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Netflix is all about bringing great stories to your screen, and the Apac Film Showcase in Tokyo that took place on April 21 was no exception. With a commitment to partnering with the region’s most exciting filmmaking voices, Netflix is set to deliver a slate of films this year that capture the local authenticity of Asia-Pacific storytelling. The event showcased projects from Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea as well as announcing new projects from India.

Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director of Original Films for India, unveiled three vibrant films that celebrate the stories closest to the hearts of Indian audiences. With a focus on collaboration and storytelling that transcends borders, she offered exclusive sneak peeks of Aap Jaisa Koi (Someone Like You), a heartwarming romantic comedy that stars R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Sheik, and the newly announced Inspector Zende, an entertaining crime drama featuring Manoj Bajpayee and Jim Sarbh.

Netflix unveiled three Indian productions at its Apac showcase in Tokyo, with Rajkummar Rao and R. Madhavan leading the slate of upcoming titles set for 2025 release.

The presentation, led by Netflix India original films head Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, highlighted the streaming platform’s growing commitment to diverse Indian storytelling across languages and genres.

“This year is going to be our most diverse year yet,” Sheikh told attendees. “After the wildly loved ‘Pushpa 2,’ ‘Dragon,’ and ‘Chhaava,’ we have an exciting lineup of some of the biggest theatrical films coming to Netflix in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.”

Currently streaming is “Test,” Netflix’s first Tamil-language original film, a sports drama featuring R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth. Sheikh also talked up the imminent release of “Jewel Thief,” described as a “high octane heist-action film” starring Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, scheduled to debut within days of the showcase.

The spotlight then turned to three upcoming productions.

Netflix film viewership in the Asia-Pacific region was up nearly 20% year-on-year in 2024, it was revealed at a showcase event hosted by the streaming giant in Tokyo today (April 21).

Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s vice president of content for Apac, also said that features from the region appeared in its non-English film weekly top 10 more than titles from any other region last year.

The figures were shared at an event highlighting the streamer’s upcoming slate of films from across Apac, including titles from Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia and Thailand.

Netflix also highlighted its initiatives for hiring and training local talent,...

Film viewership among Netflix’s Apac subscribers grew by nearly 20% in 2024, said Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s head for Apac content (excluding India).

Speaking at the streamer’s Apac showcase in Tokyo, Kim added that more than 100 Apac films peaked in Netflix’s global top 10 list for non-English films throughout 2024. These have included titles like Korea’s Uprising, Indonesia’s The Shadow Strays and Japan’s City Hunter.

Overall, Netflix members globally watch an average of seven films a month.

Kim also highlighted the expansive cultural impact that the streamer’s film slate has produced across Asia. For example, when Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the popular “City Hunter” manga series premiered in April last year, sales of the original manga, including both digital and hard copies, went up by 900%.

Looking ahead, the streamer is set to expand its offerings across Asia this year, which includes two original zombie films from...

I’ve always found it amazing that Clive Barker’s The Hellbound Heart spawned such a successful franchise. On paper, it seems like a psychosexual story about demonic Bdsm would only connect with a niche audience, but the continued popularity of Hellraiser media proves otherwise.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Pinhead and the rest of the Order of the Gash eventually found a life of their own outside of Barker’s original work – and I’m not just talking about the franchise’s extended universe of comic-books, anthology novels and toys. Over the years, the Cenobites have made a series of non-canon appearances in a slew of other media, with some of them even popping up in works outside of the horror genre! With that in mind, we’ve decided to compile a list highlighting six Cenobite cameos from non-Hellraiser media.

For the purposes of this list,...

Rajkummar Rao has been cast to portray former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly in an anticipated biopic. The film, which has been in development for a considerable period, was officially confirmed by Ganguly during a recent media interaction.

While addressing the press in Bardhaman, West Bengal, Ganguly disclosed that Rajkummar Rao would take on the lead role; however, he noted that the film’s release would be postponed due to scheduling conflicts. “From what I’ve gathered, Rajkummar Rao will be playing the role… but there are date-related challenges… so it will take over a year before it reaches theaters,” he stated.

This announcement is noteworthy, especially given that various Bollywood actors, such as Ayushmann Khurrana and Ranbir Kapoor, were previously rumored to be in contention for the lead role.

Rajkummar Rao has demonstrated his acting prowess in biographical films, notably in his role as visually impaired entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla in “Srikanth Bolla.

New Movie Alert! Coming soon to Netflix is an off-kilter, quirky new film starring Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra titled Toaster. Directed by Vivek Das Chaudhary, the mystery also features Archana Puran Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, Farah Khan, Upendra Limaye, Vinod Rawat, Jitendra Joshi and Seema Pahwa.

Apparently, murder and mayhem ensue as a miser gets fixated on a toaster he gifted for a wedding. Intriguing!

The team of Toaster shares: “As first-time producers, stepping into production with Toaster has been an exhilarating experience. This film tells a quirky, layered story that masterfully blends humor, chaos, and unexpected twists. With a talented cast, including Sanya Malhotra, Abhishekh Bannerjee, Upendra Limaye, Seema Pahwa, Jitendra Joshi, and Archana Puran Singh, the narrative navigates a complex web of secrets and surprises — all centered around a seemingly ordinary toaster. As Kampa Film, we are thrilled to partner with Netflix, who share our passion for innovative storytelling,...