for Oldboy, the jury prize for Thirst and best director for Decision to Leave. Festival leaders praised his visual mastery and influence on contemporary cinema. The festival will run from May 12 to 23, following Juliette Binoche's tenure and Jafar Panahi's 2025 Palme d'Or win.

Oscar-nominated writer and political activist Mehdi Mahmoudian was released on bail from an Iranian prison 17 days after his arrest, alongside fellow statement signatories Vida Rabbani and Abdollah Momeni. The three had condemned Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the government’s violent response to nationwide protests and were reportedly accused of insulting the Supreme Leader and spreading anti-regime propaganda. Filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who co-wrote the Oscar-nominated film It Was Just an Accident with Mahmoudian and others, condemned the arrests as an effort to silence independent voices. Mahmoudian has previously served prison terms, while international pressure on Iran has intensified over its crackdown.

Akinola Davies Jr.'s directorial debut, My Father's Shadow, transforms the brothers' limited memories of their father into a fictional day spent with him in Lagos in 1993. Set against Nigeria's democratic crisis after Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida rejected an election result, the film connects personal grief and fleeting national hope. Shot in Lagos and made with Nigerian film-industry talent, it became the first Nigerian film selected for the Cannes Film Festival's official selection. The British-Nigerian production has received international recognition, including 12 British Independent Film Awards nominations, a BAFTA nomination for Davies and Gotham Awards wins.

The North American box office suffered its weakest weekend of the year as audiences focused on the Super Bowl. Send Help led with an estimated $10 million, while Melania fell 67% in its second weekend to $2.4 million despite expanding to 300 more theaters. Amazon MGM paid $40 million for the documentary’s rights and spent about $35 million on marketing, leaving the film at risk of becoming a commercial flop before its eventual Prime Video release. Other notable results included strong openings for Solo Mio and Dracula, while the independently financed Iron Lung reached $31.2 million after costing only $3 million to produce.

Paul Thomas Anderson won the top prize at the 78th Directors Guild Awards for One Battle After Another, strengthening the film’s position as a leading contender for Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars. The DGA award has historically been a strong predictor of the Oscar directing winner. Christopher Nolan, presiding over his first ceremony as Directors Guild of America president, highlighted steep employment declines among guild members despite stable audience spending on entertainment. Other winners included Charlie Polinger for first-time director, Mstyslav Chernov for documentary filmmaking, and Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg for comedy series.

Iranian screenwriter Mehdi Mahmoudian was arrested in Tehran weeks before the Academy Awards, shortly after signing a statement condemning Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the government’s violent crackdown on protesters. Fellow signatories Vida Rabbani and Abdullah Momeni were also arrested. Director and co-writer Jafar Panahi condemned Mahmoudian’s detention. Their film, “It Was Just an Accident,” made covertly in Iran, is nominated for best screenplay and best international film and previously won the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Reports indicate thousands have been killed or detained in the crackdown, though the figures could not be independently verified because Iran’s authorities restricted internet access.

The documentary Melania opened with an estimated $7 million domestically, exceeding forecasts and setting the strongest non-concert-documentary opening in 14 years. Amazon MGM Studios spent about $75 million on rights and marketing, making the project unusually expensive for a documentary, while its financial value may lie more in political and regulatory considerations than direct profit. Critics broadly panned the film, but audiences gave it an A CinemaScore, with ticket buyers predominantly older, female and white and strongest results in Florida and Texas. Directed by Brett Ratner, who denies sexual-misconduct allegations, the film chronicles Melania Trump during the 20 days preceding Donald Trump’s second inauguration and will later stream on Prime Video.

A major winter storm that prompted warnings for more than 140 million Americans and forced hundreds of theater closures produced Hollywood's quietest weekend of the year. Amazon MGM's sci-fi thriller Mercy opened at No. 1 with an estimated $11.2 million, displacing Avatar: Fire & Ash, which earned $7 million domestically but remained strong overseas. Avatar: Fire & Ash has surpassed $1 billion internationally, though its $378.5 million domestic total trails the earlier Avatar films. Oscar nominees Hamnet and Marty Supreme posted solid results, while Return to Silent Hill, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, H Is for Hawk and Clika struggled.

Oscar nominations for the 98th Academy Awards are expected to be led by Ryan Coogler’s vampire film Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. Sinners could surpass the record of 14 nominations, while One Battle After Another may receive as many, including an unusually large number of acting nominations. Their performances are also expected to give Warner Bros. its strongest Oscar showing ever as the studio faces a proposed acquisition by Netflix. The ceremony will introduce a casting award and take place March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Conan O’Brien and broadcast on ABC and Hulu.

The Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, will announce nominations Wednesday on Netflix’s YouTube channel. Voted on by more than 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members, the awards are closely watched as an indicator of Oscar prospects. One Battle After Another and Sinners are considered likely best ensemble nominees, while Timothée Chalamet is gaining momentum for best male actor for Marty Supreme. The ceremony will take place March 1 at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, stream live on Netflix and include a life achievement award for Harrison Ford.

Avatar: Fire and Ash led the North American box office for a third consecutive weekend, earning an estimated $40 million and pushing its worldwide total beyond $1 billion, including $777.1 million internationally. Zootopia 2 remained a major success in second place, while The Housemaid and Marty Supreme also showed strong holiday-season durability. Overall domestic sales rose 26.5% from the comparable weekend in 2025, although the industry remains below pre-pandemic attendance levels. Studios are cautiously optimistic that a slate featuring new Toy Story, Avengers, Spider-Man, Super Mario Bros. and Dune films could make 2026 the decade's strongest box-office year, despite uncertainty surrounding Warner Bros.' proposed $83 billion sale to Netflix.

Avatar: Fire and Ash led the holiday box office with $64 million domestically over the weekend and $88 million across the four-day period, reaching $217.7 million in North America and $542.7 million overseas. A24’s original film Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, opened to $27.1 million over four days, outperforming Sony’s Anaconda. Despite a strong Christmas period, 2025 domestic ticket sales are projected at roughly $8.76 billion, essentially flat with 2024 and well below 2019 levels, underscoring continuing pressure on theaters. PG-rated films outperformed PG-13 releases for the second straight year, with Disney’s Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch and Avatar sequels among the leading blockbusters. The industry is looking to a major 2026 release slate for a potential recovery, while Netflix’s pursuit of Warner Bros. raises concerns about the future of theatrical distribution.

Rob Reiner, the acclaimed actor, director and son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, has died at 78 alongside his wife, Michele Singer, at their Los Angeles home. Authorities are investigating the deaths as a suspected homicide. Reiner became famous as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family before directing influential films including This Is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally.... He also co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment, acted extensively, and was a prominent liberal and Democratic activist involved in same-sex-marriage and early-childhood initiatives. His career was shaped by both his family legacy and his collaborations with figures such as Norman Lear, Stephen King and William Goldman.

The 83rd Golden Globe nominations are expected to favor Sinners, Wicked: For Good and One Battle After Another, while the split drama and comedy-musical categories leave room for surprises. The ceremony is introducing a best podcast award, continuing the Globes’ post-scandal restructuring under new ownership, a larger voting body and a move from NBC to CBS. One Battle After Another is described as the early Oscar best picture front-runner, with Hamnet, Sentimental Value and Marty Supreme also in contention; Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker will receive honorary awards.

Associated Press film writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle select and rank their best movies of 2025. Both place Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another first, while also strongly recommending films including Sinners, Marty Supreme and It Was Just an Accident. The selections span studio comedies, genre hybrids, documentaries, international cinema and films addressing grief, trauma, political violence and social marginalization. The writers argue that 2025 demonstrated continued audience interest in theatrical moviegoing despite major disruption in Hollywood, while noting that many acclaimed films remained underseen and that box-office and awards recognition are less lasting than the films themselves.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another has rapidly become the Oscar front-runner after winning best film from the Gotham Awards, New York Film Critics Circle and National Board of Review, along with directing and acting honors. Its story of political resistance and an immigrant detention-facility raid has resonated amid Donald Trump’s second term. Despite strong reviews and solid ticket sales for an adult-oriented, nearly three-hour film, its production and marketing costs could produce a loss of up to $100 million, making a potential best-picture victory unusual. The awards race remains open, with Sinners, Marty Supreme and Hamnet among the contenders, but the film’s momentum and relative performance in a weak fall marketplace give it a significant advantage.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another won Best Feature Film at the 35th annual Gotham Awards in Manhattan, launching the film’s awards-season campaign and strengthening its Oscar prospects. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi won three awards for It Was Just an Accident, including Best Director and Best International Film, although his achievement was overshadowed by a one-year prison sentence and two-year travel ban. Sopé Dìrísù and Wunmi Mosaku also won for lead and supporting performances.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another won Best Feature at the 35th Gotham Awards, strengthening its position as an early Oscar contender after the awards’ budget cap was removed. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi won Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Film for It Was Just an Accident, even as he faced a new one-year prison sentence and two-year travel ban in Iran. Other acting, directing, screenplay and documentary winners included performers and filmmakers from My Father’s Shadow, Sinners, Pillion, Souleymane’s Story and My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow, while several prominent figures received tribute honours.