What's streaming now: 'Oppenheimer,' Adam Sandler as a lizard and celebs dancing to Taylor Swift
This week’s new streaming entertainment releases include Adam Sandler playing a 74-year-old elementary class lizard in the latest Netflix animation offering “Leo” and “Oppenheimer” finally arriving on home screens.
‘Blue Beetle’ unseats ‘Barbie’ atop box office, ending four-week reign
The DC superhero film “Blue Beetle” led weekend ticket sales with an estimated $25.4 million, according to studio estimates, dethroning “Barbie” from the top spot after a record-setting run that left movie theaters colored pink for a month.
What to stream this weekend: Post Malone, 'Beanie Bubble,' 'This Fool,' Rolling Stones and 'Heels'
This week’s new entertainment releases include a new album from Post Malone, a movie starring Zach Galifianakis about the creation of the cute collectable Beanie Babies and a video game for the whole family with Disney Illusion Island.
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New York cinemas reopen, brightening outlook for theaters
Kathyn Dennet, center, and Brian Haver leave the IFC Center after viewing a screening on "Mank", Friday, March 5, 2021, in New York. Theaters in many other areas reopened last summer around the release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” but that attempted comeback fizzled. “It’s a symbolic moment,” said Michael Barker, co-president of the New York-based Sony Pictures Classics, which on Friday released the Oscar contenders “The Father” and “The Truffle Hunters” in Manhattan theaters. Some of the city’s prominent theaters, including the Film Forum, the Alamo Drafthouse, the Metrograph and Regal Cinemas were targeting openings in the coming weeks. “We in the movie theater business live off of movies that play all around the country and all around the world.
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‘Dark Knight,’ ‘Grease’ added to National Film Registry
This image released by the Library of Congress shows Heath Ledger, left, and Christian Bale in a scene from the 2008 film "The Dark Knight." The film was added to the National Film Registry. (Warner Bros.-Library of Congress via AP)LOS ANGELES – This year's inductees into the National Film Registry include a record number of female directors and filmmakers of color as well as a new crop of movies ranging from a silent short film thriller, classic musicals and an acclaimed Batman film. The national library said this year’s selections include a record nine films directed by women and filmmakers of color. Christopher Nolan’s 2008 Batman film “The Dark Knight” was a blockbuster and the top public vote-getter.
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Disney unveils plans to stream a galaxy of new series, films
NEW YORK – The Walt Disney Co.’s streaming plans shifted into hyper speed Thursday, as the studio unveiled a galaxy’s worth of new streaming offerings including plans for 10 “Star Wars” series spinoffs and 10 Marvel series that will debut on Disney+. But Disney also kept its biggest films — including Marvel's “Black Widow," Pixar's “Luca,” a “Lion King” prequel — on course for theatrical release. Jenkins becomes the first woman to direct a “Star Wars” film. Among the “Star Wars” series are two spinoffs of “The Mandalorian,” set during the series' timeline: “Rangers of the New Republic” and “Ahsoka,” with Rosario Dawson. Seven Disney films topped $1 billion worldwide.
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Christopher Nolan calls Warner's streaming plan ‘a mess’
Christopher Nolan, one of Warner Bros.’ most important filmmakers, has come out strongly against the company’s decision to debut its films on HBO Max and in theaters in 2021. The “Tenet” filmmaker told The Associated Press Monday that it’s not a good business decision and criticized how the company handled it. “I’ve never seen everybody so upset about one particular decision,” Nolan said. And it’s not a good business decision," Nolan said. With major markets like Los Angeles and New York closed, domestic ticket sales fizzled, and Warner Bros. and other studios responded by delaying the year’s remaining major films.
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‘Tenet’ to head to home release in Dec. after theatrical run
NEW YORK – After several months in pandemic-altered theaters, Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” will head to home release on Dec. 15, Warner Bros. said Thursday. Contending with limited capacity regulations and theaters that remained closed in some states, the Warner Bros. release has so far grossed $53.8 million at the U.S. and Canadian box office. In its ninth week of release in the U.S., “Tenet” grossed $885,000 in 1,601 locations last weekend. But following the release of “Tenet," along with rising virus cases in the U.S. and Europe, other big-budget releases moved out of 2020. Warner Bros. didn’t announce on-demand or streaming plans for “Tenet.”More: Entertainment News
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Liam Neeson’s ‘Honest Thief’ notches No. 1 at box office
LOS ANGELES – Liam Neeson’s thriller “Honest Thief” stole the top spot at the box office in yet another quiet weekend of moviegoing. The Open Roads Films movie brought in $3.7 million in North America the weekend of its U.S. debut. The film, starring Neeson as a notorious bank robber who turns himself in but was double crossed by two FBI agents, opened in Canada last week. Despite coming in second, the comedy starring Robert De Niro earned $2.5 million. The action-thriller starring John David Washington and Robert Pattinson has totaled $50.6 million in the U.S.
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Outlook not improving for beleaguered US movie theaters
About three quarters of the country’s movie theaters are open, but Americans are not going back in significant numbers in the COVID-era, even with new films coming into the marketplace weekly. The faith-based “Infidel,” which stars Jim Caviezel, did the best with $1.5 million from just over 1,700 theaters. Both played in under 500 theaters across the country and neither got much more than $200 per location. “The Nest” earned an estimated $62,000 from 301 locations and “The Secrets We Keep” brought in just under $90,000 from 471 theaters. Christopher Nolan's “Tenet” has only earned $36.1 million from North American theaters to date.
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North America box office remains muted as ‘Tenet’ tops again
Moviegoing audiences in North America are not rushing back to the theater just yet. In the second major weekend for U.S. and Canadian movie theaters, Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” earned only $6.7 million from 2,910 locations, according to studio estimates Sunday. Although it is enough to top the charts, it also isn’t enough to jumpstart the struggling domestic exhibition industry. The weekend’s only major new opener was Sony’s PG-13 rom-com “The Broken Hearts Gallery,” which earned an estimated $1.1 million from 2,204 North American locations. Other still-closed markets include North Carolina, Michigan, New Mexico and the cities of Seattle and Portland.
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Pandemic chases 'Wonder Woman 1984' to Dec. 25
NEW YORK – Following the less-than-stellar theatrical debut of Christopher Nolan's “Tenet,” Warner Bros. is delaying its next big release, “Wonder Woman 1984," to Christmas. The postponement of the “Wonder Woman” sequel, which had been scheduled to hit theaters Oct. 2, comes on the heels of Hollywood's strongest attempt to lure moviegoers back to theaters during the pandemic. Warner Bros.' $200 million “Tenet" fared well in its international-first release, but found ticket sales harder to come by in the United States. The “Wonder Woman 1984” postponement suggests Hollywood's fall may go little better than its summer. “Wonder Woman 1984,” one of many blockbusters originally set for the summer, had been the next big-budget release on the calendar.
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Launching in U.S. theaters, 'Tenet' tallies $20.2 million
NEW YORK In a litmus test for American moviegoing in the pandemic, Christopher Nolan's Tenet brought in an estimated $20.2 million through the holiday weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters. Theaters in Canada, where COVID-19 cases are much lower than in the U.S., began showing Tenet a week earlier. In two weeks of release, its overseas total is $126 million, with a global tally thus far of $146.2 million. The film, which cost $200 million to make and at least $100 million to market, will need to get close to $500 million to break even. Disney's The New Mutants," a long delayed X-Men spinoff, collected about $7 million in 2,412 locations last weekend.
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'Tenet' launches with $53M in overseas gambit at box office
Given the circumstances, it was difficult to forecast the performance of the $200 million Tenet, starring John David Washington Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki. As part of their safety protocols, movie theaters are mandating mask wearing, cleaning cinemas in between showings and operating at 50% capacity to distance moviegoers usually crowded shoulder to shoulder. The large-format exhibitor accounted for $5 million of the film's box office. Tenet will open this week in the U.S. and China, the two largest markets. We're very encouraged.Disney will next week release the live-action remake of Mulan for a $30 digital rental through its streaming service, Disney+.
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Tenet to screen early at theaters in some U.S. cities
Some U.S. moviegoers will be able to see Christopher Nolans Tenet a few days early. Warner Bros. on Tuesday said that it would be offering early access screenings starting Aug. 31 as a gesture of support to the domestic theaters that are reopening after five months of being closed because of COVID-19. Tenet is the first major new Hollywood movie to be released in theaters since most locations shuttered in mid-March. Warner Bros. is proud to support our partners in exhibition as they reopen their doors, said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution, in a written statement. Early domestic screenings of Tenet will be scheduled on the evenings of Aug. 21, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 where theaters are open in the U.S. Tickets go on sale Friday.
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Elizabeth Debicki to play Princess Diana on 'The Crown'
NEW YORK The Crown has found its Princess Diana. Elizabeth Debicki will play the Princess of Wales in seasons five and six of The Crown, the Netflix series announced Sunday. Debicki will join a new cast for the series that includes Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth and Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret. Emma Corrin is playing Diana on the dramas upcoming fourth season, but Debicki will take on the part for what's sure to be the character's most dramatic chapters. Princess Dianas spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many, Debicki said on Twitter.
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AMC to offer 15-cent tickets on first day of reopening
NEW YORK AMC Theatres, the nation's largest movie theater chain, will reopen in the U.S. on Aug. 20 with retro ticket prices of 15 cents per movie. AMC theaters have reopened in numerous international countries but have remained shuttered in the U.S. since March. During its opening-day promotion, AMC will show catalog films, including Ghostbusters, Black Panther," Back to the Future and Grease." AMC confirmed that Disney's much-delayed New Mutants will debut in theaters Aug. 28, with Christopher Nolan's Tenet to follow Sept. 3. AMC said Thursday is expects about two thirds of its theaters will be open in time for Tenet. Several states, including California and New York, are yet to allow movie theaters to reopen.
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'Tenet' to open internationally first, in US a week later
This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Elizabeth Debicki, left, and John David Washington in a scene from "Tenet." Warner Bros. said Monday that Tenet will not make its August 12 release date. Warner Bros. on Monday said Tenet will arrive in more than 70 countries on Wednesday, Aug. 26, including Japan, Russia, much of Europe, Australia and Canada. The $200 million thriller will open in the U.S. a week later on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Warner Bros. will also deliberately spread out its opening weekend, debuting the film mid-week to space out eager moviegoers.
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Movie theaters implore studios: Release the blockbusters
FILE - Posters for upcoming movies are displayed in an empty corridor at the currently closed AMC Burbank Town Center 8 movie theaters complex on April 29, 2020, in Burbank, Calif. After several false starts, the film industry is hoping to bring new releases back into movie theaters in late August. While the beleaguered restaurant industry still has takeout and airlines continue to operate with masked flyers, the vast majority of U.S. movie theaters havent punched a single ticket since March. The largest studios the Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros., Universal now all have streaming services of their own now, along with television operations. Theaters in China, the worlds second largest movie market, this week reopened with theaters limited to 30% capacity. If they dont do something, if they just keeping holding the films back, the theaters are going to die.
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Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet' delayed indefinitely by virus
Warner Bros. said Monday that Tenet will not make its August 12 release date. And unlike previous delays, the studio this time didnt announce a new target for the release of Nolans much-anticipated $200 million thriller. (Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP)NEW YORK Christopher Nolan's Tenet, which had hoped to herald Hollywood's return to big theatrical releases, has yet again postponed its release due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Warner Bros. said Monday that Tenet will not make its August 12 release date. Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich said the studio will soon share a new 2020 release date for Tenet."
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Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet' again delays big summer release
LOS ANGELES With reported cases of the coronavirus surging, Warner Bros. on Thursday postponed the release of Christopher Nolans Tenet, further delaying Hollywood's summer kickoff. The sci-fi thriller starring John David Washington and Robert Pattinson will move from July 31 to Aug. 12, a Wednesday. Movie theaters had been pinning their hopes on the film as a major July release that could bring audiences back to theaters. Warner Bros. had planned to re-release Nolan's 2010 blockbuster Inception in early July as a way to lead in to Tenet." Inception will now open on July 31, the studio said.
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AMC Theaters reverses course on masks after backlash
FILE - In this April 29, 2020 file photo, the AMC sign appears at AMC Burbank 16 movie theater complex in Burbank, Calif. AMC Theaters CEO Adam Aron said Friday that its theaters will require patrons to wear masks upon reopening, which will begin in July. AMC Theaters CEO Adam Aron said Friday that its theaters will require patrons to wear masks upon reopening, which will begin in mid-July. The interview came on the same day that California started requiring people throughout the state to wear masks in most indoor settings and outdoors when distancing isnt possible. AMC plans to sell masks for $1.
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Hollywood evolves during pandemic with drive-in premiere
It beat a traditional, more buttoned-up red carpet event, Franco said. His movie is set to be released via video-on-demand and at drive-ins and traditional theaters on July 24. Franco says that like many in Hollywood, he's tracking Christopher Nolans Tenet, scheduled for release July 31. Obviously thats the giant movie that everyones focused on and that all the theaters are really trying to open in time for that film. ... Im happy to creep behind Christopher Nolan all day.Franco is hoping to hold another premiere event closer to the films release maybe even in a traditional theater.
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Academy delays 2021 Oscars ceremony because of coronavirus
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the ABC Television Network said Monday that the 93rd Academy Awards will now be held April 25, 2021, eight weeks later than originally planned because of the pandemics effects on the movie industry. The Oscars ceremony date was the big lingering unknown, however. Now, Oscars nominations will be announced on March 15 and the nominees luncheon will be on April 15. Further, the future eligibility of films for the 94th Oscars and that show date will be announced later. The eligibility window was extended beyond 12 months once before in advance of the 6th Academy Awards in 1934.
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Movie theaters, shuttered for months, plan July reopening
AMC Theaters, the world's largest theater operator, said Tuesday that it expects to have 97-98% of its theaters worldwide reopened by mid-July. It will be up to movie theater operators to convince moviegoers that its safe to once again sit in the dark among strangers. Only recently have state guidelines allowed the reopening of theaters in California (including in the countrys top market, Los Angeles, where local officials have yet to agree). Before Tenet arrives, theaters will play just as those that are currently open are showing recent and classic catalog offerings. Though a handful of movies have been steered to streaming or on-demand platforms during the pandemic, most studio films have been postponed until theaters reopen.