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Mort from Madagascar is an example of how the franchise's animals come in all shapes and sizes, from zoo animals to those found in the jungles and forests. Madagascar remains one of DreamWorks most successful animated franchises and has produced three movies, one spin-off film, three TV shows, a handful of shorts, and a series of video games. The three main movies in the franchise Madagascar (2005), Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008), and Madagascar 3: Europes Most Wanted (2012) follow the adventures of a quartet of animals from Central Park Zoo after theyre released from captivity.

The main Madagascar characters are voiced by an all-star cast, including Ben Stiller as Alex the lion, Chris Rock as a zebra named Marty, David Schwimmer as Melman the giraffe, and Jada Pinkett Smith as hippopotamus Gloria. A whole host of cute and funny animals make up the minor Madagascar characters, too, including four Adlie penguins named...

Madagascar did a wonderful job of introducing new characters that expanded the pop culture legacy of DreamWorks Animation. But one of the best things to come out of the movie directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath was the eventual development of The Penguins of Madagascar. The spinoff took the lovable gang of secret agents and turned them into the protagonists of their own adventure. And now, more than a decade after the project made its way to the big screen, The Penguins of Madagascar has found plenty of success on Freevee.

Quick Links What Is The Boss Baby About? What Makes Boss Baby Painfully Dumb? Positives of The Boss Baby

Back in 2017, DreamWorks brought viewers the most unusual baby with their production of The Boss Baby. Directed by Tom McGrath and based on a children's book of the same name by Marla Frazee, the animation brings to screens a demanding, bossy little baby in a suit, extremely different from the endearingly adorable babies in onesies that viewers are accustomed to seeing. The protagonist of the film, Boss Baby, is voiced by Alec Baldwin, with those such as Miles Bakshi (Tim), Jimmy Kimmel (Dad), Lisa Kudrow (Mom), Conrad Vernon (Eugene), and Steve Buscemi (Francis) rounding out the cast.

Having accumulated a worldwide gross of more than $527 million, the success of the first film prompted a TV series, titled The Boss Baby: Back in Business, in 2018. A sequel to the original film, The Boss Baby: Family Business,...

The middle film of a trilogy is usually forgettable, but Madagascar 2 is a standout exception in franchise history. Back to Africa raises the dramatic stakes with Alex's family dynamic, emotional depth, and a compelling narrative arc. The addition of talented voice actors, an immersive African setting, and a vibrant musical score make Madagascar 2 the best entry.

More often than not, the middle leg of a cinematic trilogy tends to be the least memorable, serving as filler without a satisfying introduction and conclusion. Of course, some exceptions can be found, such as The Godfather Part II, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Road Warrior. Moreover, when it comes to DreamWorks, their best work is often in the second installment of a trilogy just look at the Shrek series. The same can be said for the popular Madagascar trilogy, which began in 2005 and ended in 2013 with the release of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.

Animation is one of the most endearing genres in cinema, and even the lower-rated movies have a big fan club. DreamWorks has always created beautiful animated stories that capture the audience's imagination with compelling characters, enjoyable plotlines, and gorgeous visuals. While some movies like How to Train Your Dragon and Chicken Run have received rave reviews, others have not fared so well.

Rotten Tomatoes aggregates both critic and audience reviews, providing audiences with a balanced view of how a movie connects with audiences. Of all the 46 DreamWorks movies, 24 have been Certified Fresh on the site, but 11 have gotten less than satisfactory ratings. These are the lowest-rated DreamWorks movies.

Madagascar Was For Kids and Adults Alike Close

Rotten Tomatoes

IMDb Rating

55%

6.9/10

Madagascar took fans on an amazing journey when animals in captivity let curiosity get the better of them. Alex the lion, king of his Central Park Zoo in New York City,...

Arguably the best streaming service out there, thanks to its low price point, Peacock has a slew of exclusive content headed to its platform next month. As such, viewers will most certainly want to check out what there is to offer. Whether audiences prefer dramas or lighthearted animated films, there’s at least one film on Peacock worth adding to a viewer’s watchlist as March quickly approaches.

For those who enjoy watching movies as a family, plenty of child-appropriate films will soon be available, including a well-known franchise beloved by a myriad of people around the world. However, there are also two films that cover serious and complex topics that are most definitely unsuitable for younger audiences. Finally, the platform has an original documentary slated for release that will intrigue just about anyone. Given its plethora of content, there’s undoubtedly something everyone can enjoy next month. Here is...

There's a variety of techniques that movies use to impress audiences and capture their attention. As modern technology develops, cinema becomes more epic, forever pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

Slow-motion has long been a tool in many filmmakers' boxes, with some using it to strengthen a scene and its meaning. From slowing down a petrifying action shot to adding to the comedic effect of a sequence, there are a number of slow-motion scenes that are remembered by fans.

Madagascar is a Fun Animation for All Ages

Madagascar

A group of animals who have spent all their life in a New York zoo end up in the jungles of Madagascar, and must adjust to living in the wild. This is just the beginning of their many adventures around the world.

Created byMark Burton, Billy Frolick, Tom McGrath, Eric DarnellFirst FilmMadagascarLatest Filmpenguins of madagascarCastDavid Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, Ben...

DreamWorks Animation has made a belated Megamind sequel film and TV series. Here’s the trailer for Megamind Vs The Doom Syndicate and Megamind Rules…

After well over a decade in the animated film wilderness, 2010’s Megamind is making a belated return courtesy of DreamWorks Animation. In fact, it seems like Megamind-based entertainment is a bit like buses – you wait years for it to turn up, then a whole morass arrives more or less all at once.

Yesterday, DreamWorks Animation reminded the world via Twitter that it’s made both a film – called Megamind Vs The Doom Syndicate – and an eight-episode TV series, called Megamind Rules. Both will be released on the streaming channel, Peacock.

Let’s deal with the film first, and take a look at a synopsis, brought to us by the lovely Animation Magazine:

Megamind’s former villain team, The Doom Syndicate, has returned. Our newly...

Netflix has one of the most stacked content libraries in all of the entertainment industry, but to make space for the new content coming in every month the viewers still have to say goodbye to some of the existing content on Netflix. So, before your favorite film leaves your favorite streaming service here are CinemaBlind’s best picks for you to watch before they go away. While there are also some shows leaving Netflix in the first month of 2024, none of them are notable enough to put on this list and that’s it’s only consisting of movies. So, here are the best films leaving Netflix in January 2024.

Anchorman Film Series (January 1)

One of the most quotable and hilarious film series ever made is Will Ferrell’s Anchorman franchise. Adam McKay directed both of the films from a screenplay by the lead star Ferrell and the director himself. Anchorman...

Megamind Photo: Dreamworks

Megamind, 12.15pm, Film4, Monday, August 14

It’s a well known fact that the Devil gets all the best tunes and villians have a lot more personality than goodie-goodie heroes, especially in animation. After all, who wouldn’t take a night out with Dick Dastardly and Muttley over Peter Perfect and Penelope Pitstop? There's a complexity to Tom McGrath’s animation, however, that goes beyond hijinks and arguably makes it superior to the similarly themed Despicable Me. For all that he hates heroes blue bad guy (Will Ferrell) discovers it's tricky to be an evildoer if there's no superhero trying to stop you. Beyond a surprising amount of depth, there's some solid slapstick gags on offer and the action has plenty of verve but it's the excellent voice cast - also featuring Jonah Hill and Tina Fey - and strong storytelling that really make it a winner.

The Piano,...

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken combines the legend of a fearsome sea creature with something even more frightening: the teenage experience. The newest DreamWorks Animation film is funny and heartwarming and subverts myth and expectation alike with glee. The movie boasts an all-star cast that includes Lana Condor, Jane Fonda, Sam Richardson, and Will Forte, all of whom shine in their respective roles.

As evidenced by the new DreamWorks title card that plays before the movie, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is an official part of the studio’s storied legacy which includes beloved film franchises like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar. In an era of filmmaking ever more concerned with shared universes, it’s natural to wonder if and when DreamWorks characters such as those above will begin to cross between their individual worlds. When asked about potential worlds Ruby Gillman could join, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken director Kirk DeMicco...

Megamind Photo: Dreamworks

Megamind, 11am, Film4, Tuesday, April 4

Everyone knows that supervillains have more fun - but there's more to Tom McGrath's animation than just hi-jinks. There's a complexity here that goes beyond the similarly themed Despicable Me, as the blue baddie (Will Ferrell) discovers it's tricky to be an evildoer if there's no superhero trying to stop you. Beyond a surprising amount of depth, there's some solid slapstick gags on offer and the action has plenty of verve but it's the excellent voice cast - also featuring Jonah Hill and Tina Fey - and strong storytelling that really make it a winner. Read our full review.

Stardust, 6.30pm, Film4, Tuesday, April 4

If you're looking for a family-friendly film that all ages can enjoy, this Neil Gaiman adaptation is a perfect choice. Charlie Cox stars as a young man who pledges to go on a quest into the neighbouring magical.

The Boss Baby 2 is a film that thrives in the notion of imagination, with a nostalgic look back to our own childhoods, and how we vicariously live through our own offspring. When speaking to director Tom McGrath, we discussed the themes of the movie, and whether he too has a blissful, imaginative outlook on life. He speaks about the collaboration process with Alec Baldwin, not to mention the new addition to the cast of Jeff Goldblum, while he comments on his approach to filmmaking in regards to sequels, and at what stage he allows himself to start conjuring new stories and ideas.

Watch the full interview with Tom McGrath here:

Synopsis

The Templeton brothers have become adults and drifted away from each other, but a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach is about to bring them together again – and inspire a new family business.

The Boss Baby 2 is available now on DVD,...

Four of the top animated films of the year sought to take us to very different worlds. One showed an astronaut trying to survive after his spaceship crash lands on a strange small planet while another shows a robot uprising on Earth instigated by a vengeful AI system. Another shows us a school that looks to make parents obsolete and the other displays a world of singing animals trying to make it in show business. In a recent discussion we got to hear the filmmakers behind these projects talk about their influences in animation and what lessons they’ve learned over the course of their careers. Gold Derby recently got to ask these questions with Joe Mateo (“Blush”), Tom McGrath (“The Boss Baby: Family Business”), Kurt Albrecht (“The Mitchells vs. the Machines”) and Garth Jennings (“Sing 2”) during our recent Meet the Experts panel.

You can watch the film animation...

Even though “The Boss Baby” is based on a children’s book, the director of both the original and the sequel, Tom McGrath, leaned into his relationship with his own brother for the sequel. “We kind of lost touch, but I was always envious of him because he had two beautiful sons and a family and I never had kids,” McGrath tells Gold Derby in our Meet the Experts: Film Animation panel (watch the exclusive video interview above). In making these movies, he aimed to get a specific reaction from his brother. “At the first movie, I just wanted to make him cry, which worked and then this one, it was the same reaction.”

“The Boss Baby: Family Business” takes place with the two brothers from the first film, Ted (Alec Baldwin) and Tim (James Marsden), now grown up and estranged. They’re forced to reconnect when Tim’s baby daughter,...

Four top animation filmmakers join us for in-depth discussions of the greatest challenges they face on the job and what inspires them as creative people. Watch our individual interviews with Joe Mateo (‘Blush’), Tom McGrath (‘The Boss Baby: Family Business’), Kurt Albrecht (‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’) and Garth Jennings (‘Sing 2’). Afterward, see all four guests gather for a lively discussion moderated by Gold Derby contributing editor Charles Bright.

Four top animation filmmakers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022 Oscar and guild contenders. Each person from these films will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Tuesday, November 23, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our contributing editor Charles Bright and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.

RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series of 17 panels in November and December. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 awards contenders:

“Blush”: Joe Mateo

Synopsis: A stranded horticulturist-astronaut meets an ethereal visitor on a desolate dwarf planet.

“The Boss Baby: Family Business...

When developing a sequel to the animated hit and Oscar-nominated The Boss Baby, director Tom McGrath drew on his own relationship with his brother, a dynamic that came up as McGrath and producer Jeff Hermann discussed The Boss Baby: Family Business on Sunday at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles awards-season event.

“We fought all the time, were were very competitive, but at the end of the day there was enough love to go around for the both of us,” McGrath said.

The sequel even lifts a real event from McGrath’s youth: McGrath missed his brother’s wedding because he was just beginning school at CalArts. In the film, the Boss Baby (voice of Alec Baldwin) apologizes to Tim (James Marsden) for missing his wedding.

“In a way, I was always envious of my brother because I was so focused on career and never had a family,” McGrath said.

Disney’s upcoming animated film “Encanto” will be featured in a special virtual presentation on Friday, Oct. 22, during the View Conference 2021. The panel, which is free to registrants like the rest of the conference, will begin at noon Pt.

On hand to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s vibrant visuals will be co-director Byron Howard, production designer Ian Gooding and assistant production designer Lorelay Bové.

Howard co-directed the film with Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith. “Encanto,” which features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, follows the Madrigal family who live in an enchanted Colombian village. Every family member has a special power except for Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz), who must go on a quest to save her family and town.

The presentation will take place on the last day of the conference, which opens Sunday, Oct. 17. View Conference, now in its 22nd year, will be both virtual and in-person,...

Mumbai, Oct 4 (Ians) Animated movie ‘The Boss Baby 2: Family Business’ is scheduled to release in India on October 8. The film is a sequel to the 2017 film ‘The Boss Baby’, which starred Alec Baldwin as the title character. Like its predecessor, the new film, directed by Tom McGrath and written by Michael […]...

Academy Award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins will receive the Visionary Award at the 2021 View Conference, which runs from Oct. 17 to Oct. 22 in Turin, Italy, with both in-person and virtual events.

“Roger Deakins is one of the true living legends of filmmaking,” says conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez[/link]. “Throughout his career, he has captured some of the most iconic and memorable images ever committed to the screen, from Tim Robbins exulting in the rain in “The Shawshank Redemption” to Ryan Gosling exploring a dust-shrouded Las Vegas in “Blade Runner 2049.” Roger’s unique vision is unparalleled and it is a privilege to honor his achievements at View Conference 2021 by presenting him with this year’s View Visionary Award.”

Deakins will also take part in a Q&a with “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise director Dean DeBlois at the conference on Oct. 20 beginning at noon Pt.

Deakins has been nominated for the Oscar for cinematography 15 times,...

“The Boss Baby: Family Business” director Tom McGrath will be the keynote speaker at the 22nd View Conference, which will be held from Oct. 17-22 in Turin, Italy.

The DreamWorks Animation feature is the sixth film McGrath has made with the studio. He is the co-writer and co-director of the “Madagascar” movies, and he directed Dwa’s “Megamind” in 2010. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2017 for “The Boss Baby.” His films have generated nearly $3 billion at the box office worldwide.

The View Conference gathers together some of the top professionals in the areas of animation, visual effects, computer graphics, games, interactive and immersive media, virtual production and more for a week of keynote addresses, talks, presentations and workshops. Early bird ticket prices are available now through Aug. 31 at the View Conference website.

Other speakers from the world of animation include “Wolfwalkers” director Tomm Moore; Kris Pearn, director of...

Attention all you film buffs, Gold Derby’s predictions center has officially opened for this weekend’s box office, July 23 – July 25. Beginning right now you can forecast which movies will earn the #1 through #5 spots on the domestic U.S. chart. You can also predict how much money the weekend’s highest-grossing film will rake in. Hurry and make your first predictions right now — it’s fun and easy! Each weekend the eligible user with the highest prediction accuracy will win a $100 Amazon gift card, eternal bragging rights and a spot on our box office 2021 leaderboard.

Coming to theaters this weekend are a couple of movies destined to be blockbusters. “Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” (dir. Robert Schwentke) stars Henry Golding as the titular action figure come to life. This is the third film in the action-adventure franchise following “The Rise of Cobra” (2009) and “Retaliation” (2013). And “Old” (dir. M. Night Shyamalan...

For two months you’ve been able to predict the weekly box office results at Gold Derby, but now we are shifting our predictions game to reflect the weekend box office results. That’s right, beginning right now you can forecast which movies will earn the #1 through #5 spots on the U.S. box office chart for Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18. You can also predict how much money the weekend’s highest-grossing film will rake in domestically. Hurry and make your first predictions right now — it’s fun and easy.

Coming to theaters this weekend are a couple of movies destined to be blockbusters. “Space Jam: A New Legacy” (dir. Malcolm D. Lee) is a spiritual sequel to “Space Jam” (1996), with LeBron James taking over for Michael Jordan; don’t worry, the Looney Tunes characters aren’t being replaced by anyone. And “Escape Room: Tournament of Champions” (dir. Adam Robitel...

The Boss Baby: Family Business — the sequel to Dreamworks Animation’s 2017 comedy — opens in theaters this weekend, reuniting boss baby Ted (Alec Baldwin) with his older brother, Tim (James Marsden). In the film, helmed by Tom McGrath, the brothers are both now adults and embark on a new mission with Tim’s infant Tina (Amy Sedaris), a top secret agent for Baby Corp.

Based on the books by Marla Frazee, McGrath developed the Family Business story with screenwriter Michael McCullers. McGrath previously directed the original Boss Baby and the three films in Dwa’s Madagascar series (while voicing Skipper the penguin).

Tell us about returning ...

The Boss Baby: Family Business — the sequel to Dreamworks Animation’s 2017 comedy — opens in theaters this weekend, reuniting boss baby Ted (Alec Baldwin) with his older brother, Tim (James Marsden). In the film, helmed by Tom McGrath, the brothers are both now adults and embark on a new mission with Tim’s infant Tina (Amy Sedaris), a top secret agent for Baby Corp.

Based on the books by Marla Frazee, McGrath developed the Family Business story with screenwriter Michael McCullers. McGrath previously directed the original Boss Baby and the three films in Dwa’s Madagascar series (while voicing Skipper the penguin).

Tell us about returning ...

Ever since the Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” there’s been an uptick in experimenting with more graphic 2D animation styles, including Oscar winner “Soul,” and this season’s contenders “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” and “Luca.” You can add “The Boss Baby: Family Business” (opening theatrically and streaming on Peacock Independence weekend), as DreamWorks leans more heavily into retro-looking fantasy than in the blockbuster original. That’s because director Tom McGrath applied his passion for classic hand-drawn animation as a celebration of childhood imagination.

In fact, the graphically surreal centerpiece revolves around Cat Stevens’ beloved ode to non-conformity, “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out” (from “Harold and Maude”) sung by James Marsden and Ariana Greenblatt (voicing father Tim and daughter Tabitha). Tim is transformed into a child once again and joins Tabitha in a pink and purple sea of yellow trumpets and floral shapes, along with more colorful and dreamy imagery,...

Universal’s “The Forever Purge,” the fifth and final movie in “The Purge” horror franchise, and the animated family sequel “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” each made $1.3 million at Thursday preview screenings ahead of the 4th of July weekend.

Both films figure to perform strongly over the long weekend in theaters, and with “F9” still going strongly, there’s a chance Universal can take the top 3 spots at the box office. “F9” earned $4.9 million on Thursday and is expected to finish its second weekend in theaters at No. 1.

“The Forever Purge” made $1.33 million from 2,550 theaters with showings that began at 7 p.m., and it opens on 3,051 screens this weekend. And “Boss Baby” made $1.31 million with preview screenings that began at 4:00 p.m. across 2,700 screens. It opens wide on 3,640 North American theaters, but it also opens in a hybrid release on NBCUniversal’s streaming platform Peacock.

Universal’s “The Forever Purge...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on July 1st, 2021, reviewing the new animated film “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” in theaters and streaming on the Peacock Network on July 2nd.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

In this sequel to the 2017 hit, the story centers on the Templeton brothers, the Boss Baby Theodore (voice of Alec Baldwin) and Tim (James Marsden). When Tim’s baby daughter Tina (Amy Sedaris) takes on the characteristics of her Uncle Boss Baby, it’s up to Theodore and Tim to magically transform themselves to their younger personas and do an assignment for Baby Corp … to infiltrate a private grade school run by the eccentric Dr. Armstrong (Jeff Goldblum).

“The Boss Baby: Family Business” opens in theaters and streams on the Peacock Network beginning July 2nd. Featuring the voices of Alec Baldwin, James Marsden, Amy Sedaris, Jeff Goldblum, Eva Longoria,...

All week long, Gold Derby users have been making their predictions for what film will win the U.S. box office for the week of July 2 – July 8. Leading our odds is “F9” (dir. Justin Lin), the latest movie in the ever-popular “Fast & Furious” franchise starring Vin Diesel as reformed criminal Dom Toretto. Universal Pictures’ car-racing action flick dominated last weekend’s box office with a pandemic record of $70 million, and now our readers think it will prevail again, with “The Boss Baby: Family Business” being their second place choice.

Agree or disagree with our readers’ odds? Hurry — you still have 24 hours to make your box office predictions at Gold Derby. The cutoff time is Thursday at 5 p.m. Pt. Financial numbers and rankings are based upon weekly data (Friday-Thursday) featured at Variety Insight. The eligible user with the best predictions score will win a $100 Amazon gift certificate. (Read contest rules.

Well, they made a sequel to “The Boss Baby.” The 2017 DreamWorks film, extremely loosely based on Marla Frazee’s children’s book series, bet big on the appeal of a dyspeptic, super-intelligent, black-suited infant speaking with the voice of Alec Baldwin while doing un-babylike things, and it was a bet that paid off handsomely, to the tune of half a billion in worldwide box office and an Oscar nomination. Arriving in theaters earlier that initially planned, with a simultaneous streaming bow on Peacock, “The Boss Baby: Family Business” is making a similarly big bet that family audiences, otherwise bereft of new attractions, are ready to return to theaters. The film itself, unfortunately, is generally less interesting than the business matters behind it, a thoroughly competent affair that tosses in just enough off-the-wall elements to liven up a fairly basic retread of the original’s formula.

And honestly, kudos to returning...

More than a half-billion dollars in box office can’t be wrong — can it? When Tom McGrath’s smash hit “The Boss Baby” made $528 million worldwide in spring 2017, the natural response was Well, when can we make more? No worries that McGrath’s film already stretched out award-winning author Marla Frazee’s picture book into feature length or that it ended with a pretty tidy conclusion in which eponymous boss baby, voiced by Alec Baldwin, decides to become a regular, non-boss baby. The world wants more Boss Baby; why should logic deny them?

By 2018, Netlix had rolled out its answer: television series “The Boss Baby: Back in Business,” which didn’t just stretch out a picture book into nearly two hours like its predecessor, but which somehow managed to craft a gobsmacking four seasons of material from what was essentially that film’s post-script. Now, McGrath’s Universal movie “The Boss Baby: Family Business...

The lore of the “Boss Baby” universe is as extensive as it is bewildering. Loosely based on the book by Marla Frazee, 2017’s “The Boss Baby” — which was, shockingly, Oscar nominated — covered the existence of Baby Corp, the company in the sky that creates infants and sends them to Earth either to be raised by human parents or on missions to ensure babies’ hegemony as the most loved creatures. (Puppies are a close runner-up.)

A magical milk formula prevents those chosen ones from growing up, and a whole protocol à la “Men in Black” erases the memories of the adults who received these babies in suits that were never meant to be part of the family but just transient employees for the corporation.

All of these plot points remain in place for the sequel, “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” which follows the franchise’s Netflix spin-off series. With director Tom McGrath,...

Usually, the weekend before the release of a Marvel film would be devoid of any box office newcomers. But in this post-covid Fourth of July weekend, Universal is taking the polar opposite strategy by releasing not one but two films — DreamWorks’ “The Boss Baby: Family Business” and Blumhouse’s “The Forever Purge” — alongside the second weekend of “F9.”

It’s just the latest distribution experiment in a year full of them, and it could lead to some rare sights on this weekend’s charts. Universal notes that if its three current releases take the top three spots on the July 4 charts — and that is very likely considering both new releases are projected for openings of over $10 million — it would become the first studio since 2005 to do a podium sweep of the box office. The last to do so was Sony Pictures with “Hitch,” “Boogeyman,” and “Are We There Yet?” during a light February release period.

After raising the bar on what a movie can open to during the pandemic with F9‘s $70M weekend, Universal is adding a wide-release one-two punch to the weekend with the debut of two titles geared at two different demos: DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby: Family Business, which is set to do $15M+, and Blumhouse’s The Forever Purge, which is looking at $10M+ over three days.

Together with the second weekend of the studio’s F9, which is speeding toward another $28M (-60%), all three movies will not only own the top three spots at the B.O. for Uni, but bring the studio a weekend of $53M+. It will mark the first time since February 11-13, 2005, that a major studio has owned the top three spots at the domestic weekend box office, the last being Sony with Hitch, Boogeyman and Are We There Yet? Boss Baby 2 is...

Alec Baldwin has worked with some of Hollywood’s great directors: Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Tim Burton, Oliver Stone, Mike Nichols, and more. So it may come as a bit of a surprise when he talks about the two Boss Baby movies and their director, Tom McGrath. When we spoke to Baldwin, he told us he […]

The post To Alec Baldwin, The ‘Boss Baby’ Movies Rule! appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

DreamWorks Animation comes to the Annecy Animation Festival again on a wave of success: last spring, despite the pandemic and theater closures, “Trolls World Tour” hit a limited number of venues but really hit big on-demand, while “Croods: A New Age” reaped pent-up demand at theaters in the fall and winter as venues opened around the world. Its TV animation unit boasts buzzy hits such as “Trollhunters,” “Tales of Arcadia: Wizards” and “3Below: Tales of Arcadia” from Guillermo del Toro, “Voltron Legendary Defender,” “She-Ra,” “Spirit Riding Free” as well as spinoffs from “Madagascar,” “Fast and Furious,” “Kung Fu Panda” and ‘How to Train Your Dragon.”

This year at Annecy, DreamWorks is showcasing “Spirit Untamed,” “The Boss Baby: Family Business” and “Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans.” All works will be the focus of panels at Annecy, with del Toro leading the “Titans.”

“We’ve been going to Annecy for years,” says DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn,...

In the sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s Oscar®-nominated blockbuster comedy, the Templeton brothers - Tim and his Boss Baby little bro Ted (Alec Baldwin) - have become adults and drifted away from each other. Tim is now a married stay-at-home dad. Ted is a hedge fund CEO. But a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach and a can-do attitude is about to bring them together again… and inspire a new family business.

Tim and his wife, Carol (Eva Longoria), the breadwinner of the family, live in the suburbs with their super-smart 7-year-old daughter Tabitha, and adorable new infant Tina. Tabitha, who’s at the top her class at the prestigious Acorn Center for Advanced Childhood, idolizes her Uncle Ted and wants to become like him, but Tim, still in touch with his overactive youthful imagination, worries that she’s working too hard and is missing out on a normal childhood.

Even though Universal jumpstarted the summer box office overseas this past weekend with F9‘s $163M opening, the studio feels the need to take DreamWorks Animation sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business and put it on its Peacock streaming service on July 2, day-and-date with its theatrical release. The pic moves up from its most recent theatrical release of Sept. 17.

While Universal rubbed exhibition the wrong way during the pandemic, specifically AMC, when it decided to release Trolls World Tour theatrical day-and-date and on PVOD (ultimately grossing $100M stateside at one point) when theaters were closed, this is the first time that Universal Filmed Entertainment Group is capitalizing on its frosh Peacock service with a theatrical-day-and-date release, even though other studios like Disney and WarnerMedia have already attempted this with their own respective streaming services.

The Boss Baby: Family Business will play on the two uppermost premium tiers of Peacock, which...

Move comes after Universal’s F9 stormed to $163m theatrical-only international debut.

In the first major day-and-date play to boost subscribers at parent company NBCUniversal’s Peacock, Universal has moved up the release of DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby: Family Business from September 17 to July 2 and set a hybrid theatrical and streaming launch.

The move comes after F9’s $163m international launch weekend in eight markets and demonstrates the volatile nature of the post-pandemic distribution model.

While Universal delayed the release of F9 several times to preserve its theatrical exclusivity and launched it in markets where cinema-going has made a robust return,...

Move comes after Universal’s F9 stormed to $163m theatrical-only international debut.

In the first major day-and-date play for parent company NBCUniversal’s Peacock, Universal has moved up the release of DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby: Family Business from September 17 to July 2 and set a day-and-date theatrical and streaming launch.

The move comes after F9’s $163m international launch weekend in eight markets and demonstrates the volatile nature of a post-pandemic distribution model.

While Universal delayed the release of F9 several times to preserve its theatrical exclusivity and launched it in markets where cinema-going has made a robust return,...

The Bad Guys based on book series by Aaron Blabey.

Universal Pictures has moved DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby: Family Business back from March 26, 2021, to September 17, 2021.

The film featuring the voice talents of Alec Baldwin and James Marsden fills the slot now vacated by DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys, which is unset and will open on a 2022 date to be announced in the coming weeks.

Lisa Kudrow, Jimmy Kimmel, Eva Longoria, Ariana Greenblatt, and Amy Sedaris also feature in The Boss Baby sequel, in which the Templeton brothers have grown up and are somewhat estranged – the eponymous...

Fans of the Alec Baldwin-voiced “Boss Baby” are going to have to wait a little longer to get their fix, as the animated comedy has been moved from its planned March 26 release date to Sept. 17, 2021.

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation announced today that the animated sequel, “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” would move from spring to fall. The move also means that DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming film “The Bad Guys,” which was set for the September date, is now currently unset, though a new 2022 release date will be announced in coming weeks.

Released in 2017, the original “Boss Baby” took in more than $520 million at the worldwide box office and was nominated for an Academy Award for best animated feature. The sequel follows the Templeton Brothers, Tim (voiced by James Marsden) and little brother Ted, who are now all grown up and have grown apart. Jeff Goldblum, Eva Longoria and...

Universal and DreamWorks Animation have tweaked their 2021 release schedule, moving the sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business from March to September. The shift to the new release date, September 17, had been the spot for Dwa’s The Bad Guys, which is unset for now and will get a 2022 release. Universal made the announcement Monday.

Boss Baby 2 had been set for a March 26, 2021 release but most theatrical releases are in flux owing to the coronavirus pandemic that has decimated the domestic exhibition business, which as of now has only 60% of its screens in operation in the U.S. and Canada — and none in the key Los Angeles and New York City markets.

Tom McGrath returns to direct the second installment of the Boss Baby franchise; the first pic grossed more than $500 million worldwide and earned an Animated Feature Oscar nomination. Alec Baldwin also returns as the lead voice for the new...

“The Boss Baby: Family Business,” the animated sequel from Universal and DreamWorks Animation, has been pushed back from a March 26, 2021 release date to now open in the fall.

“The Boss Baby” sequel will now debut on Sept. 17, 2021. It’s taking the place of DreamWorks’ animated “The Bad Guys,” which is currently unset but will have a new release date in 2022 within the coming weeks.

Alec Baldwin and James Marsden both return for the sequel, along with newcomers Amy Sedaris and Jeff Goldblum. In the second installment, Baldwin and Marsden play grown adults who are turned back into toddlers and have to work with the newest member of their Boss Baby family in order to foil a plot to turn kids bad.

The original “Boss Baby” made $527.9 million worldwide back in 2017. “Family Business” has director Tom McGrath and producer Jeff Hermann returning to the sequel.

“The Bad Guys” is based on...

The boss needs a bit more time off.

Universal announced Monday that DreamWorks Animation’s sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business is pushing back its release date in theaters from March 26, 2021 to Sept. 17, 2021.

In a twinned move, Dwa’s Bad Guys, which had been set to open on Sept. 17, is unset for now. A 2022 release date will be announced in the coming weeks.

Hollywood studios continue to rearrange their upcoming calendars amid the ongoing pandemic, which has resulted in theater closures and production delays,

Boss Baby 2 reunites director Tom McGrath and voice star Alec Baldwin. Lisa ...

The boss needs a bit more time off.

Universal announced Monday that DreamWorks Animation’s sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business is pushing back its release date in theaters from March 26, 2021 to Sept. 17, 2021.

In a twinned move, Dwa’s Bad Guys, which had been set to open on Sept. 17, is unset for now. A 2022 release date will be announced in the coming weeks.

Hollywood studios continue to rearrange their upcoming calendars amid the ongoing pandemic, which has resulted in theater closures and production delays,

Boss Baby 2 reunites director Tom McGrath and voice star Alec Baldwin. Lisa ...

Universal Pictures has launched the first trailer for the ‘The Boss Baby 2: Family Business’, is it just us or does the adult Ted remind anyone of Donald Trump?

In the sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s Oscar®-nominated blockbuster comedy, the Templeton brothers—Tim (James Marsden) and his Boss Baby little bro Ted (Alec Baldwin)—have become adults and drifted away from each other. Tim is now a married stay-at-home dad. Ted is a hedge fund CEO. But a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach and a can-do attitude is about to bring them together again … and inspire a new family business.

(from left) Tabitha Templeton (Ariana Greenblatt), Tina Templeton (Amy Sedaris), Carol Templeton (Eva Longoria) and Tim Templeton (James Marsden) in DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby: Family Business, directed by Tom McGrath.

Tim and his wife, Carol (Eva Longoria), the breadwinner of the family, live in the...

DreamWorks Animation has unveiled the new trailer for The Boss Baby: Family Business. The sequel to the Academy Award-nominated first installment is all set to open in theaters on March 26th, 2021. For a while, the upcoming movie was one of the only productions that was able to keep on schedule during the pandemic, thanks to technology allowing for remote working. Producer Jeff Hermann says, "Apart from just a few weeks of figuring out how to get the technology in place quickly to make it possible, it was mostly a pretty smooth transition."

In the sequel to the Oscar-nominated blockbuster comedy, the Templeton brothers-Tim (James Marsden) and his Boss Baby little brother Ted (Alec Baldwin)-have become adults and drifted away from each other. Tim is now a married stay-at-home dad. Ted is a hedge fund CEO. But a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach and a can-do attitude is...

In the upcoming animated sequel to “The Boss Baby,” Alec Baldwin’s titular character may have grown up, but he still acts like a toddler and bickers with his brother played by James Marsden. So he’s in for a shock when his new baby niece (voiced by Amy Sedaris) develops a formula that will turn him back into an infant.

That’s the setup for “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” with former Boss Baby Ted Templeton reverting back to toddler and now on the run from a swarm of baby ninjas. And because he learns he can’t throw money at every problem, he’ll have to go to work for his enterprising new niece.

“I hate to interrupt, it was a riveting conversation, but why don’t you both suck it,” Sedaris says as the new Boss Baby kicking a pacifier into her uncle and father’s mouths.