L.A. Times - Movie News

'47 Ronin' director Carl Erik Rinsch sentenced to 30 months in prison for Netflix fraud case

Alexandra Del Rosario — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:00:21 GMT

Carl Erik Rinsch, the director known for '47 Ronin' and 'White Horse,' was sentenced Monday to more than two years in federal prison. He was convicted of defrauding Netflix of $11 million.

AFI names this Mel Brooks movie the funniest of all time, bumping 'Some Like It Hot'

Josh Rottenberg — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:56:09 GMT

To mark Brooks' 100th birthday, the American Film Institute reshuffled its classic comedy rankings, elevating 'Blazing Saddles' to the No. 1 spot.

Appreciation: L.A.'s ultimate monster: The lesson of Veda Pierce

Shelby Grad — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:51:55 GMT

Veda Pierce always had her eye on the bigger house, the fancier car, the richer man. It was a drive that would destroy her life and make her one of the greatest L.A. villains of all time.

Comcast is spinning off NBCUniversal media and entertainment assets

Stephen Battaglio, Meg James — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:21:06 GMT

Comcast is spinning off its NBCUniversal entertainment and media assets into a separate publicly traded company.

Movies, books, art and music to explore as America turns 250

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

As America celebrates 250 years, we size up how it's been portrayed in, and has shaped, what we watch, listen to and read.

10 must-watch movies that capture America in times of profound change

Amy Nicholson, Mark Olsen, Joshua Rothkopf, Josh Rottenberg, Glenn Whipp — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

From classic dramas like 'The Grapes of Wrath' and 'Nashville' to a John Carpenter sci-fi nightmare, these movies articulate a shifting national mood.

Ann Blyth, Oscar nominee for 'Mildred Pierce,' dies at 98

Mark Olsen — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 18:48:14 GMT

Appearing as the amoral daughter of Joan Crawford at only age 17, Blyth in her short film career worked with many top stars of Hollywood's classic era.

A mesmerizingly vulnerable Angelina Jolie fails to fully redeem 'Couture'

Tim Grierson — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:45:27 GMT

Set during a busy Paris Fashion Week, the movie threads together the stories of three working women whose interior lives only sometimes register.

They're finally too old for it in the middling clip reel 'Jackass: Best and Last'

Amy Nicholson — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:55:57 GMT

After four gross-out features that occasionally reached cinematic greatness, Johnny Knoxville and the gang gather for a hasty and underwhelming final hurrah.

'Maddie's Secret' won't be one for long — it's the indie arrival of the year

Joshua Rothkopf — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:17:46 GMT

Writing, directing and starring in his own magnificent obsession, John Early feels like a cinematic heir to John Waters, Todd Haynes and Douglas Sirk.

For a dinner party gone entertainingly wrong — or is it right? — accept 'The Invite'

Mark Olsen — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:50:46 GMT

Exploring contemporary coupledom with a confident touch, director Olivia Wilde gets the best out of Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.

The Owens family curse strikes the next generation in the new 'Practical Magic 2' trailer

Tracy Brown — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:00:25 GMT

The new 'Practical Magic 2' trailer sees Sally's (Sandra Bullock) daughter Kylie (Joey King) learning about magic and the Owens family curse.

A hot mess, 'Supergirl' has a rowdy spirit but a too-terrestrial plot

Amy Nicholson — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:34:37 GMT

Craig Gillespie directs the louche party girl, played by Milly Alcock, in a spinoff sequel that thrives on chaos but settles for convention.

Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, Teyana Taylor among 529 invited to join motion picture academy

Josh Rottenberg — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:30:00 GMT

AMPAS' newest invitees also include Mia Goth, Josh O'Connor, Sara Bareilles and filmmakers Benny and Josh Safdie.

This is why the Madonna biopic starring Julia Garner isn't happening after all

Emily St. Martin — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:28:15 GMT

Through the process of writing the script, Madonna was bitten by the memoir bug, and she channeled that energy into her forthcoming album "Confessions on a Dance Floor: Part II," which drops July 3.

Contributor: 'The Fast and the Furious' took the Asians out of an Asian American story

Ky-Phong Tran — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:02:00 GMT

The movie, released 25 years ago, shined a spotlight on import cars and street racing culture ... sort of.

'Toy Story 5' goes to infinity and beyond at the box office

Cerys Davies — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 20:25:11 GMT

Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie are all back on the big screen in "Toy Story 5." The latest addition to the 30-year-old franchise earned $312 million at the global box office this weekend. The release marks 2026's biggest box office debut yet.

From YouTube to the multiplex: How low-budget horror films are beating big-budget studio bets

Cerys Davies — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The box office success of "Obsession" and "Backrooms" isn't something that could've been predicted. By drawing a young audience and honing in on original storytelling, these two horror films are clearing a new path in Hollywood.

A hit song and novel become a sincere directorial debut in 'Girls Like Girls'

Robert Abele — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 20:10:48 GMT

Hayley Kiyoko broke out in 2015 with a popular single, one that inspired her book and now a pro-queer movie graced by committed performances.

Attraction is weaponized into something terrifying in the potent horror film 'Leviticus'

Robert Abele — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 19:18:59 GMT

A Sundance breakout of special significance, filmmaker Adrian Chiarella's disquieting supernatural thriller brings fresh sensitivity to a tale of possession.

A gig on a fishing boat becomes a cosmic misadventure in the eerie 'Rose of Nevada'

Tim Grierson — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:50:23 GMT

George MacKay and Callum Turner co-star in a rough-hewn mystery by English filmmaker Mark Jenkin that finds an ominous, ill-fated signature of its own.

'Zoot Suit' will celebrate 45 years at The Ford with Edward James Olmos and Luis Valdez

Carlos De Loera — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:34:09 GMT

To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the release of Chicano film classic "Zoot Suit," The Ford is hosting a special screening of the movie on July 8.

Dour and dull, 'The Death of Robin Hood' steals our time to give to the gloom

Amy Nicholson — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:32:32 GMT

Promising director Michael Sarnoski misses the bulls-eye with this violent, dreary take on the 13th century renegade. Even Hugh Jackman can't save it.

Growing up, his idea of Robin Hood wasn't a fox. Michael Sarnoski goes his own way

Mark Olsen — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:02:41 GMT

The filmmaker behind 'Pig' and 'A Quiet Place: Day One' inspires riskiness from actors. His passion project is a new telling of an ancient tale starring Hugh Jackman.

AI meets angst in 'Toy Story 5,' in which the gang and the plot feel obsolete

Amy Nicholson — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:30:05 GMT

The fifth entry finds the series pulling the same old heartstrings as Jessie, Buzz and Woody once again feel irrelevant. So does the franchise.

Daveigh Chase, former child star of 'Lilo & Stitch,' 'Spirited Away' and 'The Ring,' dead at 35

Alexandra Del Rosario — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:21:02 GMT

Daveigh Chase, of 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'The Ring' fame, died of complications of bacterial meningitis and a blood infection, her father confirmed.

How Este Haim reached out and touched Hollywood

Mikael Wood — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The bass player of the beloved L.A. sister trio Haim composed the score for a new Netflix rom-com, 'Voicemails for Isabelle.'

Made for your phone, now playing before the movie: Microdramas hit the big screen

Cerys Davies — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:23:37 GMT

National CineMedia, which is behind pre-show programming in theaters, has inked a deal to show microdrama previews on the big screen.

Making the queer horror romance 'Leviticus' was an exploration — and a reclamation

Jen Yamato — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

In a crowded year for chilling debuts, director Adrian Chiarella and actors Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen impress with a fear that hits close to home.

'KPop Demon Hunters' was a 'bright spot' in a year of declining diversity among streaming films, study finds

Eloise Rollins-Fife — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

A UCLA diversity study found that the percentage of women and people of color leading streaming films decreased in 2025, with the notable exception of 'KPop Demon Hunters.'

A highly personal ranking of the 10 best toys in the 'Toy Story' movies

Glenn Whipp — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

I watched my children play with their toys over many years and multiple 'Toy Story' movies. These are more than just animated characters to me.

What really happened during Corey Feldman's airport health scare

Emily St. Martin — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:23:53 GMT

Corey Feldman is out of the hospital and on the mend after a health scare unfolded at Los Angeles International Airport.

Yes, Zendaya and Tom Holland have already tied the knot. The groom confirmed it himself

Alexandra Del Rosario — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:27:22 GMT

'Spider-Man' star Tom Holland won't spin too many details about his under-the-radar wedding with Zendaya, except that it's already happened.

'Disclosure Day' ends with a bang. Here's how a former news anchor stole the show

David Viramontes — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:54:00 GMT

Her name is Courtney Grace and she carries Steven Spielberg's sci-fi thriller to its emotional climax. She discussed her experience working on the film.

Meet the 'I Am Frankelda' directors mentored by Guillermo del Toro

Carlos Aguilar — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:47:43 GMT

The culmination of years of tireless work and financial stress for the Ambriz siblings is the breathtaking period fantasy "I Am Frankelda," Mexico's first-ever stop-motion feature, now streaming on Netflix.

Judge orders Justin Baldoni to pay Blake Lively's legal fees as legal fight nears end

Josh Rottenberg — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:47:04 GMT

A federal judge granted Blake Lively attorneys fees tied to Justin Baldoni's unsuccessful defamation lawsuit against her, but denied her request for additional damages, potentially closing the final chapter in the bitter 'It Ends With Us' legal fight.

'The Little Sister' finds a young Muslim woman taking risks to show her true self

Tim Grierson — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Hafsia Herzi's coming-out drama, set in a tight-knit conservative family, has a deft turn by Nadia Melliti, balancing personal discovery against fear.

As Paramount chases $111-billion Warner Bros. acquisition, David Ellison sheds his theater chain

Cerys Davies — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:15:28 GMT

The Ellisons have sold the business, operating under the Showcase Cinemas name, to European theater operator Kinepolis.

Get knocked out by the innovative fighting style of 'The Furious,' the future of action cinema

Amy Nicholson — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:33:15 GMT

Ignore the rote kidnapped child plot and gape at the creative fight choreography in this Asian action spectacular, which could kick off a revolution.

What is it with Spielberg and space aliens? We break down his career-long fixation

Mark Olsen, Josh Rottenberg — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

With 'Disclosure Day,' the director returns to a longtime preoccupation. Two Times staffers explore his ongoing fascination with extraterrestrials.

In Steven Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day,' the aliens are here — but the wonderment isn't

Amy Nicholson — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:00:13 GMT

Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor race around the Midwest trying to expose UFOs in a hectic adventure that lacks intelligent life.

Academy to honor Glenn Close and Ridley Scott at Governors Awards

Josh Rottenberg — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:00:44 GMT

Animator Floyd Norman will also receive an honorary Oscar, while producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.

Thanks to BookTok, authors are the new 'rock stars.' And Hollywood is taking notice

Gary Goldstein — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

As this year's Emmy race proves, the excitement around popular books as intellectual property for film and TV adaptations shows no signs of slowing.

Boy, bye: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater reportedly broke up several months ago

Tracy Brown — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 19:23:43 GMT

'Wicked' co-stars Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have reportedly split after three years together. The 'quiet breakup' happened 'several months ago.'

Of course, Supergirl can have pierced ears. James Gunn explains it again for those who forgot 'Superman'

Tracy Brown — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 01:24:24 GMT

DC's James Gunn reminds fans that he's already explained how Supergirl could have pierced ears with her introduction in 'Superman.'

A family braces for the worst, unsentimentally and with nuanced charm, in 'Renoir'

Tim Grierson — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 20:24:25 GMT

An offbeat 11-year-old Japanese girl pre-grieves her cancer-stricken father in filmmaker Chie Hayakawa's sensitive drama, refreshingly free of heaviness.

How the 'Masters of the Universe' post-credits scenes introduce you-know-who and make the case for a sequel

Tracy Brown — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 20:08:35 GMT

Yes, 'Masters of the Universe' has multiple post-credits scenes. Here's what they set up for He-Man's future

The death throes of glaciers make for an unusually personal doc in 'Time and Water'

Robert Abele — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 17:44:58 GMT

Filmmaker Sara Dosa ('Fire of Love') continues to mine human intimacy from natural backdrops, settings to which we are more connected than we realize.

The new 'Scary Movie' is cringey, crass and salvaged only by its devoted cast

Amy Nicholson — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 17:31:03 GMT

The sixth installment of the spoof series is actually the best one yet (not a huge compliment), with daffy turns by stars Anna Faris and Regina Hall.

This 'Cape Fear' has terror, but also a sexting scandal, social media and drones

Stuart Miller — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Nick Antosca was a fan of the 1962 and 1991 film versions of 'Cape Fear,' and while his remake for Apple TV keeps the Southern Gothic sensibility, it also has modern twists.

'Mexico 86' is Diego Luna's love letter to 'the beautiful game'

Carlos Aguilar — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 16:35:37 GMT

In 'Mexico 86,' on Netflix starting Friday, Luna plays a fictional man in a partially truthful story about how the country defeated more powerful adversaries and surmounted the chaos of the time to host the event successfully.

Wim Wenders pulls 'Wrong Move' film featuring topless Nastassja Kinski when she was 13 years old

Emily St. Martin — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 00:46:02 GMT

Wim Wenders is pulling his 1975 film 'Wrong Move' from circulation after criticism of Nastassja Kinski, then 13, being shown topless. It may be too little, too late for Kinski.

Muscling past a flat script, a big-screen 'Masters of the Universe' embraces its own silliness

Amy Nicholson — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 20:30:11 GMT

Powered by copious sarcasm, 'Bumblebee' director Travis Knight and star Nicholas Galitzine modernize the '80s macho man as sensitive and self-aware.

A24's 'Backrooms' earns $100 million, after less than a week in theaters

Cerys Davies — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 19:28:18 GMT

It's been six days since A24's latest horror film, "Backrooms," hit theaters. In a rare feat for any indie arthouse movie, the thriller is currently on track to rake in $100 million.

Leslie Grace talks her new album — plus 'In the Heights' and the lost 'Batgirl' movie on 'The De Los Podcast'

Carlos De Loera — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT

In the debut episode of "The De Los Podcast," actor-singer Leslie Grace discussed her new album, "Amor, ¿Quién Eres?" and spoke candidly about past films "In the Heights" and "Batgirl."

As Hollywood directors snap up cinemas, Westwood's Village Theatre gets a second act

Cerys Davies — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

It's been two years since a coalition of Hollywood directors purchased the Westwood Village Theater. This summer, the theater will open its doors again to raise money for its $25-million renovation.

6 nonfiction Emmy contenders to watch this season

Steve Dollar — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

From the founding of the country to one of its greatest filmmakers and beyond, these nonfiction films and TV series are worth paying attention to this Emmy season.

Martin Scorsese is betting on AI to transform the storyboarding process

Eloise Rollins-Fife — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 22:51:08 GMT

Martin Scorsese is joining AI firm Black Forest Labs as an advisor to 'push the bounds of creativity.'

L.A. Latino International Film Festival 2026: Here are five standout movies

Carlos Aguilar — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 21:29:49 GMT

Last weekend the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) screened a diverse slate of feature films, both by U.S.

Marcia Lucas, Oscar-winning film editor of 'Star Wars,' dies at 80

Emily St. Martin — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 06:06:31 GMT

Marcia Lucas, the Oscar-winning film editor of 'Star Wars,' died Wednesday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She was 80.

Palestinian Mexican doc 'Traces of Home' was so moving Melissa Barrera had to get involved

Carlos De Loera — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 22:46:50 GMT

In "Traces of Home" director Colette Ghunim explores the personal history of her Palestinian Mexican family and confronts the her household's intergenerational trauma. The Melissa Barrera-produced film just made its West Coast premiere at LALIFF.

Taylor Swift returns to country roots for 'Toy Story 5' song

Katie Simons — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 21:42:02 GMT

Taylor Swift has returned to her country roots with her new song 'I Knew It, I Knew You' for 'Toy Story 5,' inspired by the character Jessie.

I do-a! Dua Lipa and Callum Turner marry in London town hall ceremony

Alexandra Del Rosario — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 18:14:35 GMT

Dua Lipa and Callum Turner tied the knot over the weekend in London. They were seen hand-in-hand leaving the historic Old Marylebone Town Hall in Westminster.

Did the outcome of World War II depend on the weather? Separating fact from fiction in 'Pressure'

Emily Zemler — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:39:23 GMT

A new movie about the Allies' secret preparations for D-Day casts Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser as military men caught up in a showdown over timing.

'Pressure' dramatizes World War II's decisive turn, a clash between generals and weathermen

Katie Walsh — Fri, 29 May 2026 20:31:06 GMT

Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott are fire and ice in this depiction of the run-up to D-day, a secret operation that required total commitment — and no rain.

In Sundance breakout film 'TheyDream,' a Puerto Rican family heals old wounds

Carlos Aguilar — Fri, 29 May 2026 20:12:12 GMT

'I don't think I'll ever be a conventional filmmaker,' says William D. Caballero, whose debut, 'TheyDream,' will close the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on May 31.

In 'Tuner,' a goodhearted worker blessed with expert hearing is lured by safecracking

Katie Walsh — Fri, 29 May 2026 16:53:30 GMT

Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu and Dustin Hoffman front a classically structured thriller about a piano technician who falls in with the wrong crowd.

How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Cary Elwes

Marah Eakin — Fri, 29 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Gelson's coffee beans at home to start, followed by a movie — in Imax at Universal CityWalk or a classic at New Beverly Cinema.

Why these rare early Marilyn Monroe photos stayed hidden for decades

Katie Simons — Fri, 29 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

To celebrate the 100th birthday of Marilyn Monroe, five unpublished photos of the starlet from 1949 are being auctioned off.

Of AI, Paul Schrader says Hollywood is 'barely keeping a step ahead of the monster'

Josh Rottenberg — Thu, 28 May 2026 23:07:36 GMT

At the rapidly expanding AI on the Lot conference in Culver City, the "Taxi Driver" scripter mixed provocation and unease as he contemplated Hollywood's future.

The 9 best movies to see in this weekend's UCLA Festival of Preservation

Kenneth Turan — Thu, 28 May 2026 20:43:30 GMT

Every two years, the archive known for impeccable restorations shows some eye-opening work — a free event that serious film fans won't want to miss.

'Power Ballad' is a one-scene wonder with a terrific start and a sloppy second act

Amy Nicholson — Thu, 28 May 2026 19:18:04 GMT

Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas have great creative chemistry in 'Once' director John Carney's latest musical. Pity this punishingly cruel comedy keeps them apart.

The eerie 'Backrooms' is a doorway into a new kind of Hollywood spellbinder

Amy Nicholson — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:00:11 GMT

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve star in the debut of Kane Parsons, who has adapted his viral videos into a captivating and mature maze of emotions.

Marilyn Monroe left behind a now-100-year-old mystery we're still trying to unravel

Mary McNamara — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Art and artist, creation and creator, Marilyn Monroe left behind a now-century-old mystery we're still trying to unravel.

In mockumentary 'Valentina,' real life El Pasoans shine

Carlos Aguilar — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:14:24 GMT

The opening film at the 2026 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, mockumentary 'Valentina' features everyday El Pasoans and brings humanity to immigration.

Trailer: Robert Pattinson is Chris Hansen, 'To Catch a Predator' host, in A24 'Primetime' thriller

Emily St. Martin — Wed, 27 May 2026 22:58:49 GMT

Sneak a peek at Robert Pattinson's eerie portrayal of 'To Catch a Predator' host Chris Hansen in the new A24 thriller that revisits how far the show went to create TV history.

Bad Bunny joins 'Toy Story 5' voice cast as a fashionable pizza toy

Carlos De Loera — Wed, 27 May 2026 20:46:16 GMT

Bad Bunny has joined the cast of "Toy Story 5" as the voice of a pizza-themed toy named Pizza with Sunglasses. The role marks the singer's first voice-acting performance.

Noted New York menace Spider-Man crashes J.K. Simmons' night at the Mets game

Tracy Brown — Wed, 27 May 2026 18:22:45 GMT

J.K. Simmons, known for playing J. Jonah Jameson in numerous "Spider-Man" films, was reunited with the friendly neighborhood hero at a Mets game.

Russell Crowe slams 'clickbait' spin on interaction with autograph seekers: 'What's your problem?'

Tracy Brown — Tue, 26 May 2026 20:20:33 GMT

Russell Crowe is calling out coverage that was critical of his efficient interactions with autograph seekers outside a Paris hotel as 'clickbait.'

Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival

Joshua Rothkopf — Sat, 23 May 2026 21:13:59 GMT

Awards for acting were shared by the co-stars of "Coward" and "All of Sudden," while the Russian thriller "Minotaur" took home the festival's Grand Prize.

What heated rivalry? A queer women's basketball rom-com with actual WNBA players is in the works

Tracy Brown — Fri, 22 May 2026 19:53:56 GMT

A rom-com about a women's basketball player who falls for her teammate is in the works. WNBA players Gabby Williams, Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance are set to appear.

10 Cannes movies worth looking out for in a year of disappointments

Amy Nicholson, Joshua Rothkopf — Fri, 22 May 2026 19:16:20 GMT

Not every returning auteur brought their A-game, but we found enough to like, including strong work from Pedro Almodóvar, Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Jane Schoenbrun.

Going off the grid in a van has its hazards in the half-scary 'Passenger'

Robert Abele — Fri, 22 May 2026 16:22:05 GMT

Jason Scipio, Lou Llobell and Melissa Leo co-star in a generic piece of nighttime driving horror, doubly cursed for arriving during a moment of creativity for the genre.

'KPop Demon Hunters' fries and Grogu shakes: Why Hollywood keeps feeding the fast-food machine

Iris Kwok — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Hollywood's decades-long love affair with fast-food chains shows no signs of slowing down, from purple 'demon' sauce inspired by 'KPop Demon Hunters' to blue milkshakes for 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.'

No time for a 'Mandalorian' rewatch before getting your 'Grogu' on? We got you covered

Tracy Brown — Thu, 21 May 2026 18:12:24 GMT

Everything you need to know about the Mandalorian, Grogu, Rotta the Hutt, the Anzellans and more before watching the new 'Star Wars' movie.

Sony Pictures Classics chiefs on what AI can't do, avoiding bidding wars and more

Matt Brennan — Thu, 21 May 2026 16:26:57 GMT

Envelope editor in chief Matt Brennan spoke to the leaders of Sony Pictures Classics at Cannes' Marché du Film about the importance of festivals, the use of AI and more.

Fashion and politics get a radical makeover in the riotous 'I Love Boosters'

Amy Nicholson — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie and Taylour Paige play shoplifters undermining the powers that be in a zany, visually uninhibited comedy written and directed by Boots Riley.

'Betty Boop' there it is: Quinta Brunson to star as animated icon for movie in the works with Fleischer family

Alexandra Del Rosario — Wed, 20 May 2026 19:48:15 GMT

Emmy winner Quinta Brunson is taking a bet on "Betty Boop." The comedian-actor is developing a film about the animated icon and will star as the doe-eyed flapper.

Boots Riley hopes to shoplift your mind with the subversive comedy 'I Love Boosters'

Mark Olsen — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:42:16 GMT

The Oakland-based musician and filmmaker smuggles revolutionary ideas into his latest movie, an absurdist candy-colored romp about shoplifting and workers' rights.

'Star Wars' wends its way back to theaters via an unlikely duo in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'

Robert Abele — Tue, 19 May 2026 16:26:19 GMT

Streaming series creator Jon Favreau shepherds his hit into an enjoyable if inessential summer popcorn movie loaded with the creatures you're looking for.

At Cannes, the search goes on for a knockout — or at least a decent ending

Amy Nicholson — Tue, 19 May 2026 02:36:49 GMT

Disappointing offerings included such anticipated titles as "Her Private Hell," Nicolas Winding Refn's first film in a decade, and Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Sheep in the Box."

'Hope,' Korea's biggest gamble, comes to Cannes. Its director is ready to level up

Joshua Rothkopf — Sun, 17 May 2026 22:10:00 GMT

Director Na Hong-jin's latest, a sci-fi adventure co-starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, brings a huge sense of blockbuster scale to his filmmaking.

Filmmaker Brian Lindstrom, known for underdog documentaries, dies at 65

Emily St. Martin — Sat, 16 May 2026 04:00:19 GMT

Brian Lindstrom, the husband of "Wild" author Cheryl Strayed who was known for his underdog documentaries that inspired social change, has died. Just weeks ago, Strayed shared that Lindstrom was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease.

'The Wizard of the Kremlin' fictionalizes the voice in Putin's ear, guiding his rise to power

Robert Abele — Fri, 15 May 2026 20:35:18 GMT

Jude Law, Paul Dano and Alicia Vikander topline a fine cast that does its best to inject depth into director Olivier Assayas' regrettably glib historical drama.

Trees have much to tell us in the thoughtful eco-forward drama 'Silent Friend'

Robert Abele — Fri, 15 May 2026 20:27:06 GMT

Director Ildiko Enyedi and Hong Kong legend Tony Leung Chiu-wai blend their talents into a movie about nature itself.

Tomorrow never dies for James Bond. Auditions officially underway to find the new 007

Tracy Brown — Fri, 15 May 2026 19:44:13 GMT

Who will be the next James Bond? Amazon MGM Studios has started its casting process to find the actor to take over the iconic spy role from Daniel Craig.

Twin sisters hunt down a wayward dad in the inspired 'Is God Is'

Katie Walsh — Fri, 15 May 2026 16:36:35 GMT

Led by a strong cast that includes Kara Young, Mallori Johnson and Sterling K. Brown, the debut film of playwright Aleshea Harris marks a significant arrival.

Be careful what you wish for in 'Obsession,' an old but effective nightmare retooled for Gen Z

Katie Walsh — Fri, 15 May 2026 16:28:03 GMT

Directed by YouTuber turned filmmaker Curry Barker, the movie peps up a functional script with an ace performance by Inde Navarrette as a woman under a dark spell.

Fast and furious? Not for the most part at this year's Cannes so far

Amy Nicholson — Fri, 15 May 2026 10:54:07 GMT

Jane Schoenbrun's "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma" supplied slasher-inspired juiciness while "Fatherland" marked the return of Sandra Hüller ("Anatomy of a Fall").