News

Fans of the biblical series House of David, behold, as the tale continues in a newly greenlit second season. Deadline is now reporting that the show, which is a reimagining of the David & Goliath tale, is going to return at Prime Video. The series drew a big number with 22 million viewers in its first 17 days and has become one of the streamer’s Top 10 new series debuts in the U.S. to date. New episodes of this premiere season are still being released weekly, leading up to the year’s finale on April 3.

The official description of the show reads,

“House Of David tells the story of the ascent of the biblical figure, David, who eventually becomes the most renowned and celebrated king of Israel. The series follows the once-mighty King Saul as he falls victim to his own pride. At the direction of God, the prophet Samuel anoints an unlikely,...

Gwen Stefani is facing backlash from fans after she retweeted a Tucker Carlson interview with The Chosen actor Jonathan Roumie. The No Doubt front-woman shared the clip on her X account on Thursday (March 6), writing, “Wow @JonathanRoumie u r a powerful inspirational human what an enlightening intelligent beautiful interview thank you for being u gx.” Roumie is best known for playing Jesus in the crowd-funded television series The Chosen, which follows the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. He also played evangelist Lonnie Frisbee in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution and serves as a narrator for the Catholic prayer app Hallow. Stefani’s promotion of the interview, conducted by controversial right-wing commentator Carlson, surprised some of her followers, who jumped into the replies to share their reactions. “Ohh Gwen becoming a right wing grifter,” wrote on X user. “You honestly need a reality check God this is heartbreaking,” said another.

Stephen Lang has played his fair share of commanding figures, from ruthless military leaders to hardened warriors, but in House of David, the Avatar star takes on a different kind of authority, one whose power comes from on high. Way on high. Lang plays Samuel, the last judge of Israel, in the upcoming biblical epic, a role that he describes as both pivotal to the story and deeply complex. Speaking with Collider, Lang revealed what drew him to the role and how he worked with creators Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn (Ordinary Angels), to figure out Samuel’s place in the series.

Starz has announced the movie and TV titles that will be available on the service in March. The Starz March 2025 schedule includes the premiere of Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 4 and a selection of films celebrating Women’s History Month.

The Starz app expands in March with an exciting mix of films, including Fast X, Reagan, The Killer’s Game, Never Let Go, Bagman, White Bird, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and more.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 4 Starz Highlight

Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 4

In Season Three, Kanan Stark finally stopped living in the shadow of his mother and assumed control of his life, taking matters into his own hands by orchestrating the deaths of Ronnie and Detective Howard. In season four, slates have seemingly have been wiped clean for Kanan, Raq and the rest of the Thomas family. Kanan’s drug business has hit its stride.

How sunny and well-meaning and therapeutically feel-good is the new autism drama “The Unbreakable Boy?” It’s a movie in which the dad, played by Zachary Levi, has an imaginary best friend. It’s a movie in which the local church is run by a Matthew McConaughey sort of dude named Preacher Rick (Peter Facinelli), who’s so down with his downtrodden flock that he himself is a recovering alcoholic who admits he sometimes doesn’t like to go to church. And it’s a movie in which the title character, an owlish 13-year-old named Austin (Jacob Laval), isn’t merely autistic. He also suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, which means that his bones are extraordinarily fragile, so that he’s like some teen-geek version of Mr. Glass in “Unbreakable.” Speaking to the audience in voiceover, Austin lists his bone breaks, which number in the high twenties, as if they were Pokémon cards he was collecting.

The thing about separating the art from the artist is that people are typically a lot more inclined to do so if the “art” isn’t a generic piece of faith-based schlock, and the “artist” hasn’t made a variety of disqualifying comments that pertain directly to the subject of their latest film. Case in point: It’s tough to accept Zachary Levi as the beleaguered father of an autistic child when the former “Shazam!” star has publicly sworn his allegiance to a man who believes that vaccines cause autism.

In a perfect vacuum, I suppose it would be possible to watch “The Unbreakable Boy” as a benign — if uncommonly basic — addition to the ever-growing subgenre of “inspirational” movies in which neurodivergent munchkins are used as human props for their parents’ spiritual growth. In a perfect vacuum, it would be possible to imagine how Kingdom Story Company’s latest appeal...

Plot: When his parents, Scott and Teresa, learn that Austin is both autistic and has brittle bone disease, they initially worry for their son’s future. But with Scott’s growing faith and Austin’s incredible spirit, they become “unbreakable,” finding joy, gratitude, and courage even in the most trying times — an extraordinary true story about a father and son learning together that every day can be the best day of your life!

Review: Faith-based films often get a bad rap. Many films heavily focused on Christian themes get labeled and struggle to garner mainstream attention. Still, they can sometimes tell beautiful stories that are inclusive rather than damning of other religions. Like last year’s Ordinary Angels, also directed by Jon Gunn, The Unbreakable Boy tells an emotional and challenging true story of a young boy whose challenges are an inspiration to those around them. Rather than sugarcoat the story,...

“Captain America: Brave New World” proves that Marvel hasn’t lost its mojo. The fourth “Captain America” installment, and first in which Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson takes up the star-spangled shield, delivered a mighty $100 million in its domestic debut over the extended Presidents Day weekend. The film added another $92.4 million overseas for a $192.4 million global tally, easily the best start of the (nascent) year.

Yet opening weekends are rarely a problem for Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. To wit: All 35 films in the sprawling comic book franchise have launched to No. 1, even the ones described by critics as a “pile of dirt.” So in the case of “Captain America: Brave New World,” all eyes will be on the staying power — industry parlance for how a movie’s ticket sales hold (or don’t) in the subsequent weekends on the big screen. That’s of paramount concern because the all-powerful...

Ever since “The Chosen,” faith-based properties are not to be trifled with. Amazon and other streamers are putting big money and production values behind the most epic of Biblical stories, and the fruits of that labor are finally paying off.

Amazon on Tuesday, January 28 released the first trailer for the series “House of David,” a sweeping Biblical saga about David vs. Goliath from director Jon Erwin, who made box office bank with faith-based hits “I Can Only Imagine” and “Jesus Revolution.” “House of David” is the first project as part of a partnership announced in Jan. 2024 between Amazon Prime Video and Erwin’s new company Wonder Project to produce projects for a faith-forward audience.

“House of David” has the scope and ambition of something like “Game of Thrones” or Prime Video’s own “Lord of the Rings” series “The Rings of Power.” It shows David, the future King of Israel,...

Amazon Prime Video has released the first trailer for the Biblical epic series “House of David.”

Newcomer Michael Iskander, who starred in the Tony Award-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo,” plays David and was chosen after a four-month international search. The first three episodes of “House of David” are set to premiere Feb. 27 on Prime Video with the following dropping weekly.

Watch the trailer below.

In the story, David becomes the King of Israel, along the way taking on Goliath (Martin Ford) and navigating love and loss to fulfill his ultimate destiny despite starting off as an outcast teenager. Alongside Iskander, the cast includes Ali Suliman (“Jack Ryan”) as King Saul, Ayelet Zurer (“Angels and Demons”) as Queen Ahinoam, and Stephen Lang (“Avatar: The Way of Water”) as Samuel.

Additional cast members include Indy Lewis (“Industry”) as Mychal, Yali Topol Margalith (“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”) as Mirab, Ethan Kai (“The Turkish Detective...

There may be a massive surplus of films and TV shows that tell the story of Jesus, but The Chosen has made history by being the first multi-season series about the prominent Christian figure. The show boasts an impressive cast of characters played by a number of talented actors, many of whom have had previous experience with other biblical-themed projects. The Chosen tells the story of Jesus of Nazareth, his life and works, and the people who knew him. While closely following biblical texts, the series isn’t afraid to take dramatic liberties without smearing the importance of its message.

The show premiered in 2017 and was instantly beloved by faith-based audiences, with The Chosen episodes even screening in movie theaters and raking in massive box office grosses. The Chosen season 5 is confirmed, and will center on Holy Week, the final days before Jesus' crucifixion. It's unknown how much of the Bible the show will cover,...

Kelsey Grammer is currently enjoying a great deal of success with the revival of "Frasier," a series that has been running on Paramount+ since October 2023. The original "Frasier," itself a spinoff of "Cheers," starred Grammer as the titular character, a radio psychologist whose persnickety attitudes and tastes invited all manner of zany shenanigans into his life. The original show lasted 264 episodes over 11 seasons, making it one of the most successful sitcoms of its decade.

But, as many might be able to point out, Grammer's career has been wildly varied in success. He often shows up in films, yet he has headlined far more bombs than hits. Grammer has played Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast in several live-action "X-Men" movies, but he has also appeared in a slew of weird, low-budget, straight-to-home-media schlock. Who could forget, for instance, the bizarre glories of Andrew Lawrence's "Money Plane"? Grammer has similarly starred in numerous low-rent Christmas movies,...

Fresh off success with their holiday family comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Lionsgate and the faith-based Kingdom Story Company have agreed to renew their three-year first-look deal, extending the studios’ total collaboration to 10 years.

The deal puts a capstone on Kingdom Story Company’s biggest slate yet, which comprised three films with Lionsgate in 2024: Ordinary Angels, starring Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson; Unsung Hero, from Grammy-winning faith-based artist Joel Smallbone; and the aforementioned Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which exceeded tracking by opening with $11.1 million at the domestic box office this past weekend ($12.2 M/4-day) and is positioned to continue playing through the holiday period.

Dallas Jenkins (of The Chosen fame) directed the latter film, starring Judy Greer and Pete Holmes, which adapts the children’s book by Barbara Robinson. Each of the Kingdom-developed and produced films released this year is expected to turn a profit for the studio.

There is a reason certain Christmas movies stand the test of time and return year after year, and also a reason the Hallmark-style factory-made product is easily forgotten. It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Christmas Story are pure examples of the former. They are perennials, classics.

In fact, that sweetly nostalgic 1983 A Christmas Story is what I thought of most when watching the latest entry in the genre, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which may not be the best Christmas movie ever, but it grabs your heart and makes you smile. It also is that increasingly rare so-called “faith based” film that doesn’t try to hit you on the head with a sermon. Instead, it manages to be thoroughly entertaining family fare that also uncovers the true, not commercial, meaning of the holiday. I wouldn’t be surprised if this Lionsgate release becomes a perennial itself.

Actor Kevin James will be joined by several familiar faces in his upcoming romantic comedy, Solo Mio. Among them will be a Sons of Anarchy fan favorite.

Per Deadline, a slew of new cast members have been revealed for Solo Mio. Kim Coates, well known to fans for his Sons of Anarchy role as Alexander "Tig" Trager, is one of the names confirmed for the cast. Other stars announced include Alyson Hannigan, Nicole Grimaudo, Jonathan Roumie, Julee Cerda, and Julie Ann Emery.

Related Why Sons of Anarchy Creator Kurt Sutter Was Fired From Mayans Mc

Disney fired Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter from the spin-off show, Mayans M.C. after two seasons. His exit was inevitable.

In the film, "Matt (James)s fianc has dreamed of a wedding in Italy. He saves up and flies his whole family over for the wedding and has even booked a lavish honeymoon after.

The Op Games Brings the Fun With Clue®: What We Do in the Shadows: "The Op Games, a leading creator of board games including the TikTok sensation Tapple, is happy to announce the release of Clue®: What We Do in the Shadows (Msrp: $44.99). This exciting new edition of the classic board game brings the hilarious world of Staten Island’s favorite vampire roommates to board game enthusiasts and fans of the show alike, offering a fresh and amusing way to solve mysteries. The sixth and final season of FX’s critically acclaimed comedy, “What We Do in the Shadows,” premieres Monday, October 21 at 10pm Et/Pt and streams the next day on Hulu.

For decades, Clue® has captivated players with its engaging gameplay and intriguing scenarios. With this edition, players can immerse themselves in the quirky and supernatural universe of the series, navigating the darkly comedic environment while uncovering clues,...

Labor Day weekend is always infamously slow at the box office. Many considered last weekend the summer’s big dumping ground, with both The Crow and Blink Twice crashing and burning pretty badly at the box office. But folks, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet, with this weekend among the quietest in recent memory. The only wide-release is the Blumhouse AI thriller AfrAId (get it?). That one didn’t screened for critics (we’ll have our review up in the morning), and no one expects it to make much of a dent at the box office, with it having – at best – a fourth-place opening in sight with about $6 million.

The Dennis Quaid starring Ronald Reagan biopic, Reagan (which we interviewed him about right here), is also going semi-wide via a company called ShowBiz Direct. Quaid has been eagerly promoting the reverent biopic but is also courting faith-based audiences to embrace the film.

Yesterday, it looked like John Krasinski’s If would fall wildly short of industry exceptions, with the film initially tracking for a $40 million opening. While the final $35 million start marks a significant shortfall, the weekend matinees have been stronger than expected for this poorly reviewed family film. It did about $5 million more this weekend than I predicted. Many will undoubtedly view this as a poor start for a pretty expensive ($110 million) studio film, but there’s reason to be optimistic that the movie will have legs. The film has scored a superb A CinemaScore rating, which means that even if critics (such as myself) hated it, paying audiences like it. The star-studded flick includes Ryan Reynolds and Krasinski himself in front of the camera, while Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller Bride, Emily Blunt and more play the voices of the titular IFs (imaginary friends).

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes...

Netflix believes in the power of faith-based film… and in the power of Tyler Perry.

Netflix has extended its creative deal with mega-producer Tyler Perry, in which he’s meant to write, direct, and produce films and series for the streamer, to now include faith-based movies. Perry and Netflix as part of the deal will recruit one of the original hit makers in the current wave of faith-based movies, DeVon Franklin (“Miracles from Heaven”).

Together, Franklin and Perry will produce several faith-based films for Netflix as part of a new multiyear and multi-picture first-look film deal, Netflix announced on May 6.

The first project under the deal will be “R&b,” a modern-day retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz, one of the Bible’s iconic love stories. Set in Tennessee, “R&b” tells the story of a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an...

This weekend marks the last quiet at the box office before summer movie season kicks off with The Fall Guy. As such, it’s expected to be a relatively quiet weekend, with nothing expected to make a debut over the mid-to-high teens. Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers is expected to notch an easy win, thanks to the solid reviews (including our own) and the fact that it features one of the biggest stars of the moment, Zendaya. I’m expecting a debut in the $17 million-ish range, which would be a decent start for distributors Amazon-MGM, who will put the film out on Prime Video before too long.

Originally, Challengers was set for a fall 2023 start, but it was delayed because of the SAG-AFTRA strike. One could understand why, as Zendaya wouldn’t have been available to promote a movie which is earning her rave reviews. While the delay may...

Game, set… but there’s not much of a match. “Challengers,” a steamy tennis drama starring Zendaya and directed by Luca Guadagnino, is poised to lead the domestic box office without much in the way of competition.

The film, from Amazon MGM, is projected to collect $12 million to $15 million from 3,400 North American theaters in its opening weekend. Although those are modest projections for any nationwide release, it’s this weekend’s only major new movie and shouldn’t have trouble claiming first place from A24’s “Civil War,” the reigning champion. Last weekend, “Civil War” topped the box office for the second consecutive frame with $11.1 million and has grossed $70 million globally to date. Overall, the domestic box office is 20% behind the same point in 2023, according to Comscore.

The steamy, R-rated “Challengers” was originally slated to premiere at 2023’s Venice Film Festival and hit the big screen last fall. But the...

Lionsgate hosted a high-octane CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday morning, showing first footage from Michael, Ballerina, and Good Fortune, and announcing a partnership with Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap on Monopoly.

The studio also brought Halle Berry, Aziz Ansari, Henry Cavill and Eli Roth on to the stage at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace and talked up Borderlands, The Crow, and a trio of Guy Ritchie features.

Michael producer Graham King took to the stage at the session finale to introduce extended first footage from his Michael Jackson biopic, showing Jackson in his youth and later in life as the world-beating performer...

Until recently, filmmaker Jon Erwin was the reigning box-office champ for faith-based films with “I Can Only Imagine” and “Jesus Revolution.” Shortly after “Sound of Freedom” opened to $14.2 million, he offered advice to Angel Studios on how it might capitalize that success.

By November, when the child-trafficking drama grossed $250 million worldwide, Erwin lost his bragging rights. He remembers joking with the producers, “It wasn’t supposed to work this much!”

Ego aside, he welcomed the success. As “Sound of Freedom” inspired box-office think pieces and conspiracy-theory controversy, Erwin and partner Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten were in talks with Amazon Studios. Today, their company The Wonder Project is producing a slate of faith-based series and films; Erwin said he’d “be lying” if he believed “Sound of Freedom” didn’t help him get a better deal.

“I had not felt that hunger from the studios in a long time to reach the audience,...

Oddly, April is going to be a month full of genre films, but it’s also a month that might make some wonder whether any of the new movies can open with more than $20 million, putting theaters back into the place they were back in January and February. Read on for Gold Derby’s April 2024 box office preview.

“Civil War” (A24 – April 12)

Considering how Alex Garland‘s previous films “Men” and “Annihilation” were received, it’s hard to believe that his edgy political apocalyptic thriller could be one of the biggest movies of this month, but it’s also likely to be A24’s first movie to hit #1 on the weekend after 10 years of releases. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Nick Offerman, Jesse Plemons and Wagner Moura, Garland’s latest premiered at the SXSW Film and TV Festival, where it received mostly positive reviews. With the timeliness of the topic,...

Would you believe it if we told you that Chuck Norris, a legendary figure in martial arts and popular culture, turned 84 this past Sunday (March 10th)? Well, it is true, and we must accept that age is just a number. As we reflect on his incredible career and impact on the world of martial arts films, we must acknowledge one of his most important contributions to the genre: his role in Golden Harvest’s The Way of the Dragon.

Chuck Norris in The Delta Force

With a black belt in Tang Soo Do, this Oklahoma native star is one of the most recognizable figures in the world of martial arts movies. Known for his incredible skills and tough-guy persona, he has left a lasting impression on the industry.

But did you know that he once gained weight in preparation for a role that would pit him against another martial arts legend,...

Lori Loughlin won the Grace Prize for A Christmas Blessing and Super Mario Bros. Movie was named Best Family Film at the 31st annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards Gala & Report. The broadcast aired this evening on Great American Family.

Movie and television winners of the night included:

Best Family Movie – Super Mario Bros Movie

Best Family TV– A Paris Christmas Waltz

Best Movie for Mature Audiences– Jesus Revolution

Best TV for Mature Audiences– Chicago P.D. “New Life”

Faith & Freedom Award for Movies – Sound of Freedom

Faith & Freedom Award for TV – A Million Miles Away

Grace Prize for Movie Performance – Dennis Quaid for “On a Wing and a Prayer”

Grace Prize for TV Performance – Lori Loughlin for “A Christmas Blessing”

Visionary Award- Brad Krevoy, Emmy Award-Winning Producer

Epiphany Prize for TV – Divine Influencer

Epiphany Prize for Movies – Journey to Bethlehem

The event was hosted by Great American Family’s Trevor Donovan and Danica McKellar,...

It’s the last full weekend of the shorter month of February, and it’s hard to think that anything will do well enough to have any sort of impact on a month that barely recovered from January with a better-than-expected Presidents Day weekend. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

What we get this weekend as far as new wide releases is an anime project, a faith-based drama and a quirky indie of sorts from an Oscar-winning filmmaker, which should all enter the Top 10 interspersed with returning movies.

Crunchyroll is releasing “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training” into 1,962 theaters. It’s a similar theatrical release as what’s been done with “The Chosen,” in that it’s actually made up of two episodes from the popular Crunchyroll anime series, the conclusion of the “Swordsmith Village Arc” and the first episode of the “Hashira Training Arc,...

Lionsgate’s collaboration with faith based movie producers Kingdom Story Company has reaped boxoffice rewards for both, and with their latest, Ordinary Angels, the inspiring true story of a small Kentucky town that comes together in a historic snowstorm in order to transport a 3-year-old girl to an Omaha hospital for a life-saving liver transplant, they have another surefire heartfelt film tailor-made for audiences looking for a little uplift. This actually would have made a perfect Christmas season release but has been delayed for several months, now opening in the same February corridor where Kingdom’s surprise hit, Jesus Revolution did well last year. Midwest crowds will especially respond to a never-say-never tale that is about bringing people together, not tearing them apart in this age of division.

At its center is another richly defined and dedicated Hilary Swank performance as the...

Faithful viewers can catch the heartwarming film Ordinary Angels in theaters starting on February 23, 2024. Lionsgate's partnership with Kingdom Story Company brings this inspirational true story to the big screen. While streaming plans are still pending, fans may be able to watch Ordinary Angels on Peacock in August 2024.

A remarkable true story comes to life in Ordinary Angels, but where to watch the movie depends on a few factors and timing. The 2024 film comes from director Jon Gunn and writers Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig. Ordinary Angels tells the true story of a woman, Sharon Stevens, who takes it upon herself to help save the life of a young girl during a snowstorm in 1994. The film is set in Louisville during the North American cold wave that brought the coldest temperatures in decades to the Midwest and resulted in over 100 Americans dying.

As a story of faith and positivity,...

Exclusive: Independent faith-based studio The Wonder Project (Twp) has hired filmmaker Jon Gunn as its Head of Story.

Gunn, the director of the upcoming Lionsgate movies Ordinary Angels (Feb. 23) starring 2x Oscar winner Hilary Swank and The Unbreakable Boy (February 2025) starring Zachary Levi, will oversee the story development for The Wonder Project’s emerging slate of film and television programming, ensuring compelling and authentic storytelling that aligns with the company’s aspirational mission.

“It’s a rare and invaluable asset to have such dynamic storytellers, like Jon Gunn and Jon Erwin, steering the ship. They embody our mission to bring audiences the essential entertainment that speaks to their core values, and is as entertaining and meaningful as it is memorable, ” said Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, CEO of Twp. “Here at the Wonder Project, the art of story is paramount, and our growing leadership reflects that commitment.”

“After writing and producing five films together,...

Not to sound like a broken record, but it was, once again, a pretty quiet weekend at the box office. Director Matthew Vaughn's "Argylle" topped the charts with a modest $18 million (which was sadly below industry projections) and, quite frankly, that isn't going to be enough to keep theaters afloat until the slate improves in March. But amid the unfortunate slowness of the weekend, a savior emerged in the form of Jesus. Yes, that very same Jesus. And it's not the first time he's come to the rescue in recent months.

The Chosen Inc. released the first three episodes of "The Chosen" season 4 in theaters over the weekend in partnership with Fathom Events. It paid off: The target audience indeed showed up for the cinematic, episodic look at the life of Jesus Christ, with the release pulling in just shy of $6 million over the weekend. Over its full four days of release,...

After four years of sobriety, former child star Shaun Weiss celebrated in a big way with some old friends from the 1990s.

After rising to fame as a child actor, which includes playing Greg Goldberg in all three Mighty Ducks movies, Shaun Weiss struggled heavily with addiction and substance abuse as an adult. He was at his lowest point at the start of 2020 when he was arrested on charges of burglary and being under the influence of methamphetamine. At the time, the actor's mugshot shocked his fans, as Weiss looked very unrecognizable. He has since cleaned up, looking much healthier and taking on a career doing stand-up comedy. Per TMZ, the Heavyweights actor performed at the Corbin Bowl in Tarzana, California to celebrate his fourth year of sobriety, and it was with the support of other 90s stars.

Related Disney+ Cancels The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Big Shot Disney+ cancels...

Those who were disappointed by the January box office will just have to hope things improve in February, the month that has just one government holiday and also a Hallmark holiday, both happening in the same week. Those holidays often lead to some of the month’s bigger releases, so things can still take an uptick. Read on for Gold Derby’s February 2024 box office preview.

“Argylle” (Apple/Universal) – Feb. 2

The movie kicks off the month may also be the biggest, and that’s because filmmaker Matthew Vaughn not only has a great track record with the “Kick-Ass” and “Kingsman” movies, but also because he’s assembled an astounding cast, including Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, Catherine O’Hara, Ariana DeBose and even pop star Dua Lipa. The movie is based on the brand new spy novel by “Elly Conway” (played by...

Hi, Barbie! Great news: Greta Gerwig’s film based on the iconic Mattel doll leads the 14th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards nominations with three nods – including best song for both Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” and Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken.”

“Barbie’s” third nomination was in best music supervision for a film budgeted over $25 million. The category recognized the work of music supervisor George Drakoulias, songwriters Eilish and Finneas and Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt who penned “I’m Just Ken.”

Other film contenders are the music supervisors from “Maestro,” “Saltburn,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Past Lives,” “Wonka,” “Air” among others.

Top TV contenders include the music supervisors from “Daisy Jones & The Six,” “The White Lotus,” “Welcome to Chippendales” and “Yellowjackets.”

The Guild of Music Supervisors is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2010 with the “goal of preserving and promoting the...

Barbie is the most nominated film for the 2024 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, landing three nominations, including two in the best song for film category for “What Was I Made For?” and “I’m Just Ken.”

Barbie is nominated for best music supervision for film budgeted over $25 million and scored two nods for best song written and/or recorded for a film for Billie Eilish and Finneas’ “What Was I Made For?” and Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s “I’m Just Ken,” performed by Ryan Gosling.

The music supervisors with the most individual nominations are Mike Ladman and Mara Techam, each with five nominations, whose work in advertising includes collaborations with brands like Levis, The New York Times, Hennessy and others.

The 14th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards are set to take place in-person and virtually at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theatre on Sunday, March 3.

A full list of nominees follows.

The MLK holiday weekend proved to be surprisingly fruitful at the box office thanks to strong showings from both the "Mean Girls" movie musical and Jason Statham's new beat-em-up, "The Beekeeper." Unfortunately, they can't all be winners and Sony Pictures' new comedic Biblical epic "The Book of Clarence" faltered in its debut. It now has the distinction of being the first true theatrical disappointment of 2024.

Directed by Jeymes Samuel, the film opened to just $2.5 million over the weekend, with that number growing to $3 million when accounting for the Monday holiday, per The Numbers. It placed 10th on the charts, barely squeaking into the top 10 sandwiched between a pair of holdovers in the forms of "The Boys in the Boat" ($3.4 million) and "The Iron Claw" ($2.4 million). A rough start, to be certain. And yes, certain parts of the U.S. are experiencing terrible winter weather, which impacted moviegoing for sure.

Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake is exiting the studio. He’ll hand the reins to Adam Fogelson, who formerly lead both Universal Pictures and STX Motion Picture Group; Fogelson joined Lionsgate’s film group in 2022 as vice chair. This is now the third studio Fogelson will lead dating back to 2009.

Drake returned to Lionsgate in 2017 after starting Good Universe Pictures, which Lionsgate acquired from Drake. He most recently oversaw Lionsgate’s first $1 billion year at the global box office since 2019, thanks in large part to new “John Wick,” “Hunger Games,” and “Saw” films. Drake also oversaw the successes of “Knives Out,” “Jesus Revolution,” “Shotgun Wedding,” and more.

Fogelson and Drake will continue to work together over the next couple of months.

Drake’s exit comes as Lionsgate spins its studio business from Starz, which could lead to a potential sale of the studio. The company recently beefed...

Surprise move comes on back of company’s first billion-dollar box office year since 2019.

Joe Drake will step down as chair of Lionsgate motion picture group and Adam Fogelson will assume the reins at the company, which just recorded its first billion-dollar year at the box office since 2019.

The company said in a press release that Drake, who renewed his contract in late 2022, initiated the transition and will work with Fogelson over the coming months to ensure a smooth succession. Fogelson currently serves as vice chair of the motion picture group.

The move came as a surprise to industry sources...

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake is exiting the company, and handing over executive duties and title to Motion Picture Group Vice Chair Adam Fogelson.

This was a move initiated by Drake who’ll be working with Fogelson over the coming months to transition him to the Chair role.

The corporate segue follows Lionsgate’s reboot of the Hunger Games franchise with the Q4 holiday prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which has grossed over $340M global box office to date.

Drake rejoined Lionsgate in 2017 after having success with Good Universe Pictures, the second company acquired by Lionsgate from Drake. Other highlights during his current run of the Motion Picture Group include multi-award-winning Knives Out ($312M global B.O.), the last two John Wick movies ($766M+ global B.O.), and the latest installment in the Saw franchise ($111M global box). Last year, Lionsgate achieved its...

Picture: Lionsgate

Another Lionsgate movie is headed to Netflix, marking the first time it’s been available on an SVOD service. The Re-Education of Molly Singer drops on Netflix in the United States on February 5th, 2024.

Ty Simpkins and Jaime Pressly (My Name is Earl) headline the cast of the R-rated comedy movie that’s about attorney Molly Singer, who is on the verge of being fired and the only way to save her job is by re-enrolling at her old alma mater and re-experience college. Also starring in the movie are Nico Santos, Cierra Ramirez, Holland Roden, and Wendie Malick.

For the most part, Lionsgate theatrical movies head to Starz in the first window as outlined by a deal struck back in 2021. However, over the past year, we’ve seen some of the smaller movies head to Netflix in that first window. It began back in July 2023 with the...

Napoleon has surpassed $200 million at the box office globally, but it has not yet made a profit. The movie needs to earn an estimated $500 to $600 million to break even due to its $200 million budget. It is the 25th movie of the year to cross the $200 million benchmark.

Napoleon has passed a huge milestone at the box office, but it hasn't yet made a profit. The movie, which was released midweek ahead of American Thanksgiving earlier in the year, is the newest outing from celebrated director Ridley Scott. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as the titular French leader Napoleon Bonaparte, following his rise and fall in addition to his complicated relationship with his first wife, Empress Joséphine (Vanessa Kirby).

Per Deadline, the Napoleon box office has finally passed the $200 million mark at the worldwide box office, hitting a total of $200.7 million. This total is composed of $141.1 million from international markets and $59.6 million from domestic theaters.

Exclusive: Lionsgate’s follow-up to the $315M global grossing feature Wonder, White Bird, will be returning to the theatrical release calendar with a new date of Oct. 4, 2024.

The pic will be counterprogramming to Warner Bros.’ sequel on that date, Joker: Folie a Deux.

White Bird is from director Marc Forster off a screenplay by Mark Bomback, based on the book by Rj Palacio. The movie was previously dated for an Aug. 18 limited release and Aug. 25 expansion, but had to delay its opening to next year due to the actors’ strike. The movie stars Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson.

In White Bird, Bryce Gheisar reprises his role as Julian, who has struggled to belong ever since he was expelled from his former school for his treatment of Auggie. To transform his life, Julian’s grandmother (Helen Mirren) finally reveals to Julian her own story of courage — during her youth in Nazi-occupied France,...

Exclusive: Kingdom Story Company, the production shingle behind Lionsgate’s cash cow Jesus Revolution among other hits, has appointed Kevin Downes as CEO and Andrew Erwin as Chief Creative Officer ahead of its 2024 theatrical film slate with the studio.

In addition, Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate have entered into a partnership on the follow-up to Wonder, White Bird from filmmaker Marc Forster based on the book by Rj Palacio. The studios will leverage Kingdom’s incredible faith-based reach to promote the movie, which will now release on Oct. 4, 2024.

Other movies on the Kingdom Story-Lionsgate slate include 2x Oscar winner Hilary Swank’s Ordinary Angels on Feb. 23, the April dated Unsung Hero and The Unbreakable Boy, and the year-end holiday title The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, directed by Dallas Jenkins, creator of the TV series The Chosen.

Downes and Erwin are both partners in the Nashville-based Kingdom Story Company, along with...

Veteran producer Jon Erwin and former Netflix and YouTube exec Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten have announced the launch of The Wonder Project, a new independent studio that will cater to faith and values-oriented audiences.

Founded by Chief Content Officer Erwin and overseen by CEO Hoogstraten, The Wonder Project will look to create premium film and TV content for what they see as a huge audience that has traditionally been underserved by the entertainment industry. They’ll aim to build on the marked success in this arena of such recent titles as The Chosen and The Sound of Freedom, as well as older works like The Passion of the Christ, Heaven is for Real, I Can Only Imagine, War Room, Miracles from Heaven, and Soul Surfer, as they build their global audience.

More than $75 million in seed and Series A funding was raised ahead of launch from such major players as Sovereign’s Capital,...

Two industry insiders have raised more than $75 million to fund the launch of a studio that aims to elevate production values for faith-based, uplifting and inspirational movies and TV shows.

Director-producer Jon Erwin and former YouTube and Netflix executive Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten have joined forces to create the Wonder Project, a production company based in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. The pair see an enormous opportunity to establish a premium brand for faith-based and faith-infused content that is rooted in Christian traditions.

Lionsgate, producer Jason Blum, United Talent Agency, Sovereign’s Capital and Powerhouse Capital are among the notables who have contributed to more than $75 million in seed and Series A funding raised to date. Merryman Hoogstraten serves as CEO; Erwin is chief creative officer. Dallas Jenkins, the independent producer-director behind the drama series “The Chosen,” which revolves around the life of Jesus, will be a special adviser to the company.

Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company have won a competitive bidding war for an adaptation of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The film, to be based on Barbara Robinson’s popular book, will be penned and directed by Dallas Jenkins, the creator, director and producer of “The Chosen.”

“The Best Christmas Pageant,” which has sold over seven million copies since its publication in 1972, centers on the Herdmans – apparently the very worst kids in the history of the world. However, they end up taking over their town’s local Christmas pageant. Possible spoilers – it just might accidentally teach the community the true meaning of Christmas.

Kingdom Story’s Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin will produce alongside McDaniel and Thomas. Jenkins will executive produce alongside Molen, Mark Kendell, and Tony Young. Production begins next month in Canada. The film will debut theatrically over the 2024 holiday season.

Jenkins today released...

Exclusive: In a competitive situation, Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company have nabbed The Best Christmas Pageant ever which The Chosen creator/producer/director Dallas Jenkins will direct and adapt from Barbara Robinson’s comedic family book and play. Cameras roll next month in Canada for a 2024 holiday theatrical release.

Jenkins pursued a 15-year journey to secure the rights to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, rights which have been stewarded by Darin McDaniel, Chet Thomas, and Gerald R. Molen. The book has sold over 7M copies since it was published in 1972.

Dallas Jenkins

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever centers on the Herdmans – absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. But this Christmas, they’re taking over their local church Pageant – and they just might unwittingly teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas.

The pic will be produced by Kingdom Story’s Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Andrew Erwin...

Taylor Swift blew the doors open for more artists to bring their live tours to the movies, Cinemark CEO Sean Gamble said Friday.

Nontraditional content accounted for almost 14% of Cinemark’s domestic box office results in the third quarter, and represents a significant growth opportunity for the movie theater industry, Gamble said during the company’s conference call to discuss third quarter results, which saw a 35% surge in revenue year over year to $874.8 million.

The fourth quarter looks equally promising of nontraditional titles, kicked of by Swift’s record-breaking phenomenon “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” movie and with the film version of the other mega-tour of the summer, Beyonce’s “Renaissance,” hitting the theaters Dec. 1.

“Alternative content, nontraditional content has always showed tremendous promise and it was frustrating that it never seemed to really get going,” Gamble said. Concert films, faith-based films, anime and multicultural titles from Bollywood and beyond...

Exclusive: William H. Macy (Shameless), John Corbett (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Joel Courtney (The Kissing Booth), DeVon Franklin (Jesus Revolution), and Stephanie Szostak (A Million Little Things) are among those set to star in On Fire, another new film from Sean McNamara (Reagan) that has landed a SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement and will begin production in St. Louis November 6.

News of the project comes following McNamara’s recent commitment to direct the indie One Man’s Castle, penned by producer John Zaring, for Zaring/Cioffi Entertainment, Virtuosity Media, and his own banner Brookwell McNamara Entertainment. Rounding out the cast of today’s film, based on the bestseller by inspirational speaker John O’Leary, are Masey McLain (I Am Not Ashamed), Natalie Buck (Marry Me), and James McCracken (Christmas Again).

Believed to be the first feature to take advantage of Missouri’s new production tax credit, On Fire was adapted for the...

“Sound of Freedom” is the biggest success story of the summer outside of “Barbenheimer,” with $182 million in box office for the child-trafficking thriller — but its director isn’t taking part in the spoils.

Alejandro Gómez Monteverde sold his back-end participation to get the film finished, which means the filmmaker didn’t get rich off the stunning theatrical success.

“Like any independent film, we ran out of money,” Monteverde told TheWrap. “I decided to sell my points to the producers so we could finish the picture.”

“I don’t even want to think about what those points might be worth,” he added.

The movie took a challenging path to the box office. Produced in 2018 by Sentient Entertainment (which also produced “Map to the Stars” and “Taken”), the picture ended up in limbo after initial distributor Fox Latin America was purchased by Disney. Producer Eduardo Verástegui bought back the rights and approached Angel Studios,...