News

The biggest releases and surprise standouts are all jostling for your attention right now, and there is a lot to take in. Sequels return to long loved characters, fresh takes reboot classic franchises, and a few original stories push into the spotlight with impressive ensembles. If you are sorting out what to watch next, this countdown gives you the essentials in a quick and friendly way so you can spot the titles that fit your mood.

Below you will find the latest weekly lineup presented as a true countdown. Each entry includes clear details like the cast, the year, the runtime, and the rating, along with where it sits within a larger series when that applies. Skim it, save it, and get your watchlist ready.

15. ‘Freaky Tales’ (2024) MacRo

‘Freaky Tales’ brings together a wide ensemble that includes Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Ji young Yoo, Jay Ellis, Angus Cloud, Normani, Jack Champion,...

Pedro Pascal In Freaky Tales (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Freaky Tales stumbled at the box office after its April 4 release, but the story did not end there. The film has recently climbed into the top 3 on streaming platforms like HBO Max in the US since premiering there on August 8, per Flixpatrol. In less than a week, it has captured a new audience, driven by its star-studded cast featuring Pedro Pascal, Dominique Thorne, Angus Cloud, Normani, Ji-young Yoo, Marshawn Lynch, Jack Champion, Keir Gilchrist, and a surprise appearance by Tom Hanks.

What is Freaky Tales About?

The anthology, crafted by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, brings together four distinct stories set in Oakland, California, in 1987. Pascal stars as Clint in “Born to Mack,” a criminal trying to leave his past behind. When he refuses a heist targeting basketball star Sleepy Floyd, events spiral into encounters with punks, female rappers, Neo-Nazis, and even supernatural powers.

Pedro Pascal’s anthology film Freaky Tales underperformed at the box office after its April 4 release, and although it failed to do well during its theatrical run, the film has lately been in the top 10 on streaming platforms, including HBO Max.

Freaky Tales premiered on HBO Max on August 8 and is now surging up the charts in less than a week. This sleeper hit status is hardly surprising, given its star-studded cast, including but not limited to Pascal, Dominique Thorne, Angus Cloud, Normani, Ji-young Yoo, Marshawn Lynch, Jack Champion, Keir Gilchrist, and a special appearance by Tom Hanks. The anthology is written, directed, and produced by the well-known creative duo behind Captain Marvel, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who have successfully stitched together four different stories into one feature film.

The plot of Freaky Tales is based on the lives of four people, all set in Oakland, California, in 1987. Pascal...

With acclaimed actor Pedro Pascal headlining several major projects this year, including The Last of Us Season 2 and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, many have forgotten about his intriguing ode to the '80s rising on the streaming charts. Pascal's anthology action comedy film, Freaky Tales, enjoys a redemption story on HBO Max after largely being buried in theaters.

Per FlixPatrol, Freaky Tales is one of the most popular HBO Max titles in the United States. The film ranks second on the streaming service's top 10 movie chart, only topped by Final Destination Bloodlines.

Directed and written by Captain Marvel helmers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Freaky Tales originally debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January of last year, where it received positive reviews. The movie received a limited theatrical release in April, grossing very little at the box office, and debuted on HBO Max on Aug. 8.

Set in 1987 in Oakland,...

The internet might joke that every single new release features Pedro Pascal, but the actor has been proving his acting skills in multiple projects this year throughout different genres. One of them is the highly underrated action comedy Freaky Tales.

Following a limited theatrical release earlier this year, Freaky Tales is finally getting the attention it deserves on streaming. FlixPatrol just revealed Freaky Tales debuted in second place on the charts on HBO Max immediately after its release. Although the film attracted enough attention, it wasn't enough to defeat Final Destination Bloodlines.

Freaky Tales debuted on HBO Max on Aug. 8, and it immediately found success on streaming. The enthusiasm for the film is not surprising, considering the movie features a star-studded cast. The action comedy is an anthology that follows four different stories, although they are interconnected. The events take place at real locations during real historical events in Oakland,...

Who doesn't love Pedro Pascal? The four-time Emmy-nominated actor has recently made headlines for his starring role as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in the Marvel superhero film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. If you’re anything like us, you probably can’t get enough of watching him light up the screen.

The good news? Now, thanks to HBO Max, you don’t have to wait to see more of him. One of his most recent movies has just been added to the streaming platform, and chances are it completely flew under your radar.

Pascal is a very busy man. This year alone, he has been in five movies. You might have also watched him in the second season of the popular HBO post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us. But out of the five films he's been in, one of them just didn't seem to make as much noise,...

Exclusive: Gabriela Ortega (Huella), Bo Mitchell (Cobra Kai), Alice Kremelberg (The Sinner), Daryl “Chill” Mitchell and Oliver Yellin have joined the ensemble cast of the international thriller 52nd State.

Deadline first told you about the indie project, which is being directed by Netflix’s former longtime VP product Todd S. Yellin and is executive produced by Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings in his first credit as a producer.

Production is currently underway across Colombia and Costa Rica, with Bogota-based production company Jaguar Bite overseeing physical production.

The new cast additions join previously announced leads Moisés Arias, Teresa Ruiz, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio (Primo) and Ken Jeong.

Inspired by real events, 52nd State centers on Felipe, a disillusioned Costa Rican It worker who stumbles into a high-stakes scam operation that preys on vulnerable Americans.

As the scheme spirals out of control,...

A unique action-comedy starring Pedro Pascal is scheduled to hit the HBO Max streaming service in August. The film offers another opportunity for audiences to see the popular actor, who has had a busy and successful year with several major film roles. This upcoming streaming release allows fans to see him in a distinctive project from the comfort of their homes.

The movie is an anthology film, weaving together multiple stories with a blend of action and humor. Set against the backdrop of 1980s Oakland, the film features a large cast of colorful characters. Despite a quiet theatrical run, the movie has earned high praise from the audiences who have seen it, building its status as an under-the-radar favorite. The interconnected tales and period setting create a unique viewing experience.

The film making its way to streaming is “Freaky Tales.” It will be available to stream on HBO Max starting Friday,...

An action-comedy starring Pedro Pascal that earned a high audience score is making its way to streaming. The film, which had a limited run in theaters, will soon be available to a much wider audience on HBO Max. This gives viewers who missed it the first time a chance to see what the buzz is about.

The movie is an anthology film, meaning it tells several different stories that are loosely connected. Set in Oakland, California, in 1987, the plot follows a diverse group of characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. These characters include teen punks, a female rap duo, a corrupt police officer, and an NBA star. The movie blends action, humor, and moments of intense conflict.

The film, titled “Freaky Tales,” will be available for streaming on HBO Max starting on Friday, August 8. It will also have its broadcast debut on HBO on Saturday, August 9. The movie premiered...

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the HBO Max streaming service in August. The HBO Max August 2025 lineup includes a new season of Peacemaker, the feature films Final Destination Bloodlines, Freaky Tales, and The Legend of Ochi, and the comedy special Marc Maron: Panicked.

The schedule includes the HBO Original sports documentary series Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills and the HBO Original documentary series The Yogurt Shop Murders.

Peacemaker Featured Programming

Specials

Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO Original Comedy Special)

Debuts August 1

In his second HBO special, comedian and podcaster Marc Maron offers up his nuanced perspective on our increasingly uncertain world. Performed, written, and executive produced by Marc Maron; executive produced by David Martin; produced by Avalon; and directed by Steven Feinartz.

Peacemaker

Series

Peacemaker Season 2 (Original Series)

The eight-episode season premieres on August 21 and episodes debut weekly at 9 p.

Do you know the one show that we've been patiently waiting on forever? Euphoria. The hit HBO drama that took the world by storm when it premiered its first season back in June 2019. At that time, you could pretty much ask anyone if they had watched it, and the answer was almost always a yes.

From the groundbreaking performances, especially Zendaya’s unforgettable turn as Rue, to the show’s raw and honest exploration of youth, addiction, and identity, Euphoria has firmly established itself as a bold and culturally impactful series that continues to connect deeply with audiences around the globe. Now, with its third season on the horizon, anticipation is sky-high.

And adding to the excitement is the recent news that legendary film composer Hans Zimmer is joining the creative team. Known for his iconic scores in blockbuster films like Interstellar and Inception, Zimmer will be collaborating with original...

Production has begun at last on the third and likely final season of Max’s Euphoria. Much has changed in regards to who will return in front of the camera in the three years since the second season premiered.

Find everything we know about Euphoria Season 3 below:

When will Euphoria Season 3 come out?

At the Wells Fargo Tmt Summit, Jb Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming for HBO/Max parent Warner Bros. Discovery, confirmed that the series starring Zendaya is targeting a 2026 return. An exact date has not yet been announced.

Has Euphoria Season 3 gone into production?

Yes, the third season has started production as of Feb. 10, 2025. Season 3 is currently shooting in Los Angeles.

Who is coming back for Euphoria Season 3?

Zendaya will return to reprise her role of Rue Bennett, as will Hunter Schafer in her role as Jules Vaughn.

L-r: Zendaya and Hunter Schafer in ‘Euphoria’ Courtesy of Max

Eric Dane,...

Pedro Pascal has had an incredible 2025, starring in a diverse range of films, from big-budget to small-scale productions. Aside from his upcoming performance as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic inFantastic Four: First Steps, the actor also recently had a large supporting role in two big A24 films: Ari Aster's Eddington and Celine Song's Materialists. Now, one of his projects, which has mostly flown under the radar, Freaky Tales, has a streaming release date. The announcement gives fans of the actor and crime comedy films the opportunity to experience a criminally underseen movie.

According to an official press release from Warner Bros. Discovery, Freaky Tales is set to release on HBO Max in the U.S. on Friday, August 8, before also being available on the HBO linear channel the following day on Saturday, August 9 at 8:00 Pm Et. Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is described in the press release as...

“Freaky Tales”, the new live-action anthology feature, written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, stars Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, Keir Gilchrist, Marteen, Michael X. Sommers, Yong Kim, Michelle Farrah Huang and Too $hort, streaming August 8, 2025 on HBO Max:

‘…set in 1987 Oakland, California, the film is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters…

“…including an ‘NBA’ star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks and a debt collector…

“…on a collision course in a fever dream…

“…of showdowns and battles.”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Pedro Pascal is emerging as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, in addition to being one of the most prolific actors alive. Pascal is having an incredible 2025, which started with him reprising his role as the surrogate father figure Joel Miller in HBO's The Last of Us season 2, earning a second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

This summer, he's starred in two A24 movies – Celine Song's romantic comedy Materialists and Ari Aster's neo-Western Eddington, and will also make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, releasing in theaters on July 25. However, Pascal has another movie that was released in theaters this year, but flew under the radar, and is now making its way onto streaming.

Freaky Tales Lands A Streaming Release Date Pedro Pascal's Period Action Comedy Boasts An 89% Rt Audience Score

Freaky Tales has landed a streaming release date.

While Julia Garner may be heralding his end when The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in cinemas later this week, HBO Max is heralding the streaming arrival of one of Pedro Pascal’s most slept-on films — Freaky Tales. The anthology project by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck landed in cinemas earlier this year, but, despite largely positive reviews from critics, failed to make a wave with audiences, most likely due to a limited theatrical release. Now, it’s gunning for a second shot in the spotlight, as the Lionsgate flick sets an arrival date of August 8.

If you love a movie that introduces a multitude of characters whose paths cross in bonkers ways and has a soundtrack that sounds like it’s straight out of Stranger Things, Freaky Tales is the film you didn’t know you needed. Set in 1987, audiences will follow along with Pascal’s Clint as he...

After a long wait, fans are very eager to see Euphoria season 3 back on their screen. The series has had major delays and some behind-the-scenes drama before the highly anticipated season even began filming. Nonetheless, most actors are returning to the sets to give fans what they want. While speculations are rife about what the season will entail for each character, actor Sydney Sweeney recently revealed that Cassie will go on a wild ride.

The audience relates to Cassie and her trauma on several levels, making her one of the fan favorite characters on the show. From her difficult relationship in the first season to her need for Nate’s (Jacob Elordi) validation in the second season, the final unravelling has left her on a very intriguing note. “I'm so happy to be back. It feels like I'm with my Og family. We've been doing this since I was 20 years old.

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Olympo is a Spanish teen sports drama series created by Laia Foguet and Ibai Abad. The Netflix series is set on the premises of Spain’s Car Pirineos where Spain’s top athletes train and it revolves a group athletes as they struggle with their daily training, their need to win, and obviously romance. Olympo stars Clara Galle, Nira Oshaia, Augustin Della Corte, Nuno Gallego, Andy Duato, Najwa Khilwa, Alexandra Prokhorova, Laura Ubach, Juan López-Tagle, and Marti Cordero. So, if you loved the teen drama, thrilling story, and entertaining characters in Olympo, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Spinning Out (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Spinning Out is a teen drama series created by Samantha Stratton. The Netflix series follows Kat Baker, a young ice skater who is given an opportunity to restart her career after a career-ending injury.

What Do We Know About the long-awaited third season of HBO drama Euphoria? More than you may think. With three years having elapsed since the acclaimed second season of Sam Levinson’s teen drama premiered, stars Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Hunter Schafer have exploded in popularity, leaving fans desperate for new episodes of the show. From plot, casting news, and more, let’s dive in and look at what is coming up in the third season of Euphoria.

Why has it taken so long for Season 3 to happen?

Initially, the third season was slated for 2023 production and release, but that was delayed by production preparations and then by the Writers’ Guild and SAG strikes. With HBO then announcing a 2025 premiere date to give creator Sam Levinson and the writing staff time to ready the new episodes, production was once again disrupted in March 2024 with an indefinite hiatus that put the...

In this first interview since revealing his Als diagnosis in April, Eric Dane tells Diane Sawyer, “I don’t think this is the end of my story. I don’t feel like this is the end of me” in a preview clip on Thursday’s episode.

“I wake up every day and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening,” Dane told Sawyer. “It’s not a dream.”

In the 30-second teaser, Dane and Sawyer holding hands at the actor breaks into tears at one point, according to People.

The former “Gray’s Anatomy” star said he feels “fortunate” to be able to continue working. His new action thriller series “Countdown” premieres on Prime Video on June 25 and is currently in production on the long-delayed Season 3 of “Euphoria.”

Dane first announced his diagnosis in April, saying, “I have been diagnosed with Als. I am grateful to have my loving family by...

As if you weren’t expecting it already, Sydney Sweeney promised that the long-delayed third season of Euphoria would be “unhinged.”

In a new interview with Empire magazine, the actress gave a light tease of the show’s return while discussing her deep attachment to her character, Cassie, as well as working with showrunner Sam Levinson. She praised Levinson’s openness to pushing things as far as possible, calling him “a brilliant filmmaker to work with, because I’ll read something, then I’ll call him, and I’m like,...

“Freaky Tales”, the new live-action anthology feature, written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, stars Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, Keir Gilchrist, Marteen, Michael X. Sommers, Yong Kim, Michelle Farrah Huang and Too $hort, now available to rent/own on digital platforms, followed by a 4K/Blu-ray release June 3, 2025:

‘…set in 1987 Oakland, California, the film is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters…

“…including an ‘NBA’ star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks and a debt collector…

“…on a collision course in a fever dream…

“…of showdowns and battles.”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Scream Factory‘s July home video line-up includes 4K editions of Abigail, Battle Beyond the Stars, and Fade to Black.

Abigail sinks its fangs into 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on July 8. The 2024 vampire film is presented in 4K from the original elements with Dolby Vision.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett directs from a script by Guy Busick and Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground). Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Alisha Weir, and Giancarlo Esposito star.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

4K Presentation From The Original Elements (new) Presented In Dolby Vision (Hdr-10 Compatible) Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS-hd Master Audio 5.1, 2.0 Audio Commentary With Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin And Tyler Gillett And Editor Michael P. Shawver Audio Commentary With Film Critic Drew McWeeny (new)

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:

4K Presentation From The Original Elements (new) Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS-hd Master Audio 5.1, 2.0 Audio Commentary With Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin And Tyler Gillett And Editor Michael P.

Welcome to the Gold Ticket, your VIP guide to the best of award-worthy pop culture for the weekend ahead, curated by the Gold Derby team of experts. (April 25 - April 27)

The main stream

It's time to get (back) to that galaxy far, far away.

This week, Andor, the Rogue One prequel created by Tony Gilroy, returns for its highly anticipated second season, more than two years after the show's acclaimed debut. Unfortunately, it is also the show's final season, as the 2023 Emmy nominee for Best Drama Series is quickly hurtling toward the climactic events of Rogue One, and thus also the events of A New Hope. Diego Luna returns as rebel spy Cassian Andor in the new season, which centers on a planet unlucky enough to house mineral deposits the Empire needs.

The 12-episode season covers several years as it unspools its story over four weeks, in three-episode chunks. This...

“Freaky Tales” is a live-action anthology feature, written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, starring Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, Keir Gilchrist, Marteen, Michael X. Sommers, Yong Kim, Michelle Farrah Huang and Too $hort, available to rent/own on digital platforms April 25, 2025, followed by a 4K/Blu-ray release June 3, 2025:

‘…set in 1987 Oakland, California, the film is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters…

“…including an ‘NBA’ star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks and a debt collector…

“…on a collision course in a fever dream…

“…of showdowns and battles.”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The world has lost a spark too soon. Child actress Sophie Nyweide, who rose to stardom at the age of 6 with the 2006 romantic drama Belle, and later lit up the screen in films like Noah, passed away at just 24 years old. Found lifeless on a quiet riverbank in Vermont, her death was announced by her family through an online obituary on Monday.

While Sophie Nyweide’s tragic demise has shaken fans and sparked an ongoing police investigation, there appeared new updates surrounding the incident. Authorities are looking into all possible causes including foul play as a possibility. Although the autopsy is still pending, the tragedy of Nyweide’s final moments and the mystery surrounding her death has been haunting the internet.

Noah star Sophie Nyweide found dead on a riverbank with a man by her side

In a chilling discovery that has left fans heartbroken, 24-year-old actress Sophie Nyweide was...

It's now been over three years since the Season 2 finale of Euphoria, and fans have been getting restless. With news and reveals proving few and far between, the rumor mill has even started to slow its spin. This comes despitefilming reportedly beginning back in mid-January after several setbacks, although today brings an exciting new development for the next outing. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Jacob Elordi, the man behind the series' Nate Jacobs, revealed that he had finally begun filming the third season.

During an interview about Elordi's Prime Video series, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, the Aussie actor was asked about being back on set and the return of the series. "I just shot my first days of that this week," Elordi confirmed, adding, "It was incredible. You also have to understand we've grown up on that. We grew up from late teens into adults on that show.

For his latest video review, Kevin sits down to give his thoughts on another of his picks of the big-budget / low-budget / no-budget movie landscape… Freaky Tales. Giving you his personal opinion on why you should or shouldn’t give this movie your time.

Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is a multi-track mixtape of colourful characters — an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector — on a collision course in a fever dream of showdowns and battles.

Executive produced by hip-hop pioneer Too $hort, and featuring an all-star ensemble including Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks, Freaky Tales is a pulpy blend of explosive action, edgy humour, gory kills, and sly twists and turns… making for one wild ride.

Freaky Tales is in select UK cinemas from 18th April and on digital platforms from 28th April.

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

While Max (formerly known as HBO Max) is in no way the success story that Netflix is, and even if it doesn’t have the vast library that Netflix has, you can’t deny the sheer quality of shows that Max has. With some of the greatest stories ever told in the world of television, Max completely justifies its premium subscription price. So, today, we are listing the best shows you can check out on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service.

Chernobyl Credit – HBO

Chernobyl is a historical tragedy drama miniseries created by Craig Mazin. Based on the Chernobyl disaster, the HBO series is set in 1986, and it revolves around cleanup efforts that took place around the Chernobyl disaster. Chernobyl stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Adam Nagaitis, Con O’Neill, Adrian Rawlins, Sam Troughton, Robert Emms,...

Eric Dane announced Thursday that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Als).

“I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” the “Grey’s Anatomy” actor told People.

The 52-year-old actor is set to start production on the third season of “Euphoria” next week, where he plays Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi)’s father. He said he feels “fortunate” to be able to continue working and will return to the set of “Euphoria” next week. The HBO series is set to resume production on Season 3 April 14.

“I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” he said. “I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”

Als, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles. There is no cure for the disease,...

A warped love letter to the Bay Area’s raw energy and rebel spirit, Freaky Tales arrives in select UK cinemas from 18 April before hitting digital platforms on 28 April. Directed and written by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the filmmaking duo behind Half Nelson and Captain Marvel, the new feature throws a Molotov cocktail of styles into a vibrant, blood-splattered mixtape of mayhem.

Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales delivers four interlocking stories, each one pulsing to its own beat but building towards a shared crescendo. The film moves between an underground rap duo trying to break out, a disgraced cop skimming the surface of violence, a grieving teen punk bent on revenge, and an NBA star caught in a moral quagmire. It’s a world in flux, where fantasy bleeds into reality, and battles play out on the graffitied backstreets of a city cracking at the seams.

Bringing this volatile...

“Freaky Tales” is a live-action anthology feature, written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, starring Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, Keir Gilchrist, Marteen, Michael X. Sommers, Yong Kim, Michelle Farrah Huang and Too $hort, opening April 4, 2025 in theaters:

‘…set in 1987 Oakland, California, the film is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters…

“…including an ‘NBA’ star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks and a debt collector…

“…on a collision course in a fever dream…

“…of showdowns and battles.”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Former Golden State Warriors point guard Sleepy Floyd was a one-time NBA All-Star and current record holder for most points scored in a single quarter of a playoff game and half of a playoff game, thanks to his performance against the Lakers in the 1987 Western Conference Finals. In the world of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's Freaky Tales, however, he's an actual warrior of the Golden State, played by Jay Ellis and armed to the teeth with katanas, daggers, and so much more. As seen in the official trailer for the surreal anthology, he knows how to use them too. With the movie now in theaters, Collider can exclusively share a new sneak peek at this other, probably fictional, side of Floyd as he arms up to fight for the fate of Oakland.

The clip opens with a low-energy Floyd getting off the phone and telling his guests that...

Yes, Jay Ellis wanted you to think, “Oh shit, that dude’s crazy,” when you see his character in Freaky Tales.

The 43-year-old actor-producer, best known for his roles in Insecure, The Game and Top Gun: Maverick, was ready for a new adventure when he signed onto the Anna Boden- and Ryan Fleck-directed film, which sees him portray former NBA player Eric “Sleepy” Floyd and follows four interconnected stories set in 1987 Oakland, California.

“I wanted a badass,” Ellis tells The Hollywood Reporter of the role. “I wanted a character that people are like, ‘Oh shit, that dude’s crazy.’ I wanted a dude that you’d be like, ‘If we in a street fight, I want him. I want that guy with me,’ and that’s what I kind of set out to prepare.”

And he did, in fact, prepare quite intensely for the role, doing martial arts...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson for Wbgr-fm on April 3rd, 2025, reviewing the new film “Freaky Tales,” four stories interconnected and set in 1987 Oakland, California. In theaters beginning April 4th.

The first story is “Strength in Numbers” as a notorious punk club … represented through two teen fans (Ji-young Yoo and Angus Cloud) ,,, battle neo-Nazis, based on a true story. “Don’t Fight the Feeling” has two female rappers (Dominque Thorne and Normani) squaring off against real-life Oakland rap legend Too $hort. “Born to Mack” has Pedro Pascal as a retiring leg breaker for a corrupt cop (Ben Mendelson) and “The Legend of Sleepy Floyd” features the real-life NBA phenom (portrayed by Jay Ellis) in that title role, seeking revenge. They are all affected by a greenish glow in the air, which may contain powerful properties

”Freaky Tales” is in theaters on April 4th.

As the big Spring break period approaches its conclusion, there’s still just enough time left for a quick trip via the multiplex. The destination’s not an exotic locale far from our shores, nor the pixel-generated backdrops of this weekend’s big studio flick. This movie “getaway” all takes place on the sunny streets of Oakland, CA. And, more importantly, this is a “time trip” since the “stories” are set in the long-ago Reagan era of 1987. Yes, I said “stories’ as this is an anthology of “twisted” fables with characters dropped in and out of different segments, so it differs from the Tales From The Crypt or New York Stories template, though there’s an off-screen narrator (unlike the Cryptkeeper). So, get your hair teased out, unplug the Walkman, lace up the Reeboks, and set the “Wayback machine” 38 years in reverse to take in some truly Freaky Tales.

Speaking of that narrator,...

Freaky Tales directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden spoke with The Direct's Russ Milheim about the movie's insane cast and reminding the world that Nazis are no good.

The movie is an anthology film that follows a colorful set of characters in 1987 Oakland, CA, with its multiple storylines weaving in and out of each other in fun and interesting ways.

Freaky Tales' stacked cast includes iconic names such as Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Dominique Thorne (who The Direct has spoken to in the past), Tom Hanks, Angus Cloud, and more.

Read full article on The Direct.

Filmmaking duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck have kept busy since their 2019 foray into the world of big-budget Hollywood franchise filmmaking with their Brie Larson-starring MCU entry “Captain Marvel,” mostly turning their attention to the small screen, with directing gigs on “Mrs. America” and “Masters of the Air.” But for their first film back post-Marvel, they wanted to get a bit more personal.

How personal? Their raucous, wild “Freaky Tales” — which includes four interconnected stories, all set in Oakland in 1987 — is the result of not just years of dreaming, but entire decades. Oakland native Fleck has been wanting to make a film called “Freaky Tales” since he was a kid, a dream he drafted his long-time filmmaking partner into, oh, about 20 years ago.

The result is a multi-pronged anthology that serves as a love letter to a very specific time and place,as Boden and Fleck’s script weaves...

"Oakland was hella freaky." That's the tagline of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's California-hazy thriller Freaky Tales, a social-savvy anthology about 1987 Oakland—with a supernatural bent. The film loves to throw around the word "freaky," whether rap battles or wraparound narrations, but the film's problem is the overpromise of genre elements. Boden and Fleck tackle racism, Nazis, predatory law enforcement, and a host of other injustices throughout for stories connected by neon-green thunderbolts in the sky, but it's an exhaustingly flat marathon of inconsequentiality. Stories are desperately linear while genre elements make no sense in context, like a haphazard take on Tromaville that's somehow less sensical.

Freaky Tales is a story of punk rockers defending their concert venue, ice cream scoopers who dabble as verbal assassins, a debt collector pulled back into the business (Pedro Pascal), and NBA All-Star Sleepy Floyd (played by Jay Ellis). They're overlapping stories with interconnection spread like a web,...

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s Freaky Tales is an ode to 1987 Oakland rife with references to (and cameos by) various music and sports icons of the city’s underdog era. The film illustrates the eclecticism of Oakland via an anthology of four stories connected by little more than characters from each segment briefly occupying the same spaces as the narrative baton is handed off between teen punks, wannabe rappers, a thumb-breaking debt collector trying to go straight, and Golden State Warriors player Sleepy Floyd (Jay Ellis).

Nakedly wearing its cinematic influences on its sleeve, Freaky Tales suggests Pulp Fiction by way of Repo Man. In the first segment, “Strength in Numbers,” a trio of teenage punksters, high off of seeing The Lost Boys at the Grand Lake Theatre, go to the iconic all-ages music venue Gilman Street, where they catch a set from the punk band Operation Ivy. Throughout,...

The horror comedy sub-genre has really come into its own in the last half decade with films like Ready or Not and The Monkey showing fans the funny side of death. However, one of the critically-acclaimed genre films that didn't do so hot at the box office was Abigail. The 2024 vampire ramp will be a year old come April. Now, the star-studded bloodbath from directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (Radio Silence) is finally coming to 4K.

All thanks to the German distributor Turbine Media, Abigail is dancing into the format with a 4K/Blu-ray combo pack. Both the slipcover and case feature two variations of the horror comedy’s poster. This would be our main vampire, Abigail in her ballet dress looking up. The disc art will also have Abigail front and center with two gory pics of our lead from the film. The package itself has the same...

The new poster for Freaky Tales designed by Tom Ralston reminds you to always bet on the underdog.

A pulpy blend of explosive action, edgy humor, gory kills, and sly twists, the genre-bending anthology hits theaters on April 4 from Lionsgate.

Executive produced by hip-hop pioneer Too $hort, the film is written and directed by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck.

Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters — an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector — on a collision course in a fever dream of showdowns and battles.

The ensemble cast includes Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review out of Sundance, “There’s a bombastic charm to Freaky Tales that captures the essence of ‘80s action and genre cinema in a way that few manage.

“Freaky Tales” is a live-action anthology feature, written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, starring Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, Keir Gilchrist, Marteen, Michael X. Sommers, Yong Kim, Michelle Farrah Huang and Too $hort, opening April 4, 2025 in theaters:

‘…set in 1987 Oakland, California, the film is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters…

“…including an ‘NBA’ star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks and a debt collector…

“…on a collision course in a fever dream…

“…of showdowns and battles.”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The Wolfs actor Zach Cregger’s is in early talks to star reboot of the Constantin-Sony feature take of the Capcom videogame, Resident Evil.

The WME-repped Abrams is also known for playing Ethan Lewis on HBO’s Euphoria. Sony had no comment.

The latest iteration of Resident Evil, which pays homage to the original horror videogame’s roots, is ramping up for a Sept. 18, 2026 theatrical release. Cregger co-wrote the script with Shay Hatten.

The remake of Cregger’s Resident Evil went out to the town, and had Warner Bros interested at one point, however, Sony made sure the $1.2 billion grossing franchise stayed at the Culver City lot.

Constantin Film is producing and co-financing the film. Constantin’s Robert Kulzer, Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Miri Yoon and PlayStation Productions are also producing.

Nicole Brown will be overseeing the latest iteration...

The long-awaited "Euphoria" season 3 has a lot working against it. There's the untimely passing of beloved cast member Angus Cloud, the years of production delays, and the fact that so many of its remaining actors have become Hollywood superstars with very little scheduling room. You can argue that Sydney Sweeney is now too good for this short-lived HBO drama, although thankfully Sweeney herself is still down to finish the show out.

Arguably the biggest problem with season 3 is the lack of Kat Hernandez (Barbie Ferreira), a character who was important in season 1 only to be bafflingly sidelined in season 2. Season 1 Kat went through a massive transformation, discovering a new look and attitude for herself and even managing to steal the heart of Ethan (Austin Abrams), the only male character on this show who isn't a bad influence. In season 2 the show often forgot Kat even existed, only checking in on...

Barbie Ferreira is addressing her exit from Euphoria, and where she stands now with her former coworkers.

The 28-year-old actress, who played Kat in Seasons 1 and 2 of the HBO series, will not be back for Season 3.

Though there were rumors of behind-the-scenes drama, she recently told Nick Viall that the reality is much less dramatic.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I think it was very mutual so it wasn’t just my choice,” she said on The Viall Files podcast.

“There was just nowhere to go and I think instead of me just lingering around for nine months, I think it was best for both of us that we just kind of ended it there.”

Her most recent project was on Broadway, where she starred in the play Cult of Love, and she said her Euphoria costars were there for support.

“I saw Hunter [Schafer] the other day, I saw Maude {Apatow] the other day,...

Lionsgate has released a new poster for Freaky Tales designed by artist Oliver Barrett.

A pulpy blend of explosive action, edgy humor, gory kills, and sly twists, the genre-bending anthology hits theaters on April 4.

Executive produced by hip-hop pioneer Too $hort, the film is written and directed by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck.

Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters — an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector — on a collision course in a fever dream of showdowns and battles.

The ensemble cast includes Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review out of Sundance, ” There’s a bombastic charm to Freaky Tales that captures the essence of ‘80s action and genre cinema in a way that few manage. Its delightfully...

Modern movie trailers are often considered to be filled with spoilers and reveals fans wish they weren't aware of by the time the movie releases. Some viewers elect to even go to movies without even seeing the trailer anymore because they've been known to spoil so much.

Although many trailers get away with what they include, some unfortunately spoil too much. While that doesn't always take away from the enjoyment of films, some trailers simply give away their biggest and best reveals right in the marketing.

Fans Knew X-23 Was Returning Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Of all the things that could've been spoiled in the trailers for Deadpool & Wolverine, a massively anticipated blockbuster of a returning franchise and introduction to the MCU, it's shocking that there was only one big spoiler. Starring Ryan Reynolds and the returning Hugh Jackman in the titular roles, Deadpool & Wolverine looks to round out the trilogy of the Deadpool series,...

Exclusive: Following an extensive auditioning process, rising star Austin Abrams has landed the lead role in 20th Century’s adaptation of the Daniel Kraus novel Whalefall, with Brian Duffield directing. Duffield will co-write the script with Kraus.

The film is described as The Martian meets 127 Hours, centering on a scuba diver in search of his deceased father’s remains who gets swallowed by an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm whale and has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out. After giving up on life, the young man is surprised to find a reason to live in the most dangerous and unlikely of places.

Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody and Allan Mandelbaum are producing. Mandelbaum brought the book into Imagine and previously produced Duffield’s No One Will Save You (for 20th Century Studios). Duffield will also produce.

The project has been a major priority for the studio...

Zendaya is set to have a busy 2025 as she is packed with projects. The actress is officially cast in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming mythic action epic The Odyssey and it is likely she will reprise her role as Michelle Jones in the upcoming MCU film Spider-Man 4. If things go well, she might also be returning for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Messiah.

However, she is currently filming for the long-awaited season 3 of Euphoria, which finally began production after several delays. The actress had previously confirmed that the latest season would see a time jump and follow the characters outside of high school. However, the latest stills from production indicate otherwise.

Zendaya’s look for Euphoria season 3 does not indicate a time jump Zendaya in Euphoria | Credits: HBO

Zendaya is back as Rue in the upcoming season of Euphoria. The show underwent several hurdles before being brought back to the slate recently.