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Tiziana Rocca is back. The Italian festivals specialist, producer and marketing whizz has just wrapped the latest edition of the starry Taormina Film Festival, marking her triumphant return to the Sicilian event that she headed up for five years before being forced to step down in 2017 due to political turmoil.

Indeed, the long running Italian festival has had a tumultuous few years since Rocca’s departure. She lost her legal battle to stay as the festival head in 2017 after she claimed her company Agnus Dei had been left out of the pitching competition for a new contract. Since then, Taormina has endured a number of ups and downs, seeing a revolving door of artistic directors attempt to step in and revamp the event. Former Venice head Marco Mueller had a brief stint last year before Rocca was brought back aboard for 2025.

For Rocca, her return to Taormina represents a fresh...

Tom Cruise's next mission, should he choose to accept it, will be to collect an honorary Oscar.

The 62-year-old actor has been announced as one of the recipients of the 2025 Governors Awards alongside choreographer-artist Debbie Allen, production designer Wynn Thomas, and singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, the latter of whom will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. The awards will be handed out on Nov. 16 in Los Angeles.

Cruise rose to fame in the 1980s as the star of several teen movies before blowing up in Top Gun (1986) and becoming one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. He followed with a string of popcorn films that included Interview With the Vampire (1994), Minority Report (2002), War of the Worlds (2005), and the Mission: Impossible franchise (eight films between 2000 and 2025). While those types of films rarely result in trophy wins, Cruise still has a storied awards history that goes back decades.

The Oscars

Cruise has been...

Mega film producer Jerry Bruckheimer has been trying to crack a sixth entry in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise for years. A follow-up has been in the works ever since the last installment — Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Bruckheimer has been talking about parallel installments with both new and old continuity, including a version with Margot Robbie, with conflicting reports on whether it is still a go. Bruckheimer is still giving updates about the developing sequel in his latest talk with ScreenRant.

While Bruckheimer has been vocally interested in involving Johnny Depp again, the Jack Sparrow star has gone through an image overhaul in recent years and there hasn’t been a definitive deal locked down yet. However, the producer says that even though Sparrow might not return, there will still be some familiar faces. Bruckheimer updates, “We’re working on a screenplay. Hopefully we...

Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is still navigating rough seas, but franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer just dropped the clearest hint yet that the series won’t be charting an entirely new course. While promoting F1 — his latest movie, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski — Bruckheimer gave ScreenRant a status update on the long-in-development Disney tentpole — and strongly implied that at least some of the franchise’s original cast may return. “We’re working on a screenplay,” Bruckheimer said. “Hopefully we’ll get it right — and then we’ll make it. We really want to make it, that’s for sure.”

Asked whether the next Pirates movie would be a reboot or a continuation, he added: “It’ll be a new take on it.” And when pressed about whether the cast would be brand-new, he smiled: “Well, not all new actors. We’ll have some back.”

“I’m not...

Pirates of the Caribbean franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer teases returning cast members in the upcoming sixth installment. The project has been in development since Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was in the works, but in light of Amber Heard's abuse allegations, Disney dropped the lead star, Johnny Depp, from the franchise. During Depp's defamation trial against Heard, the Jack Sparrow star expressed that he had no interest in returning.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan for F1, which will be released on June 27, Bruckheimer offers an update on Pirates of the Caribbean 6's cast and the sequel's current status. The franchise producer revealed that they are still working on the script, which will be "a new take," but it won't be a brand-new cast. Bruckheimer confirmed that some members would return. Check out his comments below:

Jerry Bruckheimer:We’re working on a screenplay.

The Taormina Film Festival wrapped its 71st edition with Axel Monsú’s “For Your Sake” taking home the top prize. The Argentinian film tells the story of a young girl played by Sabrina Melgarejo, whose life is restricted by poverty and an oppressive religion until she decides to make an attempt at taking her destiny into her own hands. The prize for best director went to Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza for their Iraqi set war movie “Warfare,” which plays out in real time and is based on real events experienced by Mendoza who wrote the script with Garland.

The jury – led by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and including Academy Award winning costume designer Sandy Powell, former Variety vice-president of content Steven Gaydos and Italian actresses Ilenia Pastorelli and Alessandra Mastronardi – gave the acting honors to Ebada Hassan, who starred in Nadia Fall’s “Brides” and Geoffrey Rush for the thriller “The Rule of Jenny Pen,...

The Taormina Film Festival has named its 2025 winners.

Wrapping up the 71st edition of the Sicilian-based festival, Saturday’s awards ceremony culminated in the big honor, Premio Migliore Film (Best Film Award), going to Argentinian director Axel Monsú’s For Your Sake.

Premio Migliore Regia (Best Director Award) was awarded to Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza for A24’s Warfare.

The Premio Migliora Attrice (Best Actress Award) went to Ebada Hassan for her performance in director Nadia Fall’s Brides. Geoffrey Rush, who was also honored with the festival’s Excellence Award, won the Premio Migliore Attore (Best Actor Award) for director James Ashcroft’s The Rule of Jenny Pen.

This year’s festival also honored Martin Scorsese, Michael Douglas, Olivia Wilde, Helen Hunt, Catherine Deneuve and Monica Bellucci with awards.

The international jury was led by Oscar-winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph, with panel support from British actor Rupert Everett, 3x...

Before Daniel Radcliffe was picked to be The Chosen One and became a household name as Harry Potter, the young actor shared the big screen space with none other than James Bond. At the young age of 10, Radcliffe earned himself a small yet unforgettable role alongside Pierce Brosnan in John Boorman’s The Tailor of Panama.

Fresh off his Bond fame, Brosnan played yet another morally ambiguous MI6 agent. The political spy thriller film became a notable Radcliffe industry appearance, marking his pre-Harry Potter career. While Radcliffe’s appearance may have faded into obscurity for many, overshadowed by his Wizarding World fame, the movie still remains a fascinating glimpse into the early career of a star who was mere months away from making it big as an international phenomenon.

The Tailor of Panama marked Daniel Radcliffe’s film debut

In The Tailor of Panama (2001), Daniel Radcliffe plays the role of Mark Pendel,...

“I’m sure you can throw curly ones,” Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush says as we sit down to talk at the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily. He’s wearing a Mambo Loud shirt of remarkable color and is here to receive a Taormina Excellence Award as well as present his new thriller “The Rule of Jenny Pen,” in which he stars as a judge recovering from a stroke in a care home and tormented by a malign, baby-doll-wielding John Lithgow.

Rush, who starred in Giuseppe Tornatore’s 2013 mystery “The Best Offer,” has a close affinity to Italy and tells me he’s ambitious to improve his Italian.

Why do you want to improve your Italian?

My goal is to be able to watch Totò and actually understand it, because my Neapolitan friend, Gianni, took me through some scenes and said he’s very funny. There’s a dryness to this persona.

Orlando Bloom, the star of Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, and The Lord of the Rings universe, is trying to revive the flames of one of his most important franchises. In the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Bloom played Will Turner, the blacksmith's apprentice who falls in love with Elizabeth Swann amid the invasion of the ghostly pirates. While there have been rumors about the possible return of the franchise, nothing has been confirmed. As fans wait for news, Bloom adds fuel to the fire and says that he wants to get everyone back for a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

The Troy actor is likely referring to Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley, who played Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann in the series. But who's to say we can't add Geoffrey Rush and Kevin McNally to the mix as well, given how important their characters were in the entire series?...

In 2003, Orlando Bloom was likely reeling from the success of The Lord of the Ringstrilogy movies, in which he played Legolas, beginning with The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001. The summer of 2003 also marked the beginning of Bloom’s career in another movie franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Bloom would ultimately play the part of Will Turner in four of the five Pirates films, beginning with 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. However, per CinemaBlend via L’Officiel, Bloom said he was initially reluctant to play the part in a movie “based on a theme park ride.”

A Movie Based on a Theme Park Ride? “Crazy”

“My agent said, ‘Disney wants to make a movie based on a theme park ride,’ and I was like, ‘This is crazy,’” Bloom said. The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise went on to earn $4.5 billion worldwide across its five films,...

Daniel Radcliffe will forever be known as Harry Potter, even now HBO has cast Dominic McLaughlin to play Harry in the new TV series based on the "Harry Potter" book series. Before he was cast in the Warner Bros. movie franchise, though, Radcliffe made his movie debut with a bit part in an early 2000s spy film. Indeed, not only did Radcliffe appear in a spy flick, but he also got to appear alongside cinematic spy royalty in the form of Pierce Brosnan.

That said, Radcliffe didn't share the screen with Brosnan in a Bond movie. Rather, he co-starred in 2001's "The Tailor of Panama," a spy thriller that saw Brosnan playing a different womanizing, morally dubious MI6 agent. Along with Brosnan and Radcliffe, the movie also starred the Oscar-winning Geoffrey Rush, who's best known for his roles in films like "The King's Speech" and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies,...

The John Wick spinoff Ballerina will open the 71st Taormina Film Festival, which kicks off in Sicily next week and announced its lineup Thursday.

Star Ana de Armas will not be in attendance, with the film represented instead by director Len Wiseman and actor Norman Reedus.

It is among eight features that will play as special events in Taormina’s Ancient Theatre.

Another 10 titles will play in the International Feature Film Competition including Iraq War U.S. Navy Seal drama Warfare; The Rule of Jenny Pen with John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush; and David Mamet’s Henry Johnson with Shia Labeouf, Evan Jonigkeit and Chris Bauer. (Scroll down for the full lineup.)

Ballerina is among 13 Out of Competition titles which also include Billy Zane’s Int. Hallway / Night and Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight.

A number of high-profile stars will attend to receive honorary awards including Martin Scorsese,...

Italy’s Taormina Film Festival is set for a standout 71st edition with a rich mix of genres – including some potential discoveries – on display, plus a generous dose of star power within a new format that attempts to revive the storied Sicilian event and put it back on the international map.

Marketing guru Tiziana Rocca, who has close Hollywood ties and is a festivals specialist, is back at the helm eight years after she was forced to step down due to political infighting in 2017 following a five-year stint. Rocca’s first move has been to reintroduce a competitive section comprising 10 titles. They will be judged by a jury that, as previously announced, is headed by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who won an Oscar for her role in “The Holdovers.”

The Taormina competition, unveiled on Thursday, comprises the world premieres of Whoopi Goldberg and Jeremy Irvine comedy “Leopardi & Co” by Italian director...

Exclusive: Oscar winning actor Geoffrey Rush is the latest addition to the Taormina Film Festival lineup, and will receive the event’s Excellence Award during the 71st edition which runs June 10-14 in the hilltop Sicilian town.

Rush will also present his latest feature, The Rule of Jenny Pen, as part of the official competition selection. The psychological thriller from director James Ashcroft and co-starring John Lithgow debuted on the festival circuit last year and will make its Italian premiere in Taormina.

Rush won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1997 for Shine, and has also received three BAFTAs, two Golden Globes, a Tony Award, an Emmy Award and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, along with three additional Oscar nominations in other categories.

Tiziana Rocca, Artistic Director of the Taormina Film Festival, said: “We are honored to welcome an artist of Geoffrey Rush’s caliber to Taormina. His presence is...

I love some feel-bad horror. Movies that relish in the macabre and unpleasant. Parker Finn’s Smile 2 was last year’s most surprising release for how fluidly the film packed on the trauma, rendering Skye Riley’s (Naomi Scott) life worse and worse, and just when it seemed as bad as it could get, just a touch worse. I loved every moment of it, naturally. And I’ve been chasing that high, desperate for a horror movie that didn’t pull its punches.

One of the best horror films in recent years had me reeling from just how unforgiving all of it was. Better still, the film was uncommonly interested in a population rarely depicted on-screen, especially in horror movies. In a lot of ways, I was reminded of Natalie Erika James’ masterpiece Relic.

With a glowing Stephen King endorsement, follow the rules and check out The Rule of Jenny Pen now streaming on Shudder.

How Did James Cameron Convince Leonardo DiCaprio To Consider Titanic? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Some casting choices fall into place so perfectly, they feel like they were meant to happen all along. Leonardo DiCaprio stepping into the role of Jack Dawson in Titanic sits right up there with the most seamless ones. You watch it now, and it’s hard to picture anyone else sketching Kate Winslet or shouting from the ship’s bow like he owns the ocean. But the part didn’t land in his lap without a few bumps.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Hollywood’s Young Star With Standards At The Time

DiCaprio was only 21 when Titanic came along and was already a force to be reckoned with. He’d squared off with Robert De Niro (This Boy’s Life), caught Sharon Stone’s attention (The Quick and the Dead), and collected an Oscar nod for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. For him,...

There’s something oddly satisfying about watching a Hollywood love story that doesn’t crash and burn like a B-list action movie. If we are being honest, most celebrity marriages have the shelf life of a banana in July. So when Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban not only survived the media meat grinder but managed to build a marriage that’s still intact after over 15 years, we had to stop and ask: what sorcery is this?

Their story? It’s not some sappy fairytale that floated out of a Nicholas Sparks novel. No, this one has got rehab, rebounds, and red carpets. They met in 2005, both emotionally half-melted candles from past flames, yet somehow they sparked. “We were a mixture of frightened and brave,” Kidman, who faced Hollywood’s cold shoulder after her divorce from Tom Cruise, once told Vanity Fair.

And boy, she wasn’t just playing with poetic license.

Most successful Biographical movies or biopics? (Photo Credit – Instagram/Hotstar)

Biographical movies have been glorifying the lives of extraordinary individuals. Films, ranging from musical legends to political icons, have not only shed light to their unbearable struggles but also highlighted how they overcame all of them to become who they are today.

Over the decades, biopics have proven to be one of the most successful mantras in gaining attention from movie lovers and here are the top 5 highest-grossing biopics of all time, measured by their worldwide box-office revenue.

1. Oppenheimer (2023)- ($975M)

Well, it does not take a lot of time and effort to figure out which film takes the crown in the category, even if you are not a big Hollywood fan. The Christopher Nolan masterpiece, as name suggests, chronicles the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the infamous nuclear physicist who was the mastermind for creating the first nuclear bomb...

Praised by Stephen King as “one of the best movies I’ve seen this year,” The Rule of Jenny Pen will be released on Blu-ray on July 8.

John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush star in the New Zealand psychological horror film, currently streaming on Shudder.

Special Features:

Behind the Scenes of The Rule of Jenny Pen

Arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush) suffers a near-fatal stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed and confined to a retirement home. Resistant to the staff and distant from his friendly roommate, Mortensen soon clashes with seemingly gentle resident Dave Crealy (Lithgow), who secretly terrorizes the home with a sadistic game called The Rule of Jenny Pen while wielding his dementia doll as an instrument of cruelty.

What begins as childish torment quickly escalates into far more sinister and disturbing incidents. When Mortensen’s pleas to the staff go unanswered, he takes it upon himself to put an...

Later this year, John Lithgow will step into the role of iconic British wizard and Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming TV show based on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. The role was previously played by stars Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, with his younger iteration being played by Jude Law in the Fantastic Beasts movie. Lithgow will be the first-ever American to play Dumbledore.

You might find yourself thinking it's preposterous that an American has been cast as Dumbledore. But fear not. Lithgow already has plenty of experience, having played Winston Churchill in the Netflix series The Crown. Furthermore, Americans have done great jobs in British roles over the years; look no further than the unbelievable job Peter Dinklage did as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones; sure, Tyrion isn't technically British, but Westeros is based on England so close enough. In any case, it's not something we should be worrying about.

From found footage to haunted puppets, Shudder covers every corner of the horror map.

I’ve never been a full-on horror person — I don’t watch scary stuff year-round, and I’m usually the one covering my eyes during the gory parts. But when I do get into it, I go all in. I want the unsettling slow burns, the gnarly creature features, the jumpy slashers that leave you double-checking your locks. And no streamer does that better than Shudder.

It’s not just a place to stream horror — it’s a full-blown celebration of the genre, with deep cuts, cult hits, and fresh indie gems that will have you screaming in your sleep. Here’s why Shudder is my top pick for horror fans, whether you’re a diehard or just dipping in for spooky season.

Everything you need to know about the best streamer for horror fanatics.

What...

Fan-favorite director Zack Snyder is well known for his dark, gritty take on superheroes and his slow-motion action heavy set pieces. His credits are full of features like Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the Army of the Dead films and the Rebel Moon franchise. But before he got to make any of those well-known feature films, he directed an underrated animated fantasy film which will now return to Max.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is coming to the streaming platform to give fans another peak at this animated feature based on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole book series by Kathryn Lasky. The movie, written by John Orloff and Emil Stern follows a young owl Soren (Jim Sturgess), kidnapped by the evil owls of St. Aegolious, who want to turn him into a mindless soldier. He escapes with some of his friends and...

Zack Snyder is best known for his work in the superhero genre, having helmed several fan-favorite DC adaptations, like Watchmen, Man of Steel, and Zack Snyder's Justice League. What some of his fans might not know is that he also directed an underrated animated fantasy film, and it's heading back to Max next month.

Beginning May 1, Snyder fans can stream Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole on Max. Based on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole book series by Kathryn Lasky, the 2010 animated fantasy adventure film focuses on barn owl Soren, who is kidnapped and taken to St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls led by Metal Beak and Nyra, where owlets are brainwashed into becoming soldiers. He befriends a fellow owl named Gylfie, and together they escape the facility to find the Island of Ga'Hoole, teaming with newfound friends to fight against Metal Beak and Nyra's evil army.

Until Twilight of the Gods...

After more than 25 years, it truly feels like one of Ben Stiller's best films, "Mystery Men," could have been the band of underdogs that surpassed even the likes of "The Suicide Squad" or "Guardians of the Galaxy." Riffing on comic book superheroes before "Deadpool" made it cool, "Mystery Men" is adapted from a team of misfit heroes that debuted in "Flaming Carrot" #16 and showcases an array of comedic talent. These low-level and incredibly odd crimefighters consist of Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), The Shoveller (William H. Macy), fork-throwing Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), the superhuman fart factory The Spleen (Paul Reubens), Invisible Boy, who can only disappear when no one is looking (Kel Mitchell), and The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo), whose weapon of choice is a bowling ball containing the skull of her late father.

Fighting the good fight for laughs, the film received a mixed reception both critically and financially, having...

On the edge of honor...lies revenge. The Old West collides with the swordplay of the Samurai in the first trailer for your new favorite martial action movie, Tornado. Set in 1790, Tornado follows the journey of a young woman who must confront the merciless thieves who are chasing her, with newly released footage teasing a gripping and gloriously violent tale of survival and revenge. You can check out the new trailer for Tornado below.

From the director of Slow West, John Maclean, and starring Tim Roth (The Hateful Eight), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Takeiro Hira, and Kōki as the titular Tornado, the action drama has also revealed a release date alongside the trailer. Following its world premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival back in February, Tornado is now all set to hit theaters on June 13, 2025. You can check out the official synopsis below.

“Set in the rugged landscape of 1790s Britain,...

About a year ago we looked at The Blair Witch Project through the lens of a quarter century’s worth of passing time. While the popularity and success of that movie is undeniable, regardless of how you feel about it, the legacy is somewhat more complicated. It has 4 video games with varying degrees of quality, some cool toys courtesy of McFarlane, more lore than the average 21st century kids cartoon show, a hell of a mocumentary, and a couple sequels. While 2016’s Blair Witch does a good job of mixing in the found footage aspect while paying homage to its predecessor, Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows, which released the year following the first one, is mostly maligned both behind the scenes and with its final product. While it made a decent amount of money and IMDb claims that it has a cult following now, just how does the movie hold up 25 years later?...

The superhero has now taken over cinema thanks to the likes of the MCU and the SnyderVerse but, believe it or not, there was a time when this wasn’t the case. While superhero movies were more of a rarity, a unique send-up of the genre did emerge way, way back in 1999. And it was well ahead of its time...as the divisive response proves. Starring an all-star cast that includes Ben Stiller and William H. Macy, Mystery Men is now headed to free streaming. And, perhaps in this golden age of superhero movies, the comedy can finally get the recognition it deserves.

Directed by Kinka Usher in his feature-length directorial debut, and written by Neil Cuthbert, Mystery Men is loosely based on the "Flaming Carrot Comics" by Bob Burden. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Greg Kinnear, Claire Forlani, Kel Mitchell, Paul Reubens,...

Based on Owen Marshall’s short story, “The Rule of Jenny Pen” (2025) blends the evocative drama of its setting, which is life at an elder-care home, with the standard horror thrills of a dangerous killer on the loose. James Ashcroft, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Eli Kent, explores the pangs of aging without compromising classic horror tropes. And when you have Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow magnificently raising hell, there is no option but to work wonderfully well as a film.

The Rule of Jenny Pen (2025) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush), a formidably strict judge, does not mince words when delivering his judgment. The film starts with Stefan berating a mother who could not protect her daughter from being molested. To Stefan, not standing up is culpable. Things take a sharp turn for Stefan as he suffers a stroke, rendering him paralyzed. The state enrolls him...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Bring Them Down (Christopher Andrews)

Christopher Andrews’ Bring Them Down is an endurance test with no payoff. Opening with a jarring car crash on a windy road in rural Ireland, the film soon adds scenes of gruesome animal cruelty, an ear literally being blown off someone’s head, and then further sequences of gruesome animal cruelty. Such onscreen acts can be tremendously moving, of course, when presented in great films––Andrea Arnold’s 2021 documentary Cow a recent example. – Christopher S. (full review)

Where to Stream: Mubi (free for 30 days)

A Complete Unknown (James Mangold)

A Complete Unknown often seems lost in its efforts to live up to this motley pedigree. It follows Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) from the moment he hitchhiked into New...

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Gwyneth Paltrow has exposed Nikki Glaser for trying to bang her ex.

And the best part of this story is that Nikki is not denying that she repeatedly reached out to Ben Affleck in an effort to score a spot in the Batfleck’s bed.

That surprising revelation came during the latest episode of Gwyneth’s podcast.

Gwyneth Paltrow testifies during her trial, March 24, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Rick Bowmer/Pool/Afp via Getty Images)

During a conversation about the dating app Raya, Nikki surprised the Goop goddess by revealing her attempts to bang Ben.

Nikki Glaser says she was rebuffed by Ben Affleck

“When I used to be on Raya and he would come across, [I would give him a] very concentrated check mark ‘yes’ and, like, never [got] it back,” Glaser said.

Gwyneth dated Ben way back in the ’90s, so she obviously wasn’t upset about Nikki’s confession.

Academy Award Nominee John Lithgow Academy Award Winner Geoffrey Rush The Rule Of Jenny Pen Out Now In UK And Ireland Cinemas ★★★★ ‘Dread soaked tension‘ The Hollywood News ‘Profoundly perverse’ IndieWire ‘One of the best movies I’ve seen this year‘ Stephen King Starring Academy Award nominee John Lithgow, Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush and [...]

The post The Rule Of Jenny Pen (John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush) out now in cinemas first appeared on Horror Screams Video Vault - Supporting Independent Horror.

At 2025's 97th Academy Awards ceremony, 10 films vied to win Best Picture. However, the Oscars have not always included this many in the lineup. In fact, less than 30 years ago, there were only five nominees in the category. And the one that came away victorious in the 71st Academy Awards continues to be a controversial pick.

To some, Shakespeare in Love was an unexpected hit when it was released in 1998. Starring Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow (also named Best Actress), it excelled as a period drama and a fun historical reimagining. While some moviegoers continue to believe it did not earn its win, further reflection indicates that the Academy did, in fact, make the right decision.

Shakespeare in Love Faced Off Against Modern Classics Image via Miramax Films

Both critics and audiences tend to agree that Shakespeare in Love is a brilliant example of the romantic and period genres. However,...

Exclusive: Emmy winners John Lithgow and Jimmy Smits are set to reprise their roles of Arthur Mitchell aka the Trinity Killer and Miguel Prado, respectively, in the Showtime original series Dexter: Resurrection. The show has been in production in New York since January.

For playing the diabolical Trinity Killer, Lithgow received an Emmy Award, Critics’ Choice Award, and a SAG Award as well as a Golden Globe nomination. Smits received an Emmy nomination for his Season 3 portrayal of Miguel, the Ada-turned-lawbreaker hellbent on revenge.

At this point, fans of the ‘Dexter’-verse aren’t surprised when news emerges that dead people are being resurrected. Especially when Lithgow is concerned, as he appeared in flashback scenes in the limited series Dexter: New Blood. The New Blood continuation series is titled Resurrection, so at this point, anything goes. This is Smits’ return to the franchise,...

Mistakes happen, and it's always an interesting thing when audiences catch mistakes in movies. Not only did those mistakes have to make their way on set, but several cast and crew members also had to have completely missed it before it got to the editing room.

Fans love to spot movie mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes even make their movies better.

A Stormtrooper Bumped Their Head Star Wars (1977)

The Star Wars franchise has had its upsetting lows and astronomical highs, including many details fans have mulled over and adored for decades. One particular detail all the way back from the original Star Wars film has become such a beloved moment, that fans make an effort to point it out upon rewatches. In a scene where Stormtroopers are investigating a control room, one Stormtrooper happens to bonk his head on the door frame on the way in.

The true identity of this Stormtrooper's actor remains a mystery.

Emmy-winner Ben Stiller is currently riding the wave of the recent success of Apple TV+’s Severance, on which he serves as an executive producer, but in 1999 he starred in the star-studded and underrated superhero action-comedy movie Mystery Men. The movie, which also stars William H. Macey, Hank Azaria, and Greg Kinnear, will stream for free on Tubi starting April 1.

Set in the fictional Champion City, Captain Amazing (Kinnear) is captured by the villainous Casanova Frankenstein, played by Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush, which gives the perfect opportunity for a group of wannabe misfit superheroes to prove themselves. Upon its release in 1999, Mystery Men was a box office flop and did not turn a profit, earning just $33.4 million against a budget of $68 million.

Stiller is “Furious” in Mystery Men

Stiller stars as Mr. Furious, a junkyard worker with a bad temper, who, with his friends Eddie and Jeffrey, decide to become superheroes.

Talents in cinema as versatile as Charlize Theron come once in a generation. Theron’s range is staggering—from the exhausted, no-nonsense mom in Tully to the fearless warrior freeing enslaved women in Mad Max: Fury Roadto the haunting transformation into real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, which earned her a well-deserved Oscar. She’s even lent her voice to a grumpy monkey in Kubo and the Two Strings. And in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, she transforms into Britt Ekland—the young Swedish actress who fell for the brilliant, yet self-destructive, British comedy legend (played by Geoffrey Rush).

I spy with my little eye, something beginning with “spy.” If you guessed “spy thrillers” then congratulations, you win! Now you not only have the love and respect of your peers but also our picks for the 13 best modern spy thrillers. These are the greatest espionage movies since the year 2000, packed with action, or intrigue, or stunts, or all three.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to watch all of these spy movies and report back to us. We think it’ll be easy for a special agent like you!

Pierce Brosnan and Geoffrey Rush in “The Tailor of Panama” (Sony) ‘The Tailor of Panama’ (2001)

Pierce Brosnan’s best spy movie isn’t about James Bond. He plays a despicable espionage agent in John Boorman’s riveting and intelligent “The Tailor of Panama,” based on a novel by spy writer extraordinaire John le Carré (who co-wrote the...

Dig deeper into Jenny Pen’s heritage with IndieWire After Dark! In March 2025, our weekly midnight movie club is revisiting three of the fringe film influences that inspired “The Rule of Jenny Pen.”

Where do babies come from? Under “The Rule of Jenny Pen,” the answer isn’t as simple as having unprotected sex or getting a visit from the stork. No, the brainchild of director James Ashcroft and puppeteer Paul Lewis has an especially complicated birth story and answers to more artistic parents than most.

Part David Lynch, part Muppet, the titular Jenny Pen debuted in theaters on March 7. She’s a Pisces who is laying early claim to the title of 2025’s favorite new horror icon, thanks to the midwives over at IFC Films and Shudder. (“The Rule of Jenny Pen” will stream exclusively on the horror platform and AMC+ starting on March 28.)

The centerpiece to a toxic...

Stars: John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush, George Henare | Written by James Ashcroft, Eli Kent | Directed by James Ashcroft

Directed by James Ashcroft, chilling care home horror The Rule of Jenny Pen is adapted from a story by New Zealand author Owen Marshall. Co-written by Ashcroft and Eli Kent, it’s a terrifying tale of bullying and elder abuse that’s all the more frightening for its plausibility.

Geoffrey Rush stars as Stefan Mortensen, an elderly, cantankerous judge who has a devastating stroke while passing a verdict and ends up half-paralysed and confined to a care home. Already infuriated by having to share a room with former rugby star Tony Garfield (George Henare), Stefan’s problems only get worse when they are both terrorised by long-term patient Dave Crealy (John Lithgow), who is never seen without a baby-faced, hollow-eyed therapy puppet on his hand, named Jenny Pen.

Unfortunately, no one in the...

Geoffrey Rush’s retired judge is terrorised by Lithgow’s therapy puppet-wielding fellow resident in this claustrophobic tale of elder-on-elder abuse

Film-maker James Ashcroft has created a scary and intimately upsetting psychological horror based on a story by New Zealand author Owen Marshall set in a care home, a film whose coolly maintained claustrophobic mood and bravura performances make up for the slight narrative blurring towards the end. It’s a movie about bullying and elder abuse – more specifically, elder-on-elder abuse – and it is always most chilling when it sticks to the realist constraints of what could actually happen.

The locale is an un-luxurious residential care facility where a retired judge is now astonished to find himself; this is Stefan Mortensen, played by Geoffrey Rush, who succumbed to a catastrophic stroke while passing judgment from the bench. He is a cantankerous and high-handed man, furious to be in this demeaning place and who,...

Warner Bros.’ “Mickey 17” claimed the top spot at the U.K. and Ireland box office in its opening weekend, earning £2.1 million ($2.7 million), according to Comscore.

The sci-fi thriller from director Bong Joon Ho, starring Robert Pattinson, made a solid debut, though it faced strong competition from holdover hit “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.”

Universal’s “Bridget Jones” sequel continued its remarkable run, landing in second place with $2.6 million in its fourth weekend. The film has now amassed $52.2 million, making it one of the biggest releases of the year so far.

True Brit Entertainment’s “Marching Powder” opened in third with $1.3 million. The film marks the long-anticipated reunion of director Nick Love and lead Danny Dyer after 2007’s “Outlaw.” The filmmakers indicate that the film – a comedy-drama about addiction, violence and happy endings told through individuals with real lived experience – is on track to gross the equivalent of is...

Sean Baker’s Anora from Neon — which swept the Academy Awards for Best Director, Picture, Original Screenplay, Lead Actress and Editing – added 800+ screens to celebrate after the ceremony last Sunday and brought in in an estimated $1.86 million for the three-day weekend. The cume after 21 weeks in theaters now stands at $18.45 million.

Anora stands at no. 7 this week, making for an impressive five indies in the top 10 this week

Neon’s The Monkey takes the fourth spot in week 3 with a cume of $31 million. And two other indies round out the top ten with Rule Breakers from Angel Studios seeing $1.59 million on 2,044 screens, at no. 9, and In The Lost Lands from Vertical, based on an a short story by George R.R. Martin, is estimating $1.04 million at 1,370 locations and a no. 10 spot.

The distributor has been on a push to boost its theatrical slate over the past year and has places in...

No matter the time of year, Shudder always has an extensive supply of horror films to satisfy its subscribers. Spring might be quickly approaching, but spooky season never ends with this streaming service. This month, the platform is guaranteed to have even more gruesome and terrifying films for everyone to enjoy.

From comedic slasher flicks to vampires and the supernatural, Shudder will have just about every subgenre viewers could possibly want. Whether horror fans want blood and gore or psychological thrillers, the platform has them covered. No matter what audiences want to see this month, Shudder will certainly have something for them.

'30 Days of Night' Stream Now on Shudder

Based on the comic book miniseries of the same name, 30 Days of Night unfolds in the small town of Barrow, Alaska, during their yearly polar night, in which the sun doesn’t rise for 30 days. After strange occurrences begin...

It's only a few months into the year, yet the New Zealand-made psychological horror film The Rule of Jenny Penis already poised to be the most effectively disturbing film of 2025. Starring two famous and well-established big names on stage and screen — Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow — and directed by actor James Ashcroft, The Rule of Jenny Pen follows the imperious, proud yet high-minded Judge Stefan Mortensen, who is rushed into a nursing home following a stroke that leaves his legs paralyzed and his mental faculties compromised. Surrounded by ailing figures and an ineffectual staff, Judge Mortensen finds himself up against the real boss of the home — fellow patient Dave Crealy (John Lithgow). Armed with a memory puppet dubbed "Jenny Pen," Crealy rules the roost by exploiting and abusing fellow patients, taking advantage of the elderly, frail and mentally incompetent, all seemingly unnoticed by the staff. Old habits die hard for the Judge,...

There aren’t many actors who can ricochet quite like John Lithgow. He’s a gifted comedian, warm and familial, in films like “Harry and the Hendersons,” and a steely supervillain matching Sylvester Stallone blow for blow in “Cliffhanger.” He’s a Machiavellian schemer, completely unknowable, in a film like “Conclave,” and he also madcaps his way through a wacky high-concept sitcom in “3rd Rock from the Sun.”

If there’s a unifying factor in most of Lithgow’s performances it’s his almost uncomfortable intensity. When he’s the victim, he’s the saddest victim. When he’s the bad guy, he’s the meanest bad guy. When he’s given carte blanche to go mad with power, he’s Dave Crealy in “The Rule of Jenny Penn,” which may very well be his creepiest performance since Brian De Palma’s “Raising Cain” — and that’s saying something.

“The...

It’s always exciting to see major actors try their hand at horror. Both John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush have never shied away from it, and always find interesting roles when they do take part. That’s no different here as The Rule of Jenny Pen provides the two thespians an absolute smorgasbord to play with. They get to play nemesis and are really able to milk each of their interactions. There’s a tension present whenever these two are in the same room and it’s because they know how to play off the small moments so well. I didn’t love the film itself (check out my review Here) but I was floored by the performances from these two talented actors.

Talking to two absolute acting titans like John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush can be a bit intimidating. Thankfully, they’re two of the nicest people out there and truly love acting,...

The 2020s are a new golden age for horror. The once-derided genre is gaining long-deserved respect and even the red carpet treatment. In 2024, A-list stars took prominent roles in some of the year’s best and scariest flicks. Heretic featured Hugh Grant as the cheerful cult leader-slash-college professor-slash-titular heretic terrorizing Mormon missionaries. Brat Pack alum Demi Moore tackled the Hollywood machine in the gut-wrenching body horror The Substance. This time, it’s John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush, two long-established, serious actors, who have charged into the horror renaissance, this time tackling an especially scary subject — senility and senior abuse.

Directed by James Ashcroft, a New Zealand actor with an impressive directing roster, The Rule of Jenny Pen is already poised to be the most disturbing horror thriller of the year. Based on the short story of the same name by Owen Marshall, the story follows the imperious and arrogant yet...

Every so often, a film comes along that, from the outset, might appear relatively inconsequential. Perhaps it features two actors with a résumé as long and exceptional as any Hollywood legend; possibly its nursing home setting and premise of a demented resident terrorizing his fellow denizens look to lean into a genre indistinguishable from your garden variety psychological thriller, even light horror to an extent. Surely, nothing is lurking within the confines of such a film to suggest the moviegoing equivalent of a bobsled flipping upside down, no?

Continue reading ‘The Rule Of Jenny Pen’ Review: John Lithgow And Geoffrey Rush Can’t Help This Baffling Thriller at The Playlist.

Last month, it was announced that Robert De Niro will be following up the Netflix series Zero Day with another Netflix project, as he has signed on to star in the serial killer crime thriller The Whisper Man for Agbo and the streaming service. Now, Deadline has revealed that De Niro is being joined in the cast by The White Lotus star Michelle Monaghan and Severance star Adam Scott.

Based on Alex North’s bestselling novel of the same name, The Whisper Man will be directed by James Ashcroft. Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer are writing the script. The story centers on a widower crime writer who, after his 8-year-old son is abducted, looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as “The Whisper Man.”

Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot,...