News

Tyler Perry’s Straw (2025) is a raw and emotionally charged Netflix thriller that dives headfirst into the devastating spiral of poverty, systemic neglect, and racial injustice in America. At its center is Taraji P. Henson’s soul-baring performance as Janiyah, a single Black mother desperately trying to survive one of the worst days of her life. As her world collapses piece by piece—losing her job, her car, her daughter, and even her sense of self—Janiyah finds herself entangled in an accidental bank standoff. With a powerful supporting cast including Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, and Ashley Versher, and Perry’s signature blend of melodrama and social critique, Straw is a heartbreaking but timely story of how quickly the system can fail those it is meant to protect.

If you found yourself moved by Janiyah’s harrowing journey and are looking for movies like Straw that also explore desperate individuals confronting injustice,...

Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson), the protagonist of Tyler Perry’s latest feature Straw, is having one of the worst days of her life. The trouble starts when her daughter Aria (Gabrielle Jackson) tells Janiyah that she needs $40 to pay her school lunch debt, otherwise the administrators will publicly shame her again. Then Janiyah’s landlord threatens to evict her that day if she doesn’t come up with rent.

Things only get worse at work: Janiyah gets into a minor altercation with a customer trying to buy prohibited items with her Wic card, and her boss, Richard (Glynn Turman), a cantankerous old man, refuses to give her an advance on her paycheck. Later, when Janiyah confronts Richard about the money, the pair gets robbed by masked gunmen.

The harrowing situation turns violent when the thieves try to steal Janiyah’s backpack, which holds her daughter’s seizure medication. A...

Based on the true story of Brian Brown Easley’s unfortunate fate, Breaking (2022) emerges as a bank heist and soon turns into a tragedy guised in the veil of a thriller. The film exhibits an ex-marine’s cry for help through the vision of writer/director Abi Damaris Corbin and touches, if not dives straight into, several highly sensitive and bravely political matters of relevance. John Boyega’s phenomenal commitment to representing a black man at the extremities of poverty caused by the American government that he had served loyally is an incredibly distressing experience to witness. The justified predictability of the story is often inducive of a subconscious prayer; please don’t let the inevitable happen.

Breaking (2022) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis

A note containing “I have a bomb” is passed during a seemingly pleasant conversation between bank employee Rosa (Selenis Leyva) and ex-marine Brian (John Boyega), and the course of the tone is set.

"Star Wars: Episode VII -- The Force Awakens" felt like the inception of a fresh adventure when the film first hit theaters, as it inched towards the promise to offer something new within a familiar mold. The film's narrative/thematic mirroring of "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope" was a conscious retracing of the telltale hero's journey, where interconnected fates posed cyclical moral dilemmas, echoing past mistakes and forging renewed bonds. John Boyega's Finn brimmed with potential when the character was introduced as a stormtrooper on the verge of defection, followed by his gradual integration among the Resistance: a path that comes with the ultimate test of loyalty and character. Boyega makes Finn his own, imbuing the immensely likable character with endearing grit and charm, but the way Finn was treated throughout the trilogy — which unfortunately looped back to how Boyega was treated and made to feel...

British actor John Boyega best known for his international breakout role as Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens has sparked speculation about his next role after numerous Instagram posts showed the star hard at work in the gym. Although Boyega has previously expressed his disinterest in joining the MCU as a superhero or supervillain the intense training that fans witnessed has them wondering if Boyega will appear in an upcoming Marvel movie after all.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Over the past few days, Boyega has uploaded several pictures to his Instagram account, all of which show the Star Wars actor putting in some serious time at the gym. Since it's unlikely that Boyega is prepping for another Star Wars film, given his less-than positive comments about his experience in the franchise, fans are now wondering if Boyega's intense training regimen is a sign of a prospective role in the MCU.

It’s been well over a year since the legendary actor and The Wire star Michael K. Williams tragically passed away. While the star has been spotted in posthumous roles including Abi Damaris Corbin’s John Boyega-led thriller Breaking, it’s with Anthony Mandler’s second foray into feature-length filmmaking, Surrounded, that audiences will see Williams perform for the last time. Today, MGM has dropped a trailer for the title which also stars Black Panther’s Letitia Wright, Rocketman's Jamie Bell, Burn Notice’s Jeffrey Donovan, and Stranger Things’ Brett Gelman.

The year 2015 was a time of great hope in the "Star Wars" fandom. The long-awaited sequel trilogy was upon us, with Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford reprising their beloved characters in a galaxy far, far away. Just as exciting (if not more so) were the young heroes slated to make their debut in the film, and in doing so, usher in a more inclusive age of "Star Wars" storytelling. As played by Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), these new additions proved to be instantly lovable and buoyed by amazing screen chemistry -- so much so it had us shipping them after but a handful of scenes together.

That was before the dark times. Before the divisive fan response to "The Last Jedi" and the subsequent box office failure of "Solo" left Lucasfilm scrambling, culminating in "The Rise of Skywalker," a film that...

The ‘Star Wars’ actor John Boyega has recalled being “blown away” by the script for his social injustice bank heist film ‘Breaking’. The actor played real-life depressed US Marine Corps veteran Brian Brown-Easley in the 2022 movie, who calmly walked into a Wells Fargo branch in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2017, reports ‘Female First UK’.

He then threatened to set off the bomb that he claimed was in his backpack unless he was paid $892. He was owed in disability benefits that had been brutally cut off in a bureaucratic move which plunged him into poverty.

Boyega told NME about loving the script, co-written by the film’s first-time feature director Abi Damaris Corbin with British dramatist Kwame Kwei-Armah: “I read it; I was blown away by it. I read it as if I was watching the movie. I liked the complication and the duality of his character. So much going on: the...

John Boyega has recalled being “blown away” by the script for his social injustice bank heist film ‘Breaking’.The Star Wars actor, 31, played real-life depressed US Marine Corps veteran Brian Brown-Easley in the 2022 movie, who calmly walked into a Wells Fargo branch in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2017 and threatened to set off the bomb he claimed was in his backpack unless he was paid $892 he was owed in disability benefits that had been brutally cut off in a bureaucratic move which plunged him into poverty.Boyega told NME about loving the script, co-written by the film’s first-time feature director Abi Damaris Corbin with British dramatist Kwame Kwei-Armah: “I read it; I was blown away by it. I read it as if I was watching the movie.“I liked the complication and the duality of his character.“So much going on: the Ptsd he’s going through; not having access to his daughter…...

John Boyega is remembering how he set out his stall at the very beginning of his career. Fresh out of drama school, he told his agent: “Don’t put me in no EastEnders, don’t put me in no The Bill, don’t put me in any of that.” He says this with force, from a room in Los Angeles, eyes steely. Distancing himself from some of the traditional routes into the industry for young actors was a mark of supreme confidence. Boyega knew the kind of projects he wanted – and didn’t want – to be associated with.

He was clear with his friend and agent Femi Oguns about the way forward. “Not to toot my own horn, but I had strict rules for Femi when I first signed with him. I want something that can be relatable, but unique. It has to have a spin on it.” So far,...

To celebrate the release of Breaking, the new acclaimed drama/thriller released this week, we sat down with the film’s star/producer and director to find out more.

Living in a cheap motel in Atlanta and separated from his wife and child, former U.S. Marine veteran Brian Easley (John Boyega) is desperate. Driven to the brink by forces beyond his control, the soft-spoken, kind man decides to go into a bank and hold hostages with a bomb. As police, media, and family members descend on the bank and Brian, it becomes clear he’s not after money – he wants to tell his story and have what is rightfully his, even if it costs him his life.

Chatting to Boeyga, he tells about the lure of the project, both as a performer and as a producer, the power of Brian’s story and why the stories of veterans returning...

Bank robberies are a staple of cinema. They usually go two ways. There’s the secretive, carefully planned out break-ins like in Rifiki or Ocean’s 11, or there’s the all-guns-blazing approach of Heat and Point Break. But when Brian Easley walked into Wells Fargo Bank in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2017, he took neither approach. An exceptionally mild-mannered man, he held up the bank with a homemade bomb in order to ransom the Veteran Affairs association for unpaid disability benefits. Honouring this story with a mixture of empathy and grace, as well as considerable dramatic flair, Abi Damaris Corbin’s Sundance Special Jury: Ensemble Cast award winning feature Breaking splits the difference between the two genres, providing a modern update of Dog Day Afternoon that incisively indicts a broken system. Ahead of the film’s digital release on March 27th, we talked to Corbin about working with both John Boyega and...

John Boyega and Letitia Wright have known each other since meeting 13 years ago at the Identity School of Acting in London; later, they both appeared in Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” miniseries. Boyega’s 2022 included turns in Abi Damaris Corbin’s Sundance standout “Breaking” and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King.” Meanwhile, in the wake of the tragic loss of franchise lead Chadwick Boseman, Wright took on the mantle of the hero in Ryan Coogler’s smash Marvel movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

John Boyega: We’re not going to do this how everybody else does it, because we have history.

Letitia Wright: Yeah, we do. I remember always seeing you in the corridors headed into class and wondering about your process. I remember us as a group always going to McDonald’s and inspiring each other. Someone said to you, “What’s your next TV show?” The first thing you...

New Release Wall

“Bodies Bodies Bodies” (Lionsgate): A band of post-adolescent rich kids turn on each other, with violent consequences, in this wildly comic murder mystery. What’s perhaps most wickedly delightful about Halina Reijn’s satire with a body count is the way it plays out like a Gen Z Twitter fights, in real time, with weapons, proving that you can poke at internet culture even in a house where a thunderstorm has knocked out the WiFi.

Also available:

“Bullet Train” (Sony) Assassin Brad Pitt meets many, many other assassins and ne’er-do-wells on a bullet train, and they try to kill each other quickly.

“Beast” (Universal): Man-vs-Nature thriller with Idris Elba trying to protect his daughters from a very large lion intent on protecting his own territory.

“Breaking” (Decal/Bleeker) John Boyega resurrects the spirit of “Dog Day Afternoon” in this true-life bank-robbery drama from Abi Damaris Corbin and Kwame Kwei-Armah.

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.

Breaking (Abi Damaris Corbin)

Following on the heels of his impressive turn in Steve McQueen’s Red, White and Blue, John Boyega does noble work in Breaking, directed by Abi Damaris Corbin. Boyega stars as Brian Brown-Easley, the 33-year-old Marine veteran who held a bank hostage in order to get a disability check from the Department of Veterans Affairs he was owed. The amount was eight-hundred and ninety-two dollars. – Dan M. (full review)

Where to Stream: VOD

Destello Bravío (Ainhoa Rodríguez)

In the arid, lunar landscape of Ainhoa Rodríguez’s Destello Bravío, a whole village waits for things to fall apart. We’re in the rural outskirts of Spain’s Extremadura region, a few miles from the border with Portugal, but the...

From first-time director Abi Damaris Corbin and based on a true story, Breaking follows Marine veteran Brian Brown-Easley (John Boyega) on the day he becomes so desperate that he feels he has no other choice than to initiate a hold-up at a bank. Never intending to rob that bank, even though his actions triggered a tense confrontation with the police, the former Lance Corporal, husband and father just wanted the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to get him the monthly disability check that they were withholding.

Updated with Angelika participation: The Angelika arthouse chain will join National Cinema Day on Sat. Sept. 5 with 3 specially priced admission to any current release plus popcorn and soda of any size for 3 each. The chain had initially planned to pass on the promotion but decided today that it would take part.

The Angelika’s move shows shows gathering momentum for the event, designed to pull as many people into theaters as possible at a critical moment for moviegoing. The 3 tickets, however, are still a big ask for smaller chains and independent theaters.

Previously: A glum weekend box office overall (one of the worst of the year) wasn’t so awful for specialty, relatively speaking, with Breaking passing 1M on 900 screens and Spanish-language The Good Boss at 27K on 15. Both are a far cry from pre-pandemic numbers but did hit the new normal for limited releases – reaching at least 1 million on 500 to 1,000 screens,...

In “Breaking,” Abi Damaris Corbin’s new thriller about Brian Brown-Easley’s real-life bomb threat at a Wells Fargo bank, the audience knows as little as the bank employees that Brian (John Boyega) is holding hostage. Most of the film is confined to a single setting, and the story unfolds in real-time, with the narrative resting firmly in the hands of a protagonist who can appear dangerously erratic. It’s a gripping thriller anchored by a career-best performance from Boyega and stellar supporting turns from the likes of Nicole Beharie and Michael K. Williams, proving that one location is all you need to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

All of those elements — the confined setting, the real-time plot structure, the mere fact that it’s about a guy holding bank employees captive — inevitably lead to comparisons to classic hostage movies like “Dog Day Afternoon.” But the film...

Michael Kenneth Williams in Breaking Image: Courtesy Bleecker Street From the biggest film franchise of all time to the scrappiest Sundance indie, John Boyega has become an artist of eclectic tastes. As he tells The A.V. Club, that’s no coincidence: “versatility” is the word he keeps coming back to,...

Click here to read the full article.

[This story contains spoilers for Breaking.]

On the morning of July 13, 2017, Brian Brown-Easley walked into a Wells Fargo Bank in Marietta, Georgia. He said his backpack contained C-4 explosive and, after asking customers and a handful of employees to leave, had two remaining bank workers lock all the doors.

What happened next is a deeply emotional story first detailed at length by reporter Aaron Gell in 2018, and now by Breaking’s co-writer Kwame Kwei-Armah and writer-director Abi Damaris Corbin.

The film, released in theaters on Aug. 26, recounts how Brown-Easley, who had not received his monthly disability check from Veterans Affairs — a meager but vital 892 — found himself on the verge of becoming unhoused. He had attempted, unsuccessfully, to sort out the issue with the Va through a number of channels, but at every point found a wall of bureaucractic apathy.

Desperate to avoid starvation and fearful of losing his 25-a-night hotel room,...

Brian Brown-Easley, played by John Boyega, is not a very good bank robber. He isn’t trying to be. If anything, he goes out of his way not to seem like too much of a threat. When he hops over a desk and inadvertently frightens a kind bank teller, Rosa (Selenis Leyva), he apologizes. After scribbling down a note about having a bomb, he swiftly moves to allow every customer in the place to leave. Calls come in from frustrated bank customers and he takes down notes for the employees...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on August 25th, reviewing “Breaking,” a based on truth stand-off drama between the police and a recovering military veteran. The film is in theaters beginning August 26th.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

John Boyega portrays Brian Brown-Easley, a real ex-Iraq War veteran who held hostages at a bank outside Atlanta in 2017. Easley is just there to get his nominal disability check put into his account, and demands to talk to the Veterans Administration to get the cash or he threatens to blow up the bank with a bomb in his backpack. This involves the bank manager Estel (Nichole Beharie), the police negotiator Eli (Michael Kenneth Williams) and reporter Lisa at a local TV station (Connie Britton). The ex-soldier Easley has a point, but is he’s not going about it the right way.

“Breaking” opens in theaters on August 26th.

Cohen Media Group hopes a Spanish film can dent the tough market for foreign language fare, Bleecker Street is out with a hostage drama and A24 presents Owen Kline’s directorial debut about a teenage cartoonist as the arthouse market flexes more muscle than it has in weeks.

The dearth of new releases itself nudged some distributors to grab a window now before a more crowded fall, including Uar’s supersized specialty opening of the Idris Elba, Tilda Swinton-starring Three Thousand Years Of Longing on 2,436 screens, considerably wider than originally anticipated.

George Miller’s fantasy fairytale, written by Miller and Augusta Gore, is based on the 1994 A.S. Byatt short story ‘The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye’. Swinton is a complacent academic, Elba is the Djinn (a kind of spirit genie) she encounters at a conference in Istanbul in the 2022 Cannes Film Festival out-of-competition entry. Deadline review here.

The Good Boss...

"Breaking" was Michael K. Williams's last film before he died, and his costar John Boyega remembers well the day he met the star on set. "He was bubbly," Boyega said to Variety at the film's Los Angeles premiere on Aug. 24. "The first time I met him, he accidentally walked into my trailer. We spoke, and we cheered each other on, gave each other words of encouragement, which is very important. And from then on, we were on set working. And it was great."

The film's director, Abi Damaris Corbin, also shared some incredibly positive memories of the icon. "He was royalty on our set," Corbin said at the premiere, per Variety. "He was the godfather. He was the king. He turned up when I first met him with Beats [headphones] around his shoulders, because he had already started preparing for the role."

Fellow "Breaking" star Nicole Beharie also recently paid...

This film was originally reviewed at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival under its original title, “892.”

The mechanics of real life get in the way of the demands of drama in “Breaking,” although they do provide the opportunity for memorable performances and fluidly engaging filmmaking.

Telling the story of a pushed-to-the-brink Gulf War vet who takes two bank employees hostage over his frustrations with the Veterans Administration, it’s a film that hits some narrative bumps along the way without diminishing its tougher observations about race, the police, and the treatment of veterans..

Whatever storytelling shortcomings “Breaking” might have, however, it’s undeniably an impressive feature debut for co-writer and director Abi Damaris Corbin, who gets great work from a top-flight cast of performers, including the late Michael Kenneth Williams in one of his final roles.

Also Read:

Sundance’s 18 Buzziest Movies for Sale in 2022, From ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ to...

Click here to read the full article.

On the set of Breaking, Michael K. Williams always showed up smelling really good according to his castmates.

Prior to his death last year, Williams had just wrapped production on the thriller-drama that went on to premiere at Sundance Film Festival this year.

“His clothes,” star John Boyega told The Hollywood Reporter at the film’s West Hollywood premiere about what he remembers most about Williams on-set. “The design of his clothes, his fashion sense. He smelled very nice. He had a very nice presence. I’m actually wearing his natural oils tonight because he gave me a bottle.”

“He smelled really wonderful,” actress Selenis Leyva, who plays Rosa Diaz in the film, agreed.

Beyond his recognizable scent, Williams is remembered by his castmates as not only a talented performer, but a generous one. Over the course of the film, several interactions between...

John Boyega will never forget the first time he met his “Breaking” co-star Michael K. Williams.

“He was bubbly,” Boyega told Variety at the Los Angeles premiere for the film on Wednesday. “The first time I met him, he accidentally walked into my trailer. We spoke, and we cheered each other on, gave each other words of encouragement, which is very important. And from then on, we were on set working. And it was great.”

“Breaking” marks Williams’ last film before he passed away almost a year ago from a drug overdose at age 54.

Karim Anderson, who was raised by Williams and considers him his father, also made an appearance at the premiere. Boyega and Anderson embraced for a moment and shared a few quiet words before continuing into the screening.

Karim Anderson and John Boyega attend the “Breaking” premiere in West Hollywood on Aug. 24.

“Breaking” follows the true story...

John Boyega's debut as Finn in 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was a momentous occasion for the franchise. Nearly 40 years into its existence, a galaxy far, far away was finally set to feature a Black man as its lead instead of a supporting player. But, sadly, what seemed like a promising start for both the actor and his character quickly fizzled out. As Finn was increasingly sidelined over the course of the next two movies in the Skywalker Saga, Boyega himself was subjected to an onslaught of racist abuse online, with little to no public support from the executive powers that be at Disney and Lucasfilm.

By the time "The Rise of Skywalker" came out in December 2019 (drawing the Skywalker Saga to a close), Boyega was already showing signs of being done and ready to move on from the property. He would only continue to air his grievances over the year that followed,...

There’s a reason why the term “Dog Days of Summer” is frequently bandied about this time of year, and this weekend will probably be another great example of how the last few weeks of August affect any movies daring enough to be released. The studios usually know better, and let’s just say that they’re not going to throw out their biggest movies on a weekend when schools are reopening and people are returning from summer activities. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

It’s into this market that we get a popular filmmaker’s follow-up to his six-time Oscar-winning film, as George Miller‘s first movie after 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” is “Three Thousand Years of Longing,” a literary adaptation with Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton. Based on A.S. Byatt’s short story “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye,” the movie stars...

After a crackling summer season, movie theater owners have been sounding the alarm on the disturbingly light release schedule this fall. And yet, three new films will open in theaters nationwide over the weekend.

Perhaps the bigger issue, in the case of this weekend’s crop of newcomers, is that hardly anyone is making plans to go to the cinema. Of the trio of fresh offerings — Sony’s eerie thriller “The Invitation,” director George Miller’s dark fantasy “Three Thousand Years of Longing” and the John Boyega-led heist drama “Breaking” — not one is poised to make a splash at the box office.

Based on projections, it’ll be a close race between “The Invitation” and last weekend’s champion “‘Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” to claim the No. 1 spot in North America, with each release on track to bring in around 7 million. And to the victor goes…some pretty anemic bragging rights.

John Boyega in Breaking. Image: Bleecker Street Going into Breaking, it’s important to at least know about the tragic true events that inspired Abi Damaris Corbin’s compassionate, if not standard-issue directorial debut. On a sweltering summer day in 2017, 33-year-old Marine veteran Brian Brown-Easley was shot and killed by...

John Boyega has shut down Marvel rumors, voiced his support for independent films, and now, the “Breaking” actor is revealing one of his biggest career turning points: a heart-to-heart with fellow Brit, Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya.

“I invited Daniel Kaluuya to my house because I was thinking about a lot of stuff. We had a sit-down, and I told him everything about how I felt,” Boyega recalled to The Daily Beast about the time he spent “reassessing all aspects” of his career during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

“And it was so simple, the way he reacted,” Boyega continued of “Get Out” and “Nope” star Kaluuya. “He was like, ‘Yeah. You need to prioritize the work, and work with people that actually fuck with you.’ With creative collaborations, we have to find people who are on our wavelength and then we create something good for our audience. That was one of the voices where I was like,...

Breaking Bleecker Street Reviewed for Shockya.com & BigAppleReviews.net, linked from Rotten Tomatoes by Harvey Karten Director: Abi Damaris Corbin Screenwriter: Abi Damaris Corbin, Kwame Kwei-Armah Cast: John Boyega, Nicole Beharie, Selenis Leyva, Michael Kenneth Williams, Connie Britton Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 8/20/22 Opens: August 26, 2022 Forget “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Mesrine,” and “Dog Day […]

The post Breaking Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

John Boyega still can’t get over just how “incredible” it was to collaborate with the late Michael K. Williams in upcoming drama “Breaking.”

The film, directed by Abi Damaris Corbin, who also co-wrote the script with Kwame Kwei-Armah, tells the true story of a Marine Veteran who was denied support from Veterans Affairs and turned to taking an Atlanta bank hostage in 2017. Boyega plays veteran Brian Brown-Easley, with “The Wire” icon Williams portraying an officer tasked with talking Brown-Easley down.

“I actually requested him to be in this movie, and he came through,” Boyega told Entertainment Tonight about helping cast Williams. “[He] got paid peanuts just to be a part of the art, so we’ll forever love you, brother.”

Boyega added, “To see the trailer today brought back all those emotions and feelings and just being on set with him.”

“Breaking,” originally titled “892,” premiered at 2022 Sundance and won the...

"You have my undivided attention." Bleecker Street Films has debuted the official trailer for Breaking, a based-on-a-true-story hostage drama from filmmaker Abi Damaris Corbin. This originally premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year under the title 892. Breaking is a reference to either / both "Breaking News" or his "breaking point" with this story. A Marine war veteran faces mental and emotional challenges when he tries to reintegrate back into civilian life, struggling to deal with the Va. So he decides to go to a bank and take a few people hostage, with no intention of harming them, with the hope of bringing more media attention to his challenges as a veteran. John Boyega stars as Brian, with Nicole Beharie, Selenis Leyva, Connie Britton, Jeffrey Donovan, and Olivia Washington, plus Michael Kenneth Williams in one of his final roles playing a hostage negotiator. Boyega is the best part about this,...

Just a few short months after its highly successful release, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is already returning to movie theaters.

A new cut of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s film will premiere in theaters on July 29, A24 announced Wednesday. The release will come with a prerecorded introduction from the Daniels, as well as eight minutes of outtakes from the film.

Since its release in March, “Everything Everywhere” has become a box office success, becoming distributor A24’s highest grossing film of all time. The critically acclaimed film stars Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, a mother, wife and laundromat owner who discovers she can connect to different versions of herself from across different universes and is recruited to help prevent a disaster that will destroy every universe. Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis also star in the film.

A...

John Boyega reaches a breaking point in his latest true-story drama.

“Breaking” tells the powerful story of Marine Veteran Brian Brown-Easley (Boyega), who was denied support from Veterans Affairs and turned to taking an Atlanta bank hostage in 2017. In the trailer, Boyega is an apologetic bank robber who threatens the staff with a bomb. The late Michael K. Williams plays an officer determined to talk Brown-Easley down; Connie Britton also stars as an operative tasked with diffusing the situation.

Formerly titled “892,” “Breaking” premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and is distributed by Bleecker Street. The ensemble cast also includes Nicole Beharie, Olivia Washington, and Selenis Leyva. The film premieres August 26.

In real life, Brown-Easley let everyone besides two bank employees flee the building and told police he had no intention of robbing the bank; he just wanted the 892 owed to him by the Va.

Directed by Abi Damaris Corbin, who...

John Boyega and the late, great Michael K. Williams are at the center of a life-or-death standoff in the first trailer for “Breaking,” previously titled “892.”

Based on actual events that occurred in 2017, “Breaking” follows a Marine veteran named Brian Brown-Easley (Boyega) who hits his breaking point when Veterans Affairs misses his monthly disability check. Running out of ways to support his wife (Olivia Washington) and young daughter (London Covington), Brown-Easley slips a note to an Atlanta bank teller reading: “I have a bomb.”

A “Dog Day Afternoon”-style holdup ensues as the customers clear the building and the employees – led by manager Estel Valerie (Nicole Beharie) and Rosa Diaz (Selenis Leyva) try to stay calm. Brown-Easley does indeed have a bomb, and a plan to kill himself and everyone in the building if his demands are not met.

Also Read:

‘Breaking’ Film Review: Powerful Performances Outshine Dramatization of True-Life Tragedy...

Bleecker Street has snapped up U.S. rights to Alice Troughton’s feature directorial debut The Tutor, which will star Oscar nominees Richard E. Grant and Julie Delpy and Daryl McCormack. Bleecker Street is planning a 2023 release in cinemas.

The project, billed as a high-class thriller examining social status, follows an aspiring young author, hungry for recognition and success, who takes a tutoring position at a legendary writer’s estate. Soon the young tutor realizes he is engulfed in his hero’s complicated family legacy which holds a deadly past and threatens his own future. Alex MacKeith penned the screenplay.

Poison Chef’s Camille Gatin, Jeva Films’ Cassandra Sigsgaard, Egoli Tossell Pictures’ Judy Tossell and Constellation Productions’ Fabien Westerhoff are producing the film. Bleecker Street’s Andrew Karpen and Kent Sanderson will serve as EPs, with Miranda King serving as an associate producer and overseeing for the studio. London and...

Sffilm Festival, San Francisco’s premier celebration of film, has unveiled its 65th lineup for this year’s return to in-person festivities. The 2022 program features more than 130 from 56 countries, with 56 percent helmed by female or non-binary filmmakers and 52 percent directed by Bipoc filmmakers. The 2022 Festival will run April 21–May 1, with tickets on sale now at sffilm.org. Screenings will take place at venues across the Bay Area, including the storied Castro Theatre and Uc Berkeley’s Bampfa.

While the festival features a variety of world and North American premieres, it will also serve as a Bay Area launchpad for a number of festival favorites, like Sundance darling “Cha Cha Real Smooth” (which Apple TV+ will roll out later this year), John Boyega–starrer “892,” NatGeo volcanologist documentary “Fire of Love,” Terence Davies’ “Benediction,” Claire Denis’ “Both Sides of the Blade,” Venice Golden Lion winner “Happening,” Sundance Best Director winner...

Bleecker Street has appointed Kyle Davies as the film company’s president of distribution.

In his new role, Davies will be responsible for spearheading the planning and execution of Bleecker Street’s theatrical movies. Its upcoming releases include “Infinite Storm” with Naomi Watts, “Montana Story” starring Haley Lu Richardson, “Mr. Malcolm’s List” featuring Freida Pinto and “Golda” starring Helen Mirren.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the team at Bleecker Street and share the energy and opportunity that exists within their sophisticated and diverse slate of independent films,” Davies said. “I’ve always admired Bleecker’s belief in the theatrical experience and approach in acquiring films for broad audiences. I look forward to being a part of their evolution.”

Prior to joining Bleecker Street, Davies most recently worked at Paramount Pictures as president of domestic distribution. During his tenure, he was responsible for rolling out films like the Elton John musical fantasy “Rocketman,...

Release slate includes Guy Nattiv’s upcoming Golda starring Helen Mirren.

In a coup for the company Bleecker Street has hired former Paramount executive Kyle Davies as president of distribution.

In the new role Davies will lead the company’s theatrical distribution strategies and manage the wider distribution team. He most recently served as president of domestic distribution at Paramount and worked across A Quiet Place, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Bumblebee, Rocketman, Arrival, Fences, Daddy’s Home 2 and Annihilation, among others.

Bleecker Street’s upcoming releases include Infinite Storm with Naomi Watts on March 25; Montana Story with Haley Lu Richardson on May 13; Emma Holly Jones’ Mr.

Brian Brown-Easley’s story is the kind of thing that seems like it should be a movie, but is actually a challenge to turn into one. In 2017, the former marine lance corporal entered a bank, told everyone he had a bomb, and asked all but two employees to leave. He didn’t want to rob the bank or get a helicopter out of the country. He simply wanted the US Department of Veterans Affairs (the Va) to return the modest but significant-to-him money that was deducted from his benefits check.

Abi Damaris Corbin’s 892 dramatises the events of the fateful day of the hostage situation, portraying them in a way that fees more instructive than resonant. The formulaic thriller is an acting showcase more than anything else, particularly for star John Boyega. So it’s fitting that the film received an award for its ensemble cast in the Sundance Film Festival US.

Showtime and Bleecker Street have struck an exclusive three-year output deal for the distributor’s movies.

Under the pact, which is effective from March, Showtime will carry Bleecker Street movies on air, on demand and via its streaming services within five months of their initial release.

The announcement was made by Kent Sevener, executive VP of content acquisition at Showtime, and Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen.

The agreement will span up to 12 films per year, all of which will be released theatrically by Bleecker Street. Movies included in the deal are “Infinite Storm” (releasing March 25), “Montana Story” (May 13), “Mr. Malcolm’s List” (July 1), “Summering” (summer), “892” (summer), “Golda” (first quarter of 2022), and “Mafia Mamma” (2023). (More info on these titles follows below.)

Recent films from Bleecker Street include “Mass,” which won the Robert Altman Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, “I’m Your Man,” “Together Together,” “Dream Horse,” “Supernova” and “The World to Come.

Showtime Networks Inc. and Bleecker Street have entered into a new and exclusive three-year output agreement, effective in March.

Showtime will get access to Bleecker movies for on-air, on demand and streaming premium services. Each movie will hit Showtime within five months of their initial release. The deal comprises 12 titles a year, all of which will be released theatrically by Bleecker Street.

The new deal replaces Bleecker Street’s previous output agreement with Hulu.

Included in the deal are such movies as:

Infinite Storm – Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert’s survival thriller, based on a true story, stars Oscar nominee Naomi Watts, Billy Howle and Dennis O’Hare. Opening March 25.

Montana Story – Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, the western drama premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and stars Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague. Opening May 13.

Mr. Malcolm’s List – Directed by Emma Holly Jones and based on...

Films go on-air, on-demand, on streaming within five months of initial release.

Bleecker Street has signed an exclusive three-year output deal with Showtime Networks, effective in March, that includes an initial wave of theatrical releases including Sundance entries 892 and Summering and Naomi Watts survival thriller Infinite Storm.

Showtime will carry Bleecker films across its on-air, on-demand and streaming premium services within five months of initial release. The deal comprises up to 12 films a year, all of which will be released theatrically by Bleecker Street.

Initial titles include Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert’s Infinite Storm (March 25); Scott McGehee and...

Bleecker Street has acquired North American rights to Catherine Hardwicke’s action-comedy Mafia Mamma, starring Toni Collette, Monica Bellucci and Rob Huebel, which is heading into production in Italy in May.

The Vocab Films, Idea(L) and New Sparta production is based on an original idea from acclaimed French novelist, screenwriter and filmmaker Amanda Sthers. It centers on Kristin (Collette), who is facing a slew of challenges. Her only son is desperate to leave for college, her boss is a sexist pig, and she just caught her unsuccessful musician husband (Huebel) cheating with a groupie. That’s when she receives a life-changing phone call from Bianca (Bellucci), her estranged grandfather’s trusted consigliere, telling her he is dead and that she must attend the funeral in Italy.

Egged on by Jenny,...

Bleecker Street has acquired the U.S. rights to Abi Damaris Corbin’s “892,” starring John Boyega and the late Michael K. Williams, following its Sundance premiere.

News of the acquisition comes after the film was awarded the special jury award for ensemble cast in the U.S. Dramatic Competition on Friday.

The deal was brokered between Bleecker Street’s Head of Acquisitions Kent Sanderson alongside Avy Eschenasy, with WME Independent on behalf of the filmmakers. Bleecker Street is planning a late summer nationwide theatrical release.

Based on the true story of former U.S. Marine Brian Brown-Easley (Boyega), who finds himself on the brink of poverty after his disability check fails to materialize from veterans affairs. Desperate and with no other options, he walks into a Wells Fargo Bank and says “I’ve got a bomb.” What follows is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that reminds us of the social responsibility we have to our soldiers,...

Bleecker Street said Tuesday that it acquired U.S. rights to the dramatic thriller 892, starring John Boyega (Star Wars franchise) and the late Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire). The film recently made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in U.S. Dramatic Competition, where it won its Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast. The independently financed distributor is planning a late-summer release in theaters nationwide.

Based on a true story, the feature directorial debut of Abi Damaris Corbin picks up with former U.S. Marine Brian Brown-Easley (Boyega) as his disability check from Veterans Affairs fails to materialize, watching as he finds himself on the brink of poverty. Desperate and with no other options, he walks into a Wells Fargo Bank and says, “I’ve got a bomb.” What ensues is an edge-of-your-seat narrative that reminds us of the social responsibility we have to our soldiers, our colleagues,...

Distributor plans late summer theatrical release.

Bleecker Street has acquired US rights to Sundance drama 892 starring John Boyega as Brian Brown-Easley, the former U.S. Marine who walked into a bank claiming to have a bomb after his disability cheque failed to materialise.

Abi Damaris Corbin directed the film which also stars the late Michael Kenneth Williams in what was his final film role, Nicole Beharie, Connie Britton, Olivia Washington, Selenis Leyva, London Covington and Jeffrey Donovan.

Bleecker Street plans a late summer nationwide theatrical release for the film, which won the special jury award for ensemble cast in U.