News

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

2024 was a good year for the action genre fans as this year saw the release of many brilliant films like Monkey Man and The Fall Guy. While many films like Dune Part Two had great action in them, they weren’t actually action films. We didn’t include those, so let’s find out which of the 2024 action films were the best.

The Fall Guy (Peacock & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Universal Pictures

The Fall Guy is an action romantic comedy film directed by David Leitch from a screenplay by Drew Pearce. Based on the 1980s TV series of the same name by Glen A. Larson, the 2024 film follows Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stunt performer working for action star Tom Ryder. After an accident, Colt leaves his girlfriend and his job. He is called back into action when...

It can cost more than $30 to see a film in Saudi Arabia but, according to Muvi Cinemas’ CEO Adon Quinn, prices are coming down as the exhibition sector looks to make filmgoing more affordable.

“For us, our average ticket price is just under $13,” said the Muvi CEO. “We have taken steps to extend the affordability of cinema across the Kingdom. It is our more premium experiences where they [tickets] go up to $35 for our VIP offering.”

Quinn spoke to Screen in the week Muvi opened its first Imax screen in Jeddah’s Mall of Arabia, with three further Imax screens planned across other locations.

Will Smith has been candid about facing “adversities” over the last few years, reflecting on challenges that have significantly impacted his personal and professional life. His recent comments at the Red Sea International Film Festival allude to the infamous 2022 Oscars incident where he slapped Chris Rock. Over two years later, Smith is taking even more accountability as he rebuilds his public image.

Will Smith elaborates on life since the Oscars slap Bradley Cooper comforts Will Smith at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022 | Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

After Smith’s shocking Oscars altercation on March 27, 2022, the Men in Black star laid low and then began quietly showing his face at media events. Smith expressed regret over the incident as he promoted projects like Emancipation and Bad Boys 4 post-slap. But many fans want to see and hear more from the 56-year-old. On December 4, 2024, Smith sat down...

Moana 2 Box Office Hits $400M( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Moana 2 is still in a rampage mode as it continues to hold its #1 spot at the domestic box office, and globally, the film has crossed a significant milestone in under seven days. It has already beaten Will Smith starrer Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s global haul. Scroll below for the deets.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die was released in June this year and is the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise. The film was directed by Adil & Bilall. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reprised their roles from the previous films. The Disney sequel recorded the second biggest three-day weekend at the US box office and still shattering several records daily.

Trade analyst Luiz Fernando reported Moana 2 stayed put #1 and collected a strong $5.8 million on the first Monday. It scored the biggest Monday, Cyber Monday ever, dropping -83.2% from Sunday.

Sechs Tage nach seinem Start ist „Vaiana 2“ mit einem weltweiten Einspiel von mehr als 400 Mio. Dollar bereits in der Jahres-Top-Ten angekommen.

„Vaiana 2“ hat weltweit schon mehr als 400 Mio. Dollar eingespielt (Credit: Disney)

Nach dem besten Thanksgiving-Start aller Zeiten in den USA und der Besuchermillion in den deutschen Kinos am Montag hat „Vaiana 2“ am weltweiten Boxoffice sechs Tage nach seinem Start die 400-Mio.-Dollar-Marke geknackt und damit den Sprung in die Jahres-Top-Ten geschafft.

Insgesamt steht das Sequel weltweit bei 404,6 Mio. Dollar und hat sich damit aktuell an „Planet der Affen: New Kingdom“ und „Bad Boys: Ride or Die“ vorbei auf Platz neun der Jahres-Top-Ten geschoben.

Für die Top Fünf – auf Platz fünf liegt aktuell „Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire“ – fehlen noch rund 167 Mio. Dollar.

231,3 Mio. Dollar hat „Vaiana 2“ bis dato in den USA eingespielt, 173,3 Mio. Dollar außerhalb Nordamerikas.

Erfolgreichstes Territorium außerhalb Nordamerikas ist Frankreich (19,2 Mio. Dollar), gefolgt von UK (16,3 Mio.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana 2 crossed $400m at the global box office on Monday to become Hollywood’s ninth highest-grossing release of 2024 after six days.

As of Tuesday the adventure sequel stood at $404.5m and moved up the ranking after overtaking Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes on $397.4m and Bad Boys: Ride Or Die on $404.5m.

Moana 2 earned $15.2m worldwide on Monday and stands at $231.2m in North America and $173.3m internationally.

Top markets are France on $19.2m, UK on $16.3m, Mexico on $12.4m, Germany on $10.6m, and South Korea and Italy on $9.3m apiece.

Brazil has produced $8.8m,...

After six days of release worldwide, Disney’s record-breaking Moana 2 stands at $404.5M, passing this year’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ($397.4M) and Bad Boys: Ride or Die ($404.5M), already the No. 9 movie of the year.

Yesterday, Moana 2 led at the domestic box office with $5.7M, -83% from Sunday, taking its domestic to $231.2M. By the way, Universal’s Wicked wasn’t far behind with $5.5M, -72% from Sunday, for a running total of $268.8M.

Moana 2‘s foreign take Monday was $9.5M, putting the global day at $15.2M. Total foreign stands at $173.3M.

The original Moana back in 2016 finaled at $643.3M worldwide, $248.7M domestic (soon to be toppled by the sequel this week) and $394.5M overseas.

Key market breakdowns are as follows: France ($19.2M), UK ($16.3M), Mexico ($12.4M), Germany ($10.6M), Korea ($9.3M), Italy ($9.3M), Brazil, China ($6.7M), Spain ($5.5M), Philippines ($5.2M...

Will Smith has been tapped to headline France’s Positiv Festival next year. The actor-rapper will perform July 31 at the Roman Theatre of Orange located in southeast France, organizers announced Tuesday. It will be his first performance in the country.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Positiv Festival (@positiv_festival_official)

Smith, who gave listeners Nineties hits like “Men in Black,” “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” and “Summertime,” has begun to carve his way back into the music business. Smith gave a rare performance at the 2024 BET Awards in June,...

Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence‘s families are combining!!

The 63-year-old Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F star’s son Eric popped the question to the 59-year-old Bad Boys: Ride or Die star’s daughter Jasmin last week.

Keep reading to find out more…

“11.27.2024 We’re engaged!! God truly blessed us with a love that feels like destiny. We couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter ❤️❤️” Jasmin captioned a proposal video on Instagram. “Special thank you to everyone who made this moment so beautiful!!”

Check it out Here!

Eric and Jasmin have been dating for over three years, after first revealing they were together in July 2021. Jasmin shared a cute birthday post for Eric that summer.

Earlier this year, Eddie opened up about his son dating Martin‘s daughter. See what he said!

Congratulations to the happy couple on the engagement!!!

If you missed it, find out who else has gotten engaged recently…...

Wicked Box Office (North America): Surpasses Grease In Just 8 Days (Photo Credit – Instagram/Prime Video)

The box office is exploding with tentpole movies and has recorded one of the biggest Black Friday collections ever in North America. Wicked is already set to be one of the biggest movies of the year, and it has once again set a new record even before saying goodbye to the second weekend. It has surpassed Grease’s domestic haul to become the highest-grossing musical adaptation and the first to achieve another huge feat. Scroll below for the deets.

Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, was released in 1978. The musical rom-com was directed by Randal Kleiser and based on the 1972 musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. It revolves around the lives of greaser Danny Zuko and Australian transfer student Sandy Olsson, who develop a deep attraction for one another during a summer romance.

The other day, as I was looking up a data point on boxofficemojo.com, I noticed something that shocked me: The top 10 grossing movies of 2024, from “Inside Out 2” to “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” are all sequels. Every goddamn one of them. “Wicked” and “Moana 2” will soon bring break into the top 10 — and though “Wicked” isn’t technically a sequel, when you consider how many people have seen the original Broadway show, the truth is that the movie version, as much as any sequel, is a kind-of-the-same-but-also-different follow-up to a gargantuan known quantity. It’s all part of déjà vu entertainment culture.

The reason I was shocked by the fact that I could be shocked by this is that Hollywood has been famously awash in sequels since the dawn of the Reagan era. Making jokes about the creative bankruptcy of films with Roman numerals after their title...

Gladiator II Box Office (North America): Monday Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Gladiator II continues to rule at #2 in the domestic top 5 at the box office in North America. The movie opened to decent numbers, as predicted by the industry. However, Wicked’s presence is overpowering and it has shattered records for November releases and for musicals as well. Still, then, Ridley Scott’s film managed to earn strong numbers in the US managed to go near Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s $6.2 million. Scroll below for the deets.

The film has been awarded a B rating on CinemaScore and on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been certified fresh with a 71% rating on Tomatometer. The audience gave it a higher rating of 83%. The critics’ consensus on the site read, “Echoing its predecessor while upping the bloodsport and camp, it is an action extravaganza that derives much of its strength and honor...

It's the most wonderful time of the year! /Film has again put together the ultimate 2024 gift guide for pop culture fanatics. For everyone who loves movies and TV shows as much as we do, we've put together a massive list of media, toys, collectibles, books, soundtracks, and various pieces of geeky gear for the biggest nerds in your life. Whether you're buying gifts for friends and family or trying to get some ideas for your own Christmas list, we've got so much packed into this gift guide! 

So what are you waiting for? Get scrolling, and if you need even more ideas, don't forget to check out last year's SlashFilm gift guide!

Read more: /Film's Top 100 Movies Of All Time

Buy The Biggest Movies Of 2024

As of this moment, the biggest movies of 2024 are Pixar Animation's "Inside Out 2" and Marvel's "Deadpool & Wolverine," giving Disney the top two spots at the domestic box office.

The biggest box office showdown of the year is in the books. Paramount's big-budget historical epic "Gladiator II" went up against Universal's musical Broadway adaptation "Wicked," making for a huge double bill, the likes of which we just don't see all that often. It's easily the biggest one-two-punch since "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" both hit theaters on the same weekend last year. This time around, things played out similarly, as "Gladiator II" had to settle for second place at the domestic box office. However, life is still looking pretty darn good for the blockbuster, all things considered.

Director Ridley Scott's long-awaited "Gladiator" sequel opened to an estimated $55.5 million domestically. "Wicked," meanwhile, absolutely decimated expectations with a $114 million opening. But context is important here. Second place be damned, this still ranks as the second-best opening of Scott's huge career, trailing only "Hannibal" ($58 million) more than 20 years ago. It's also...

Gladiator II Box Office (North America): Debut Weekend Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Gladiator II is setting new records in filmmaker Ridley Scott’s career. The film has collected almost double the original movie’s opening weekend earnings. The film has an ensemble cast of Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal. The film had an enormous budget, reportedly between $200 and $250 million. Scroll below for its box office details.

The movie clashed with Wicked at the box office, and the phenomenon has been termed Glicked, similar to what happened last year with Barbie and Oppenheimer’s release. It has landed on the industry’s predictions with its debut weekend collections. The film takes place years after the events of the first movie, with Paul playing the son of Russell Crowe’s character.

According to Luiz Fernando’s report, Gladiator II collected a decent $55.5 million on its debut weekend in the US.

Box Office: For The First Time In Cinema’s History, Sequels Rule Top 10 Highest-Grossers List, With Deadpool & Wolverine & Dune 2 In Top 5 (Photo Credit – Instagram)

2024 is about to end as the last month, December, is just around the corner. Multiple movies have been released in the theatres; some did exceptionally well, while others failed to win hearts. But from those tons of movies, we have got the highest-grossing films of the year, and interestingly, all the top 10 films are sequels, including Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, Dune 2, and Despicable Me 4 are a few names. It has reportedly happened for the first time in a long time. Scroll below for the deets.

The MCU movie is the second highest-grossing film of the year and achieved utter success when it was released on Disney+, its home streaming platform. The film brought Hugh Jackman back as Logan, and it was...

Gladiator II Box Office (North America): Opening Day Collection Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Gladiator II, starring Paul Mescal in the lead role, received a decent B rating on CinemaScore. The film has also been praised by critics. Now, the release day numbers have come in, and they are not so shabby. However, it will have to settle for the #2 spot in this weekend’s domestic box office chart. Scroll below for the deets.

Although the film is off to a decent start, it will be plummeted by the debut weekend collection of Wicked. The musical fantasy is eyeing an opening weekend North of the $100 million mark at the box office in North America. However, this sequel by Ridley Scott has earned almost double the original movie’s opening day numbers. However, the Og movie had a better CinemaScore rating than the sequel. It was awarded with an A.

Gladiator II,...

Es ist nur eine Momentaufnahme, aber eine interessante Momentaufnahme: Aktuell sind die zehn erfolgreichsten Hollywoodfilme des Jahres ausschließlich Fortsetzungen. Gerade schickt sich immer ein Nicht-Sequel an, bis zum Jahresende noch diese Phalanx zu durchbrechen.

Die drei Topfilme des Kinojahres 2024: „Alles steht Kopf 2“ (mitte), „Deadpool & Wolverine“, „Ich – Einfach unverbesserlich 4“

Noch vor einem Jahr hatte man jubiliert und sich über die besondere Power originaler Stoffe gefreut, als „Barbie“ zum weltweit erfolgreichsten Film des Jahres avancierte und mit „Oppenheimer“ ein dreistündiger Film über einen Atomphysiker beinahe eine Milliarde Dollar einspielte. Dass beide Filme am selben Tag in die Kinos kamen, sorgte allemal für amüsantere Geschichten als sich neue Anekdoten über die Herstellung eines Marvel- oder DC-Comics-Films durchzulesen. Originale Stoffe, so hieß es und so las man, seien, konfrontiert mit einsetzender Superhero-Fatigue, der Weg in die Zukunft.

2024 erzählt eine andere Geschichte. Wie die Kollegen von TotalFilm berichten, sind zum ersten...

Hollywood has changed. But it’s not just that Hollywood has changed it’s also the fact that people are also changing with it. From original ideas to spin-offs and sequels that are often disappointing, Hollywood movies are not the same anymore.

There’s a disturbing trend in 2024 Hollywood movies | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

There have been rumors and speculations that Hollywood and moviemakers often capitalize on the success of a movie by making sequels, spin-offs, and other projects. Well, the top 10 Hollywood movies of 2024 might prove that point.

All Top 10 Hollywood Movies of 2024 Are Sequels!

Although there were some very iconic and original movies in 2024 like Nicolas Cage’s Longlegs, The Fall Guy, and Rebel Ridge, there were way too many sequels, prequels, and threequels of a franchise.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as Deadpool & Wolverine | Credits: Marvel Studios

Some of these notable names were actually not good as Furiosa,...

How Is Will Smith’s Bond With His Eldest Son Trey? ( Photo Credit – Wikimedia )

Will Smith and his oldest son, Trey, have come a long way. Their relationship hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but it is pretty strong now. Will recently opened up about how he “failed” as a dad to Trey after his divorce from Sheree Zampino, especially in the years that followed. Trey, who was just a kid at the time, felt betrayed and abandoned, and that wasn’t easy for either of them.

But here’s the kicker: despite all that pain, Will and Trey are closer than ever. On a Bucket List episode, Will admitted that their father-son relationship is “brand new.” They are building something more profound than before—based on true friendship. And yeah, it might’ve taken a while to get there, but better late than never, right?

Their journey has been a wild ride.

Gladiator II Box Office (North America): Thursday Previews Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Gladiator II has finally opened at the North American theatres after getting some a week earlier in the foreign markets. Ridley Scott’s film has achieved a significant feat at the box office with its preview numbers. As we wait for the release day numbers, let’s check out how the Paul Mescal-led film faired from the Thursday previews.

At the international box office, it already gave the filmmaker his biggest opening ever. It is also looking to earn almost double what Gladiator earned in its opening weekend. The ratings are also quite good for this historical action drama, which is one of the tentpole movies to release this month alongside Wicked Part 1.

According to Luiz Fernando’s Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal’s movie Gladiator II, it collected a strong $6.5 million at the box office in North America.

Streaming viewers in the week of Oct. 21-27 made the following decision: We have to go back.

Viewing of Lost on Hulu and Netflix hit a high that week, finishing first among all acquired series with 1.03 billion minutes of viewing time in the United States, according to Nielsen. The former ABC series, which marked the 20th anniversary of its premiere in September, ranked second among all titles.

In first place was The Lincoln Lawyer, which spent a second week in the top overall spot and got over the 2 billion-minute mark (2.03 billion) for the first time in its three seasons. The drama based on Michael Connelly’s novels improved by about 24 percent week to week.

Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black was the top newcomer, scoring 740 million minutes of watch time for its opening week (it premiered Oct. 24). That was good for third place among original series behind The Lincoln Lawyer...

Venom: The Last Dance Box Office (North America): Hits $125M( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Tom Hardy’s Marvel threequel has been pushed away from the #1 spot in the domestic box office list due to the release of Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans starrer Red One. However, Venom: The Last Dance still earned decent numbers this weekend. Scroll below for the deets.

The Red One, released in the theatres this Friday, resulted in a harsh drop in Venom 3’s collections. Tom’s threequel is currently the lowest-grossing film in the franchise. There is a drastic difference between the critics’ rating and the audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics gave it a poor 41%, but the fans rated it 81%. It has also become the highest-grossing comic book movie in China post-covid by surpassing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3’s total collection.

Venom: The Last Dance might have slowed down a little...

Venom: The Last Dance (Worldwide): 4th Weekend Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

After beating Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s global haul, Tom Hardy’s Venom: The Last Dance is after Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s collection. Venom 3 experienced a harsh drop on Friday at the US box office, which might be because of the release of Red One, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans. Scroll below for the deets.

The movie was made on a reported budget of $120 million, and although it might be underperforming compared to its predecessors, it is still doing better than Joker 2. Beetlejuice Beetleuice, on the other hand, was released in September and is one of the successful movies of the year. It is currently the 8th highest-grossing Hollywood film of 2024. The movie recently crossed the $450 million milestone and is all set to hit the streaming platform soon.

According to trade analyst Luiz Fernando’s latest report,...

Venom: The Last Dance Box Office (North America): 4th Friday Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Although Venom: The Last Dance started off slowly, it has managed to stay at the top of the domestic box office chart since its release. It has now experienced a significant drop from last week owing to the release of Red One. It might experience a harsher dip and lose theatres next Friday when Gladiator II and Wicked Part 1 arrive at the theatres. Scroll below for the deets.

Gladiator II has been released in some foreign regions, including Italy, the UK, and Korea. The movie has crushed all expectations in the UK with its impressive opening day number. Ridley Scott’s film registered the fourth biggest opening day in the UK in 2024. This is expected to have a positive impact on the film’s box office in North America. Meanwhile, Venom 3 is also performing better...

Venom: The Last Dance Worldwide Box Office: Beats Will Smith’s Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’s Global Haul (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Tom Hardy and Will Smith are two big stars in Hollywood. Their star power has been tested this year, as the industry had low expectations from Will’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and Venom: The Last Dance, led by Tom, also opened to a lukewarm debut. Things turned around for Smith’s Bad Boys 4, and now Hardy’s superhero movie has reportedly surpassed the buddy cop action flick. Scroll below for the deets.

Bad Boys 4 was released in June this year and featured the dynamic duo of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. It crossed the $400 million mark at the worldwide box office. It was made on a reported budget of $100 million. It features Venessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Eric Dane in key roles besides the lead pair.

The third season premiere of The Lincoln Lawyer moved the show to the top of the streaming docket.

The Netflix drama based on Michael Connelly’s novels recorded 1.64 billion viewing minutes for the week of Oct. 14-20 (season three premiered Oct. 17), according to Nielsen’s streaming ratings. That’s the third best weekly tally in the show’s history, behind season one’s second week in May 2022 and the debut of the back half of season two in August 2023.

The Lincoln Lawyer pushed the previous week’s No. 1 show, Love Is Blind, down one spot to second overall. The Netflix dating show had 1.21 billion minutes of viewing for the week. Outer Banks (1.1 billion) was the only other title to reach a billion minutes in the United States, though Bob’s Burgers (945 million) came close.

Lost, which made its streaming chart debut in July after rejoining Netflix (it also streams on Hulu...

You are reading an exclusive WrapPRO article for free. Want to level up your entertainment career? Go here for more information.

“The Lincoln Lawyer” isn’t just a Netflix hit; it’s a certified TV hit. The legal drama from David E. Kelley garnered 1.6 billion minutes viewed on Nielsen’s Top Streaming list for the week that spanned Oct. 14 to 20. Considering the fact that Season 3 of the Manuel Garcia-Rulfo-starring series premiered midway through that week on Oct. 17, those numbers are especially impressive.

According to Nielsen, the audience for “The Lincoln Lawyer” tends to be a bit older than the typical streaming audience, as 61% falls into the 50 years and over age range. However, Nielsen described its viewing profile as “quite balanced,” as it was composed of 17% Hispanic viewers (vs. 19% overall), 14% Black (vs. 14%), 6% Asian (vs. 7%) and 61% white viewers (vs. 61%).

“Love Is Blind” and “Outer Banks” — two other Netflix hits — occupied the...

Jaden Smith performed on stage, showcasing his journey from actor to music artist (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Jaden Smith’s rise to fame came fast. At just 8, he starred alongside Will in The Pursuit of Happyness, kicking off his Hollywood career. By 2008, he was solidifying his star power in The Day the Earth Stood Still, and by 2010, he was front and center in The Karate Kid with Jackie Chan. His role in After Earth in 2013 was another highlight, but then, Jaden pulled back—he was ready to shift focus to music.

By 2014, after The Good Lord Bird, Jaden hit pause on acting to dive into his true passion: music. He dropped his debut mixtape, The Cool Tape, following his early collaboration with Justin Bieber on Never Say Never. It wasn’t just a career move—it was Jaden finding his voice and stepping out of his parents’ shadow to make his mark as a musician.

For the second time in two weeks, a previous #1 VOD release, still at premium price, returned to #1 after a week in a lower position.

“The Wild Robot” (Universal), still #4 in theaters this weekend parallel to home availability, repeats the move “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros. Discovery) managed last week.

The rise comes for two reasons. First, a lack of competitive new releases, including disinterest in “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Wbd). Second is likely its rental price reduction from an initial premium at $24.99 to the more standard $19.99 PVOD cost.

After over three weeks where five different original movies took the top daily spot, Will Smith, whose “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” was his last studio #1, returned with his 2015 mid-level success “Focus.” But for most of the week, “Meet Me Next Christmas” led their list.

Fandango (which ranks by revenue) and iTunes (by transactions) both also list the “Beetlejuice” sequel and “Deadpool & Wolverine...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

At one point, Will Smith was the biggest movie star in the world. While he had a bit of a PR snafu (to put it lightly) a couple of years ago when he slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, he's recovered well in the eyes of the public, given the success of this year's "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" at the box office. Margot Robbie, meanwhile, is about as big as modern stars get, with her rise to stardom culminating in last year's mega-hit "Barbie." So, what happens when you put these two big stars in a movie together? You get a number one hit on Netflix. It just so happens that the movie in question was made nearly a decade ago.

2015's "Focus," directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, recently made its way to Netflix and...

Shares of Sony Group Corporation climbed over 10% during Friday’s trading session after the Japanese multinational conglomerate raised its sales outlook for full year 2024.

The company reported a 69% increase in net income and 3% uptick in revenue during its second quarter of 2024, with weaker results at Sony Pictures Entertainment offset by growth in its Games and Networks business.

Sony anticipates 12.71 trillion yen ($83.23 billion) in sales for the year, up from its previous guidance of 12.6 trillion yen ($82.5 billion), while its forecasts for operating income and net income remain unchanged at 1.31 trillion yen ($8.58 billion) and 980 billion yen ($6.4 billion), respectively.

Here are the top-line results:

Net income: 338.5 billion yen ($2.2 billion), up 69% year over year

Revenue: 2.91 trillion yen ($19 billion), up 3% year over year

Operating income: 455.1 billion yen ($2.98 billion), up 73% year over year

Sony Pictures Entertainment: Sales of 355.8 billion yen ($2.33 billion), down 11% from 2023

Strike-affected TV deliveries impact Sony Pictures

A falloff in the number of deliveries of television programs,...

Agatha All Along is the newest show in the MCU. Its unique themes surprised many by becoming so popular and drawing in a strong viewership.

According to early data from Luminate, the show reached 9.3 million views on Disney+ in its first week, which was fewer than The Acolyte, but Marvel confirmed it had the highest viewer return rate of any MCU show, meaning many fans kept coming back each week.

Agatha All Along surprised many by reaching 8th place on the Nielsen Originals streaming chart from September 16 to September 22, 2024. Now, the latest numbers are in, and the show has made the list again, landing in 9th place with 310 million minutes viewed between October 7-13.

Between October 7-13, Love Is Blind led the streaming charts with 1.23 billion minutes viewed, followed by Outer Banks at 1.19 billion and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story with 953 million. For acquired series, Bob’s Burgers topped the list with 864 million minutes,...

‘Agatha All Along’ is the latest installment in the MCU. With its unique themes, no one anticipated it would become as popular as it has or attract such a strong viewership. According to initial data from Luminate, the show reached 9.3 million views on Disney+ within its first seven days of streaming.

This was less than ‘The Acolyte’ but Marvel Studio exec confirmed that the show has the highest continuation rate out of all MCU shows – meaning that a lot of fans returned week after week to watch the show.

‘Agatha All Along’ also managed to place at the 8th spot on the Nielsen Originals streaming chart during Sep. 16 – Sep. 22, 2024, surprising just about everyone. Now the latest numbers are in the show managed to place once again.

With 310M minutes viewed between October 7-13, ‘Agatha All Along’ placed in the 9th spot.

The top streaming titles between October 7-13 saw ‘Love Is Blind...

The season four premiere of Outer Banks brought the Netflix show back onto the streaming charts — but with only half a season released this time, it fell well short of its last premiere.

The YA drama delivered 1.19 billion minutes of viewing for the week of Oct. 7-13 (season four debuted Oct. 10), good for second place overall in Nielsen’s streaming rankings. By comparison, season three’s opening week in February 2023 — which featured the entire season released at once — drew 3.15 billion minutes of watch time.

The half-season release (part two premiered Thursday) for Outer Banks undoubtedly played a part in the lower viewing time total. Season four of Emily in Paris similarly had a sizable decline with a half-season premiere in August (but season three of Bridgerton in May did not).

Netflix’s dating show Love Is Blind led the Oct. 7-13 charts with 1.23 billion minutes of viewing; no other show crossed the 1 billion mark.

Exclusive: Lil Rel Howery (Get Out) is set to direct and star in comedy-horror Haunted Heist, alongside Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip).

The Coven, fresh off the theatrical success of Terrifier 3, has signed on to represent the feature from a script by Carl Reid, writer of Hulu horror Mr. Crocket. It will mark Howery’s directorial debut.

In Haunted Heist, “four estranged friends reunite at what appears to be a typical house. But one friend has ulterior motives; he plans to rob the place and needs their help to find an antique worth a fortune. But the house is straight up haunted, and the group must squash their differences to survive the night and an insane pack of ghosts”.

Filming is being lined up for January 2025 with The Coven launching world sales at the American Film Market this week in Las Vegas.

Howery will produce Haunted Heist with Death Ground...

Hostel actor Jay Hernandez (Suicide Squad) makes his feature film directorial debut with Night Comes, which is launching sales at AFM this week, per Variety. The survival horror thriller stars Deadpool & Wolverine’s Dafne Keen and Samantha Lorraine (“The Walking Dead: World Beyond”).

In the film, set after an event that threatens humanity’s existence, Keen and Lorraine play sisters “who manage to survive, only to find themselves tasked with a mission that holds the fate of mankind in the balance.”

Alexander Ludwig also stars.

The announcement comes with a first-look image of Keen and Lorraine’s characters in post-apocalyptic attire.

Night Comes is produced by Shaun Redick and Yvette Yates Redick, alongside Big Picture Cinema Group partners Jayce Barriero and Jacky Lai. Hernandez, Nancy Isaak, and Jason Bourque wrote the screenplay.

The survival horror thriller is currently in production, so stay tuned for news on this project as it arrives.

Es.TV is set to bring an exciting lineup on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 6:30 Am on Talk. The show will feature a star-studded cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, known for his role in “Venom: The Last Dance.” His presence promises to bring depth and charisma to the episode.

Anna Kendrick, fresh off her performance in “Woman of the Hour,” will also be part of the show. Her talent and charm are sure to add a lively touch to the morning. Fans of John Brotherton, who recently starred in “Chosen Family,” will be pleased to see him joining the lineup as well.

The episode will also feature the dynamic duo of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, famous for their roles in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” Their chemistry is legendary, and viewers can expect plenty of laughs. Adding to the entertainment will be comic Pedro Hernandez, who is known for his engaging humor.

Exhibition giant Cinemark reported its third-quarter earnings on Thursday on a rise in revenue.

The company, led by president and CEO Sean Gamble, posted a quarterly profit of $187.8 million, compared with $90.2 million in the same period of 2023. Net income for the latest three months included a $42.7 million tax benefit “primarily related to the partial release of valuation allowances previously recorded in the U.S.”

Revenue of $921.8 million in the latest quarter was up 5.4 percent from the year-ago period. Cinemark’s third-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda), another profitability metric, grew to $220.5 million from $196.8 million a year ago. The company touted third-quarter records for both revenue and adjusted Ebitda.

On a morning analyst call, Gamble pointed to sustained enthusiasm by cinema-goers for Hollywood tentpoles in the third quarter to underline “the deep and lasting impact that a theatrical release generates through the unparalleled level of emotional connection,...

The shark thriller film “Zipline” has launched sales with a cast that includes Ioan Gruffudd, Ross Butler, Holland Roden and Sonia Ammar.

The feature is written by George Mahaffey Jr. and directed by Magnus Martens. Simple House Films is producing, marking the debut project under that production banner. Black Bear owns the international rights to the film.

“After reuniting for a relaxing getaway on a tropical island, a group of college friends find their adventurous spirits tested to the limit when an exhilarating zipline excursion leaves them hanging perilously hundreds of feet over a deserted lagoon. As the temperature rises and the zipline begins to collapse, they work together to find a way down but are horrified to discover that an even greater threat awaits them in the depths below,” reads the film’s logline.

Gruffudd has been in a number of television and film projects over the course of his decades-spanning career,...

Two films shared top spots on VOD charts. The newly released “Transformers One” (Paramount) leads at Fandango (which ranks by revenue), while “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros.) in its third week returned to #1 at iTunes (calculating by transactions). Both films rent for $19.99.

Netflix continues its string of originals placing first on its top 10 movie list (briefly interrupted by “Bad Boys Ride or Die”), with “Don’t Move” (a horror/thriller with Sam Raimi as one of the producers) taking over the #1 spot.

“The Wild Robot” (Universal), still the #3 film in theaters this weekend, placed second on both charts (it was #1 once during the week at iTunes). “Transformers One” is fourth at iTunes, though it was #1 initially earlier in the week. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is #3 at Fandango.

Now in its second week, “Alien: Romulus” (Disney), renting at an unusually high $24.99 (as are “The Wild Robot” and “Deadpool & Wolverine”), dropped #5 at Fandango and #7 at iTunes.

Martin Lawrence is returning for a sequel to his 1999 action comedy Blue Streak.

In what might just be the most out of left field sequel news we’ve reported this year, Martin Lawrence police comedy Blue Streak is getting a follow up, 25 years after the original.

Deadline has revealed that a sequel is in development at Sony. Lawrence is onboard as star and a producer through his company Run Tel Dat. The script has been written by Cole Maliska, but there’s currently no word on who might direct.

If you need a refresher, the original Blue Streak was inspired by, of all things, the 1965 Sid James and Dick Emery film The Big Job. It saw Lawrence play Miles, a jewel thief who disguises himself as a policeman in order to steal diamonds, but ends up being partnered with actual cop, Detective Carlson, played by Luke Wilson. Shenanigans ensue, and...

Did somebody order a pizza? Martin Lawrence and Sony are keeping the good times rolling after the success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die with a sequel to Lawrence’s 1999 comedy Blue Streak. According to Deadline the surprise project is in the early stages of development at Sony Pictures, with Cole Masika penning the screenplay. In addition to reprising his role as Miles Logan, the jewel thief turned police officer from the 1999 buddy comedy Martin Lawrence is producing via his Run Tel Dat production company—Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor, and Stacy Lyles are also producing, with Toby Jaffe producing through Rdv Films.

Les Mayfield directed 1999’s Blue Streak, featuring Martin Lawrence as a former convict who becomes a police officer to gain access to a diamond he hid before his incarceration. Because it’s the ’90s, Martin packs the film with signature humor, disguises, outlandish characters, and off-color observations. Comedians...

Exclusive: Following the success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Sony Pictures and Martin Lawrence are looking to revive another classic comedy from the comedian. Sources tell Deadline that a sequel to the 1999 buddy comedy Blue Streak is in development. Cole Maliska is writing the screenplay, and insiders say the film is in early development with no other talent involved.

Lawrence is producing through his production company Run Tel Dat along with Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor and Stacy Lyles as well as Toby Jaffe and his Rdv Films.

Released in 1999, the original Blue Streak starred Lawrence as Miles, a jewel thief who tries to retrieve a diamond he left at a police station, whereupon he disguises himself as a detective and gets paired with a real policeman, played by Luke Wilson, to investigate burglaries. The film opened No. 1 at the North American box office and went on to gross nearly $120 million globally.

The big news in home movie viewing this week isn’t that new-to-pvod “The Wild Robot” (Universal) and “Alien: Romulus” (Disney) split the #1 positions on the iTunes and Fandango top 10 charts.

The significant development is that both, like “Deadpool & Wolverine” (Disney), rent for 48 hours at $24.99, not the standard $19.99. That’s a 25 percent increase for PVOD, an increasingly essential source of studio revenue.

A few big hits have tested the $24.99 rental, including “Dune 2” and “Inside Out 2,” but “Robot” and “Alien” are successes of just over $100 million, not blockbusters.. Studios get 80 percent of the cost after a small carrier fee; the $5 increase represents about $4 more for each rental.

DreamWorks Animation’s “Robot” arrives after its third weekend in theaters. That’s not unusual for Universal, although in recent months they sometimes held back another week or two for bigger titles.

Marketing for the home showings may boost theater attendance.

Reflecting on his three decades atop the global box office, superstar Will Smith honed in on a winning formula: When you want to conquer international markets, keeping taciturn is often key.

“As soon as people have to read a subtitle or translate, there’s a little bit of disconnect,” says Smith. “So generally, if you can find non-dialogue ways [to transmit an emotional beat], they translate more globally. In terms of action, in terms of comedy, and in terms of the delivery of emotion, I’m always looking for the non-dialogue way to deliver the most critical parts.”

Smith shared his insights at this year’s Saudi Film Confex, a Riyadh-based trade confab where the Oscar-winning star was guest of honor. And beyond the fact that Smith’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” has recently become Saudi Arabia’s top-grossing film of all time, the actor’s presence in Riyadh held wider auspice.

After decades in the dark,...

Outer Banks. Rudy Pankow. Cr. Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix © 2024 It was a week of exciting debuts and returning favorites on Netflix! Here’s a look at what topped the charts: Outer Banks Season 4 Part 1 made a splash, landing at #1 on the English TV list! Fans were eager to reunite with the Pogues, and with Part 2 coming November 7th, the adventure continues. Meanwhile, Nobody Wants This charmed viewers and earned itself a second season, claiming the #2 spot. And don’t forget to check out the show’s soundtrack – it’s a treasure trove of great tunes! The Menendez brothers case gripped audiences with two compelling entries. The Menendez Brothers documentary, featuring new interviews, debuted at #1 on the English Films list. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story continued to draw viewers, holding strong at #3 on the English TV list. Romance was in full bloom on Netflix this week! Lonely Planet, starring Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth,...

You are reading an exclusive WrapPRO article for free. Want to level up your entertainment career? Go here for more information.

“The Menendez Brothers” documentary debuted as Netflix’s most-watched movie of the week in the aftermath of Ryan Murphy’s explosive TV dramatization of the case.

Alejandro Hartmann’s documentary, which is produced by Campfire Studios and features new interviews with the Menendez brothers and the prosecutors, scored the top spot on the English films list during the week of Oct. 7 with 22.7 million views. Viewership for “The Menendez Brothers” doc nearly doubled that of “The Predator,” which took second place with 12.9 million views, and more than doubled that of “Lonely Planet” as the Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth-led romcom took the No. 3 slot with 11 million views.

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” was the No. 4 most-watched English film of the week with 10.4 million views, while “It’s What’s Inside” took...

The fiasco of “Joker: Folie à Deux” is something that Warner Bros. can’t hide from — other distributors question its officially reported $7 million gross for its second weekend, now #4 after initially ridiculously claiming #3. But the success of its “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the actual #3, remains a nice counterbalance.

Tim Burton’s sequel, at $275 million in U.S./Canada gross, came out as a PVOD rental only 32 days after release (unusual these days for a WB hit — “Dune Part 2” and “Godzilla Vs. Kong” had 47 day windows). But even without specific figures, it’s clear that it got a lot of action.

It replaced Disney’s “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the year’s second biggest grosser (more than double “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”) after the Marvel film’s first week out. And it likely wasn’t close — it is #1 at Fandango, which calculates by revenue. With “Deadpool” costing 25 percent more to rent ($24.99 to $19.99), that means it had a clear victory.

It's been a busy year for M. Night Shyamalan. This summer, he dropped the wildly entertaining (and wildly silly) concert-set serial killer thriller "Trap," starring Josh Hartnett and Shyamalan's daughter, Saleka. The "Sixth Sense" director has several other projects in the works, but he's also been branching out as a producer, producing Ishana Shyamalan's "The Watchers" earlier this year and "Caddo Lake," co-directed by Logan George and Celine Held, this month. It's the latter film that's been climbing the streaming charts this week, with the latest viewership data from FlixPatrol listing it as the most-watched movie on HBO, home to the streaming site Max.

According to the data site, "Caddo Lake" is the most popular movie on HBO today, outpacing Gary Dauberman's long-anticipated "Salem's Lot" remake and some 2024 theatrical releases, including Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's "Bad Boys: Ride Or Die," Mark Wahlberg's inspirational stray dog flick "Arthur The King,...