Dave Bautista action pic Trap House has added Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water), Sophia Lillis, Kate del Castillo (La Reina del Sur), Tony Dalton (Better Call Saul), Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl) and Bobby Cannavale to it’s cast.
Principal photography is set to begin on April 1. Michael Dowse will direct a script written by Fast & Furious creator Gary Scott Thompson and Tom O’Connor (Hitman’s Bodyguard).
The film follows an undercover DEA agent and his partner who embark on a game of cat and mouse with an audacious group of thieves: their own rebellious teenagers, who have begun robbing a dangerous cartel, using their parents’ tactics and top-secret intel to pull off their heists.
Trap House is produced by Marc Goldberg and Sarah Gabriel of Signature Films, Michael Pruss...
Principal photography is set to begin on April 1. Michael Dowse will direct a script written by Fast & Furious creator Gary Scott Thompson and Tom O’Connor (Hitman’s Bodyguard).
The film follows an undercover DEA agent and his partner who embark on a game of cat and mouse with an audacious group of thieves: their own rebellious teenagers, who have begun robbing a dangerous cartel, using their parents’ tactics and top-secret intel to pull off their heists.
Trap House is produced by Marc Goldberg and Sarah Gabriel of Signature Films, Michael Pruss...
- 4/1/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Melissa McCarthy brought the fun to the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday (March 10) at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The 53-year-old actress switched up her look with a leather dress, featuring what looks to be a lion head door knocker on the front, and she carried a bedazzled cannoli purse.
Melissa was, of course, once again joined by her husband Ben Falcone, after the two also attended the Oscars earlier in the night.
During the awards show, Melissa reunited with her Thunder Force co-star Octavia Spencer to present Best Original Screenplay.
While on their way to the Oscars, Ben shared a couple photos from inside their car.
“Heading to the Oscars with my beautiful wife...
The 53-year-old actress switched up her look with a leather dress, featuring what looks to be a lion head door knocker on the front, and she carried a bedazzled cannoli purse.
Melissa was, of course, once again joined by her husband Ben Falcone, after the two also attended the Oscars earlier in the night.
During the awards show, Melissa reunited with her Thunder Force co-star Octavia Spencer to present Best Original Screenplay.
While on their way to the Oscars, Ben shared a couple photos from inside their car.
“Heading to the Oscars with my beautiful wife...
- 3/11/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Indian filmmaker Ravi Muppa will adapt his Oscar-qualifying short “Incognito” into a feature-length film.
The executive producers of the short, Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap (“Kennedy”) and Ranjan Singh (“Udta Punjab”) under the Flip Films banner and Nicholas Weinstock and Divya D’Souza of Invention Studios, are reuniting to produce the feature.
In “Incognito,” a lonely motel receptionist makes an extra buck by selling the hidden-cam videos of his unsuspecting guests on the internet. But when one such guest turns out to be a young girl at risk of being trafficked, he faces a crisis of conscience and a mission.
“Incognito” has been selected at more than 20 international film festivals, including the Oscar-qualifying Palm Springs Shortfest, Tirana and LA Shorts, and is a 2024 Oscar contender in the live action short film category, where candidates from India include “Nocturnal Burger” and “The Broken Table.”
Mumbai-based Muppa was one of the writers on hit...
The executive producers of the short, Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap (“Kennedy”) and Ranjan Singh (“Udta Punjab”) under the Flip Films banner and Nicholas Weinstock and Divya D’Souza of Invention Studios, are reuniting to produce the feature.
In “Incognito,” a lonely motel receptionist makes an extra buck by selling the hidden-cam videos of his unsuspecting guests on the internet. But when one such guest turns out to be a young girl at risk of being trafficked, he faces a crisis of conscience and a mission.
“Incognito” has been selected at more than 20 international film festivals, including the Oscar-qualifying Palm Springs Shortfest, Tirana and LA Shorts, and is a 2024 Oscar contender in the live action short film category, where candidates from India include “Nocturnal Burger” and “The Broken Table.”
Mumbai-based Muppa was one of the writers on hit...
- 12/14/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
In 2018, “Saturday Night Live” captured the public perception of Netflix as a ceaseless river of content. In a satiric ad, the late-night program hawked the streaming service as an “endless scroll,” promising that “by the time you’ve reached the bottom of our menu, there’s new shows at the top.” And when it came to movies, “SNL” joked that Netflix was so desperate for things to make, it had resorted to shooting the fake films from “Entourage.”
Scott Stuber, the head of Netflix’s film division, is the man responsible for feeding the algorithm, and for much of his six-year run, his mandate was clear: quantity, not quality. In 2020, for instance, Netflix announced it planned to release a new movie every week. It never got around to making “Medellín,” Vincent Chase’s passion project from “Entourage,” but the strain of producing so many films showed. For every Oscar winner like “Roma,...
Scott Stuber, the head of Netflix’s film division, is the man responsible for feeding the algorithm, and for much of his six-year run, his mandate was clear: quantity, not quality. In 2020, for instance, Netflix announced it planned to release a new movie every week. It never got around to making “Medellín,” Vincent Chase’s passion project from “Entourage,” but the strain of producing so many films showed. For every Oscar winner like “Roma,...
- 11/7/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Veteran film producer Divya D’Souza has joined Invention Studios as senior VP of development and production.
D’Souza will report to Invention CEO Nicholas Weinstock and oversee the company’s slate of TV series and features. She joins the company after seven years as an executive at Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone’s On the Day Productions. There, she served as a producer on projects including “Bob Ross: Happy Accidents,” “Betrayal & Greed,” “Thunder Force,” “God’s Favorite Idiot,” “Little Big Shots,” “Superintelligence,” “Happytime Murders,” “Nobodies” and “Life of the Party.”
“Divya is a kind and creative superstar of an executive,” stated Weinstock, announcing D’Souza’s hiring. “I’m thrilled to have her big brain and big heart onboard as we welcome all kinds of writers, directors, and actors and help them to do the coolest things they possibly can.”
In 2022, Invention Studios signed a first-look deal with Fremantle to expedite its development and production of TV,...
D’Souza will report to Invention CEO Nicholas Weinstock and oversee the company’s slate of TV series and features. She joins the company after seven years as an executive at Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone’s On the Day Productions. There, she served as a producer on projects including “Bob Ross: Happy Accidents,” “Betrayal & Greed,” “Thunder Force,” “God’s Favorite Idiot,” “Little Big Shots,” “Superintelligence,” “Happytime Murders,” “Nobodies” and “Life of the Party.”
“Divya is a kind and creative superstar of an executive,” stated Weinstock, announcing D’Souza’s hiring. “I’m thrilled to have her big brain and big heart onboard as we welcome all kinds of writers, directors, and actors and help them to do the coolest things they possibly can.”
In 2022, Invention Studios signed a first-look deal with Fremantle to expedite its development and production of TV,...
- 6/23/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
You wouldn't know it from the couple's social media platforms, but Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone have the coolest kids on the planet. The comedy duo - who refrain from posting about their kids on social media aside from rare photos where their faces are obscured - have had their fair share of funny moments on screen, but their two daughters, Vivian and Georgette, are just as funny - if not more - say the couple.
"It's a balancing act. Kids are really smart," McCarthy told People at the 2016 premiere of "The Boss." "They pick up on everything and then you still have to not laugh in front of them as you tell them that something's not appropriate, or something might be too aggressive. Then, when they leave the room . . ."
"You laugh really hard," Falcone chimed in.
McCarthy and Falcone are so invested in parenting, they both took part in writing Falcone's book about fatherhood,...
"It's a balancing act. Kids are really smart," McCarthy told People at the 2016 premiere of "The Boss." "They pick up on everything and then you still have to not laugh in front of them as you tell them that something's not appropriate, or something might be too aggressive. Then, when they leave the room . . ."
"You laugh really hard," Falcone chimed in.
McCarthy and Falcone are so invested in parenting, they both took part in writing Falcone's book about fatherhood,...
- 5/29/2023
- by Emily Weaver
- Popsugar.com
Melissa McCarthy will be honored with the Cinema Vérité Award at the 2023 CinemaCon. This is the second time CinemaCon has recognized McCarthy with an award. In 2013, McCarthy was named CinemaCon’s Female Star of the Year.
“Melissa McCarthy has had audiences around the world howling in the theaters with such unforgettable performances in films like Bridesmaids, The Heat, and Spy and has left them on the edge of their seats with her memorable roles in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and St. Vincent to name just a few,” stated Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. “Her upcoming turn in the iconic role of Ursula is sure to entertain audiences across the globe and we couldn’t be more honored to present her with this year’s CinemaCon Cinema Vérité Award.”
CinemaCon, the annual meeting of the National Association of Theatre Owners, runs April 24 – 27, 2023. McCarthy will be presented with the Cinema...
“Melissa McCarthy has had audiences around the world howling in the theaters with such unforgettable performances in films like Bridesmaids, The Heat, and Spy and has left them on the edge of their seats with her memorable roles in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and St. Vincent to name just a few,” stated Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. “Her upcoming turn in the iconic role of Ursula is sure to entertain audiences across the globe and we couldn’t be more honored to present her with this year’s CinemaCon Cinema Vérité Award.”
CinemaCon, the annual meeting of the National Association of Theatre Owners, runs April 24 – 27, 2023. McCarthy will be presented with the Cinema...
- 4/11/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
If Hollywood was a university dorm, Ben Falcone would be the resident funny guy. The actor, filmmaker, and comedian is best known for his collaborations with his wife, Melissa McCarthy. The Illinois-born star has been in an array of movies and TV shows, some of them including Tammy, Superintelligence, and Thunder Force. He has also written and produced shows such as Nobodies, The Looney Tunes Show, and God’s Favorite Idiot. With his contagious enthusiasm, a distinct sense of humor, and remarkable acting abilities, it’s no surprise he’s become a fan favorite. With that in mind, here are a few fun facts about...
- 4/2/2023
- by lalarukh
- TVovermind.com
Starz today has released first-look images from the highly anticipated third season of “Party Down.” Season three of the cult hit comedy series is set to premiere on Friday, February 24 at midnight on the Starz app, all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms and internationally on the Lionsgate+ premium streaming platform in the UK, Brazil and Latin America. On linear, it will debut on Starz at 9:00 Pm Et/Pt in the U.S. and Canada. The third season will consist of six new episodes. Ten years later, most of the Party Down catering team have moved on, including actor/bartender Henry Pollard. After a surprise reunion, the gang find themselves once again stoically enduring the procession of random parties and oddball guests all over Los Angeles. Scott reprises his role alongside original cast members Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen and Megan Mullally. Previously announced new cast members...
- 1/23/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Being funny just comes naturally to the McCarthy-Falcone family. Husband and wife comedic duo Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone are well-known for their ability to bring the laughs, so it's only natural that their daughters —Vivian, 15, and Georgette Falcone, 12—follow in their footsteps, right? After all, the sisters have already starred alongside their famous parents in movie like The Boss and Thunder Force. Not so fast. As Melissa exclusively revealed during E! News' Daily Pop on June 6, "I think we both just want them to do something they really love and to feel good about themselves doing it." She continued, "It could be a gecko catcher in...
- 6/6/2022
- E! Online
For those who can’t get enough of the movie collaborations of comedic husband-and-wife duo Melissa McCarthy (“Nine Perfect Strangers“) and Ben Falcone (“Thunder Force“), we have some good news for you — they’re coming together for an eight-episode series on Netflix. The comedy series sees average joe Clark on a mission from God. It’s safe to say that fans can likely expect McCarthy and Falcone’s signature flavor of comedy from this upcoming Netflix original television series.
Continue reading ‘God’s Perfect Idiot’ Trailer: Melissa McCarthy & Ben Falcone For New Netflix Mini-Series at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘God’s Perfect Idiot’ Trailer: Melissa McCarthy & Ben Falcone For New Netflix Mini-Series at The Playlist.
- 5/6/2022
- by Brynne Ramella
- The Playlist
Several new faces have been added to the Season 3 cast of Starz’s “Party Down.”
“Alias” alum Jennifer Garner, Tyrel Jackson Williams and Zoë Chao are joining the show, which is returning for its third season more than a decade after Season 2, in series regular roles.
Additionally, Starz announced on Monday that “Westworld’s” James Marsden will be a recurring guest star.
Garner will play Evie, “a successful producer of studio franchise movies, who, in the wake of a breakup, is reconsidering her life choices. A fledgling relationship with Henry Pollard (Adam Scott) becomes a way for her to explore possible new directions,” per Starz.
Williams will play Sackson, “a handsome, confident, driven, wannabe influencer/internet personality. He’s knowledgeable and savvy about his specific internet niche, but a bit lost in every other aspect of life,” the network said in a release.
Chao is playing Lucy, “a passionate, outspoken,...
“Alias” alum Jennifer Garner, Tyrel Jackson Williams and Zoë Chao are joining the show, which is returning for its third season more than a decade after Season 2, in series regular roles.
Additionally, Starz announced on Monday that “Westworld’s” James Marsden will be a recurring guest star.
Garner will play Evie, “a successful producer of studio franchise movies, who, in the wake of a breakup, is reconsidering her life choices. A fledgling relationship with Henry Pollard (Adam Scott) becomes a way for her to explore possible new directions,” per Starz.
Williams will play Sackson, “a handsome, confident, driven, wannabe influencer/internet personality. He’s knowledgeable and savvy about his specific internet niche, but a bit lost in every other aspect of life,” the network said in a release.
Chao is playing Lucy, “a passionate, outspoken,...
- 1/31/2022
- by Jolie Lash
- The Wrap
In 2021, Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy put out another feature, but this time it’s under the Netflix brand, which could be considered less painful because audiences didn’t have to shell out money to buy a ticket for Thunder Force. The superhero comedy is about two childhood best friends who become an unlikely crime-fighting duo after a formula gives them superpowers. Now, before I trash Thunder Force – because I have nothing good to say this movie – I’ll say that I’m not on the Melissa McCarthy hate train like most people. I genuinely do think that she can be
Thunder Force Exemplifies The Problems Of Most Melissa McCarthy Comedies...
Thunder Force Exemplifies The Problems Of Most Melissa McCarthy Comedies...
- 1/1/2022
- by Jeffrey Bowie Jr.
- TVovermind.com
Exclusive: Following a year where she starred in another hit comedy, a highly discussed limited series and a festival darling, Melissa McCarthy is looking to add TV co-host to her dance card. Deadline has learned that Discovery+ has ordered the six-episode series The Great Giveback With Melissa McCarthy and Jenna Perusich, which reunites the duo following their other home renovation series, Celebrity Iou, on HGTV.
In the new series, the pair will combine their desire to help others and their love of renovation and design to surprise amazing people with beautiful home transformations. Before they roll up their sleeves, grab sledgehammers, revamp rooms and astonish unsuspecting subjects with the news that they will be receiving customized redesigns, the cousins will learn about the heartwarming stories of exceptional people who were nominated by their loved ones. Then, propelled by the inspiring accounts, and with help from their expert team, the cousins...
In the new series, the pair will combine their desire to help others and their love of renovation and design to surprise amazing people with beautiful home transformations. Before they roll up their sleeves, grab sledgehammers, revamp rooms and astonish unsuspecting subjects with the news that they will be receiving customized redesigns, the cousins will learn about the heartwarming stories of exceptional people who were nominated by their loved ones. Then, propelled by the inspiring accounts, and with help from their expert team, the cousins...
- 11/10/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Mia Kaplan (Smilf), Rainn Wilson (Jerry and Marge Go Large), Missi Pyle (Y: The Last Man), newcomer Jemima Yevu and Jolene Purdy (The White Lotus) have signed on to star in Empire Waist, a body-positive, coming-of-age dramedy from writer-director Claire Ayoub and Wayfarer Studios, which is currently in production in New York.
Ayoub’s first feature centers on a group of teens who overcome societal bias and celebrate self-acceptance through inclusive fashion design and friendship. Kaplan plays the lead role of Lenore, a teen deeply insecure about her weight. Hiding her passion for fashion design, Lenore tries to make herself invisible in her day-to-day life to avoid being bullied — both by her classmates and image-conscious mother (Pyle). Meanwhile her best friend Kayla (Yevu) is confident, funny, outgoing, and proud of her plus-sized body.
Wilson will play Lenore’s father, Mark, who is his daughter’s biggest cheerleader, with Purdy as Ms.
Ayoub’s first feature centers on a group of teens who overcome societal bias and celebrate self-acceptance through inclusive fashion design and friendship. Kaplan plays the lead role of Lenore, a teen deeply insecure about her weight. Hiding her passion for fashion design, Lenore tries to make herself invisible in her day-to-day life to avoid being bullied — both by her classmates and image-conscious mother (Pyle). Meanwhile her best friend Kayla (Yevu) is confident, funny, outgoing, and proud of her plus-sized body.
Wilson will play Lenore’s father, Mark, who is his daughter’s biggest cheerleader, with Purdy as Ms.
- 11/1/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
NBC and E! announced the nominees for the 2021 People’s Choice Awards on Wednesday..
The film field was led by F9: The Fast Saga, which garnered eight nominations, including “Movie of 2021” and individual nods for Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron and John Cena, the latter of whom got two each.
In TV, Marvel’s Loki conjured up five nominations, including “Show of 2021,” while Ted Lasso, This Is Us and Grey’s Anatomy each had four.
Dwayne Johnson flexed his multiplatform muscles with three nominations across disciplines, including Male Movie Star of 2021 for Jungle Cruise, Male TV Star of 2021 for Young Rock and Social Star of 2021 for, apparently, his Instagram prowess.
As Johnson’s nominations make clear, the People’s Choice Awards celebrate all forms of entertainment, with winners chosen entirely by the people. In each of the 40 categories, fans worldwide can choose from eight nominees representing movies, television, music and pop culture,...
The film field was led by F9: The Fast Saga, which garnered eight nominations, including “Movie of 2021” and individual nods for Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron and John Cena, the latter of whom got two each.
In TV, Marvel’s Loki conjured up five nominations, including “Show of 2021,” while Ted Lasso, This Is Us and Grey’s Anatomy each had four.
Dwayne Johnson flexed his multiplatform muscles with three nominations across disciplines, including Male Movie Star of 2021 for Jungle Cruise, Male TV Star of 2021 for Young Rock and Social Star of 2021 for, apparently, his Instagram prowess.
As Johnson’s nominations make clear, the People’s Choice Awards celebrate all forms of entertainment, with winners chosen entirely by the people. In each of the 40 categories, fans worldwide can choose from eight nominees representing movies, television, music and pop culture,...
- 10/27/2021
- by Patrick Hipes and Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
As theaters await “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” (Paramount) and “No Time to Die” (United Artists) over the next two weeks, home viewing options are similarly on the rise. “Free Guy” (Disney), honoring a 45-day window, debuts on Premium VOD September 28. Friday sees two theatrical openers: “Addams Family 2” (United Artists) and “The Many Saints of Newark” (Warner Bros.), also available at home.
That left a more routine week on the charts we follow, although some recent releases got attention as they made their first appearances. But price reductions, led by “F9” (Universal), were also important.
The latest entry in the “Fast” series, which opened in domestic theaters in early June, and then at $19.99 on PVOD in late July, just had its price cut to $5.99 (consistent with the timing of past Universal moves). The just-released director’s cut remains at the higher price. The result is a return to #1 at...
That left a more routine week on the charts we follow, although some recent releases got attention as they made their first appearances. But price reductions, led by “F9” (Universal), were also important.
The latest entry in the “Fast” series, which opened in domestic theaters in early June, and then at $19.99 on PVOD in late July, just had its price cut to $5.99 (consistent with the timing of past Universal moves). The just-released director’s cut remains at the higher price. The result is a return to #1 at...
- 9/27/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Actress Pom Klementieff who made a splash as Mantis in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 and latter on in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame has signed with Linden Entertainment.
Up next, Klementieff will star in the Tom Cruise Paramount franchise pics Mission: Impossible 7 and Mission: Impossible 8 scheduled to be released respectively on May 27, 2022 and July 7, 2023. She most recently starred opposite Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer in the Netflix feature comedy Thunder Force. She also appeared in the third season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series Westworld as Martel, the fifth season of Netflix’s anthology series Black Mirror and the Safdie brothers’ crime-dramedy Uncut Gems. She also reteamed with James Gunn recently, making a cameo in his Warner Bros.’ The Suicide Squad as a La Gatita Amable Dancer.
Linden Entertainment, founded by Stacy O’Neil and Nicole King, and is a management, production, and branding company. Some of their clients include Vin Diesel,...
Up next, Klementieff will star in the Tom Cruise Paramount franchise pics Mission: Impossible 7 and Mission: Impossible 8 scheduled to be released respectively on May 27, 2022 and July 7, 2023. She most recently starred opposite Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer in the Netflix feature comedy Thunder Force. She also appeared in the third season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series Westworld as Martel, the fifth season of Netflix’s anthology series Black Mirror and the Safdie brothers’ crime-dramedy Uncut Gems. She also reteamed with James Gunn recently, making a cameo in his Warner Bros.’ The Suicide Squad as a La Gatita Amable Dancer.
Linden Entertainment, founded by Stacy O’Neil and Nicole King, and is a management, production, and branding company. Some of their clients include Vin Diesel,...
- 8/9/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Ashton Kutcher will star opposite Reese Witherspoon in the Netflix romcom Your Place or Mine based on the original script by Aline Brosh McKenna who is also making her feature directorial debut on the project.
In Your Place or Mine, two best friends who live on opposite coasts swap homes for a week and see their whole lives change. Deadline first reported about Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan’s Aggregate Films’ deal on the co-production with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Bateman and Costigan will produce through their first-look deal with Netflix alongside Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine and McKenna for Lean Machine.
Aggregate’s Ozark series, which Bateman stars in, directed and exec produced, clocked a third season that was watched by 29M households WW in its first four weeks. Ozark counts three Primetime Emmy wins: one for Bateman in 2019 for...
In Your Place or Mine, two best friends who live on opposite coasts swap homes for a week and see their whole lives change. Deadline first reported about Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan’s Aggregate Films’ deal on the co-production with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Bateman and Costigan will produce through their first-look deal with Netflix alongside Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine and McKenna for Lean Machine.
Aggregate’s Ozark series, which Bateman stars in, directed and exec produced, clocked a third season that was watched by 29M households WW in its first four weeks. Ozark counts three Primetime Emmy wins: one for Bateman in 2019 for...
- 8/3/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Last Year’s Winner: “Bad Education”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: After three years in a row, 2020 marked “Black Mirror’s” first loss in the category since it started submitting episodes as TV Movies in 2017. “Bad Education’s” win was the first for HBO since 2015, when “Bessie” was the fourth film in a row to win for the network. With an “Oslo” win in 2021, a new streak could begin.
Fun Fact: Movies being a standalone piece of entertainment, only one program has more than one win in this category: “Black Mirror.” But “Sherlock” is the most nominated program (with four nods) and the 2016 entry (“Sherlock: The Abominable Bride”) represents the first PBS movie to win the category since 1971, when “The Andersonville Trial” beat out four NBC nominees.
Notable Ineligible Movies: “An American Pickle” (HBO Max submitted the film at the Oscars); the entire HBO Max/Warner Bros. film slate, from...
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: After three years in a row, 2020 marked “Black Mirror’s” first loss in the category since it started submitting episodes as TV Movies in 2017. “Bad Education’s” win was the first for HBO since 2015, when “Bessie” was the fourth film in a row to win for the network. With an “Oslo” win in 2021, a new streak could begin.
Fun Fact: Movies being a standalone piece of entertainment, only one program has more than one win in this category: “Black Mirror.” But “Sherlock” is the most nominated program (with four nods) and the 2016 entry (“Sherlock: The Abominable Bride”) represents the first PBS movie to win the category since 1971, when “The Andersonville Trial” beat out four NBC nominees.
Notable Ineligible Movies: “An American Pickle” (HBO Max submitted the film at the Oscars); the entire HBO Max/Warner Bros. film slate, from...
- 7/27/2021
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
It's been difficult to get back into the swing of things, especially since we're short on funds given how last season went with Hollywood shut down. That said, we're feeling a swing of summer energy coming so... watch out? stay tuned? cross fingers? Though we reviewed quite a few indies, docs, and festival entries, we've given mainstream stuff short shrift other than the beautifully made but maddeningly soft Cruella, the wondrously exuberant In the Heights, and the utterly lame Thunder Force. We'll be shocked if a worse movie arrives this year than the latter, which is sad since it's so easy to root for both of its leading actresses in a general career sense.
Without further ado let's get started on the catch-up (and fill out that review page) with four movies you probably saw that we didn't talk about. Let's fix that in the comment section...
Without further ado let's get started on the catch-up (and fill out that review page) with four movies you probably saw that we didn't talk about. Let's fix that in the comment section...
- 6/25/2021
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Exclusive: Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale are set as the leads in The Watcher, a Netflix limited series from Ryan Murphy and his frequent collaborator Ian Brennan.
No one would comment, but I hear The Watcher follows a married couple whose move into their dream home is being threatened by terrifying letters from a stalker, signed “The Watcher.”
This marks a reunion for Watts and Cannavale, who star together in the upcoming movie Once Upon a Time in Staten Island.
Executive producing with Murphy and Brennan are Eric Newman (Narcos), Bryan Unkeless as well as Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (Catfish). Filming is set to begin in the fall.
The series, which evokes the first season of Murphy’s hit American Horror Story, is inspired by the infamous “Watcher” house in New Jersey. A couple bought the 1905 Dutch colonial revival in 2014 for nearly $1.4 million. They were forced to...
No one would comment, but I hear The Watcher follows a married couple whose move into their dream home is being threatened by terrifying letters from a stalker, signed “The Watcher.”
This marks a reunion for Watts and Cannavale, who star together in the upcoming movie Once Upon a Time in Staten Island.
Executive producing with Murphy and Brennan are Eric Newman (Narcos), Bryan Unkeless as well as Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (Catfish). Filming is set to begin in the fall.
The series, which evokes the first season of Murphy’s hit American Horror Story, is inspired by the infamous “Watcher” house in New Jersey. A couple bought the 1905 Dutch colonial revival in 2014 for nearly $1.4 million. They were forced to...
- 6/14/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Woman in the Window,” the Netflix thriller and mystery starring Amy Adams, was watched for 500 million minutes online in its first three days, Nielsen said in its weekly streaming figures. It was good enough to top the list of film titles for the week of May 10, but was a quieter debut compared to some recent streaming hits.
“The Woman in the Window” placed just 5 million minutes ahead of “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” which had its third straight week among the top spots on Nielsen’s list after previously being watched for 853 million minutes the week of May 3. “Woman in the Window” and “The Mitchells” were also the No. 9 and No. 10 most streamed titles overall, behind popular series such as “Jupiter’s Legacy” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
That said, titles like the Michael B. Jordan thriller “Without Remorse” or the Melissa McCarthy comedy “Thunder Force” debuted far stronger, and it...
“The Woman in the Window” placed just 5 million minutes ahead of “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” which had its third straight week among the top spots on Nielsen’s list after previously being watched for 853 million minutes the week of May 3. “Woman in the Window” and “The Mitchells” were also the No. 9 and No. 10 most streamed titles overall, behind popular series such as “Jupiter’s Legacy” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
That said, titles like the Michael B. Jordan thriller “Without Remorse” or the Melissa McCarthy comedy “Thunder Force” debuted far stronger, and it...
- 6/10/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
“The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” the animated family film from the team behind “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” topped Nielsen’s weekly streaming list, besting not just other movies but all streaming content including legacy shows such as “NCIS” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Families watched “The Mitchells” for 853 million minutes during the week of May 3-9, making it the first time an animated film took the top overall spot on Nielsen’s list since “Soul” topped it over Christmas. “Soul” was viewed for 1.6 billion minutes in its first week. The most recent time that an original movie topped the streaming list overall was “Thunder Force” with Melissa McCarthy, which notched 950 million minutes at the start of April.
This is actually the second week on Nielsen’s streaming list for “The Mitchells Vs The Machines,” which debuted at No. 2 behind the Michael B. Jordan thriller “Without Remorse.” “The Mitchells” was still watched for...
Families watched “The Mitchells” for 853 million minutes during the week of May 3-9, making it the first time an animated film took the top overall spot on Nielsen’s list since “Soul” topped it over Christmas. “Soul” was viewed for 1.6 billion minutes in its first week. The most recent time that an original movie topped the streaming list overall was “Thunder Force” with Melissa McCarthy, which notched 950 million minutes at the start of April.
This is actually the second week on Nielsen’s streaming list for “The Mitchells Vs The Machines,” which debuted at No. 2 behind the Michael B. Jordan thriller “Without Remorse.” “The Mitchells” was still watched for...
- 6/3/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
“Without Remorse,” the Tom Clancy spy film starring Michael B. Jordan, was viewed for 760 million minutes in the week of April 26, leading Nielsen’s list of the top streaming movies during its online debut.
The Amazon title was not just the most viewed movie of the week that ran between April 26 through May 2, but it also had the fourth most minutes viewed for any title for the week, including television, lagging behind only Netflix’s “Shadow and Bone,” Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “NCIS” on Netflix.
Nielsen noted that “Without Remorse” viewing was boosted in large part thanks to African American audiences, which totaled 37% of the viewing audience, and the strong numbers follow on other recent Amazon successes aimed at Black audiences, including “Coming 2 America” and “Them.”
“Without Remorse” also beat out another new film to debut that week, Netflix’s animated “Mitchells vs. the Machines,” which was...
The Amazon title was not just the most viewed movie of the week that ran between April 26 through May 2, but it also had the fourth most minutes viewed for any title for the week, including television, lagging behind only Netflix’s “Shadow and Bone,” Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “NCIS” on Netflix.
Nielsen noted that “Without Remorse” viewing was boosted in large part thanks to African American audiences, which totaled 37% of the viewing audience, and the strong numbers follow on other recent Amazon successes aimed at Black audiences, including “Coming 2 America” and “Them.”
“Without Remorse” also beat out another new film to debut that week, Netflix’s animated “Mitchells vs. the Machines,” which was...
- 5/27/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier dipped to the No. 2 spot on Nielsen’s streaming chart for the week its season finale arrived on Disney+.
After claiming the crown in its penultimate week, with 855 million minutes of total viewing, the show finished the week of April 19-25 with 796 million across its six episodes. That was good for second place in the rankings of overall shows. NCIS, a mainstay on Netflix, finished No. 1.
Falcon, whose finale hit Disney+ on April 23, was the second Marvel series to stream on Disney+. Loki is up next, as the company revs up the engines across divisions, aiming to deliver two new titles a week by 2024.
Netflx’s Shadow and Bone racked up 721 million minutes of viewing to finish third. The eight-part fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels premiered April 23. Produced by Stranger Things outfit 21 Laps Entertainment, the series stars Jessie Mei Li,...
After claiming the crown in its penultimate week, with 855 million minutes of total viewing, the show finished the week of April 19-25 with 796 million across its six episodes. That was good for second place in the rankings of overall shows. NCIS, a mainstay on Netflix, finished No. 1.
Falcon, whose finale hit Disney+ on April 23, was the second Marvel series to stream on Disney+. Loki is up next, as the company revs up the engines across divisions, aiming to deliver two new titles a week by 2024.
Netflx’s Shadow and Bone racked up 721 million minutes of viewing to finish third. The eight-part fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels premiered April 23. Produced by Stranger Things outfit 21 Laps Entertainment, the series stars Jessie Mei Li,...
- 5/20/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
“Stowaway,” a Netflix sci-fi and drama movie starring Toni Collette, took Nielsen’s top spot for all films on streaming during the week of April 19, toppling the Melissa McCarthy comedy “Thunder Force” that had held the No. 1 slot for several weeks.
“Stowaway” was viewed for 359 million minutes during the week of April 19-25 after debuting on Netflix on April 22, according to the latest streaming figures from Nielsen. It beat out “Thunder Force,” which had another strong showing with 318 million minutes for the week. “Thunder Force” debuted on the list for the week of April 5 and topped not just the list of streaming movies but also the most minutes viewed for anything on streaming with 950 million minutes, beating out mainstays like “NCIS” and new episodes of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”
During the week of April 19, “Stowaway” placed 10th among all streaming shows or films. Netflix also had the top three films for the week,...
“Stowaway” was viewed for 359 million minutes during the week of April 19-25 after debuting on Netflix on April 22, according to the latest streaming figures from Nielsen. It beat out “Thunder Force,” which had another strong showing with 318 million minutes for the week. “Thunder Force” debuted on the list for the week of April 5 and topped not just the list of streaming movies but also the most minutes viewed for anything on streaming with 950 million minutes, beating out mainstays like “NCIS” and new episodes of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”
During the week of April 19, “Stowaway” placed 10th among all streaming shows or films. Netflix also had the top three films for the week,...
- 5/20/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier took the top spot in Nielsen’s streaming rankings for the week of April 12-18, the week the Marvel stand-alone series debuted the fifth of its six-episode Season 1. The No. 1 finish was the first for Disney+ on the typically Netflix-dominated charts since Disney/Pixar’s Soul pulled off the feat back in December.
Falcon and the Winter Soldier finished with 855 million minutes viewed per Nielsen, which counts views as a user that watches more than two minutes of a program. The series starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan has been steadily rising the rankings since its March 19 premiere date. Its season finale aired April 23, so expect it to keep its lofty status when Nielsen reports those numbers next week.
For the week of April 5 and reported last week, the No. 1 streamed program was Netflix’s Melissa McCarthy-Octavia Spencer superhero comedy Thunder Force,...
Falcon and the Winter Soldier finished with 855 million minutes viewed per Nielsen, which counts views as a user that watches more than two minutes of a program. The series starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan has been steadily rising the rankings since its March 19 premiere date. Its season finale aired April 23, so expect it to keep its lofty status when Nielsen reports those numbers next week.
For the week of April 5 and reported last week, the No. 1 streamed program was Netflix’s Melissa McCarthy-Octavia Spencer superhero comedy Thunder Force,...
- 5/13/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
In a rare week where no single program exceeded the 1 billion minute threshold, the Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer-led film “Thunder Force” opened with thunderous viewership on Netflix. The movie towered over all other programs on subscription-based streaming platforms in Nielsen’s Weekly Top 10 list, with 950 million viewing minutes for the week of April 5-11. The action-comedy flick also ended up in the number one slot on Nielsen’s Weekly Top 10 Movies list. It has been the strongest film release since Amazon’s “Coming 2 America” debuted in March.
In addition to the acquired content list, the global marketing research firm will also be pushing out weekly Top 10 lists that take into consideration original programming and movies in an effort to provide an expanded and more inclusive look at most streamed programs for that given week.
First in originals was Disney Plus’ second-ever Marvel Studios television series, the action-and-drama-packed...
In addition to the acquired content list, the global marketing research firm will also be pushing out weekly Top 10 lists that take into consideration original programming and movies in an effort to provide an expanded and more inclusive look at most streamed programs for that given week.
First in originals was Disney Plus’ second-ever Marvel Studios television series, the action-and-drama-packed...
- 5/6/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix’s original movie Thunder Force, the comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer, debuted at No. 1 on Nielsen’s U.S. streaming ratings chart for the week of April 5. Almost 1 billion minutes were streamed of the pic, pacing it well ahead of No. 2-ranked The Falcon and the Winter Soldier from Disney+, which dropped Episode 4 and grew by 100 million minutes week over week.
Also notable during the April 5-April 11 period was the debut of Amazon’s horror anthology Them, which dropped all 10 episodes on the streaming site at once (bucking Amazon’s usual trend) and finished No. 7 overall on Nielsen’s rankings. Its 439 million minutes viewed was good for No. 2 among streamers’ originals for the week, second only to Falcon and its 748M minutes. Pacing Them‘s surge were African American households, which accounted for nearly 60% of the views.
Netflix said earlier this month that Thunder Force, a superhero...
Also notable during the April 5-April 11 period was the debut of Amazon’s horror anthology Them, which dropped all 10 episodes on the streaming site at once (bucking Amazon’s usual trend) and finished No. 7 overall on Nielsen’s rankings. Its 439 million minutes viewed was good for No. 2 among streamers’ originals for the week, second only to Falcon and its 748M minutes. Pacing Them‘s surge were African American households, which accounted for nearly 60% of the views.
Netflix said earlier this month that Thunder Force, a superhero...
- 5/6/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscars ratings hit new lows, but this week’s VOD rentals tell another story. With several titles making their debuts, Oscar winners dominate the charts. The bounty could continue in upcoming weeks given the lack of theatrical availability, older audiences’ reluctance to return to theaters, and the ease of home access.
That said, the dominant title is Universal’s thriller “Nobody” starring Bob Odenkirk. It holds #1 spots on three of the charts and is #2 on the fourth. The Universal film added PVOD after three weeks and remained #4 in theaters for the weekend. Odenkirk’s Nobody may be the next John Wick.
“Promising Young Woman,” which went to PVOD in mid-January and has been available at standard pricing for more than a month, has been the best Oscar performer. It’s the only Oscar title on all four charts, including its first-ever #1 (at AppleTV). It’s also the top standard-price VOD at FandangoNow,...
That said, the dominant title is Universal’s thriller “Nobody” starring Bob Odenkirk. It holds #1 spots on three of the charts and is #2 on the fourth. The Universal film added PVOD after three weeks and remained #4 in theaters for the weekend. Odenkirk’s Nobody may be the next John Wick.
“Promising Young Woman,” which went to PVOD in mid-January and has been available at standard pricing for more than a month, has been the best Oscar performer. It’s the only Oscar title on all four charts, including its first-ever #1 (at AppleTV). It’s also the top standard-price VOD at FandangoNow,...
- 4/27/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Thunder Force, Netflix’s superhero action comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer, is on pace to draw 52 million global views in its first 28 days.
That projection comes from Kira Goldberg, VP Studio Film at Netflix, who included the stat in a blog post about her motivation to green-light the project.
The 52 million number is substantial but it would not rank Thunder Force in the top echelon of all-time top Netflix original movies. Extraction leads that list with 99 million, but the roster of comedies is more rarified, with Murder Mystery (73 million) and The Wrong Missy (59 million). More recently, I Care a Lot has attracted 56 million views and Yes Day 62 million.
Netflix reported earlier this week it had 207.6 million global subscribers as of the end of March. Since a shift in methodology a couple of years ago, it has defined a view as any sampling of at least a two-minute portion of a title.
That projection comes from Kira Goldberg, VP Studio Film at Netflix, who included the stat in a blog post about her motivation to green-light the project.
The 52 million number is substantial but it would not rank Thunder Force in the top echelon of all-time top Netflix original movies. Extraction leads that list with 99 million, but the roster of comedies is more rarified, with Murder Mystery (73 million) and The Wrong Missy (59 million). More recently, I Care a Lot has attracted 56 million views and Yes Day 62 million.
Netflix reported earlier this week it had 207.6 million global subscribers as of the end of March. Since a shift in methodology a couple of years ago, it has defined a view as any sampling of at least a two-minute portion of a title.
- 4/23/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Playing a superhero in her new movie, Thunder Force, Melissa McCarthy had to learn how to fly. Of course, without actual superhuman powers, she wasn’t able to get off the ground without a little help, so she had to learn how to fly around on wires. Although the actual flying would have been pretty cool, […]
The post ‘Thunder Force’ Had Melissa McCarthy Totally Wired appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post ‘Thunder Force’ Had Melissa McCarthy Totally Wired appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 4/21/2021
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
A family fends off a robot apocalypse in a vibrant and genuinely funny adventure originally intended as a theatrical release
Over the last year, it seemed for a while that any vague vision of big-screen normality would be so far into the future that we’d best get used to watching new movies on our smartphones instead, a fear for us that was closer to a nightmare for studios. Shuttered cinemas led them to frantically sell their films to streamers, who were all too ready with outstretched arms and wide-open chequebooks to help bolster their booming business. But after a tussling ape and lizard showed that audiences were in fact ready to return to the multiplex, there was undoubtedly a sense of seller’s remorse within the industry in the days after, a stinging regret over rushed deals and lost opportunities that would continue to haunt in the coming months.
Over the last year, it seemed for a while that any vague vision of big-screen normality would be so far into the future that we’d best get used to watching new movies on our smartphones instead, a fear for us that was closer to a nightmare for studios. Shuttered cinemas led them to frantically sell their films to streamers, who were all too ready with outstretched arms and wide-open chequebooks to help bolster their booming business. But after a tussling ape and lizard showed that audiences were in fact ready to return to the multiplex, there was undoubtedly a sense of seller’s remorse within the industry in the days after, a stinging regret over rushed deals and lost opportunities that would continue to haunt in the coming months.
- 4/21/2021
- by Benjamin Lee
- The Guardian - Film News
Score another dual-platform hit for Universal. “Nobody,” the revenge thriller starring Bob Odenkirk in the mode of Keanu Reeves in “John Wick.” With two top spots on PVOD charts, it also took second place at the theatrical box office in its fourth weekend, with a drop of only six percent.
The $19.99 rental title added home viewing while still at 2,405 theaters. Even with just three days’ availability, it scored #1 spots Apple (by rentals) and FandangoNow (by revenue)..
A strategy originally conceived to buttress Universal from uncertain theatrical response, it’s become a hit for consumers at home while maintaining box-office interest. Four months into 2021, three studio titles from last year — “The Croods: A New Age,” Focus Features’ “Promising Young Woman,” and “News of the World” continue to ride high on VOD. No revenue totals have been released, but their sustained performances suggest each saw revenues in the tens of millions — and...
The $19.99 rental title added home viewing while still at 2,405 theaters. Even with just three days’ availability, it scored #1 spots Apple (by rentals) and FandangoNow (by revenue)..
A strategy originally conceived to buttress Universal from uncertain theatrical response, it’s become a hit for consumers at home while maintaining box-office interest. Four months into 2021, three studio titles from last year — “The Croods: A New Age,” Focus Features’ “Promising Young Woman,” and “News of the World” continue to ride high on VOD. No revenue totals have been released, but their sustained performances suggest each saw revenues in the tens of millions — and...
- 4/19/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Image Source: Everett Collection
If you found yourself wondering why Melissa McCarthy's youngest self in Thunder Force looks so much like her, you're not alone. Turns out, the young Lydia Berman is played by her daughter Vivian Falcone. The Netflix film, which premiered on April 9, sees two estranged best friends become an unlikely superhero team and try to save Chicago from superpowered evildoers, known as Miscreants, and a villain called The King. The shared role of Lydia isn't the only family connection, as Vivian's younger sister, Georgette, plays the "That lady threw a bus" girl and Thunder Force was written and directed by McCarthy's husband and the girls' dad, Ben Falcone.
This isn't the first time Vivian's worked with her parents; she played a younger version of McCarthy in 2016's The Boss, which was also written and directed by Ben. While McCarthy and Ben have a frequent habit of...
If you found yourself wondering why Melissa McCarthy's youngest self in Thunder Force looks so much like her, you're not alone. Turns out, the young Lydia Berman is played by her daughter Vivian Falcone. The Netflix film, which premiered on April 9, sees two estranged best friends become an unlikely superhero team and try to save Chicago from superpowered evildoers, known as Miscreants, and a villain called The King. The shared role of Lydia isn't the only family connection, as Vivian's younger sister, Georgette, plays the "That lady threw a bus" girl and Thunder Force was written and directed by McCarthy's husband and the girls' dad, Ben Falcone.
This isn't the first time Vivian's worked with her parents; she played a younger version of McCarthy in 2016's The Boss, which was also written and directed by Ben. While McCarthy and Ben have a frequent habit of...
- 4/16/2021
- by Grayson Gilcrease
- Popsugar.com
Netflix's latest buzzy movie is Thunder Force, a superhero buddy comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as unexpected superheroes. With a star-studded cast that also includes Jason Bateman, Melissa Leo, and Bobby Cannavale, it's the kind of movie whose very premise and cast grabs attention right away. But will there be a sequel? That's still unclear.
After debuting on April 9, the comedy movie quickly climbed the Netflix rankings, hitting the coveted top spot in the daily "top ten" list within just a few days of its release. Despite that high viewership, though, its critical reception has been anything but top-ten worthy. It currently sits at a "rotten" 25 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an even lower audience score of just 23 percent. Those kinds of numbers definitely don't seem to scream "we want a sequel," but that doesn't mean Netflix won't go ahead with one anyway.
There have certainly been...
After debuting on April 9, the comedy movie quickly climbed the Netflix rankings, hitting the coveted top spot in the daily "top ten" list within just a few days of its release. Despite that high viewership, though, its critical reception has been anything but top-ten worthy. It currently sits at a "rotten" 25 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an even lower audience score of just 23 percent. Those kinds of numbers definitely don't seem to scream "we want a sequel," but that doesn't mean Netflix won't go ahead with one anyway.
There have certainly been...
- 4/15/2021
- by Amanda Prahl
- Popsugar.com
The current superhero roster is pretty exciting and adventurous as it stands, but if there are two things missing from that varied crew, it's the hysterical and badass Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer. Luckily for us, Netflix has brought us just that with the new action-comedy Thunder Force, in which childhood best friends (McCarthy and Spencer) accidentally acquire superpowers and take on villains.
In celebration of their new superhero status, we sat down virtually with the actors to see how well they can remember each other's most famous lines. The duo quizzed each other with quotes from iconic films like Bridesmaids . . .
. . . and Academy Award winner The Shape of Water.
Watch it all go down in the video above, then check out Thunder Force, out now on Netflix!
In celebration of their new superhero status, we sat down virtually with the actors to see how well they can remember each other's most famous lines. The duo quizzed each other with quotes from iconic films like Bridesmaids . . .
. . . and Academy Award winner The Shape of Water.
Watch it all go down in the video above, then check out Thunder Force, out now on Netflix!
- 4/14/2021
- by Kristin Harris
- Popsugar.com
Most of the humor in the Melissa McCarthy–Octavia Spencer superhero comedy, Thunder Force, doesn’t really work. The film has nothing funny or interesting to say about superheroes, as concepts or movie franchises, and it relies way too heavily on messy montages that weirdly double down on comedic bits that didn’t work the first time. There are more laughs to be found in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
That said, Thunder Force features one thing that myself and the internet simply cannot get enough of: Jason Bateman as mid-level crime boss Jerry the Crab, a dude with crab claws for hands. It’s exactly as goofy as it sounds. At one point, Bateman describes his Zodiac sign as being “you’d think Cancer,” then snaps his claws twice, before revealing that he’s actually a Capricorn. The scene then devolves into a not-particularly funny dream/dance sequence, but...
That said, Thunder Force features one thing that myself and the internet simply cannot get enough of: Jason Bateman as mid-level crime boss Jerry the Crab, a dude with crab claws for hands. It’s exactly as goofy as it sounds. At one point, Bateman describes his Zodiac sign as being “you’d think Cancer,” then snaps his claws twice, before revealing that he’s actually a Capricorn. The scene then devolves into a not-particularly funny dream/dance sequence, but...
- 4/13/2021
- by Nick Harley
- Den of Geek
Blend one well-known name with scandal; add an appealing subject. Bake in theatrical visibility and fold in home-friendly pricing. Best served with stale alternatives. With this well-tested recipe for VOD success, the long-delayed “City of Lies” stands out this week.
The troubled 2018 film stars Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker as Los Angeles detectives investigating the murders of Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. Open Road filed for bankruptcy shortly after it acquired the film. Legal and pandemic issues followed, and then Saban stepped in. A March 19 theater release roused $565,000; two weeks later, it debuted on VOD. It’s a trajectory similar to the one recently enjoyed by the disgraced Armie Hammer, who stars opposite Gary Oldman in another VOD hit, “Crisis.”
Priced at $6.99, “City of Lies” took first place at AppleTV, #4 at GooglePlay (both ranking by number of rentals) and an impressive fourth place at FandangoNow (which lists by revenue earned...
The troubled 2018 film stars Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker as Los Angeles detectives investigating the murders of Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. Open Road filed for bankruptcy shortly after it acquired the film. Legal and pandemic issues followed, and then Saban stepped in. A March 19 theater release roused $565,000; two weeks later, it debuted on VOD. It’s a trajectory similar to the one recently enjoyed by the disgraced Armie Hammer, who stars opposite Gary Oldman in another VOD hit, “Crisis.”
Priced at $6.99, “City of Lies” took first place at AppleTV, #4 at GooglePlay (both ranking by number of rentals) and an impressive fourth place at FandangoNow (which lists by revenue earned...
- 4/13/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Like any effective superhero movie, “Thunder Force” leaves us with a lot of questions at the end, sparking hope for a sequel. But there’s one query in particular that we can answer right now: No, Melissa McCarthy didn’t actually eat raw chicken in the Netflix comedy-action flick.
Why would she? Well, as a side effect of gaining super strength, raw chicken is one of the few things Lydia’s (McCarthy) stomach can handle now. Naturally, Lydia is grossed out by the idea — until she actually eats some. Thanks to her new powers, the chicken is apparently both helpful and delicious, and Lydia is left with a near constant craving for it.
It even provides a bonding moment for Lydia and The Crab (Jason Bateman) later in the film, as he reveals he also has an affinity for the uncooked meat. It’s somehow adorable and disgusting all at once,...
Why would she? Well, as a side effect of gaining super strength, raw chicken is one of the few things Lydia’s (McCarthy) stomach can handle now. Naturally, Lydia is grossed out by the idea — until she actually eats some. Thanks to her new powers, the chicken is apparently both helpful and delicious, and Lydia is left with a near constant craving for it.
It even provides a bonding moment for Lydia and The Crab (Jason Bateman) later in the film, as he reveals he also has an affinity for the uncooked meat. It’s somehow adorable and disgusting all at once,...
- 4/12/2021
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
Photo: ‘Thunder Force’/Netflix In Defense of the Mindless Comedy ‘Thunder Force’ starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer was released on Netflix on April 9th, 2021. The film follows a scientist and her down-on-her-luck, ex-best friend as they use their superpowers to fight against the reign of miscreants, or supervillains, in their hometown of Chicago. ‘Thunder Force’ has an absolutely stacked cast that includes Jason Bateman, Bobby Cannavale, and Ben Falcone. The cast represents the best parts of the film; with all these legendary comedy stars, there’s no way the film wouldn’t be funny. Though it’s not perfect in any sense, it has a lot of humorous moments and a fun narrative at its core, which ultimately makes for a family-friendly, entertaining watch. Related article: The Complete List of 2021 Oscar Nominations – Celebrations, Surprises & Snubs | The Show Must Go On Related article: April Movies Release Schedule: The Most Accurate...
- 4/12/2021
- by Caroline Adamec
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer make for a good pair. McCarthy — as pottymouthed and unpredictable as she is implacably sincere — is a lit fuse. Next to that, Spencer — even-keeled and venerable, yet hardly humorless, and in her best roles just as unpredictable (see also: 2019’s Ma) — might be expected to come off like one of those bomb specialists in The Hurt Locker, there to temper the scene, rein things in, pull us all back down to earth lest McCarthy blow us all to bits. A good thing about Thunder Force,...
- 4/9/2021
- by K. Austin Collins
- Rollingstone.com
"Thunder Force", a new superhero action comedy feature, directed by Ben Falcone, stars Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as former best friends who gain superpowers through the magic of science and subsequently have a ton of fun together, streaming April 9, 2021 on Netflix:
"...in a world terrorized by super-villains, one woman has developed the process to give superpowers to regular people. But when scientist 'Emily Stanton' accidentally imbues her estranged best-friend with incredible abilities, the two women must become the first superhero team. Now, it is up to 'Thunder Force' to battle the super-powere
Click the images to enlarge... ...
"...in a world terrorized by super-villains, one woman has developed the process to give superpowers to regular people. But when scientist 'Emily Stanton' accidentally imbues her estranged best-friend with incredible abilities, the two women must become the first superhero team. Now, it is up to 'Thunder Force' to battle the super-powere
Click the images to enlarge... ...
- 4/9/2021
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
James Mangold directing latest entry in franchise.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has joined the cast of Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones 5, set to open on July 29, 2022.
Fleabag and Killing Eve creator Waller-Bridge will star opposite Harrison Ford, who reprises his role as the archaeologist with a taste for adventure in the fifth entry in the franchise.
James Mangold is directing the latest entry in the franchise, which launched with Raiders Of The Lost Ark opened in 1981, turned Ford into a household name, and has grossed more than an unadjusted $1.98bn over four instalments.
Steven Spielberg helmed the first four films and is...
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has joined the cast of Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones 5, set to open on July 29, 2022.
Fleabag and Killing Eve creator Waller-Bridge will star opposite Harrison Ford, who reprises his role as the archaeologist with a taste for adventure in the fifth entry in the franchise.
James Mangold is directing the latest entry in the franchise, which launched with Raiders Of The Lost Ark opened in 1981, turned Ford into a household name, and has grossed more than an unadjusted $1.98bn over four instalments.
Steven Spielberg helmed the first four films and is...
- 4/9/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Melissa McCarthy’s new movie, Thunder Force, is a superhero film. However, it’s also a comedy. And while it doesn’t go so far as to stray into the realm of parody, McCarthy knew there was a lot of humor to be mined from showing how a new superhero gets her bearings. So McCarthy told us that […]
The post To Melissa McCarthy, Becoming A Superhero Is Super-Funny appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post To Melissa McCarthy, Becoming A Superhero Is Super-Funny appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 4/9/2021
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
by Christopher James
Longtime friends McCarthy and Spencer in "Thunder Force."Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer are already acting superheroes. Over their long careers, they’ve stolen scenes from the best, been nominated for Oscars (with Spencer winning in 2011), and headlined comedy, drama and horror films. There’s nothing these women can’t do… until now. Thunder Force is their kryptonite. There’s no superpower in their arsenal that can save this comedy, which is completely devoid of laughs.
Thunder Force takes place in a world much like our own. The main difference: mysterious intergalactic rays touched down in the 80s and gave a few bad apples superpowers. These super individuals, called Miscreants, use their powers to terrorize everyone in sight. If only bad guys are given powers, how are the good guys ever going to prevail?...
Longtime friends McCarthy and Spencer in "Thunder Force."Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer are already acting superheroes. Over their long careers, they’ve stolen scenes from the best, been nominated for Oscars (with Spencer winning in 2011), and headlined comedy, drama and horror films. There’s nothing these women can’t do… until now. Thunder Force is their kryptonite. There’s no superpower in their arsenal that can save this comedy, which is completely devoid of laughs.
Thunder Force takes place in a world much like our own. The main difference: mysterious intergalactic rays touched down in the 80s and gave a few bad apples superpowers. These super individuals, called Miscreants, use their powers to terrorize everyone in sight. If only bad guys are given powers, how are the good guys ever going to prevail?...
- 4/9/2021
- by Christopher James
- FilmExperience
Netflix and Ben Falcone’s new movie, Thunder Force, is a comedy obsessed with superpowers. Octavia Spencer wants them, Melissa McCarthy stumbles into them, and a supremely bored looking Bobby Cannavale flaunts them. Everyone gets a power. Yet Thunder Force’s real gift isn’t those CGI tricks; it’s that like a humor-vampire, it can drain all the spark, charm, and wit from its talented cast, leaving behind the soulless carcass we have before us.
Greenlit by Netflix before the pandemic, Thunder Force is the exact kind of half-hearted laugher (read: with no actual laughs) that’s become Adam Sandler’s bread and butter on the streamer. You know, the type where good enough is never particularly good, and the most pressing question from the crew might be “when’s lunch?” Of course the greater shame in this is that a comedian as talented as McCarthy—who has actual...
Greenlit by Netflix before the pandemic, Thunder Force is the exact kind of half-hearted laugher (read: with no actual laughs) that’s become Adam Sandler’s bread and butter on the streamer. You know, the type where good enough is never particularly good, and the most pressing question from the crew might be “when’s lunch?” Of course the greater shame in this is that a comedian as talented as McCarthy—who has actual...
- 4/9/2021
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Imagine a world much like our own, but with one key difference: nearly 40 years ago, after an interplanetary blast of cosmic rays, some people were gifted with superpowers. There’s just one nefarious twist: the only people who gained these powers were likely to be sociopaths. So, in essence, what if, 40 years ago, supervillains […]
The post ‘Thunder Force’ Review: Yes, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Made Another Bad Movie appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Thunder Force’ Review: Yes, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Made Another Bad Movie appeared first on /Film.
- 4/9/2021
- by Josh Spiegel
- Slash Film
The word “Miscreants” is uttered nearly a dozen times within the first fifteen minutes of “Thunder Force,” Netflix’s new superhero comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer. It’s an absurd word to say repeatedly and an even more absurd way for writer-director Ben Falcone to drive home the point that his superhero world is filled with only super-powered “bad guys” and they’re terrible.
Continue reading ‘Thunder Force’: A Perfect Storm Of Lame & Unfunny Superhero Comedy [Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Thunder Force’: A Perfect Storm Of Lame & Unfunny Superhero Comedy [Review] at The Playlist.
- 4/9/2021
- by Mike DeAngelo
- The Playlist
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.