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Pixar is well known for incorporating ingenious Easter eggs, which are subtle allusions and hints to other movies, into its productions. It has also incorporated references to other studio productions into its films since Red’s Dream, which had references to earlier Pixar short films.

These have included references to characters, objects, and work titles, as well as cameo appearances. These in-jokes or easter eggs may also allude to Pixar employees, coworkers, or historical locations or occasions.

Additionally, certain elements, or actors like John Ratzenberger (Hamm- Toy Story), have also been featured in most Pixar films, creating a set of customs that later Pixar films attempt to follow. One particularly underrated Easter egg appears in Finding Nemo (2003), a film that boasts a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Pixar is known for dropping popular Easter Eggs in its movies

The main meaning of a movie might occasionally be difficult to understand. However,...

Following her recent cancellation of a concert in Boston, Shakira has pulled the plug on her scheduled performance Saturday in Washington DC.

BBC News reports that the Colombian star had been billed to appear as part of large LGBTQ+ festival WorldPride, but an announcement by the host stadium confirmed the gig was off.

The statement said “complications with the previous show in Boston” meant “Shakira’s full tour production cannot be transported to Washington, D.C” in time.

Shakira added in her own statement:

“Because of the unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances that affected me and other artists in Boston, my full tour production is not able to be moved to Washington, DC in time for my scheduled performance on Saturday.

“I have been counting the days, excited to be reunited with my fans in both Washington and Boston,” she added.

“I promise that I will do everything in my power...

Karate Kid 7 Should Bring Back This Fan-Favorite Character (Photo Credit – Netflix)

The eagerly anticipated sixth installment of The Karate Kid franchise, Karate Kid: Legends, has finally hit the big screen. While the sequel holds a modest 57% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s still being praised by fans (current audience score is 88%) and ranks among the top three entries in the immensely popular film series. Now that the latest chapter has arrived, here’s what we believe the makers should consider for a potential next installment —something that could breathe new life into the franchise.

The Next Karate Kid Movie Should Bring Back This Beloved Character

After the first three Karate Kid films starring Ralph Macchio, the fourth installment took a different turn, introducing a new lead alongside Pat Morita. Yes, we’re talking about the inclusion of Hilary Swank, who played Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid (1994), for the potential sequel.

It might only be May, but Hallmark Channel is getting us back into the Christmas spirit to celebrate the best of their recent holiday season content!

Hunter King and Tyler Hynes reunited with the cast of their acclaimed movie Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story at the network’s Emmys FYChristmas event on Thursday night (May 29) at the W Hotel in Hollywood.

The actors were joined by co-stars Christine Ebersole, Ed Begley Jr., Megyn Price, and Diedrich Bader to chat with Emmy voters about the making of their movie. For those who don’t know, Holiday Touchdown was the most-watched cable movie of 2024 and it launched a new franchise for Hallmark.

The cast was together last week as well to celebrate their win at the Gracie Awards, where they received the Best Ensemble Cast in a Made for TV Movie award.

The next Holiday Touchdown movie will focus on the...

Last week, the four guest acting categories were added to Gold Derby's Emmy predictions center, and we now have a snapshot of the initial odds.

For Best Drama Guest Actress, The Last of Us holds the top two spots with Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, a vengeful soldier in the zombie apocalypse, and Catherine O'Hara as Gail, a therapist who has a run-in with Pedro Pascal's Joel. Dever has yet to win an Emmy Award, while O'Hara is a two-time champion for starring on Schitt's Creek (2020) and for writing Sctv Network (1982).

Read: Our complete Best Drama Guest Actress breakdown

For Best Drama Guest Actor, Jeffrey Wright is in the lead for playing Isaac on The Last of Us, the former Fedra soldier in post-apocalypse Seattle who switches sides in explosive fashion. He previously won an Emmy for the HBO adaptation of Angels in America (2004). In second place is Shawn Hatosy,...

The 25th annual Golden Trailer Awards honored the year’s best teasers across film, television and digital media Thursday at the Orpheum Theatre.

Sony Pictures and Buddha Jones’ “28 Years Later” trailer took home the Best of Show award, the night’s top honor. The trailer also received two other awards for Most Original Trailer and Best Voice Over.

Apple TV+’s “Severance” dominated in the entertainment categories with five awards, and the “Wicked” team led the film categories with four wins. Disney came out as the top studio, earning 26 awards across categories and mediums.

This year the awards show handed out 114 different awards, but only the top 19 were presented live at the Orpheum. The categories spanned across television, film, digital media, advertisements, TV spots, graphic design and posters.

Av Agency was awarded Agency of the Year for their work in the field, making them the most-honored agency with nine...

After eight years of monsters inspired by our feelings, tons of talking inanimate objects, a library of original songs that could fill a double-album, and so many quotations from Guy Bilzerian’s law commercials, Big Mouth has officially come to an end. The widely praised Netflix animated sitcom recently premiered its eighth and final season, but the question remains: Can it finally win the Emmy for Best Animated Program?

Big Mouth comes from the minds of Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg alongside Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett and centers on several kids in the Westchester suburbs of New York who are starting to hit puberty. The changes in their bodies are navigated and personified by a whole host of crazy characters that include hormone monsters, anxiety mosquitoes, shame wizards, and even the ghost of Duke Ellington. The show stars Kroll, John Mulaney, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas, Jenny Slate, Ayo Edebiri,...

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...

Peacock’s The Traitors picked up a leading three wins at the Critics Choice Critics Choice Real TV Awards announced Thursday.

The series won for Best Competition Series, Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series and Best Show Host for Alan Cumming.

Two other shows picked up two wins each in voting by Critics Choice Association members. Netflix’s docuseries Love on the Spectrum won for Best Unstructured Reality Series and Best Relationship Show, while ABC’s Dancing With the Stars won for Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety and DWTS‘ contestant last season, Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, was awarded Male Star of the Year.

Dr. Sandra Lee, from Lifetime’s Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out, won the Female Star of the Year.

Both Star of the Year categories were voted on by fans.

Other notable winners included a tie in the Best Structured Series race between Nat Geo’s No...

The African-American Film Critics Association is out with its 2025 Aafca TV Honors, led by Hulu’s Paradise as Best Drama and Prime Video’s Harlem as Best Comedy. Paradise star Sterling K. Brown scored the Best Actor prize, while CBS’ lead Matlock detective Kathy Bates took Best Actress and her co-star Skye P. Marshall won the Breakthrough Talent award.

Netflix teen drama Forever was the only program to score three Aafca Honors, taking Best Director, Writing and New Show. See the full list of winners and the group’s list of the Top 10 shows of 2025 below.

The seventh annual Aafca TV Honors gala, which celebrates the groundbreaking work happening in television and streaming, is set for August 23 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Making the cut for the Aafca’s Top 10 shows of 2025 along with Forever, Paradise and Harlem were ABC’s Abbott Elementary, Peacock’s Bel-Air, Paramount+ with Showtime’s...

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Julie and Todd Chrisley received federal pardons this week as part of Donald Trump’s recent blitz of releasing criminals from prison.

After serving two years and some change of his massive 12-year sentence on fraud and conspiracy, Todd is free.

Daughter Savannah Chrisley was excited to share the news.

She couldn’t help but gush over her father’s alleged “jacked” post-prison body.

TV personalities Savannah Chrisley and Todd Chrisley attend the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2016. (Photo Credit: David Becker/Getty Images) Todd Chrisley is out of prison and is now ‘jacked’

Late on Wednesday, May 28, Savannah Chrisley took to her Instagram Story to express her happiness in a video.

Todd Chrisley had been released from the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida.

Her Story videos showed the ride home to Nashville, Tennessee.

In a May 28, 2025 Instagram Story post,...

Adam McKay had no one else but Christian Bale in his mind for his 2018 film, Vice. He wrote and directed the dark comedy film, which explored the rise of a Washington insider to the Vice President of the United States. If you have seen Bale and former VP Dick Cheney, you know that they look nothing alike physically.

However, Bale continued to amaze us with his transformation, as he nailed the look of Cheney to the last detail. He was a contender for an Oscar for the role, however, the award went to Rami Malek for his performance in Bohemian Rhapsody. Many still believe that the Oscar belonged to Bale that year.

Christian Bale nailed his role in Vice, but the film got an average reception Christian Bale as Dick Cheney in Vice | Credits: Annapurna Pictures

Christian Bale has made many extreme transformations in his career. If 2004’s The Machinist...

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Todd and Julie Chrisley received a full pardon from Donald Trump.

What now?

According to Savannah, her parents will be out of prison almost immediately.

Todd and Julie will have to readjust to life. There is also a financial angle to this act of executive clemency.

Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty and sentenced to prison. (Image Credit: USA) The wait is over for Todd and Julie Chrisley

Late on Tuesday, May 27, Savannah Chrisley took to her Instagram page to gush about happy news for her family.

“Todd And Julie Chrisley Pardoned,” she captioned the video.

She shared that Trump had called her as she was going into Sam’s Club to inform her that her parents, who have been serving notably lengthy sentences on tax and bank fraud convictions, will soon be released.

“We are freaking out over here, I have shed so many tears,” Savannah shared.

“Best of Gloria and Renny” is set to air on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 3:10 Pm on Disney. This special episode of “Big City Greens” promises to be a delightful experience for fans of the show. The series follows the adventures of Cricket Green and his family as they leave their country life behind and dive into the bustling excitement of the big city.

In this episode, viewers will get a chance to see some of the funniest and most heartwarming moments featuring Gloria and Renny. These two characters have brought plenty of laughter and charm to the series, and this compilation will showcase their best antics. The unique blend of humor and family dynamics has made “Big City Greens” a favorite for many.

As Cricket and his family navigate their new urban surroundings, there are bound to be plenty of surprises and adventures. This episode is a perfect way to...

On Saturday, May 24, Alex Serino, a Massachusetts native, Emerson College graduate, and lifelong Red Sox fan, threw out the Ceremonial First Pitch at Harry Potter Day at Fenway Park. Alex is currently starring on Broadway as Albus Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Check out photos and video of his appearance! Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage and the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play. The international phenomenon has cast its spell worldwide...

Donald Trump has shared his plans to issue full pardons to reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were serving years-long prison sentences after being convicted of federal bank fraud and tax evasion charges.

Margo Martin, the president’s special assistant and communications adviser, announced the news on Tuesday with a video of Trump on a phone call with Todd and Julie’s children, Savannah and Grayson Chrisley.

“It’s a great thing because your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow. Is that Ok?” Trump can be heard saying to Savannah and Grayson while sitting in the Oval Office. “I don’t know them, but give them my regards.”

Breaking!

President Trump calls @_ItsSavannah_ to inform her that he will be granting full pardons to her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley!

Trump Knows Best! pic.twitter.com/j...

Watch a video of the cast of Buena Vista Social Club performing a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR. Introduced by Marco Ramirez, cast members Wesley Wray, Da'Von Moody, Isa Antonetti, and Mel Semé performed "El Cuarto de Tula," "La Negra Tomasa," "Lágrimas Negras," and "Candela." The band featured Marco Paguia, Renesito Avich, David Oquendo, Leonardo Reyna, Maxilmilien Darché, Hery Paz, Eddie "Arnoldito" Venegas, Gustavo "Chacho" Schart, Román Diaz, and Javier Díaz. The production was recently nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Buena Vista Social Club has also been awarded a 2025 Special Tony Award for the musicians who make up the band. With a book by Marco Ramirez, director Saheem Ali leads an ensemble of visionary performing artists, including...

In 1995, the original Broadway staging of Sunset Boulevard won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. That marked the last time an Andrew Lloyd Webber show won a Best Production accolade from the American Theatre Wing. Exactly 30 years later, the current remounting is the frontrunner to win Best Musical Revival. If it prevails, it'd be quite a full-circle moment for the legendary composer.

In the years since Sunset Boulevard originally contended, four more Lloyd Webber titles were nominated for a Best Show award, but didn't prevail:

Jesus Christ Superstar for Best Musical Revival in 2000; lost to Kiss Me, Kate Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar for Best Musical Revival in 2012; both lost to Porgy & Bess School of Rock for Best Musical in 2016; lost to Hamilton

The Broadway legend also had three other shows eligible for Best Musical noms, but each of them were nearly shut out: By Jeeves in 2002, The Woman in White...

Over 20 years after making its debut, a fan-favorite franchise has just proven that it's still the visual novel game to beat.

The official 2024 Moe Game Awards has crowned Jun Maeda’s tearjerker Clannad as 'Best Bishoujo Game of All Time,' outshining over 1,000 other titles throughout roughly 40 years of bishoujo gaming history. During the same awards ceremony, Clannad's Nagisa Furukawa also earned 'Best Character' honors, putting the franchise truly front and center for fans.

Clannad Takes the Crown as #1 Bishoujo Game of All Time With Official Award Image via Key

For anime enthusiasts, Maeda is best known as the original creator and scriptwriter behind Angel Beats, but his visual novel career is certainly nothing to sniff at. As one of the co-founders of Key -- the studio responsible for major visual novels like Clannad, Air and Kanon -- Maeda is also just as well known among gaming fans with a penchant for bishoujo titles.

Note: This review was originally published as part of our 2024 Cannes coverage. Ghost Trail opens in theaters on May 30.

The wars in Gaza and Ukraine have dominated headlines for the past several years, yet receiving relatively little coverage today is the Syrian civil war, sparked in the wake of 2011’s Arab Spring. It is yet ongoing and stands now at an uneasy stalemate. Over a decade of fighting, horrifying humanitarian and war-time crimes were committed; all the while 13 million Syrians were displaced from their homes. These refugees, lost in foreign countries offering asylum, are still looking for answers and perhaps a reckoning and retribution. Director Jonathan Millet’s debut narrative feature Ghost Trail dives deep into one survivor’s psyche and lays bare the cost of a conflict from which the world seems to have moved on.

In Strasbourg, France, mild-mannered asylum-seeker Hamid (Adam Bessa) is doing odd jobs, moving in Syrian exile circles,...

Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, continues to re-invent her look, posing for the Summer 2025 issue of “Allure” magazine, wearing Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin, Jenny Bird and a whole lot more, photographed by Dan Beleiu:

Kidman began her acting career in Australia with the 1983 films “Bush Christmas” and “BMX Bandits”.

Her breakthrough came in 1989 with the thriller feature “Dead Calm” and the TV miniseries “Bangkok Hilton”.

In 1990, she achieved international success with the action film “Days of Thunder”.

She received greater recognition with lead roles in “Far and Away” (1992), “Batman Forever” (1995), “To Die For” (1995) and “Eyes Wide Shut” (1999).

In 2003, she won the ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Actress’ for her portrayal of writer ‘Virginia Woolf’ in the drama film “The Hours” (2002).

Among her numerous feature films, Kidman received additional Academy Award nominations for her roles in the musical “Moulin Rouge!” (2001)…

….and the dramas “Rabbit Hole” (2010), “Lion” (2016) and “Being the Ricardos” (2021).

Kidman's television roles include...

It's been a year since Solo Leveling aired its anime adaptation. What first started as a South Korean web novel ended up becoming one of the most popular anime series in recent times. And now, the show has broken a new record in the franchise's history thanks to the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards that occurred yesterday.

Solo Leveling won nine of the 13 awards it was nominated for, thus dominating this year's event. Some of its latest wins include "Best New Series," "Best Action," "Best Score," and, most importantly, "Anime of the Year," and was up against other highly beloved titles, such asDAN Da Dan, Delicious in Dungeon, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Kaiju No. 8, and The Apothecary Diaries. This isn't the only record that Solo Leveling broke this year. Back at the start of May, it was reported that Season 2 became the "most-liked premiere in Crunchyroll's history" with over 129,000 likes in less than 24 hours.

Cannes 2025 has come to a close. Now, with a bit of time to reflect, jury member Jeremy Strong is opening up about his experience basking in cinema’s glow for almost two weeks. During the final press conference for the festival (as per Variety), Strong ended up comparing his involvement on the jury to a rather popular film from last year.

“This has been a really wonderful experience,” he said, “a really connected experience with these people — it’s like ‘Conclave’ with champagne. It’s really great.”

This reference was also timely as just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Cannes, an actual new Pope was recently welcomed and honored at the Vatican in Rome. “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow, follows the church’s Dean of Cardinals as he works to elect a new Pope from a group of vainglorious wheeler-dealers. It...

There would never be a time when a Crunchyroll Anime Awards would be held and we wouldn’t get some good amount of controversy. Like, it has become a bit of a tradition for them to do at least something that would really displease their audience. And this time was also no exception, as One Piece should’ve at least won the Best Director award instead.

Not to say Frieren did anything less. In fact, many may argue it deserved to win the Best Director award. But taking into consideration the class that One Piece Fan Letter brought to the table, the results could’ve been different. There are things that Megumi Ishitani does that no other director can match at her level as of now.

The brilliance of Megumi Ishitani that was seen in One Piece Fan Letter

Well, some may have some reservations against One Piece winning any...

Scene From The Secret Agent Trailer Featuring Wagner Moura As Marcelo!(Photo Credit –Instagram)

The Secret Agent, a political thriller starring Wagner Moura, who played the dreaded Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in Narcos, recently had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it got a standing ovation. Helmed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, the critically acclaimed Brazilian film bagged the Best Director and the Best Actor awards at the prestigious fest. Read on to learn more about the film and whether it will be released in Indian theatres or on any Indian Ott platform.

The Secret Agent – Plot

Set against the backdrop of Brazil’s military dictatorship in 1977, the film revolves around a widowed academic, Marcelo (played by Wagner Moura), who is forced to go on the run after he publicly opposes a corrupt government officer. The fugitive arrives in his hometown, Recife, during carnival week using a fake identity,...

The 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 was hosted at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan, on the 25th of May. Many dignitaries from different parts of the entertainment realm gathered to witness who would be claiming the accolades this year.

Multiple films and original anime have gained recognition through the awards, especially Look Back and Ninja Kamui. With its brilliant storytelling, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End received the Best Director award, given to Keiichiro Saito from Madhouse.

Here’s the entire category list with the contenders and the winners:

9th Crunchyroll Awards list of nominees and winners

As many expected, Solo Leveling, with its vast popularity, claimed multiple laurels, including the Anime of the Year, Best Main Character, and Best Action awards.

Even after it left its mark on anime a few years back, no anime has been able to meet the level of Demon Slayer, with its Hashira Training...

The 9th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards streamed from Tokyo this past Sunday, May 25 as a celebration of the biggest anime shows and movies of the past year. The full list of winners can be read on Crunchyroll's official Anime Awards page, and we here on the Bam Smack Pow team have a list of the night's biggest winners, along with the best place to watch them.

Additionally, anime fans can relive the full ceremony of the 2025 Anime Awards any time on-demand via Crunchyroll's YouTube channel here:

If you don't have time to watch the full ceremony, however, let us update you on the night's biggest winners!

Solo Leveling — 13 nominations, 9 wins

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Based on a Korean web novel, Solo Leveling wrapped up its second season just in time for the fan voting for the Anime Awards to begin. That wave of popularity clearly helped the series surge in the fan vote.

Colin Farrell is a versatile Irish actor who has excelled in a variety of genres, from action films to dramas and from wild comedies to very very dark comedies.

Farrell has had the good fortune to work with many of the best directors out there, including Terence Malick and Steven Spielberg. Two writers/directors in particular have been instrumental in pushing Farrell to new artistic ground. Martin McDonagh directed Farrell to his first Golden Globe win (Best Actor for "In Bruges"), and Yorgos Lanthimos led Farrell to his second Best Actor Globe nomination, this time for "The Lobster."

He also received acclaim for "The Banshees of Inisherin" with his first Oscar nomination and become a DC villain in "The Batman." That film role led to television with excellent reviews and big ratings for the HBO Max limited series "The Penguin."

Let's raise a pint of Guinness for a toast and...

The people have spoken. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has lost the award for Best Isekai Anime at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025.

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Season 3 has won the Anime Award for Best Isekai Anime at this year's Crunchyroll awards show. While this is incredible news for Re:Zero fans, this is a devastating loss for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime after the airing of Season 3. This was the only award That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime was nominated for in the 2025 Anime Awards.

Reincarnated as a Slime’s Popularity in Japan Hasn’t Translated Overseas Another world, a new win! Re:zero -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3 is the Best Isekai Anime at the 2025 #AnimeAwards! pic.twitter.com/hY2jH0jxzO— The Anime Awards (@TheAnimeAwards) May 25, 2025

Although That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is an incredibly popular series in Japan,...

With the dust fully settled on Season 2 of Arcane, the door is wide open for more of the League of Legends world to be explored on screen. Shortly after the second and final run premiered on Netflix, showrunner and co-creator Christian Linke told Collider that the acclaimed series, following the tragic story of sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), was just the beginning of the team's plans to bring more of Riot Games' champions and regions to life. Half a year later, he's not ready to say what exactly any potential projects could look like, but he could offer a bit of insight into where they are in terms of deciding what comes next. In a wider interview with Collider's Laura Adams reflecting on the finale and the series as a whole, he shined a light on how the follow-ups to Arcane will give other artists a chance...

For many years most in the industry have looked to the fall festival trifecta of Venice, Telluride and Toronto as the real start of Oscar season, but recently, with two Palme d’Or winners going on to also be Best Picture winners, the “start” of the season has to be redefined. It really now starts at Cannes.

For example, in 2024 the Cannes Film Festival selections and winners scored very big at the Oscars, with Palme d’Or winner Anora becoming only the third film to also win the Best Picture Academy Award (after 1955’s Marty and 2019’s Parasite). Emilia Perez, The Substance and the animation feature winner Flow also saw big success out of Cannes at the Oscars, where the festival’s films scored an overall whopping 31 nominations. In fact the track record has been pretty good, not at all a detriment for its early positioning, in the past seven...

Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s triumphant return to the Cannes Film Festival, “It Was Just an Accident,” has won the Palme d’Or as the best film in competition at the festival, the Cannes jury announced on Saturday evening.

Panahi, who spent almost 20 years in prison or under house arrest in Iran for making anti-government films, was allowed to leave the country and go to the festival for the first time in more than two decades with the film, which deals with victims of oppression who abduct a man they believe was their torturer in prison.

“The bracing thing about ‘It Was Just an Accident’ is that it has married Panahi’s wit and humanism with real anger,” said TheWrap’s review.“… In a festival full of fury, this is one of the films that hits hardest and resonates longest.”

The review also suggested that the film, which premiered on Tuesday,...

Updated, May 24: My final ranking of how this year’s Cannes Film Festival titles will shake out while vying for the Palme d’Or is below. Reviews and reactions to late premieres “The Mastermind” (Kelly Reichardt) and “Young Mothers” (Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne) haven’t startled the race too much at this point. The Palme is Neon’s to lose, with either “Sentimental Value,” or the company’s mid-festival acquisitions comprising “It Was Just an Accident,” “Sirât,” or “The Secret Agent” taking the top prize. My money is on “Sentimental Value,” which delivers on the emotion the jury looks for, but who can really be sure?

If not Neon, then the Palme could go to Mubi for Mascha Schilinski’s avant-garde tone poem of generational female anguish, “Sound of Falling.” Expect this film to win something. As for Neon, if they win the 2025 Palme, it’s their sixth in a row after “Parasite,...

Gold Derby's top news stories for May 23, 2025.

The Wheel of Time canceled after three seasons on Prime Video

Amazon has canceled fantasy series The Wheel of Time after three seasons. The series, which premiered on Prime Video in 2021, was based on the popular novel series by Robert Jordan, and featured a large ensemble cast led by Rosamund Pike. The third season made Nielsen's top 10 list of streaming originals, but the renewal bar is high for expensive fantasy series.

Cannes' Un Certain Regard winners revealed

The 2025 winners of the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, which honors early career filmmakers, have been revealed. La misteriosa mirada del flamenco (The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo), the debut feature of Chilean filmmaker Diego Céspedes, won the top Un Certain Regard Prize. Colombian director Simón Mesa Soto won the second-place Jury Prize with his film Un Poeta (A Poet). Palestinian...

The Butterfly Effect is a concept that describes how small actions can have big consequences in the distant future. Well, if you believe in fan theories, it seems that’s what happened with Denzel Washington back in 1993, leading to a devastating snub. That year, Al Pacino won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Scent of a Woman, and Washington was also on the nomination list.

However, iconic director Spike Lee revealed all these years later that the Oscar should have rightfully gone to Denzel Washington instead of Pacino back in 1993!

The Oscar that could have gone to Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington found worldwide fame and critical acclaim for his role as Malcolm Little in the 1992 film Malcolm X. With a controversial storyline and Spike Lee helming the director’s seat, the film did find unprecedented fame, and Washington received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Sébastien Vaniček's Evil Dead Burn recently entered production in New Zealand, with Dune: Part Two's Souheila Yacoub set to play the lead role. Now, Deadline is reporting that the movie has rounded out its cast with three new additions.

Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan (The Night Agent), and Tandi Wright (Pearl) have signed on for the horror spin-off, but details on their characters are still locked away in the Necronomicon.

Doohan recently appeared as graffiti artist/serial killer Muse in Daredevil: Born Again.

Vaniček made his feature directorial debut with Vermin/Vermine, aka Infested, which focused on the residents of a rundown French apartment building attempting to survive when an army of venomous, rapidly reproducing spiders invade.

The movie garnered a lot of acclaim, and won Best Picture and Best Director in its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest. It was also invited to the Sitges Film Festival, where it...

Upcoming Thai film Lady Bee presents a re-imagining of the 1960s Thai novel ‘The Story of Jan Dara,’ with popular singer-actress Engfa Waraha headlining the film as the enigmatic Lady Boonleung.

In an interview at Deadline’s Cannes studio, Waraha, alongside the film’s co-writer and co-director Dream Thanika Jenjesda, shared that they are excited to present a new adaptation of the story — which has been remade before — from a female perspective for the first time.

Starring in just her second feature film after box office hit Paradise of Thorns, Waraha said, “There’s a lot of pressure because Paradise of Thorns was so well-received. This is my second role and I’m under pressure to do my best. I want to challenge myself as an actor and not just a star.”

Waraha won the Best Actress prize at the 2025 Thailand Box Office Awards for her role in family drama feature The Paradise of Thorns.

Arguably the worst film in competition in Cannes this year is a strong candidate for the festival’s Best Director prize, and rightfully so. The follow-up to 2018’s Un Certain Regard entry Long Day’s Journey into Night — which asked viewers to don 3D glasses for its spectacular climax, an unbroken, hourlong tracking shot — Resurrection is both breathtaking at times and airless at others. During the first press show the aisles of the screening room resembled scenes from Otto Preminger’s Exodus, and it was hard to tell how many of those who stayed in their seats were even conscious of that fact. It will have its admirers, for sure, and at least 40 minutes of it are pure visual genius, but it’s hard to imagine a more willfully obscure movie that’s been shown here since Wong Kar-wai’s 2046.

Bi Gan is certainly a stylist, and the film luxuriates in that,...

Iraqi director Hasan Hadi’s first feature The President’s Cake has won the second edition of the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight People’s Choice audience award.

New York-based Hadi has tapped into his own childhood in southern Iraq in the 1990s, growing up under the regime of President Saddam Hussein and the socio-economic crisis provoked by international sanctions, for the film.

The drama follows nine-year-old Lamia who gets the short straw of having to provide a birthday cake for her classmates to celebrate the president’s birthday. Gathering the ingredients for the mandatory cake at a time of shortages is a monumental task but failure to deliver could lead to prison or death for her family.

Leah Chen Baker produced under the banner of New-York-based Tpc Film LLC. Films Boutique handles international sales, with UTA handling North America.

Deadline critic Pete Hammond has also fallen for the film describing it as...

There was a time in the world of reality TV when the Chrisleys were America’s favorite Southern royalty—Todd and Julie Chrisley navigated their lives with their big family, fancy lifestyle, and even bigger personalities. Chrisley Knows Best made viewers feel like part of the crew. But behind that perfect facade, something wasn’t adding up.

Chrisley Knows Best soon got plagued with Todd and Julie Chrisley’s federal charges, their lawsuit, trial, and imprisonment. But what were the duo charged with? What really went down with the Chrisleys? How did reality TV’s golden couple land themselves in the biggest plot twist of their lives? Buckle up to dive into this messy story.

Who are Todd and Julie Chrisley?

Before the orange jumpsuits and courtroom drama, Todd and Julie Chrisley were living it up as reality TV royalty. Todd Chrisley, born Michael Todd Chrisley, grew up in the...

The first season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon did a lot for its cast members. Emma D'Arcy, who plays the adult Rhaenyra Targaryen, became a bit of a cult figure. Paddy Considine, who played Rhaenyra's father King Viserys, got to play the role of his career. And Milly Alcock, who played Young Rhaenyra, was set on the road to superstardom. She's starring in a new Netflix series dropping tomorrow and will play Supergirl in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow next year.

Going on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for her first-ever talk show appearance, Alcock recalled what it was like joining a huge show like House of the Dragon right at the early stages. "It was very, very terrifying and it kind of changed my life. It was super fun!" she said. However, she experienced a humbling moment early on. “On my second day on House of the Dragon,...

With less than three weeks until the 78th annual Tony Awards, the Gold Derby odds have shown some movement, reflecting momentum shifts in the race based on industry buzz and following the announcement of the winners of the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards. Although there is little to no overlap between these awards bodies and the pool of Tony voters — these prizes are not precursors akin to the Oscars and their industry and guild prizes — they nevertheless contribute to the perceptions of the races that swirl among insiders.

Based on the predictions of more than 700 Gold Derby experts, editors, and users, here is where the top eight races stand. And be sure to scroll to down for a current tally of wins by show in all 26 categories. Our projected winners are denoted in gold.

Best Musical

1. Maybe Happy Ending — 31/20

2. Dead Outlaw — 9/2

3. Death Becomes Her — 9/2

4. Operation Mincemeat — 7/1

5. Buena Vista...

To say Lars von Trier is a divisive filmmaker and artist is ... a massive understatement. Throughout his career, von Trier has written and directed groundbreaking, controversial movies like "Dancer in the Dark," "Antichrist," and "Nymphomaniac" — but now, one of his bleakest films, which also happens to star Kirsten Dunst, is finding new life on Hulu (via JustWatch).

Released in 2011, von Trier's film "Melancholia" is actually part of what he calls the "Depression trilogy". While "Antichrist" focuses on a couple grieving a tragic loss and "Nymphomaniac" utilizes vignettes to chart the story of one woman's lifelong trauma, "Melancholia" takes a broader focus: Specifically, it tackles the end of the world.

Dunst stars as Justine, a woman who, as the film begins, is marrying a man named Michael (Alexander Skårsgard), with her sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and Claire's husband John (Kiefer Sutherland) among those in attendance. To say the reception doesn't go smoothly is also an understatement,...

On Wednesday May 21 2025, History broadcasts American Pickers!

Best Of: Coastal Collectibles Season 26 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “American Pickers,” titled “Best Of: Coastal Collectibles,” promises to take viewers on a nostalgic journey through the world of antiques. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, the show’s beloved childhood friends and antique collectors, will revisit some of their most memorable finds along the coast. This special episode highlights their adventures as they search for rare artifacts and national treasures.

In “Coastal Collectibles,” Mike and Frank will explore various coastal towns, each with its own unique history and hidden gems. Fans can expect to see the duo uncover fascinating items that tell stories from the past. The episode will feature a mix of humor, excitement, and the thrill of the hunt, showcasing the special bond between the two friends as they navigate through different challenges.

As they dig through old barns, vintage shops,...

Exclusive: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the New Hollywood classic adapted from Ken Kesey’s book, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with a special screening today [21st] at the Cannes Film Festival and a stateside re-release by Fathom Entertainment in July.

Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz served as producers of Miloš Forman’s anti-establishment firecracker, which remains one of just three movies ever to win all five major Academy Awards — Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Screenplay. Thirteen years in the making and knocked back by countless A-list actors and studios, the movie overcame myriad challenges to become 1975’s second highest-grossing U.S. film (over $100 million worldwide), beaten only by Jaws. Douglas was only 31 at the time.

Jack Nicholson serves as Randle McMurphy, a role that had been played by Douglas’ father Kirk in the Broadway play version. Randall is a rebellious new patient at a mental institution who...

Joey King surprised her sister Hunter King by presenting her with a special honor at the 2025 Gracie Awards!

The 25-year-old actress appeared on stage to present the Best Ensemble Cast in a Made for TV Movie award to the cast of Hallmark Channel’s Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, including Hunter, Tyler Hynes, Ed Begley Jr., Christine Ebersole, Diedrich Bader, and Megyn Price.

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation hosted the 50th Annual Gracie Awards on Tuesday night (May 20) at the Four Seasons’ Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Hunter, who was also joined by her mom Jamie King, spoke on behalf of the cast at the event.

Holiday Touchdown was the most-watched cable movie of 2024 and Hallmark Channel just announced the exciting cast list for the new Holiday Touchdown movie centered on the Buffalo Bills.

The Gracies honor exceptional achievements in media dedicated to women, by women,...

Renée Zellweger has been nominated as best actress in this year’s National Film Academy awards for her return to the ‘Bridget Jones’ franchise.The group officially unveiled the full list of nominees on Tuesday (20.05.25) for its highly anticipated 11th annual edition of the prestigious National Film Awards UK. It said: “This year’s awards celebrate excellence in British and international film and television, recognising talent from emerging newcomers to established icons.”The ceremony is set to take place at the iconic Porchester Hall in London on 2 July.Public voting is live 19 May to 19 June on the National Film Academy website.Along with Renée for her role in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’, the best actress category includes Saoirse Ronan (for ‘The Outrun’), Daisy Ridley (‘Cleaner’), and Stephanie Beacham (‘Grey Matter’.) On the Best Actor side, the competition is fierce with Aaron Pierre (‘Rebel Ridge’), Barry Keoghan (‘Bring Them Down...

From producer Takashi Shimizu (Director of The Grudge) comes the Japanese nightmare Best Wishes to All, which notably won “Scariest Feature” at the Overlook Film Festival.

The Japanese horror movie hails from writer-director Yûta Shimotsu, and it’s coming to Shudder on June 13. Watch the trailer for the terrifying Shudder Original movie below.

In Best Wishes to All…

“A young woman’s visit to her grandparents’ home leads to the discovery of what’s brought them happiness, a revelation that will lead her to question her choices, sanity and reality itself.”

Aine Hara stars alongside Kotone Furukawa and Koya Matsuda.

Even the tagline for this one sends a chill up your spine: “There is a limit to the amount of happiness on Earth.” It’s featured on the film’s official poster, which you’ll also find below.

Bloody Disgusting contributor Matt Donato wrote in his review for Daily Dead,...

Near Dark, one of the most underrated vampire movies ever made, could be on track to become a TV series. The 1987 neo-Western, starring Bill Paxton, is widely considered a seminal work in the vampire genre, and an essential film by Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow. The project is reportedly being eyed by independent film studio A24, as part of their expansion into the television medium.

Industry scoop specialist Jeff Sneider is reporting through "The Insneider" that A24 could be picking up a TV adaptation of the classic (via Film Stories). Sneider is also teasing Bigelow's participation in the series. Originally, the film followed Caleb Colton, a young man from a rural town who gets bitten by a beautiful girl and is forced to join a pack of traveling vampires. The plot synopsis goes as follows:

A small-town farmer's son reluctantly joins a traveling group of vampires after he is bitten by a beautiful drifter.

Busan International Film Festival (Biff) is to mark its landmark 30th edition with a boost in the number of features and screening venues as it transitions into a competitive festival for the first time.

In his first interview since being appointed festival director of Biff in March, Jung Hanseok has revealed plans to “reinvigorate the ecosystem” of its various sections to inject “life and visibility” to its selection.

“Our most immediate task is launching the newly established competition section,” said Jung, who was previously a programmer at Biff, Korea’s leading film festival that remains one of the biggest in Asia.