‘Dune: Part Two’ Approaching $500 Million at Box Office

'Dune: Part Two' Approaching $500 Million at Box Office

Who said the theatrical movie industry is hurting? Dune: Part Two, the highly anticipated sequel to the Warner Bros. tentpole, did not get the memo, as it is approaching $500 million, already eclipsing the first film. 

Variety reports the science-fiction epic, directed by Denis Villeneuve, just hit $494.7 million worldwide. The monster haul includes $208 million from North America and about $289 million internationally. Dune: Part Two is expected to exceed $500 million by Monday. This also matters since only a handful of films hit the half-billion mark post-pandemic. The sequel is already the highest-grossing film in 2024 at the worldwide box office, but it’s still early in the year. 

So get this: Dune: Part Two has only been in theaters for ten days but has already doubled the total domestic earnings of the first film, which earned $108 million. Now there’s an asterisk: the original film back in 2021 was released in theaters and on HBO Max, which arguably affected ticket sales in that scenario. 

Here’s the breakdown of ticket sales performance outside of the U.S. and Canada: 

China ($36 million)

U.K. ($32.8 million)

Germany ($25 million)

France ($24.9 million)

Australia ($15.6 million).

Much of the marketing is word-of-mouth, and there’s been interest in formats outside of standard screenings, where Dune: Part Two has made over $100 million from Imax theaters.

The sequel is based on the seminal 1965 Frank Herbert novel Dune, which continues the story of Dune. Cinematically, it follows, as Variety reports, “the mythic quest of Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, who seeks safety in the desert after powerful royals betray his family. Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Christopher Walken join the sprawling cast of Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, and Stellan Skarsgård.”

Dune: Part Two was co-produced and co-financed by Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment for $190 million, with an expected $100 million to market around the world.

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‘Breathe’ Trailer: Jennifer Hudson Leads With Common and Quvenzhané Wallis in Sci-Fi Thriller

‘Breathe’ Trailer: Jennifer Hudson Leads With Common and Quvenzhané Wallis in Sci-Fi Thriller

At least on-screen, Jennifer Hudson is about to lose her breath in the first trailer of Breathe, a new sci-fi thriller opposite Quvenzhané Wallis, Common, Raúl Castillo, and more.

Directed by Stefon Bristol, who helmed See You Yesterday, the film also stars genre veterans Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) and Sam Worthington (Avatar).

Here’s the official description: 

Breathe is a heart-pounding thriller set in the future. After Earth is left uninhabitable due to lack of oxygen, a mother Maya (Hudson) and her daughter Zora (Wallis) are forced to live underground, with short trips to the surface only made possible by a coveted state-of-the-art oxygen suit made by Maya’s husband, Darius, whom she presumes to be dead. When a mysterious couple arrives claiming to know Darius and his fate, Maya tentatively agrees to let them into their bunker but these visitors are not who they claim to be ensuing in mother and daughter fighting for survival.

Produced by Variance Films, Breathe will hit theaters on April 26 and be available on digital and on-demand the same day. In industry terms, that’s called a day-and-date release. 

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‘The Crow’ Trailer: FKA Twigs and Bill Skarsgård in Epic Fight for Their Souls in Highly Anticipated Remake

‘The Crow’ Trailer: FKA Twigs and Bill Skarsgård in Epic Fight for Their Souls in Highly Anticipated Remake

Do you remember The Crow? Great film. It is a tragic real-life situation that resulted in the untimely death of Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, being shot on set back in 1994.

It’s been decades since The Crow, and now the remake starring FKA Twigs and Bill Skarsgård has a new trailer. The Crow is bound for a summer release on June 7. Originally based on the graphic novel by James O’Barr, Skarsgård takes over the reins as the titular character Eric Draven, who is a man who finds the love of his life, Shelly Webster, played by FKA Twigs, until both love birds, no pun intended are murdered “at the hands of evil men, leading Eric’s soul to come back to Earth as a violent anti-hero wanting revenge” as reported by Shadow and Act.

“Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right,” from the synopsis.

This is a big deal for the cast and director as FKA Twigs, Skarsgård, and director Rupert Sanders are stoked to finally bring O’Barr’s universe back for all to see. “I am so thrilled to be in THE CROW alongside the talented Bill Skarsgård and extraordinary director Rupert Sanders,” FKA Twigs said. “The love Bill and I share on screen is effortless and indicative of the authenticity and ease that I dreamed of bringing to the role of Shelley. Eric and Shelley’s unbreakable unity is so profound and beautiful, something I hope we all feel at least once as part of the human experience. I am so excited that the trailer is being unveiled and even more excited to have the world see the film this summer.”

“The Crow is the original anti-superhero. His story is about tragic loss, about dealing with the pain of everything that comes with losing someone you love, something that all of us have or will encounter at some point in our lives. It is about the dark shadow of grief, about what we would do when something so meaningful is taken from us,” from Sanders, who also added how the mid nineties film of The Crow starred the iconic and late, Brandon Lee. “The original graphic novel is deeply meaningful for so many, and the character, his journey and his need for revenge has inspired a canon of films for the last three decades. Our version goes back to that graphic novel by James O’Barr, who I had the honour of meeting shortly before production, and explores the love story as the primary drive for our film,” he said. “What Alex Proyas did with The Crow in 1994 – and Brandon Lee’s iconic embodiment of that character – will forever impact that generation and others to follow. It was a culture-defining film that is beloved to this day and has inspired many other iterations both inside and outside The Crow Universe.”

“That film sparked a fire with the youth of that day, a youth who grew up on hard, alternative rock, punk and metal, that binged on MTV and zines. It held a mirror to that generation in the aesthetic of the film, its smoky, rain-drenched streets, stylized and subverted sets, its leather-clad hero and chain wielding villains. It expressed its time in a very specific, music-driven vision, that spoke to a young audience who had never been spoken to in that way. It became a cult classic,” Sanders added. “Our interpretation of James’ work also reflects this young generation, whose tastes and references have changed so dramatically from the original film. Hopefully it speaks to them in their language, with their style and music and hopefully will get them to discover Alex Proyas’ film and James O’Barr’s graphic novel, bringing a new audience to the source material.”

Sanders also described the story as “as universal as an epic poem or Greek myth” because it ” deals with the very primal, naturalistic emotions of love, grief and rage and it also deals with the supernatural and physiological imaginings of heaven and hell, the dead and the undead.”

“It explores the great positive force of love and the great negative force of rage and hate that stands in its shadow, it asks what would we do, but also what would we have become by doing so. When Eric slumps to the floor, covered in the blood of the slain, we look deep into his eyes and he asks us…why?” he continued. “I am very pleased to have worked with two young actors whose performances are the backbone of this film. Bill Skarsgård is so committed and vulnerable, monstrously violent and delicately tender, he brings so many layers to the complex emotion of a man consumed with so much love and hate, but also a man who will do anything for the woman he loves. He fights, numb with pain and grief, killing and maiming for the one he loves…but to what end? FKA Twigs brings the same unique and wondrous talent that she does to her entire volume of work and her performance and the vacuum created by her absence undoubtedly gives reason for this Crow to be born.”

The Crow also stars Danny Huston and is written by Zach Baylin and William Schneider, based on O’Barr’s original graphic novel. Edward R. Pressman, Samuel Hadida, Victor Hadida, John Jencks, and Molly Hassell are producing

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[WATCH] Chris Tucker Talks About The Difficulty Making Another “Friday” Movie

Chris Tucker Reveals He Was Only Paid 10K For Friday

Comedian Chris Tucker has previously spoken about why he hasn’t appeared in any of the Friday sequels, even though the movie’s producer Ice Cube says that he offered Tucker $12 million to appear in an upcoming sequel. In an interview with Big Tigger on V-102 FM in Atlanta, Tucker has spoken again about the challenges that would have to be faced if he were to participate in another Friday sequel.

Tuckwer noted that the studios and producers make shooting a new Friday challenging saying, “It’s studios, and they got to want to do it, and then it’s uh producers and all that stuff,” adding, “it’s a lot, it’s a lot that goes with it.” Tucker cited he wants to be in a space where he can create while on set, as that mindset is what actually birthed a lot of the best moments in the first ‘Friday’ film.

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Top Female-Centric Documentaries to Celebrate Women in Hip-Hop

Top Female Centric Documentaries to Celebrate Women in Hip Hop

With Women’s History Month in full swing, female artists are taking over in almost every genre of music, including hip-hop. While current artists such as Doja Cat, SZA, and Beyonce continue to dominate the charts, it’s important to understand the history of trailblazing women in the genre who helped carve out a place for females in what was once considered a male-dominated space. In honor of Women’s Month, check out some of our top documentaries about women in hip-hop as well as how they overcame some of the many challenges that they faced along the way.

Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (2023 mini-series): This Netflix documentary takes viewers on a 50-year journey, highlighting the groundbreaking achievements of women within the genre. Featuring artists such as Queen Latifah, Saweetie, Coi Leray, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shante, Latto, Angie Martinez, and more, this mini-series showcases the vital role that females have played and continue to play in creating music and contributing to the culture.

First Ladies of Hip-Hop (2023 mini-series): Narrated by Neneh Cherry, this mini-series tells the stories of both American and British early female rappers and hip-hop artists including Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim, Roxanne Shante, Estelle, Sha-Rock, Salt-n-Pepa, Speech Debelle, and more.

The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion (2019 documentary): This documentary examines how hip-hop music and culture influenced  fashion, leading to the stratospheric and global rise of street wear and influenced both fashion trends and cultural movements on a global scale.

Queens of Hip-Hop (2003 movie): An oldie but a goodie, this film (available on Amazon Prime) tells the story of early female pioneers such as Salt “N” Pepa, Lady Luck, Rah Digga, Charlie Baltimore, and more as they broke down stereotypes and barriers to secure their rightful place in what was once almost exclusively a male-dominated industry.

Roxanne Roxanne (2017 film): This film, which was showcased at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, is a biography of Lolita “Roxanne Shanté” Gooden, a teenage girl who defied all odds in the late 1980s to become one of the most feared battle MC in Queens, New York, before eventually becoming a hip-hop legend.

Queens of Rap (2021 documentary): This BAFTA award nominee documentary focuses on Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion and the creation and cultural influence of WAP as well as its broader implications on the role of women within the hip-hop and music industries in general.

Nicki Minaj: Queen of Rap (2022 documentary): This documentary explores the multi-talented and multi-faceted Nicki Minaj, diving into her ever-changing looks, iconic sound, and unique alter-egos, all while exploring the impact that they have had on hip-hop’s complex culture.

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes (2007 documentary): This PBS special documentary takes a deep dive into the masculinity that plagued hip-hop culture for decades and explores the challenges that females within the industry faced and how creative genius, poetic beauty, and mad beats all collided with misogyny, violence, and homophobia to create the good and bad of the culture.

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‘Venom 3’ Is Heading Back to Theaters With a Title and Fall Release Date

‘Venom 3’ Is Heading Back to Theaters With a Title and Fall Release Date

Maybe you’re a Spider-Man fan or just prefer the anti-hero Venom, which is not quite in the same theatrical universe yet.

We’re on the fence over here, but one thing is for sure about the third Venom film – it will be called Venom: The Last Dance. Variety reported the new title, and Sony announced it would open in theaters everywhere on Oct. 25 this year instead of Nov. 8, as earlier reported. Expect the third installment to hit both Imax and PLFs.

Kelly Marcel is directing, and Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) is again playing the wild but comical black widow creature. Marcel penned the script with a story she also co-wrote with Hardy. Producers include heavyweights Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, Hutch Parker, Marcel, and Hardy. June Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor also star alongside Hardy.

The previous Venom films grossed $1.36 billion at the global box office, which is a big deal.

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Ben Affleck and Cynthia Addai-Robinson Return for ‘The Accountant 2′

Ben Affleck and Cynthia Addai-Robinson Return for ‘The Accountant 2'

Let’s get to it. The Accountant was fun to watch, but the sequel is not going to be at Warner Bros. Amazon MGM Studios, which seems to be making big moves lately, is taking over the Ben Affleck-fronted franchise.

Ben Affleck, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Jon Bernthal, and J.K. Simmons will return in the film, all returning from the first 2016 film. Gavin O’Connor is directing the sequel. O’Connor helmed The Accountant. Bill Dubuque, who penned The Accountant script, returns as the writer of the sequel’s screenplay. 

Affleck and Matt Damon’s company, Artists Equity, got the sequel rights from Warner Bros. and set it up at Amazon MGM Studios. That’s how that went down. Power move stuff, right there. 

From Shadow and Act, here’s the drop on the sequel “The film will follow Addai-Robinson’s character, Marybeth Medina, an agent of the Treasury Department who must contact Christian Wolff (Affleck), the accountant for some of the biggest criminals in the world, to help uncover yet another mystery.” More from the official synopsis:

When her former boss is killed by unknown assassins, Treasury Agent Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) is forced to contact Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) to solve the murder. With the help of his estranged but highly lethal brother Brax (Jon Bernthal), Chris applies his brilliant mind and less-than-legal methods to piece together the unsolved puzzle. As they get closer to the truth, the trio draw the attention of some of the most ruthless killers alive—all intent on putting a stop to their search.

Affleck and Damon are producing through Artists Equity. Lynette Howell Taylor of 51 Entertainment and Mark Williams are also producing, with Artists Equity’s Dani Bernfeld, Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, and Alison Winter executive producing. Scott Lastaiti and Jamie Patricof are also executive producing. Good luck with the sequel.

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Tyrese Blames The Writers Strike For Late Child Support Payments

Tyrese Spends More Money Than He Actually Earns

Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson finds himself embroiled in a legal dispute with his second ex-wife, Samantha Lee, over his failure to comply with a $10,000 monthly child support order. The situation has escalated as Gibson now cites external factors, including the recent writer and actor strikes, for his financial struggles.

According to reports from Radar Online, court documents reveal that Gibson admitted he was unable to pay the full amount owed to Lee. He attributed his financial challenges to the unpredictable nature of his income, which he claims fluctuates significantly due to his career as an actor and singer.

Gibson’s lawyer further explained that the actor’s income is heavily influenced by the filming of franchise movies, particularly the Fast & Furious series. However, since Gibson last filmed a segment for the franchise in 2022, his income has decreased substantially. The lawyer emphasized that the unexpected six-month work stoppage in the film industry in 2023 further exacerbated Gibson’s financial situation, as it impacted the income of everyone working in Hollywood.

In defense of Gibson’s inability to meet the child support obligations, his lawyer asserted that the actor’s income has dwindled to less than twenty percent of what he earned in August 2022. They argue that Gibson’s financial hardship is not willful and that he simply lacks the ability to pay the full amount of child support.

Thoughts?

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Oppenheimer Wins Big Across Major Categories at Oscars

'Oppenheimer' Leads Oscar Nominations with 13

Oppenheimer reigned supreme at the 2024 Oscars. The Christopher Nolan film took home seven Oscars, including ones for Best Picture and Best Director.

Included in the Oscars haul was Best Actor, going to Cillian Murphy. “We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world,” he said on stage.

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Denzel Washington Back on Broadway With Jake Gyllenhaal in Classic Story of ‘Othello’

Denzel Washington Back on Broadway With Jake Gyllenhaal in Classic Story of ‘Othello’

Acting icon Denzel Washington is heading back to Broadway, and he is poised to play Othello, William Shakespeare’s tragic African general. The new production will be opposite Jake Gyllenhaal. Talk about two Hollywood heavyweights sharing the stage for one of Shakespeare’s greatest stories.

Kenny Leon is directing the production of Othello by producer Brian Anthony Moreland. Washington plays Othello, and Gyllenhaal stars as Lago, his nemesis who ruins his life and marriage.

Most of the upcoming Broadway rendition of Othello is being kept under wraps, but the production will kick off in the spring of 2025.

The last time Washington dipped his toe into Shakespeare was in Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 film Much Ado About Nothing. The film also starred Branagh, Emma Thompson, Keanu Reeves and Michael Keaton. Washington also starred in The Tragedy of Macbeth, an Apple TV+ film directed by Joel Coen, and co-starred Frances McDonald and Alex Hassell.

Washington is also starring as another iconic historic African general, Hannibal, in a film by Antoine Fuqua.

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