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Blake Edwards was a master of genre-blending, a director whose body of work ranged from riotous slapstick comedies to emotional dramas. He had a unique ability to craft films that appealed to broad audiences while retaining a signature touch of elegance and wit. Edwards's career spanned several decades, though his high point was in the 1960s, the era when he released classics like The Pink Panther and Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Since the late 1990s, Jason Statham has built an impressive career filled with action thrillers and unforgettable franchises, so it is surprising that his highest-rated movie of all time also holds this notable record. Although Statham is likely a household name by now, the English actor worked hard to become such a staple of Hollywood. After Statham collaborated with people like Guy Ritchie and took on role after role in early 2000s action movies, he became a must-have actor in any action project. When considering his career, Statham has seen some tried and true success.

Of Statham's many films, his highest-rated project is a movie called Spy. Released in 2015, the movie follows Statham as Rick Ford, an arrogant CIA spy who protests when a chronically desk-bound agent, decides to take on a dangerous and important mission. The film was a major success with critics, earning a Certified Fresh 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

If you’re in the mood for a classic comedy, Prime Video is a great place to stream. You can get started with a 30-day Free trial, and there’s a lot to love.

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Classic Comedy Movies on Prime Video

Classic Comedy TV on Prime Video

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Classic Comedy Movies on Prime Video

For the purposes of this list, we’ll consider “classic comedies” as titles that came out at least 20 years ago.

Death Becomes Her The Big Lebowski Dr. Strangelove Heathers Swingers Galaxy Quest Fargo Billy Madison An American Werewolf in London Sweet Home Alabama Election Army of Darkness Overboard Dirty Rotten Scoundrels American Graffiti Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Bowfinger Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood CB4 Roxanne Sprung Duck Soup Wallace & Gromit: The...

Takeshi Kitano is back with a yakuza film, an announcement that is sure to send shivers of excitement among the many fans of the Japanese director across the world. Yet the 62-minute feature turns out, after a seemingly straightforward beginning, to be a farcical parody of gangster films. This allows Kitano, who wrote, directed and edited “Broken Rage“, to give free reins to his zany comical leanings.

“Broken Rage” is screening at Venice International Film Festival

Kitano plays Mr. Mouse, a phlegmatic assassin for hire who is seen coolly dispatching various victims. One day he is arrested by the police, who force him to work for them and infiltrate a Tokyo drugs gang. This rather conventional story soon ends, however, as the plot resets and starts over from the beginning, retelling the same events, sometimes scene-for-scene, but in comical, delirious form.

Describing “Broken Rage” as a send-up of Kitano’s...

September 8 marks the birthday of actor and comic legend Peter Sellers. The British star had achieved acclaim on the stage, in recordings and most famously on the radio, particularly for the “The Goon Show,” the popular comedy series regularly heard on the BBC.

However, it was in film where Sellers achieved his greatest worldwide success. He was nominated for his first Academy Award in 1959 for co-writing and producing the live-action short “The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film.” Sellers also received two other Oscar nominations, as Best Actor for 1964’s “Dr. Strangelove” (from Stanley Kubrick) as well as for 1979’s “Being There” (from Hal Ashby).

Sellers won the Best Actor Golden Globe for “Being There” and was nominated on five other occasions, including three times for “The Pink Panther” series (from Blake Edwards) in which he portrayed bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the role for which he will likely be best remembered.

Comedy sequels are notoriously difficult to pull off, but there are a few exceptions to this rule that have kept fans laughing. Comedy movies tend to derive a lot of their humor and conflict from a particular situation, and once the story is wrapped up, there is no logical reason to bring the characters back for more. This is why a lot of comedy sequels feel overly contrived, or unrelated to the first movie.

While unnecessary comedy sequels have sadly become the norm, this just makes it even more exciting when a sequel lives up to the standards of the original. Not all movies are set up for sequels, but comedy can often get more creative. Audiences will forgive comedies for coming up with silly premises as long as the movies are just as funny. If a comedy sequel gives beloved characters a fun new story that plays to their strengths,...

There really hasn’t been a filmmaker quite like Blake Edwards. He could go from the silly-billy comedy of his “Pink Panther” comedies starring Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau to “Days of Wine and Roses,” a devastating drama dealing with alcoholism to the gender-bender musical comedy “Victor/Victoria” starring his wife Julie Andrews to the underrated Western “The Wild Rovers” with William Holden and Ryan O’Neal. Edwards even turned the diminutive British comedian Dudley Moore into a leading man thanks to his 1979 romantic comedy “10.” And let’s not forget the extraordinary collaboration he had with composer Henry Mancini who earned four Oscars including best song “Moon River” from 1961’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the title tune from 1962’s “Days of Wine and Roses.”

Still, there was no love lost between Edwards and Hollywood.

In my 2003 Los Angeles Times interview with Edwards, who had personality to spare, said “I have been a...

On Tuesday August 27 2024, PBS broadcasts American Masters!

Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames Season 38 Episode 4 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “American Masters” titled “Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames” promises to be an insightful look into the life and career of the influential director Blake Edwards. This episode will explore how Edwards transformed slapstick comedy over four decades, leaving a lasting impact on the film industry.

Viewers can expect to see highlights from Edwards’ most famous works, including classics like “The Pink Panther” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The episode will delve into his unique style and how he blended humor with deeper emotional themes. It will also feature interviews with actors and directors who have been inspired by his work, showcasing his influence on both comedy and filmmaking.

The documentary will not only celebrate Edwards’ achievements but also provide a glimpse into his personal life. It will...

Blake Edwards could have comfortably rested in the pantheon of famed comedy directors based solely on his acclaimed Pink Panther movie series, which still charms us today with its incomparable slapstick routines and gut-busting laughs. Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames, a new entry in the American Masters series, ensures that his other movies get their due, and the episode also rounds out his personal life as a father and husband, and delves into his other pursuits, like sculpture and painting. At the center of Edwards’ life (he died in 2010) was his wife of four decades, Oscar-winning actress and singer Julie Andrews. Andrews was already famous for movies like Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965) when they married in 1969 and, as the doc shows, was a huge influence on the filmmaker’s continuing career. Edwards directed her — as “a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be...

The upcoming episode of “American Masters,” titled “Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames,” promises to be an insightful look into the life and work of the legendary director Blake Edwards. Airing on PBS at 8:00 Pm on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, this episode explores how Edwards redefined slapstick comedy over four decades. His unique approach to storytelling and humor continues to influence filmmakers and actors today.

Viewers can expect a deep dive into Edwards’ career, highlighting his most iconic films and the innovative techniques he employed. The episode will showcase rare clips and interviews, providing a glimpse into the creative mind behind classics like “The Pink Panther” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Edwards’ ability to blend humor with poignant moments is a central theme, illustrating why his work remains relevant.

The episode not only celebrates Edwards’ achievements but also emphasizes his lasting impact on the film industry. Fans of cinema and comedy...

Some of Steve Martin's best films are underrated and relatively unheard of, showcasing his versatile talents beyond comedy franchises. Titles like Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid and Shopgirl highlight Martin's nuanced humor and ability to tackle complex characters in underappreciated films. From a detective in a parody film to a struggling architect in a romantic comedy, Martin's range as an actor shines in lesser-known gems like My Blue Heaven and Housesitter.

Iconic comic actor Steve Martin has appeared in several huge Hollywood hits, but some of his best movies were underrated and relatively unheard of. Martin is generally remembered for his absurd humor and for appearing in some of the best comedy franchises of all time, such as Father of the Bride and Cheaper by the Dozen. He is also the most recent incarnation of Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther movies.

In recent years, Martin has made...

Amazon MGM Studios has entered into a multi-year film partnership with Scott Stuber, the former head of film at Netflix. As part of the pact, the streamer and studio will finance and release movies from Stuber’s new production company under United Artists, a languishing label that once operated under the auspice of MGM. In its heyday, United Artists released movies like “The Pink Panther,” “Rocky” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Network” and the James Bond films. The agreement calls for Stuber and his soon-to-be launched company to produce several films annually. They will be released both theatrically and via Prime Video, Amazon’s streaming service.

Stuber’s new company will be based on Amazon MGM Studios’ Culver City lot. The pact is a first-look one, giving Amazon MGM Studios the initial crack at the projects Stuber develops. In addition, Stuber will be involved in all projects released by the new UA.

Films directed by Shawn Levy – a list that includes Big Fat Liar, Just Married, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Pink Panther, the Night at the Museum trilogy, Date Night, Real Steel, and Free Guy, among others – have earned about 3 billion dollars at the global box office, and that number is likely to receive a substantial boost with the release of Levy’s contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Deadpool & Wolverine, this weekend. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Levy revealed his five “secrets to success” and discussed the creative empowerment he felt while working with Marvel Studios.

While it’s often assumed that Marvel micromanages their productions and doesn’t give directors space to be creative, Levy said, “Contrary to so many assumptions out there, and even within myself before I had this experience, I’ve been arguably more creatively empowered and trusted on this movie than just about...

Shawn Levy has long chafed at the labels Hollywood has placed upon him.

That helps explain the evolution of the Montreal-born filmmaker from go-to family comedy guy (Night at the Museum and Cheaper by the Dozen) to the producer of cerebral Oscar winners (Arrival) and cultural behemoths (Stranger Things).

After a string of successes in the aughts, Levy branched out with the 2011 Amblin-esque feature Real Steel, which earned nearly $300 million globally and showed he could bring his trademark emotionality to the action sphere. It also teamed him with Hugh Jackman, who, like others who have worked with the producer-director, says he creates an empathetic environment on set. “There isn’t one scene that necessarily was ‘the moment we clicked,’ ” Jackman recalls. “It was more a feeling on Real Steel that it made me know this was going to be a lifelong friendship.”

After the death of his Museum star Robin Williams...

Hayden Christensen may have had a rocky start when he first joined the Star Wars franchise. But now, he is one of the most memorable and beloved parts of it. When he first played the role of Anakin Skywalker in Episode II and Episode III of the prequel series, his performance was met with mixed reviews from both critics and fans. However, the man eventually ended up receiving great appreciation from fans over the years.

Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker in Attack of the Clones (2002) | Lucasfilm Ltd.

Before landing a role in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Hayden Christensen had done a handful of projects here and there including the 2001 film Life as a House. While going undercover on the Internet, the actor shared a piece of advice given to him by his co-star, which he has carried with him into the future.

How Christen Henderson...

Before John Williams became the flagship film composer-conductor anyone thought of when they thought about the Hollywood Bowl, that honor belonged to Henry Mancini. And in some years, when Los Angeles is particularly lucky, it still does, even though the scorer behind “The Pink Panther,” “Days of Wine and Roses” and other classic scores has been gone for 30 years now. This Sunday, the LA Phil will devote the Bowl’s traditional opening night to a 100th birthday celebration for the man who, arguably more than any other, turned movie scores into a truly populist artform… and who conducted at the Bowl 29 times.

It’s not even the only major event involving Mancini’s legacy this weekend. Friday will see the release of a tribute album, “The Henry Mancini 100th Sessions – Henry Has Company,” that features among its guests Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock and, not incidentally,...

King Charles has retained his patronage of the British Film Institute.

The organization made the announcement this morning, marking the 25th anniversary of the opening of BFI IMAX in London where King Charles III (then Prince Charles) cut the ribbon on June 11, 1999.

A registered charity founded in 1933, the BFI has been governed by Royal Charter since 1983. In 2018, Charles visited the BFI Southbank to celebrate 40 years as the BFI’s Patron, where he met BFI employees including Chief Executive Ben Roberts, BFI Film Academy alumni, and talent including actors Ruth Wilson, Hayley Atwell, David Oyelowo OBE, and BFI Ambassador Tom Hiddleston. The monarch was also shown Peter Sellers’ script from The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) with handwritten notes by the comic actor, and promotional material from The Pink Panther, one of his favorite films.

The BFI also preserves the Royal Collection of film. The film collection dates from 1931 with more than 1,000 individual reels of film.

The Pink Panther franchise has seen highs and lows, with the Peter Sellers representing the good times. Attempts to revive the series with stand-ins fell flat, like Son of the Pink Panther, leaving fans disappointed. Steve Martin's reboot failed to capture the magic of the original, but the franchise might still have some life in it.

The Pink Panther franchise is one of the longest-running comedy franchises of all time, but there's a massive gulf in quality between its best movies and its worst ones. Most Pink Panther movies focus on the useless French detective Jacques Clouseau as he bumbles his way through another case, but there have been some twists and turns throughout the years.

Peter Sellers made the character famous way back in the 1960s. After his death, the franchise tried to stay alive with a few lackluster stand-ins, but none could hold a candle to Sellers.

There are entire generations that have no idea that Steve Martin was a stand-up comedian. They may recognize him as one-third of the trio that’s turned Only Murders in the Building into a streaming hit, or the long-suffering patriarch of the Father of the Bride movies, or maybe as that guy with the funny mustache who was in that one thing with Beyoncé (i.e. 2006 Pink Panther reboot). Some might have watched Parenthood or Planes, Trains and Automobiles with their parents when they were younger. He’s the celebrity who,...

Hrithik Roshan Turned Down These Major Movies: From Lagaan To Fast & Furious 7(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Hrithik Roshan is a well-established Bollywood actor famous among some Hollywood personalities. Over the years, he has done some fantastic films, and then there were a few movies that the Greek God of Bollywood rejected. Reportedly, Shah Rukh Khan led Main Hoon Na to Vin Diesel’s Fast and Furious 7. Check out the list here.

Hrithik started his career in the film industry at a young age and then had his feature debut with Papa Rakesh Roshan’s film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai… opposite Ameesha Patel. He is one of the industry’s highest-paid stars and has been acknowledged for his notable acting talent.

Besides being a great actor, Hrithik Roshan is also a fantastic dancer. He was last seen in Siddharth Anand’s Fighter, starring opposite Deepika Padukone. He started his...

Planet of the Apes is one of the most successful and durable science fiction franchises in Hollywood history. Starting in 1968 with the original film, the Apes series has generated more than $2.1 billion in box office grosses over the course of just nine movies, with a highly-anticipated 10th entry, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, due for release this May. The property has also spawned both a live-action and animated TV series, books, comics, video games, and toys – the latter produced in the wake of the first film’s success and arguably the template for future movie merchandising campaigns.

And yet, as we’ve seen over and over again with blockbuster pop culture milestones like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and numerous others, Hollywood at the beginning was loathe to touch the property. After publicist-turned-producer Arthur P. Jacobs secured the rights to the novel upon which the original film was based,...

Shawn Levy recently opened up about his experience starring in Taylor Swift’s All Too Well: The Short Film.

The director played Swift’s father in the 14-minute music video for her hit song, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” He starred opposite Sadie Sink, who portrayed Swift, and Dylan O’Brien, as a boyfriend she dated when she was in her early 20s. Levy explained his four daughters are between the ages of 12 and 24, and the Grammy-winning artist has been “their only shared idol.”

“When she asked me to be in the video for ‘All Too Well,’ and I was able to bring all four daughters to be in that video with me, I got dad cred for life,” Levy told People. The Stranger Things director pointed out that he had previously directed Sink and O’Brien and noted that All Too Well: The Short Film was one of the few...

Eddie Murphy is coming to town this holiday season, bringing his comedic chops to his first-ever holiday film.

The actor stars in Prime Video’s upcoming holiday comedy adventure “Candy Cane Lane” as “a man on a mission to win his neighbourhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest.

“After Chris (Murphy) inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to better his chances of winning, she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life, and wreaks havoc on the whole town,” reads the official synopsis. “At the risk of ruining the holidays for his family, Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their three children must race against the clock to break Pepper’s spell, battle deviously magical characters, and save Christmas for everyone.”

Read More: Reports Swirl Of Eddie Murphy Potentially Starring In ‘The Pink Panther’ Reboot

Eddie Murphy in a Christmas movie?...

The Toronto International Film Festival will honor one of Canada’s own, Montreal native Shawn Levy, with the inaugural Norman Jewison Award, also named after another Canadian great filmmaker.

The Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award is presented by The Budman Family, and recognizes Canadians in the film industry who have made a global impact with their careers. The awards presentation will take place at the TIFF Tribute Awards gala fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 10, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

Levy originally set about pursuing a career in acting, attending Yale University. He turned to directing and received an Mfa from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1994. One of Levy’s first acting gigs was the low-budget horror 1987 movie, Zombie Nightmare, which got poked at on an episode of Comedy Central’s Mystery Science Theater 3000. He cut his teeth directing wise with teen dramas like Nickelodeon’s The Secret...

Alan Arkin, the Oscar and Tony-winning actor who starred in films ranging from “Catch-22” to “Little Miss Sunshine,” has died at the age of 89. His death was confirmed by his sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony in a statement obtained by TheWrap. A cause of death has, as of this time, not been given.

“Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and a man. A loving husband, father, grand and great grandfather, he was adored and will be deeply missed,” the statement reads.

Borning in Brooklyn, New York on March 26, 1934, Arkin was the son of a painter and a teacher. He was raised Jewish, albeit with “no emphasis on religion,” and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 11. His father worked as a set decorator until losing that job due to an eight-month Hollywood strike. Arkin’s parents were accused of being Communists...

Acting legend Alan Arkin is dead at age 89.

The Oscar, Tony, Emmy, BAFTA, SAG, and Golden Globe winner passed away at his home.

Perhaps best known for his roles in “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “Little Miss Sunshine,” for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, Arkin began his acting career in 1957 — and ended up with a body of work of startling range. Arkin was an early member of the Second City comedy troupe and starred on Broadway with his Tony-winning turn in 1963’s “Enter Laughing.”

His film breakout was via comedy as well: in his first major onscreen role in Norman Jewison’s 1967 Cold War caper “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” he plays the “political officer” on a Soviet submarine that runs aground on a small New England island of only 200 residents. The sub’s captain, too embarrassed to radio the motherland for help, sends...

Rob Young, a Canadian sound mixer whose 40-year career in the industry included an Oscar nomination for his work on the Clint Eastwood best picture winner Unforgiven, has died. He was 76.

Young died June 11 in Albi, France, of complications from a fall in Morocco while on a food tour, his wife, Yvonne Young, announced.

Young also was nominated for BAFTA awards for Unforgiven (1992) and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), for a Cinema Audio Society prize for Joe Johnston’s Jumanji (1995), for a Genie Award for Phillip Borsos’ The Grey Fox (1983) and for a Golden Reel Award for Bryan Singer’s X2 (2003).

The New Brunswick native mixed Roxanne (1987) and The Russia House (1990) for director Fred Schepisi, the first two First Blood films in 1982 and ’85 for Ted Kotcheff and George P. Cosmatos, respectively, and the first two Night at the Museum movies for Shawn Levy in 2006 and ’09 (not to mention The Pink Panther...

The Pink Panther franchise is one of the most iconic and beloved series in film history. From its debut in 1963 with the original movie to its most recent installment in 2009, the Pink Panther has been a staple of comedy-mystery films for generations.

Related: 10 Best Comedies of All Time, Ranked by Viewers

Inspector Clouseau’s misadventures have captivated audiences worldwide and left them laughing, guessing, and wanting more.

The films were mainly created by Blake Edwards and had theme music composed by Henry Mancini. Other forms of media, such as books, comic books, video games, and animated series, were later produced based on the elements and characters from the films.

With its unique blend of slapstick humor, witty dialogue, and clever mysteries, it’s no wonder why this franchise has become so popular over the years. In this blog post, we’ll look at all the Pink Panther movies in order...

Prime Video thought it had another bona fide hit on its hands with “Citadel,” the spy-thriller series starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The show drove big viewership numbers early on, garnering a bigger audience for its premiere episode than any Prime Video series in history besides “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”

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But in the weeks following the show’s premiere, it has not cracked Nielsen’s top 10 streaming charts. Despite a falling off in the ratings, Amazon is still planning to develop the series into an international streaming franchise. Speaking at the 2023 Banff Media Festival, Amazon Studio’s Head of Drama Series Odetta Watkins said the show’s performance was a “victory,” and that it needed more time to spread its wings.

“I think [‘Citadel’] was conceived to be able to speak to the world and it has,” Watkins said.

Just days after the report that Amazon was working towards introducing an ad-supported tier of Prime Video, the company is reassuring users that it has no plans to shutter its free ad-supported streaming service Freevee. Just the opposite, as according to The Hollywood Reporter Freevee is adding a total of 33 free ad-supported TV (Fast) channels.

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Many of the channels come to Freevee from MGM, which Amazon acquired last spring. MGM channels soon to be available on Freevee include offerings dedicated to classic shows like “The Pink Panther,” “Stargate,” “Green Acres” and “The Outer Limits.” The timing for the introduction of these channels is notable, as recently it was reported that Amazon is working to create new titles based on some of these franchises.

Joining these channels will be content from Discovery, the cable channel owned by Wbd. These channels will be heavily geared towards the...

MGM and Warner Bros. Discovery channels are coming to Amazon Freevee, adding to the free ad-supported streamer’s growing slate of programming.

The studio will launch 12 Fast channels focused on individual titles including “The Pink Panther,” “Stargate,” “Green Acres,” and “The Outer Limits,” alongside branded channels such as “MGM Presents,” “MGM Presents: Action,” and “MGM Presents: Sci-Fi,” which will be programmed with premium movies and series including “Capote” and “Red Dawn.” The MGM Fast channels join “Paternity Court,” “In the Heat of the Night,”“The Addams Family” and“Teen Wolf,” which are already live on Freevee.

Meanwhile, Warner will launch 11 Fast channels in June featuring Discovery and Wbd studio content such as “Cake Boss,”“Extreme Couponing,” “Ghost Brothers,”“Paranormal Lockdown,” “Say Yes to the Dress,”and “Long Lost Family.”

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Amazon Plans to Launch Ad-Supported Prime Video Tier (Report)

Freevee has rapidly expanded its Fast offerings over the last...

Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM last year has opened the door for Amazon Studios to develop new projects based on some of the studio’s hottest properties, and news is emerging of some upcoming reboots, remakes and sequels currently being considered.

According to Deadline, a look through MGM’s extensive library has identified numerous properties ripe for development.

Among those reportedly on the table are “Legally Blonde”, “Robocop”, “Stargate”, “Fame”, “The Pink Panther” “The Magnificent Seven” and “The Thomas Crown Affair”.

Read More: Reese Witherspoon Teases Jennifer Coolidge’s Role In ‘Legally Blonde 3’ (Exclusive)

Each property is said to being approached differently, with some eyed for movies, some for television, and some for both.

One property in the latter category is “Legally Blonde”, with Deadline reporting that Amazon Studios is “in active early conversations” about a new movie (presumably featuring star Reese Witherspoon reviving her role) and a TV series.

Amazon Studios has identified a batch of titles from its $8.45 billion acquisition of MGM that the company plans to develop into TV or film projects, including “Robocop,” “Stargate” “Legally Blonde,” “Fame,” Barbershop,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “Pink Panther” and “The Thomas Crown Affair.”

A source familiar with the matter confirmed to TheWrap that the company is in active early conversations for a “Legally Blonde” movie and potential TV series. Additionally, Amazon has similar plans for “Stargate” under consideration, with a movie expected to go first. “Robocop” is also being discussed for film and TV, with a TV series potentially going first.

The source added that Amazon Studios is actively developing TV series based on “Fame,” “Barbershop” and “The Magnificent Seven,” as well as discussing “Thomas Crown Affair” movie and “Pink Panther” movie, which could be animated. A “Poltergeist” project is also under consideration.

The news was first reported by Deadline.

Also...

Amazon has already done a lot of work to revamp the MGM brand after acquiring the iconic production house for $8.5 billion last spring. That includes a rebrand of the former cable channel/streaming service Epix and Epix Now into MGM+, which is now live in the United States and several European territories.

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According to a exclusive report from Deadline, Amazon is far from through making the most of its acquisition of MGM. The company has been exploring MGM’s assets for intellectual property it can develop new movies and TV shows out of. The digital commerce corporation has reportedly identified around a dozen titles to start from, including “Robocop,” “Stargate,” “The Pink Panther,” “Legally Blonde,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and more.

Each of these properties will follow a different trajectory in their return to the screen, according to the report. Some will be developed specifically with Prime Video in mind,...

Amazon has plans to revive at least 12 MGM franchises for film and TV projects, including Robocop and Stargate. Amazon's deal to acquire MGM closed in March 2022, giving them access to the many movie and TV franchises the company owns. This includes everything from James Bond to Legally Blonde, adding a diverse number of intellectual properties to Amazon's catalog.

According to Deadline, Amazon plans on taking advantage of their purchase of MGM soon, with at least 12 franchises being eyed for initial development across both television and film. This includes the prioritization of a Stargate film and a Robocop TV series. The many other franchises involved also have movies and TV series taking various stages of priority.

Amazon's Expansive Plans For MGM Franchises Explained

Alongside projects in the Robocop and Stargate franchises, Amazon is also considering a movie and possible TV series for Legally Blonde. On the movie side, a Thomas Crown Affair movie is being considered,...

It’s now been nearly ten years since the most recent installment in the RoboCop franchise, that film of course being the 2014 remake, but the property certainly hasn’t gone anywhere. For starters, new video game RoboCop: Rogue City is coming later this year, and the comprehensive documentary RoboDoc is headed to Screambox this year as well.

Additionally, Deadline reports today that RoboCop is one of the MGM franchises that Amazon is hungry to bring back to life, now that Amazon owns that vast MGM library.

Deadline reports, “For the past year, since the deal closed in March 2022, Amazon Studios has been sifting through MGM’s library, identifying about a dozen initial titles for film and/or TV development, including Robocop, Stargate, Legally Blonde, Fame, Barbershop, The Magnificent Seven, Pink Panther and The Thomas Crown Affair.”

The site’s report continues, “Robocop also is being talked about for both film and TV,...

The Cannes Film Festival is about to get even more fashionable, as two short films – including Pedro Almodóvar’s highly anticipated “Strange Way of Life” – will debut next month from the newly formed Saint Laurent Productions, a film production banner led by its artistic director Anthony Vaccarello.

Saint Laurent Productions is being described as the first production banner operated by a fashion house, the new outfit is also developing projects by a wide range of diverse filmmakers including Paolo Sorrentino, David Cronenberg, Abel Ferrara, Wong Kar Wai, Jim Jarmusch and Gaspar Noé. The second short film hitting Cannes hasn’t been announced yet; let the speculation begin. The plan is produce two or three films each year, with a possible expansion after that.

Vaccarello became the artistic director of Saint Laurent in 2016. In 2019 “Lux Æterna,” a strobe-heavy 51-minute film directed Noé, premiered at Cannes. Vaccarello was one of the credited...

With John Wick: Chapter 4 exploding at the box office and Donnie Yen experience a new wave of popularity in North American, now’s the time to look at another of the movie’s stars who’s been around for a long time but is consistently underrated. Of course, that man is the great Scott Adkins! Those who know him, love him. With over 70 movies to his credit, the man has been in at least one thing everyone has seen, from Doctor Strange to X-Men Origins: Wolverine (as Weapon X), The Pink Panther, and so many more, He has been in something for everyone. For us, the highlights of his career are not necessarily the obvious titles when glancing at his resume.

Here are our some of our favorite Scott Adkins movies:

The Expendables 2 (2012)

Admittedly not as good as the first film, The Expendables 2 did bring a few good villains to the screen.

April on Prime Video is stacked with returning favorites, the launch of one of Amazon’s biggest shows ever and a bevy of great movies to watch. The fifth and final season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” launches on April 14, while Amazon will premiere the globe-trotting action-thriller series “Citadel” – starring Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Richard Madden – on April 28. The show hails from “Avengers: Endgame” filmmaker Joe and Anthony Russo.

Noteworthy movies arriving on April 1 include the “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” movies, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “The Big Lebowski,” “Looper,” “Vanilla Sky” and “Top Gun.”

You can also stream the Billy Eichner rom-com “Bros” starting April 4 and the George Clooney/Julia Roberts rom-com “Ticket to Paradise” on April 11.

Check out the full list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in April 2023 below.

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The 41 Best Movies on Amazon Prime (April 2023)

April 1

American Gigolo

At the Gate...

When casting the hottest action stars for John Wick: Chapter 4, Scott Adkins was a natural choice. Director Chad Stahelski has tried to get Adkins into all the John Wick movies, but due to scheduling conflicts it hasn’t worked out until now. Cast as Fat Killa in the new movie, Adkins is almost unrecognizable under the heavy makeup, gold grill, and fat suit. In real life, Adkins is devilishly handsome, so much so he often plays villains. He’s also built like Adonis but even more yoked. It’s a body he’s earned through a lifetime of martial arts practice.

In real life, the Adkins family are butchers by trade. Adkins was born and raised in England, and his first exposure to martial arts began at age 10 with Judo. When he was 13, he was the victim of a robbery, and that experience hardened his resolve. After that, he dedicated his life to training,...

This post contains spoilers for "John Wick: Chapter 4."

The label "direct-to-video" used to be a death knell for filmmakers and movie fans alike. In the early days of home video, the term typically referred to features that weren't good enough to get theatrical distribution, causing studios to subsequently dump them onto the shelves of Blockbusters and Hollywood Videos, where — via gaudy box art, ridiculous taglines and/or highlighting the name of a slumming movie star or a legit celebrity (who would likely only have a cameo role) — they would try to entice naïve renters to check it out.

It can be exceedingly difficult for a subgenre to change a poor reputation, but everything started to change once theatrical distribution was no longer the only game in Hollywood as video, cable, and streaming services became more ubiquitous. One of the people who has been dragging the name of direct-to-video B-movies out...

Blake Edwards directed Breakfast at Tiffany´s back in 1961, an iconic film and wardrobe that turned Audrey Hepburn into one of the most memorable figures of the History of Films.

Based on the novel by Truman Capote.

Storyline

A young girl from New York seeking luxury everywhere, falls in love with her neighbor. Together, they live a strange relationship that is a battle from within and from outside.

Movie Review

We cannot (and do not) separate the iconic nature of this film, of the “real” New York, the one (they say) existed. No, today there is nothing left of it. There is nothing left of the elegance, that bittersweet joy of a joyful and bitter portrayal of capitalism.

The novel is by Truman Capote. He wrote this one (which is not so famous) and In Cold Blood. He knew what he was talking about: he loved parties, luxury… and ended...

When it comes to on-screen characters, few are nearly as vibrant as Austin Powers. Fewer still can pull off the larger-than-life superspy's careful balancing act: equal parts endearing and unapologetically cringe-inducing, there's never a dull moment when Austin is around. But as flashy as the character might be, Mike Myers had just one quiet, touching thing on his mind when he dreamt up Austin Powers: his late father, Eric Myers.

It's pretty common for parents to shape their kids' tastes, and Eric Myers was no exception. As Mike would tell The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, his father played a large role in developing his own sense of comedy — and Austin Powers was meant to pay homage to that influence:

"After my dad died in 1991, I was taking stock of his influence on me as a person and his influence on me with comedy in general. So Austin Powers was a tribute to my father,...

Jack Lemmon was a marvelously resourceful actor, but far from a chameleon. When you cast Lemmon, you were committing to a range of nervy emotions that could be communicated via wildly variable intensities. He could be an aspirational working stiff eager for advancement in "The Apartment," an up-against-it garment magnate in "Save the Tiger" or a veteran real estate salesman desperate to reclaim his former closing glory in "Glengarry Glen Ross," but you didn't go to his movies to see him disappear in a role like you would Laurence Olivier, Marlon Brando or Meryl Streep. You went to see Jack Lemmon. And while he made some stinkers, now that he's been gone for 21 years, you'd happily endure another "Out to Sea" just to see him be Jack Lemmon again.

Lemmon made it look so easy that it's not surprising to learn that he got his start as an actor by amusing his elementary school classmates.

Prior to this year, only 11 sequels had ever been nominated for either of the Golden Globe Awards for Best Film (Drama or Comedy/Musical). Over half of them were added to the list after the turn of the century, and three have joined the group within the last decade. This year, an unprecedented total of three continuation films are competing for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s top honors. If “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” succeeds on its comedic bid or the drama prize goes to “Avatar: The Way of Water” or “Top Gun: Maverick,” the number of Best Film Golden Globe-winning sequels will rise to four.

In 2000, “Toy Story 2” broke new ground as the first sequel to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Film. The third entry in the Pixar features canon conquered the comedy/musical category four years after its predecessor lost to “Babe.” In...

The "Pink Panther" film series reached its peak silliness in the 1970s and was all the better for it. Come "The Pink Panther Strikes Again," Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers had dropped the usual business of framing Inspector Clouseau's bumbling antics with a wider crime caper and just focused on him and his arch-nemesis, former Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom). Dreyfus, having had it up to here after years of Clouseau's ineptitude, builds a vanishing ray and threatens the world with annihilation if the clueless detective isn't assassinated.

You can see the jokes coming from a mile away, but it hardly matters when you have a comic talent like Sellers delivering the gags. This is the period when all the elements of Clouseau that literally had me rolling on the floor laughing as a kid were cranked up to epic proportions; his penchant for zany disguises; the apartment-trashing fights...

Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin know that having their own show is an opportunity that neither of them can waste.

The latest proof of their longtime comedic partnership is Season 3 of “South Side,” the hilarious workplace-adjacent comedy that began its life on Comedy Central and now resides on HBO Max. The show follows Rto, an Englewood-area rent-to-own store, as their employees travel through the greater Chicago area, repossessing furniture and getting caught in the wildest, weirdest corners of the city. When Salahuddin’s Officer Goodnight isn’t somehow wrapped up in those same schemes and scuffles, he’s one of the many characters on the show who gets a full (and sometimes very confusing) life away from their job.

One way to juggle all these different people and ideas is to throw as much into the mix as possible. Over the course of a single conversation, Salahuddin and Riddle mentioned...

Nearly three decades into his acting career, Daniel Craig earned his first Golden Globe notice for his lead performance as eccentric detective Benoit Blanc in the 2019 mystery movie “Knives Out.” Although he was defeated in this Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor race by Taron Egerton (“Rocketman”), his portrayal of Blanc may still be honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association since the character’s story has now continued in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” Even a nomination for the sequel would make him only the 16th performer to receive multiple Golden Globe mentions for playing a single film character.

Three years ago, Craig placed fourth in Gold Derby’s final Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor nominations predictions, and his “Glass Onion” performance puts him two spots higher on our current list. The only actor outpacing him this time is “The Banshees of Inisherin” star Colin Farrell, who is seeking...

Aubrey Plaza: certified action star and now, the next Lara Croft?

The “Emily the Criminal” actress-producer apparently was so convincing in the Sundance action-drama that pal and fellow filmmaker Edgar Wright thought she was cast in the newest “Tomb Raider” film. Plaza’s cover story for MovieMaker magazine and stern-faced, tank top-clad look is what led Wright to reach out.

“My friend Edgar Wright actually saw that and texted me and said, ‘Oh my god, you’re the new Lara Croft? You’re the new Tomb Raider?’ That’s the character in ‘Tomb Raider.’ And I was like, ‘No, Edgar. That’s my movie, ‘Emily the Criminal,'” Plaza shared during “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.”

Plaza added, “And he genuinely thought I was cast as the new ‘Tomb Raider.’ And then I looked it up and they actually are casting this role right now. And I was like,...

Directors James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte discuss the movies that inspired them while making The Big Conn.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Big Lebowski (1998)

Boogie Nights (1997)

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Happiness (1998)

World’s Greatest Dad (2009)

Windy City Heat (2003)

Ocean’s 11 (1960)

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Bad Boys (1995)

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Munich (2005)

Fargo (1996)

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Delicatessen (1991)

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013)

The Hole (2009) – Joe Dante’s U.S. trailer commentary, Joe Dante’s Italian trailer commentary, Joe Dante’s British trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s review

Dial M For Murder (1954) – Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary

Jaws 3D (1983)

Cave Of Forgotten Dreams (2010)

Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012)

U2 3D (2008)

The Pink Panther (1963) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary

Goodfellas (1990) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary

Children of Men (2006)

The Imposter (2012)

Other Notable Items

The Big Conn podcast (2022)

The Big Conn docuseries (2022)

Bronzeville...