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Paul Mescal, known for his standout performances on screen, recently shared his all-time favorite films in a 2022 conversation with Letterboxd.

The actor’s picks reveal a clear preference for emotionally powerful dramas, though he also includes one lighter choice to balance the selection.

Mescal highlighted Martin Scorsese’s 1982 film The King of Comedy, starring Robert De Niro, as a standout.

He described it as a way to “lighten” his list, but it’s clear that the film’s sharp character study and dark humor still resonate with him. The King of Comedy is widely praised by critics for its bold satire on fame and obsession, and De Niro’s performance...

Focus Features killed it in Colorado with two “Jesses” and one Emma Stone.

On the ground, the story of what resonated — or flopped — at the Telluride Film Festival can look far different from the headlines. Still, one fact was hard to miss: Focus Features reigned over the mountains with Yorgos Lanthimos’ kaleidoscopic “Bugonia” and Chloé Zhao’s devastating “Hamnet,” both receiving near-universal acclaim from critics and festival-goers.

Telluride has long been a launchpad for eventual Oscar juggernauts. Recent alumni include Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight,” Zhao’s “Nomadland” and Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water.” If this year’s best picture winner was present in the Rockies, Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel feels like the strongest candidate. A win would deliver Focus Features its first best picture statuette.

“‘Hamnet’ is a masterpiece,” one woman told Variety. “It could be one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.

Doug Liman, the director behind high-octane hits like ‘The Bourne Identity’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith,’ has signed on to helm ‘Killing Satoshi,’ a conspiracy thriller that dives deep into the mythos surrounding Nakamoto and why the answer to his identity could destabilise the global power structure.

Leading the cast are Oscar winner Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) and comedian-turned-actor Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island). The project is keeping its character roles under tight wraps, but the pairing suggests a mix of tense drama and unexpected edge.

Satoshi Nakamoto is one of the most mysterious names in modern history — the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin whose identity has never been confirmed.

Is it time for the “Hawke” to swoop in and nab his Oscar prey?

After four Academy Award nominations spanning both acting and writing, Ethan Hawke may have found the role that finally earns him an Oscar. In Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon,” the actor delivers a searing performance as lyricist Lorenz Hart, one half of the legendary Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart.

The film premiered in February at the Berlin International Film Festival, where Hawke’s co-star Andrew Scott won the Silver Bear for best supporting performance. “Blue Moon” has since screened at the Telluride Film Festival, where Hawke received one of the festival’s Silver Medallions — a distinction that has proven to be an Oscar bellwether.

Recent Silver Medallion recipients include eventual nominees Cate Blanchett for “Tár” (2022) and Adam Driver for “Marriage Story” (2019), along with eventual winners Anthony Hopkins for “The Father” (2020), Renée Zellweger for “Judy” (2019) and...

Satoshi Nakamoto is a man whose very existence remains hotly debated. Now the Bitcoin creator is getting the big-screen treatment.

Doug Liman has signed on to direct “Killing Satoshi,” a conspiracy thriller that looks to unravel one of the most enduring mysteries of the 21st century: the secret identity of Nakamoto and why the answer threatens the global power structure. Oscar winner Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”) and Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island”) will star in the film, with their character descriptions being kept under wraps.

Nick Schenk, who has collaborated with Clint Eastwood on two of his more recent movies — “Gran Torino” and “The Mule” — wrote the screenplay, which traces an elite cabal’s diabolical plans to make sure that the truth never surfaces.

“Killing Satoshi” marks the mainstream Hollywood return of Ryan Kavanaugh, the high-flying Relativity Media chief who financed such films as “The Social Network,...

Unlike a fair few recent cinematic reckonings inspired by the MeToo movement, Eva Victor’s self-starring directorial debut Sorry, Baby is devoid of sensationalism. Instead, it strikingly chooses to keep its more disturbing moments — no matter how pivotal — off-camera. Steering well clear of over-the-top drama, Victor — who rose to Twitter fame with a series of wryly hilarious videos circa 2019 — never loses their nimble touch in what is a bracingly fresh, thoughtful and tenderly funny debut.

Broken into three chapters, Sorry, Baby begins at the end, when young, talented academic Agnes (Victor) has her old roommate Lydie (The Rise Of Skywalker star Naomi Ackie) come to stay. This is “The Year with the Baby”, a title-card tells us: as Agnes’ college contemporaries buy houses, get promotions, get hitched or tick off other milestones with the big 3-0 looming, Agnes herself seems to be stuck in arrested development. She lives in the...

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Matt Damon's best story idea led to his worst decision as an actor.

Damon has received two Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (one for "Good Will Hunting" and the other for "The Martian") and another for Best Supporting Actor (in "Invictus"), and was never seriously in the running to win any of them. Damon has it in him to win an acting Oscar, and may one day find the role that pulls together all of the peculiar, yet photogenic qualities that make him such a watchable actor.

Damon does have an Oscar, however, and it's for co-writing "Good Will Hunting" with Ben Affleck. He could've won a second Original Screenplay Oscar years later for "Manchester by the Sea," but he made two artistically astute decisions that ensured he'd have only one shot at taking home an Academy Award for this particular project.

Prolific Quebec screenwriter and actor Éric K. Boulianne is ready to rise to the occasion at the Locarno Film Festival — again. In 2023, he won the best direction award for his short Making Babies (Faire un enfant) in the Swiss fest’s Pardi di Domani section, which calls itself “a vital space for expressive experimentation and innovative forms of cinematic poetry.” And now, the Canadian creative has just world premiered, in the Filmmakers of the Present program of the 78th edition of Locarno, Follies (Folichonneries), his feature directorial debut.

The movie brings a hilariously awkward, sexy vibes to the fest, which traditionally has a reputation for presenting the latest arthouse discoveries.

“François and Julie, together for 16 years and parents of two children, can no longer connect intimately,” reads a synopsis for Follies. “They decide to open up their relationship in order to engage in sexual follies that will allow them to learn more about themselves…...

In the limited series Dying for Sex, Emmy-nominated costume designer Melissa Toth brings a blend of nuance and boldness to her work, perfectly mirroring the tone of the show. During Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts: Costume Designers panel, Toth shares insights into her long-standing collaboration with the series’ star, Michelle Williams, and discusses the transformative visual journey of Williams’ character, Molly, a woman facing terminal illness while exploring friendship, self-discovery, and sexual awakening.

How does Molly's wardrobe mirror the emotional and sexual evolution she goes on during the season?

We started out with kind of this idea of an infantilized woman. So little touches of girly collars and she wore denim overalls that took a minute to convince others that those might be a good choice. We wanted to start out somewhere in that realm so there was a place for her to go. And then we get more eye candy,...

Atlantic Theater Company has revealed the cast for the world premiere of Let’s Love!, written by Academy Award winner Ethan Coen (Fargo) and directed by Tony Award nominee Neil Pepe (American Buffalo). The cast of Let’s Love! will feature Atlantic Ensemble Member Chris Bauer (“The Wire”), Dylan Gelula (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), Dion Graham (“The First 48”), Atlantic Ensemble Member Mary McCann (The Welkin), Nellie McKay (A Play is a Poem), Golden Globe & Emmy Award nominee Aubrey Plaza (“The White Lotus”), Noah Robbins (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), Cj Wilson (Manchester by the Sea), and Mary Wiseman (“Star Trek: Discovery’). Let’s Love! begins performances on Thursday, September 25th and opens on Wednesday, October 15th, for...

The world premiere of Let’s Love!, a trio of one-act comedy plays written by Academy Award winner Ethan Coen (Fargo) will debut Off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company this fall with a cast that includes Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus) and Chris Bauer (True Blood).

Directed by Tony Award nominee Neil Pepe (American Buffalo), Let’s Love! will also feature cast members Dylan Gelula (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Dion Graham (The First 48), Mary McCann (The Welkin), Nellie McKay (A Play is a Poem), Noah Robbins (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Cj Wilson (Manchester by the Sea), and Mary Wiseman (Star Trek: Discovery).

Let’s Love! begins performances on Thursday, September 25 and opens on Wednesday, October 15th, for a limited engagement through Sunday, November 9 at the Linda Gross Theater.

The synopsis: “Let’s Love! is a comedy, a trio of one acts, that explores love in all its miserable glory. The world...

More than 2,300 members of the Writers Guild of America have signed an open letter decrying recent actions taken by President Trump and his administration that they say represent “an unprecedented, authoritarian assault.”

The WGA East and WGA West union members signing the letter include Spike Lee, Adam McKay, Ilana Glazer, Mike Schur, Liz Merriwether and Tony Gilroy.

The letter cites Trump’s “baseless lawsuits” against news organizations that have “published stories he does not like and leveraged them into payoffs”; for example, it points to Paramount Global’s agreement last month to pay Trump $16 million to settle “a meritless lawsuit” against CBS over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris that Trump alleged was deceptively edited. In addition, the letter notes, Trump has “retaliated against publications reporting factually on the White House and threatened broadcasters’ licenses,” and has regularly called for the cancelation of news and entertainment TV shows that criticize him.

Disney is known for tugging at heartstrings. It's a major reason why so many of the studio's films have persevered over the decades. So many people remember watching these movies as kids and learning about the tragedy of death or connecting a little too closely to a family in disarray. Many Disney films, and by extention Pixar Animation productions, take place in fantastical worlds, but they don't sugarcoat harsh realities.

Fortunately, the saddest Disney movies don't really get on the level of something like "Manchester by the Sea," where it becomes unbearable to watch at a certain point. Disney films at least end on an uplifting note, proving that no matter how sad life gets, there's always a silver lining. Still, the following movies can be tough to get through, especially if you're at a point in life where you can really relate to losing a parent or going through a pet's death.

Quincy Tyler Bernstine has been cast in a series regular role in Liz Meriwether’s upcoming Hulu series, Variety has learned exclusively.

Bernstine joins previously announced cast members Emmy Rossum, Lola Petticrew, and Scott McNairy in the untitled show, which is loosely inspired by the 1987 movie “Black Widow.” The show was originally announced in March.

The official logline for the show states, “An FBI agent (Rossum) uses the secrets from a female serial killer’s (Petticrew) past to try and find her.” Bernstine will star as Nora, described as “a veteran FBI agent working alongside Alice (Rossum) in the department who has worked on hundreds of homicides and human trafficking cases.”

Bernstine received a Tony Award nomination in 2024 for her role in “Doubt.” Her onscreen credits include shows like “And Just Like That,” “Julia,” “Power,” and “Power Book II: Ghost.” She will next be seen in the Peacock limited series...

Streaming films. Not only are they basically the modern equivalent of TV movies, but they’re also like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get. Unless your company’s name is Netflix, there is a significant chance you will receive not a “Tudum” but rather a “Tun Tun Tuuuum.” Even so, occasionally you might get a good or even great film that receives major awards recognition, such as “The Irishman” or “The Power of the Dog.”

Then there’s Amazon Prime Video. A platform that’s been slowly making a name for itself in the streaming arena, I would personally probably place them in second place in terms of their quality. They also got a few films that have garnered some awards, love, and wins, such as “Sound of Metal” and “Manchester by the Sea,” but they also have a few stinkers or disappointing...

The New York Times just released a list of the top 100 movies, which were some of the most influential films in the 21st century. Among them, Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite was hailed as the movie of the century, while several other movies were placed at various ranks.

Notably, some very famous movies that left a long-lasting impression on the culture and got people talking about them were surprisingly not added to the top 100 films of the 21st century list! So, here are 10 movies that we think should have been a part of the list but unfortunately weren’t.

10. Killers of the Flower Moon A still from Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon | Credits: Apple Studios

Based on the real-life incident of the murders of the members of the Osage community, one of the best Martin Scorsese-directed films starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in leading roles.

Exploring Loss in ‘The Devil’s Backbone,’ ‘The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,’ & ‘Don’t Look Now’: Until we reach a pivotal moment in life, death feels like a distant concept—abstract, almost unreal. But once we lose someone close, a family member or a friend whose presence quietly anchored our daily lives, death begins to take root. It leaves behind a silence that doesn’t fade, a hollow space that no distraction or memory can fully fill. It may not transform us overnight, but it shapes us in irreversible, often invisible ways. We may begin to realise that the true haunting lies not with the dead, but with what’s left behind.

Cinema has long used “death” as a narrative device, sometimes for emotional catharsis, most of the time for shock. In dramas like “Manchester by the Sea” (2016), the grief is raw and central, pulling the audience into the protagonist’s inner world.

Mark Ruffalo is set to star opposite Ruth Madeley in the Apple Original Films pic Being Heumann with Coda director Siân Heder directing. The film is an adaptation of Judy Heumann’s bestselling memoir.

The script will be written by Heder and Rebekah Taussig. David Permut will produce alongside Kevin Walsh, whose The Walsh Company is under an overall deal with Apple. Heumann’s managers John W. Beach and Kevin Cleary of Gravity Squared Entertainment will also serve as producers, with Heumann, Being Heumann co-author Kristen Joiner, and Diana Pokorny exec producing.

Being Heumann follows Heumann as she leads over a hundred disabled people to take over the San Francisco Federal Building, kicking off a 28-day sit-in in 1977. The protestors quickly form a tightly bound community, refusing to leave until the government enforces section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which required all federal spaces to become accessible.

Mark Ruffalo has joined the cast of “Being Heumann,” a film based on the memoir about the life of disability rights activist Judith Heumann that will be adapted, directed and produced by Academy Award-winner Siân Heder (“Coda”), Apple Original Films announced on Tuesday.

Ruffalo will play Joseph Califano, and will star alongside BAFTA Award-nominee Ruth Madeley, who is set for the role of Judy Heumann.

“Being Heumann” follows activist Judy Heumann as she leads over a hundred disabled people to take over the San Francisco Federal Building, kicking off a 28 day sit-in. The protestors quickly form a tightly-bound community, refusing to leave until the government enforces section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which required all federal spaces to become accessible.

Hailing from Apple Studios, Siân Heder directs and produces under her overall deal with Apple. Rebekah Taussig will serve as co-writer.

“Being Heumann” is produced by David Permut for Permut Presenations...

Perhaps more than any other director in the history of cinema, Alfred Hitchcock was fascinated by identity. Many of his films revolve around a case of mistaken identity. This was played out in many of his classic films, from Saboteur to The Wrong Man and on to North by Northwest.

In each case, our erstwhile hero has been accused of some villainous act and must fight his way through 120-odd minutes to clear his name.

In others, it's the protagonist themself who isn't quite sure of who they truly are. Hitchcock never resorted to anything as cumbersome as an actual mask, although there may be a wig involved. A prime example of this is the seminal thriller Psycho.

3 new classics on Netflix that wear their Alfred Hitchcock on their sleeves

The titular character of Marnie has a deeply hidden self as well. In both films, the truth is revealed to...

BAFTA Award nominee Ruth Madeley (Don’t Take My Baby) is set to portray famed disability activist Judy Heumann in Apple Original Films’ Being Heumann, an adaptation of Heumann’s bestselling memoir from Coda Oscar winner Siân Heder.

Being Heumann follows Heumann as she leads over a hundred disabled people to take over the San Francisco Federal Building, kicking off a 28 day sit-in in 1977. The protestors quickly form a tightly bound community, refusing to leave until the government enforces section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which required all federal spaces to become accessible.

Heumann used a wheelchair for most of her life after contracting polio at 18 months old. She encountered discrimination early, including being denied the right to attend public school because she was considered a “fire hazard,” and was galvanized by these experiences to get involved with the fight for disability rights. In 1970, Heumann successfully sued the New York Board...

In collaboration with Los Angeles’ American Cinematheque, New York’s Paris Theater will be presenting the second annual “Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair” from June 8 to June 14. This beloved film series embraces the darker side of cinema with empathy, introspection, and unflinching honesty.

The series features a stellar lineup of special guests for post-screening conversations:

Kathleen Turner will be present for a screening of the dark comedy “The War of the Roses” (1989), which has recently been remade by Jay Roach starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch. John Turturro discusses “Miller’s Crossing” (1990), one of his standout collaborations with the Coen Brothers. Writer/Director Kenneth Lonergan returns to the Paris for a Q&a following “Manchester by the Sea” (2016), starring Academy Award-winner Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges. Hot off their success with “The Brutalist,” Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, joined by actor Daniel London, will discuss their work on “Vox Lux” (2018). Closing the series,...

Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps had a front row seat, literally, to the 2017 Oscars snafu.

The longtime best friends remembered the Best Picture mixup from the 89th Academy Awards, and Philipps’ kooky reaction on her show “Busy This Week” on QVC+ and Hsn+.

Moments before the final award of the night was announced, the duo attempted to sneak out and beat the rush. After they were ushered back to their front row seats (Williams was nominated for her performance in “Manchester by the Sea” that night), Oscar presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced that “La La Land” had won.

But something felt off.

“We were right there in the front row. We knew something weird was happening,” Philipps said on an episode of “Busy This Week.”

Halfway through the “La La Land” acceptance speech, accountants from PricewaterhouseCoopers rushed to the stage to correct the mistake and present the biggest...

Following its premiere, Dying for Sex surged into the ranks of the top ten most-streamed shows in the U.S., drawing both critical praise and a passionate audience. Anchored by powerhouse performances from Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate, the series has been hailed for its bold storytelling and emotional depth.

At the heart of the show’s success, its creator, Kim Rosenstock, credits five-time Oscar nominee Williams, calling her one of our greatest actresses and emphasizing that the show would not have worked without her incredible performance.

Dying for Sex creator praised Michelle Williams as one of the greatest actresses

The Hulu series Dying for Sex follows Molly, a woman who decides to explore the complexity of her s*xual desires for the first time after being diagnosed with a Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.

Related: “This movie is so hard to watch, it’s heartbreaking”: If You Think...

Martin Scorsese is rebooting one of his classics for Apple TV+. The fan-favorite director's Oscar-nominated 1991 neo-noir psychological thriller Cape Fear is heading to television, with its cast slowly coming together.

According to Deadline, three more actors have boarded Apple's Cape Fear series, which will be headlined by Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson. Anna Baryshnikov (Love Lies Bleeding), Jamie Hector (Bosch), and Clara Wong (Billions) have been cast in undisclosed roles. The trio joins an ensemble that includes Javier Bardem and Cch Pounder. Nick Antosca is writing and serving as showrunner on Cape Fear, with Scorsese and Steven Spielberg attached as executive producers.

Apple's Cape Fear will be based on John D. MacDonald's 1957 novel The Executioners as well as Scorsese's 1991 movie. The 10-episode series will mark the third time The Executioners has been adapted for the screen, with a 1962 movie starring Gregory Peck also having been made. In the upcoming series,...

Exclusive: Apple’s Cape Fear series has three new additions: Anna Baryshnikov (Love Lies Bleeding), Jamie Hector (Bosch), and Clara Wong (Billions).

Character details are under wraps. As previously announced, Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson and Cch Pounder are also set.

In Cape Fear — created, written, and showrun by Nick Antosca — a storm is coming for happily married attorneys Anna (Adams) and Tom Bowden (Wilson) when Max Cady (Bardem), a notorious killer from their past, gets out of prison. The 10-episode series is a tense, Hitchcockian thriller and an examination of America’s obsession with true crime in the 21st century.

Hailing from UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Amblin Television, the show is based on both the novel The Executioners, which inspired Gregory Peck’s 1962 film for Universal, as well as the acclaimed 1991 remake directed by Martin Scorsese, who’s among the executive producers here.

Other...

Agnes intenta seguir adelante. © A24

A24 ha publicado el primer tráiler y póster de la película Sorry, Baby, la ópera prima de Eva Victor producida por Barry Jenkins que conquistó a la crítica en el pasado Festival de Sundance.

La sinopsis oficial publicada por A24 apenas entra en detalles: «Algo malo le pasó a Agnes. Pero la vida sigue… al menos para todos los que la rodean». Lo que no dice, y que conviene saber, es que Agnes es una profesora universitaria que sigue superando un incidente de agresión sexual que tuvo lugar hace tres años en su actual campus, cuando era estudiante de posgrado.

La misma Eva Victor (Billions) protagoniza la película junto a Naomi Ackie (Mickey 17), Lucas Hedges (Manchester frente al mar), John Carroll Lynch (El fundador), Louis Cancelmi (Asesinato en el fin del mundo) y Kelly McCormack (George & Tammy).

Victor ha dicho: «No quería escribir sobre la violencia o la agresión específicamente,...

Apple TV+’s Shrinking starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford is regarded as one of the most beloved shows on the streaming platform. Co-created by Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Segel, the show, as the title suggests, is about giving the audience a sneak peek into the lives of shrinks without making it too dramatized or glorifying them.

The series has been one of the favorites on Apple TV+ because of how real and relatable the storyline and the characters in the show are. Shrinking has received a positive response, and its popularity was witnessed when it was renewed for a third season just the next day, when season two premiered. As we dig through season 2 details ahead of season 3, something very interesting came up in regards to the finale episode.

Brett Goldstein reveals what inspired Shrinking 2’s finale episode

Co-creator of Shrinking Brett Goldstein, who is widely known for...

A24 has made a name for itself for producing critically acclaimed films and shows. The same trend continues with a new Sundance darling: Sorry, Baby.

The production company just released the first trailer for Sorry, Baby, one of the hits at this year's Sundance Film Festival in January ahead of the film's release this summer. The black comedy-drama was sold in a huge deal for $8 million to A24, and it marks Eva Victor's directorial debut.

Sorry, Baby stars Victor as the leading character, Agnes, a college professor who tries to recover from a traumatic event in her life as everyone around her is moving on. The drama also stars Blink Twice's Naomi Ackie, Manchester by the Sea's Lucas Hedges, The Trial of the Chicago 7's John Carroll Lynch, Killers of the Flower Moon's Louis Cancelmi, and Killjoys' Kelly McCormack.

The trailer shows Agnes reconnecting with her close...

After the recent announcement that Severance star Britt Lower would lead the cast for a new Netflix prison break series, the rising star has lined up yet another project, this time teaming with legendary actress Jamie Lee Curtis on a new horror film.

Per Deadline, Lower is set to lead the cast of Sender, a psychological horror film from Russell Goldman, who makes his feature directorial debut with the movie. The horror flick is based on Goldman's 2022 short film Return to Sender. Lower will star alongside David Dastmalchian, Anna Baryshnikov, and Curtis. Per the official logline, Sender follows "a woman (Lower) who experiences an e-commerce package delivery scam that becomes so personal and disturbing that she becomes hellbent on discovering the identity of her anonymous sender."

In addition to starring in the film, Curtis serves as a producer alongside Molly Hallam and Jake Katofsky, while Lower is an executive producer.

Casey Affleck Emotional Scene (Photo Credit – Netflix)

If you’re scrolling through Netflix and hunting for something that’ll actually stay with you long after the credits roll, then stop right there, as this one’s got your name written all over it. It’s a quiet storm of a film, tucked into the streaming giant’s ever-rotating library, waiting to wreck your heart in the best way.

A New Hidden Gem on Netflix You Shouldn’t Miss

Among the newest must-watches on Netflix sits a raw, painfully human story – one that doesn’t just ask for your attention but demands your emotional investment.

Manchester by the Sea, the 2016 powerhouse drama, has made its way onto the platform, and it’s being hailed not just as a modern classic but as one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Yes, it’s that good.

Trending Is Dexter: Original Sin Season 2 Happening?...

Seven episodes into Daredevil: Born Again, and things are already wild—now Marvel’s just gone and blown fans’ minds. Not only is Matt Murdock back in all his brooding, butt-kicking glory, but the show is diving deep into Netflix territory. We’ve seen nods to the old Daredevil series, darker vibes, and major emotional punches. But just when fans thought they had a grip on what’s happening, Daredevil: Born Again has thrown a total curveball—bringing back a Jessica Jones star in a completely new role!

Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again and Krysten Ritter in Jessica Jones

Yep, one of our favorite faces from the Defenders days is back, but not as you think. No Pi trench coat, no sarcasm, just a fresh character that’s left longtime fans totally baffled. It’s like running into your ex at a party, and they’ve got a new name and job.

Manchester By The Sea showrunner Kenneth Lonergan, an acclaimed filmmaker and playwright, took the stage at Dublin’s Storyhouse festival on April 4, 2025, captivating a room full of aspiring writers with insights into crafting authentic narratives.

Known for his emotionally resonant works like You Can Count on Me, Margaret, and the Oscar-winning Manchester By The Sea, Lonergan’s appearance was a highlight of the event.

Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea (2016) | Amazon MGM Studios

During an inspiring keynote conversation with director Lenny Abrahamson, he revealed his unique philosophy on writing, which centers on the power of individuality and the crucial role of a story’s opening moments.

Lonergan shared his golden rule for writers, touting them not to be swayed by “borrowing tropes,” which struck a powerful chord. This insight is a refreshing reminder to stay true to one’s creative voice in an industry cluttered with clichés.

Manchester By...

“I’ve made a living doing rewrites for other people and writing scripts for other people, but I’ve only made three films for myself, and I made them under the conditions that I would have as complete creative control as was possible,” Kenneth Lonergan told a group of budding writers at Dublin’s screenwriting festival Storyhouse.

The Manchester by the Sea and You Can Count on Me filmmaker imparted his advice about how to carve a screenwriting career in the film business during a lengthy keynote conversation with Room and Frank director Lenny Abrahamson.

“In my case, I had to have protectors who were more powerful than I was. But I found them and got them and secured them and made sure that they could protect me. And one out of three times they were unable to protect me – I went through a lot of trouble in my second film,...

With the rumors and speculations soaring around the upcoming final installment (Star Trek 4 ) of the J.J. Abrams-produced Star Trek franchise, which is more than likely to include the reprise of the Enterprise crew portrayed by Chris Pine (Captain Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Zoe Saldana (Lt. Uhura), and others. Despite Quinto’s convincing performance as Spock in the Kelvin timeline, should Star Trek creators decide to go in a different direction with a new cast, here are four talented Oscar-nominated actors who could take on the role of the archetypal Vulcan.

"Disclaimer - Chapter 5-7" Red Carpet - The 81st Venice International Film Festival - Kodi Smit-McPhee | Daniele Venturelli/GettyImages

1. Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Actor)

28-year-old Kodi Smit-McPhee has been racking up acting accolades since his feature film debut at age 11 with co-star Eric Bana in Romulus, May Father, for which he [Smit-McPhee] received the Young Actor’s Award from the Australian Film Institute.

“Dying for Sex” introduces Michelle Williams as Molly, a cancer patient whose terminal diagnosis gives her a new lease on life.

Soon thereafter receiving her diagnosis, Molly works up the courage to leave her apathetic husband, played by Jay Duplass, in the hopes of dying with her best friend, Nikki (Jenny Slate), while she explores her sexuality for the first time.

Along her journey, Molly connects with several formative people, both at the hospital, as well as in her personal life. The real Nikki even has a cameo in the FX series.

Sarah Shatz/FX

Michelle Williams as Molly

Michelle Williams stars as Molly, a cancer patient whose newly discovered terminal diagnosis plunges her into a journey of self-discovery and sex, ditching her husband to die with her best friend, Nikki.

After getting her start starring in “Dawson’s Creek,” Williams has starred in “Manchester by the Sea,” “Blue Valentine,” “The Fabelmans,...

Martin Scorsese's near-$200 million historical epic is coming to streaming in April. The 2002 crime drama Gangs of New York started the filmmaker's long working relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Paramount+ subscribers will be able to stream Gangs of New York beginning on Tuesday, April 1 — though they might want to settle in because the sprawling period drama clocks in at 168 minutes. DiCaprio leads the movie as the vengeful son of an Irish gang leader who returns to New York City as an adult intent on revenge.

Gangs of New York Comes to Streaming on April 1

Daniel Day-Lewis delivers one of his most acclaimed performances in Gangs of New York as William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting, in a fictionalized portrayal of the real leader of the Washington Street Gang, William Poole. Scorsese's tense drama builds up a confrontation between Amsterdam (DiCaprio) and Bill the Butcher for nearly three hours before their...

Amazon MGM is moving forward with an ambitious plan to release a theatrical movie slate in 2025, but as of this week it will do so without Jennifer Salke, who exited as the head of the studio on Thursday after seven years. In the brutal calculus of Hollywood moguldom, Salke arrived in 2018 with an opportunity to build a 21st century movie studio, backed by a tech giant.

But she never found her footing in building a working strategy or network of talent relationships for film – which proved fatal when the hallowed James Bond franchise landed in Amazon’s portfolio.

“The Bond thing bit her on the ass,” one producer bluntly told TheWrap, noting that Salke’s departure came the week Amy Pascal and David Heyman were announced as producers of the franchise. “This doesn’t just happen. They announce Bond producers and then send the person Barbara Broccoli called an idiot out the door.

Jennifer Salke is out as head of Amazon MGM Studios after eight years running the tech giant’s new movie venture. She will transition into a producing deal, Amazon said Thursday.

Salke will not be replaced at the studio. Instead, Mike Hopkins, head of both Amazon MGM and Prime Video, will take full command, with theatrical/streaming film chief Courtenay Valenti and TV chief Vernon Sanders reporting directly to him.

“As I’ve been considering my next chapter, I’ve always been searching for that moment where I was positive that our work had set up Amazon MGM Studios for even more success in the long term,” Salke said in a statement. “When I look at the teams we’ve put in place, our amazing leaders, and the incredible slate of films and shows we’ve got in the pipeline, I realized now is that moment. I’m looking forward...

The latest episodes of Daredevil: Born Again have hit Disney+ and gave us a look at a few familiar faces: Jack Duquesne, Aka Swordsman – who appeared in Hawkeye and, of course, Kamala’s dad, Yusuf Khan. A few minutes of screen time were also given to the “new” (she appeared in the first episode of the series) character, detective Angie Kim.

So, who is ‘Daredevil: Born Again’s Angie Kim?

Angie Kim works for the New York City Police Department, partnering with another detective named Cherry. The two share a strong bond, even if they don’t always see eye to eye.

At Cherry’s retirement party in Josie’s Bar (Episode 1), they clash over vigilantes like Daredevil and White Tiger. Cherry thinks the police are losing their grip because of these masked crime-fighters. Angie, though, has a different take. She believes some vigilantes truly want to help, while others just crave power.

Writer-director Nastasya Popov finely threads a needle in her debut feature “Idiotka,” dipping into the chaotic life of Margarita (Anna Baryshnikov), an aspiring fashion designer with a barely functioning sewing machine in the tight-knit Russian district of West Hollywood. Margarita seems as much a work in progress as the eternally under-construction house she lives in. She’s been making ends meet by attaching tags taken off well-known designer labels onto her own work, then pawning them off online. But the clothes themselves show plenty of personality under the false advertising; accordingly, Popov delivers a boisterous tale of a woman coming into her own, told with real humor and heart.

Like one of Margarita’s dresses, there is at least some repurposed fabric in “Idiotka.” Margarita struggles both with asserting herself in a brutal industry and with stepping out of the shadow of her feisty family, but the comedy is all...

Jonathan Majors’ Magazine Dreams performance has fans calling for Oscar gold, but will Hollywood bite? His raw, transformative role screams Best Actor material, yet his legal troubles cast a shadow over his chances. Can the Academy separate art from controversy, or will the buzz fizzle out?

Jonathan Majors as He Who Remains in Loki | Credits: Marvel Studios

With a stacked race ahead, Majors’ path to a nomination is anything but certain.

Jonathan Majors’ Oscar chances are slim despite acclaimed Magazine Dreams performance Jonathan Majors from Magazine Dreams Trailer | Credits: Los Angeles Media Fund/Jf Productions

Jonathan Majors is back in the spotlight, but not just for Magazine Dreams. While fans are hailing his performance — one even calling for an Oscar win — the elephant in the room remains: Can he actually secure a nomination given his legal troubles? One X fan perfectly pointed out saying, “Okay, just give Jonathan Majors the Oscar now.

Matthew Broderick is a true star of stage, screen and television who first came to moviegoers' attention over four decades ago in the thriller "WarGames." He then triumphed in comedies, dramas and musicals both on stage and in film. Add to that his long-term marriage to Sarah Jessica Parker, and there's a lot for him to celebrate.

For his stage work, Broderick has won two Tony Awards (as Best Featured Actor for 1983's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and as Best Actor for the 1995 revival of the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"), as well as an additional Best Actor nom for 2001's "The Producers" for a performance that he brought to the screen in the 2005 film. In 1993, he was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his supporting performance in "A Life in the Theatre." And for his film work, Broderick earned a Golden Globe nomination for 1986's "Ferris Bueller's Day Off,...

Michelle Williams is currently starring on Broadway in Death Becomes Her and someone sent her fan mail to the theatre, but thought she was the other Michelle Williams!

The Destiny’s Child singer shared a video of herself reading a letter she received from a fan in Germany, who thought she was the Oscar-nominated actress.

“I received this letter, and I can’t wait to dig in and tell you guys what it says. Alright, it says, ‘Dear Michelle Williams, I hope this letter finds you in great spirits. My name is Philip, and I have been an avid fan of your incredible performances in both film and theater,’” Michelle began.

While Michelle is best known for singing, she has made several Broadway appearances and has appeared in some movies too. But as the letter continued, it was clear the person intended it for the other Michelle.

Keep reading to find out more…...

A lot of the best art is provocative, and movies are no exception, but not all provocations are created equal. Some great movies don't age well over time and offend newer generations. Others are meant to offend for all time, and they do. Controversial movies tend to push boundaries, but they don't always do it intentionally. In spite of the controversy, however, or at times because of it, they may still be worthwhile watches.

Below is a collection of movies that, for one reason or another, provoked controversy, if not at the time of release, then subsequent to it. There's racial content that reflected some mindsets at the time and doesn't -- or at least shouldn't -- any more, envelope pushing sexuality and violence, and satire both ahead of and behind the times. In every case, there are still merits to the artistic achievement, even if the controversial elements are disqualifiers.

Exclusive: Following its successful inaugural edition last year, Poor Things and The Favourite producer Element Pictures is gearing up for the second year of Storyhouse, its Dublin-based screenwriting festival that celebrates storytellers and storytelling.

This year’s event, which will be held at the Irish capital’s Light House Cinema on April 3rd and 4th, will see Oscar and BAFTA winners Peter Straughan and Kenneth Lonergan among the festival’s illustrious guests. Straughan won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay on Sunday for Conclave while Lonergan won Best Original Screenplay in 2017 for Manchester By The Sea. Straughan’s further credits include Wolf Hall and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy while Lonergan’s credits also include You Can Count On Me and Gangs of New York.

Laurie Nunn and Nia DaCosta will also both speak at the event next month. Nunn is best known as the creator of Netflix’s hit...

Netflix’s Adolescence is a crime thriller of extraordinary power and rare insight, transforming into something completely unexpected by the final moments of its heartbreaking finale. The scene, anchored by a towering performance of vulnerability from the great Stephen Graham, hits with the force of a wrecking ball, leaving you shattered.

Yet, somehow, the sequence manages to piece the viewer back together. Graham, simply put, is a revelation. He is outstanding in this year’s Hulu series A Thousand Blows, embodying a powder keg of intensity — wavering between rage and tenderness — yet deeply wounded and achingly human.

I’m confident you won’t see a better performance all year.

RelatedA Thousand Blows Review — Take a Walk on the Wild Side! Netflix’s Adolescence Review and Synopsis

The story follows young Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old who is about to be arrested for the murder of his teenage classmate. The victim, by all accounts,...

We have ourselves a race! The Oscar contests for Best Actor and Best Actress got especially interesting at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday because the winners disagreed with another industry peer group honor, the BAFTA Awards. But who tends to win the Oscar under those circumstances, the SAG winner, the BAFTA winner, or someone else entirely?

SEE2025 Oscars race scorecard: 'Conclave,' Timothée Chalamet pull off SAG Awards wins while Demi Moore rebounds

Let's start with Best Actress, where Demi Moore (The Substance) won the SAG Award while Mikey Madison (Anora) won BAFTA. This is the fifth year in a row that the two awards diverged. Let's break down all those disagreements year by year.

2023: Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) won SAG, Emma Stone (Poor Things) won BAFTA — Oscar went to the BAFTA winner.

2022: Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) won SAG,...

Timothée Chalamet had a mic-drop moment at the SAG Awards on Sunday, singing his way to a Best Actor win for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.

Chalamet, who was in second place in the Gold Derby odds, beat Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Daniel Craig (Queer), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), and Ralph Fiennes (Conclave).

"I know the classiest thing would be to downplay the effort that went into this role and how much this means to me," Chalamet said during his acceptance speech. "The truth is that this was five-and-a-half years of my life. I poured everything that I had into playing this incomparable artist, Mr. Bob Dylan — a true American hero. It was the honor of a lifetime to play him."

After thanking his costars, Chalamet proudly proclaimed, "I know we're in a subjective business, but the truth is, I'm in pursuit of greatness. I know people don't usually talk like that,...

Exclusive: Weeks after the indie film crowd left Park City, the box score on the Sundance Film Festival marketplace looks like this: a splashy auction and $15M WW deal by Neon on Together to start, followed by a handful of deals that moved sluggishly, with numbers that got smaller as leverage shifted from sellers to buyers. A chorus of naysayers followed, though it bears noting that after a slow Toronto Film Festival deal pace last fall, the just completed Berlinale marketplace was also a snore. No matter how splashily festival markets showcase acquisition titles, they can’t make buyers spend money on them in this moment of extreme uncertainty. Does Sundance have fundamental flaws, or did the festival merely reflect that low ebb and possibly a new risk-averse normal in the shifting sands of the indie business?

Sundance Festival head Eugene Hernandez has been pondering that with his staff, as...