News

Streaming is proving to be the right home for a thriller that received solid reviews upon release but sadly faltered somewhat at the box office. Directed by Zoë Kravitz and starring Channing Tatum, Blink Twice had a relatively short run in theaters when it was released in August last year, but it did find some success once it topped the digital rentals chart after its PVOD debut. Now, with the film being available on streaming via Prime Video, it finally has even more eyes on it.

According to Prime Video's "Top Ten Chart," Blink Twice debuted at number six and currently sits in second place, ahead of Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez. It's clear the movie is resonating with the streaming audience and could find itself at the top of the chart soon. The film found similar success when it debuted on PVOD, hitting number one during its first week of availability.

Blink Twice (2024), the directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz, takes us to a disturbing and satisfying ending after introducing us to the vacation of our dreams. The psychological thriller takes inspiration from a lot of classic movies but also presents a pretty fresh take on the powers that abusers are often given in the modern world despite being called out for their deeds. Kravitz, who has co-written the film with E.T. Feigenbaum, presents darkly comical social commentary in the guise of a vacation gone wrong thriller. It features a creepy good turn from Channing Tatum and a screenplay that keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end.

In the following article, we will take a detailed look at all the twists and turns that you will see in Blink Twice, including a discussion of its wild ending and what it means. Please be aware that this will...

In 2024, Zoë Kravitz further expanded her credits in the film industry by making her directorial debut. Her film, Blink Twice, received mostly positive reviews, and it's now officially heading to streaming.

Per When to Stream, Blink Twice will be available to stream on Prime Video on Jan. 21. Kravitz directed and produced the thriller, which stars an amazing cast of famous names like Channing Tatum, Naomi Ackie, Alia Shawkat, Adria Arjona, Simon Rex, Geena Davis, Christian Slater, Haley Joel Osment, Levon Thurman-Hawke, and Kyle MacLachlan. It premiered on Aug. 23, 2024.

Related MrBeast Sets Major Streaming Record With Prime Video Series

The popular YouTuber's competition show has had 50M viewers globally

Kravitz co-wrote Blink Twice with E.T. Feigenbaum. The movie was originally titled Pussy Island, but the actor-turned-director had to change the title after getting pushback from the MPA, women, and theaters.

The official longline reads, "When tech billionaire Slater King meets cocktail...

This article contains discussions of sexual assault and abuse.

Blink Twice reveals that Frida (Naomi Ackie) and the other women who've been invited to Slater King's (Channing Tatum) private island are having their memories erased — nightly. The psychological thriller's terrifying twist only gets darker when the reasoning behind Slater's memory-erasing scheme comes to light. The billionaire tech mogul and his entourage of male friends — Vic (Christian Slater), Cody (Simon Rex), and Tom (Haley Joel Osment) — take pleasure in abusing and assaulting the women in the group. Erasing the survivors' memories means the men can continue abusing the women without being held accountable.

As Blink Twice's ending reiterates, the film is all about power dynamics, and the way those with power have absolute control over those without it. At the start of Zoë Kravitz's directorial debut, Frida and her best friend, Jess (Alia Shawkat), are exhausted cocktail waitresses who jump...

Andrew Schulz is back in hot water, this time for an ill-received rant about Kendrick Lamar that left fans unimpressed. Known for chasing relevance through controversy, Schulz’s routine relies heavily on offensive humor and shock value, which many argue is less ‘fearless’ and more desperate.

Levon Hawke and Andrew Schulz in The Thicket (2024) | Image via Tubi

His latest ‘joke’ about Lamar is no different, fans called it tasteless and tired, accusing him of recycling the same worn-out tactics to stay in the spotlight. Instead of evolving his comedy, Schulz seems to have been stuck on provoking outrage as a strategy. Here is what’s happening! And to know that one has to go to the beginning of it all.

Did Kendrick Lamar Take a Shot at Andrew Schulz?

Kendrick Lamar shook fans last month with a surprise album drop, Gnx, and the internet quickly jumped to dissect every lyric.

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Adria Arjona is quickly becoming one of the most prominent names in Hollywood and after her beloved roles as Bix Caleen in Star Wars: Andor and Madison Figueroa Masters in Hit Man, she has proven herself to be more than a capable performer. The Puerto Rican actress began her acting career with small television roles in Emily and True Detective but is now getting lead roles because of her talent. So, if you also love Arjona’s performances here are the 7 best movies and TV shows starring Adria Arjona.

7. Triple Frontier (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Triple Frontier is an action-adventure film directed by J.C. Chandor who also co-wrote the film with Mark Boal. The 2018 film revolves around five friends who are also former special forces operatives as they reunite to take down a South American drug lord and steal...

Channing Tatum and Zoë Kravitz’s story feels like a perfect mix of Hollywood glamour and genuine chemistry. Since sparking romance rumors in 2021, they’ve kept fans guessing with their low-key but undeniably charming relationship. Both were fresh out of long-term relationships, with Tatum having recently finalized his divorce from Jenna Dewan in 2019, with whom he shares a daughter, Everly.

Channing Tatum and Zoë Kravitz behind the scenes on Blink Twice | Credit: Warner Bros.

Meanwhile, Kravitz had just ended her marriage to Karl Glusman in late 2020, finalizing their divorce in August 2021. By that same month, she was spotted out with Tatum, sparking curiosity about how the two stars first met and what brought them together.

How did Channing Tatum and Zoë Kravitz first cross paths?

The roots of Tatum and Kravitz’s relationship go back to 2017 when they both lent their voices to The Lego Batman Movie. Voice actors typically record their parts solo,...

Levon Hawke, the son of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, made his directorial debut with the new play Picture Day and he had celebrity support during its closing weekend.

Picture Day, a play that Levon wrote, had its world premiere production with a two-week run at Quick & Dirty Theatre Company in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Channing Tatum and Zoe Kravitz were among the stars who checked out the play this past weekend. Levon‘s mom Uma and his sister Maya Hawke also stopped by to support!

Levon worked with Channing and Zoe on their movie Blink Twice, which was released in theaters this past summer. He played the role of Lucas in the film!

Here’s the play’s synopsis, via BroadwayWorld: “The play explores the hidden lives we all lead and the unspoken truths that shape us. Set in an ordinary living room, it follows five roommates as they navigate pseudo-family dynamics,...

Juliette Lewis is without a doubt one of Hollywood's most underrated yet phenomenal performers, with the talented actress starring in a slew of eclectic films over her more than 30-year career. From acclaimed pictures like Cape Fear, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and The Basketball Diaries to edgy classics like Natural Born Killers and From Dusk till Dawn, Lewis has proven that she can brilliantly transform herself for any character or genre and do so spectacularly.

She once again showcased her dazzling skills in front of the camera when she appeared alongside Game of Thrones alum Peter Dinklage in the riveting Western thriller The Thicket, an adaptation of the Joe R. Lansdale novel of the same name. In the captivating film, Lewis embraces her dark and depraved side and stars as the sadistic killer Cutthroat Bill, a role that was gender-swapped for the big screen extravaganza. Let's take a closer look...

After hitting theaters in August, Blink Twice starring Channing Tatum has become a VOD hit. Directed by Zo Kravitz, the film stars Tatum as Slater King, a billionaire who brings cocktail waitress Frida (Naomie Ackie) to his private island for a party, with female guests soon starting to question their reality. Also starring Alia Shawkat, Christian Slater, and Adria Arjona, Blink Twice reviews were generally positive from critics, and, after a soft start, the film grossed $67.9 million at the worldwide box office.

A new report from IndieWire now reveals that Blink Twice occupies the top spot on both the iTunes and Fandango at Home VOD charts. The thriller beats a number of other recent releases on both charts, including Twisters (2024) Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), The Crow (2024), and Inside Out 2. Check out both the iTunes and Fandango at Home VOD charts below:

Rank

iTunes

Fandango at Home...

Gbenga Akinnagbe, Leslie Grace, and Levon Hawke couldnt have come from more wonderfully disparate origins. Akinnagbe had been stamping an unmistakable imprint on many beloved original series, while Grace climbed the Billboard Charts, then the Gotham City skyline. Hawke, by contrast, cut his teeth acting under Zo Kravitz in her directorial debut Blink Twice and lovingly composing music with his sister, Maya Hawke. Now Grace, Hawke, and Akinnagbe are performing together as an ensemble in Elliott Lesters new Western The Thicket.

Quick Links The Cruelty of a King in Blink Twice A Second Viewing of Blink Twice Reveals the Horror in Plain Sight

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers for Blink TwiceBlink Twice, the directorial debut by Zo Kravitz, is a twisted and gilded euphoric fancy that explores the horrors of power and sexual abuse. Starring Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie, Blink Twice is a wonderfully engrossing film that finely explores the depths of human depravity. A thrilling moment that combines both mystery and drama, the film offers a compelling view of the nature of abuse. However, it is only with a second look that the true cruelty of the characters is revealed in a stunning display that makes the film all the more harrowing.

A psychological thriller that has been praised by audiences and critics alike, Blink Twice follows Frida, a cocktail waitress who unexpectedly finds herself invited to...

In the highly competitive world of streaming services, Tubi has made a name for itself. It’s a weird name, sure, but it’s a name. Tubi is free with commercials, which companies like Netflix probably think is madness, but more importantly it’s packed with movies and TV shows that pretty much all the other streamers don’t give a crap about.

You can find big releases licensed from major studios, but you can get those anywhere. Try finding the 1988 Canadian TV series “T and T” — about Mister T working as a legal aid — on Netflix or Disney+. They would never. Tubi is the equivalent of the quirky mom and pop video store located just down the street from a parasitic Blockbuster that can’t quite put them out of business, because Blockbuster doesn’t carry esoteric oddities like the 1990 ultra-low budget compilation video “That’s Action” hosted by Robert Culp.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Elliott Lester returns to the director's chair with a fresh take on the Western genre in The Thicket. After making his feature directorial debut with 2006's Love Is The Drug, Lester would find his breakout work in the Jason Statham-led Blitz in 2011, quickly following it up with the acclaimed David Oyelowo-starring drama Nightingale in 2014. Lester returned to the director's chair for two back-to-back 2017 releases with the psychological thriller Sleepwalker and true-story-based Arnold Schwarzenegger drama Aftermath, though would go on hiatus until his new film.

The Thicket serves as an adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale's novel of the same name centering on Jack, a devout Christian whose quiet life is thrown into turmoil when his sister, Lula, is taken by the brutal outlaw, Cut Throat Bill. Jack leaves his home in search of Lula across a snowy frontier, crossing paths...

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The Old West wasn't entirely populated with savage killers, as seen in The Thicket. The movie serves as an adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale's 2013 novel of the same name, having spent the past decade in development with Peter Dinklage as both star and producer. The movie revolves around a young man who seeks out the help of a bounty hunter and his business partner to track down a ruthless outlaw who has kidnapped his sister, though learns the harsh nature of the frontier along the way.

Levon Hawke, son of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke and brother of Stranger Things' Maya Hawke, stars in The Thicket as Jack, the devout Christian young man whose sister, Lula, is kidnapped. Along his journey, he becomes acquainted with Dinklage's Reginald Jones and Eustace Howard, brought to life by Gbenga Akinnagbe, well-known for his roles...

Your browser does not support the video tag.

After a decade of pushing to get the adaptation off the ground, Peter Dinklage's The Thicket is finally being realized. Based on Joe R. Lansdale's 2013 novel of the same name, the Game of Thrones alum first came onboard the adaptation in 2014 as both a star and producer, alongside Gianni Nunnari, Shannon Gaulding and Andre Lemmers. The movie wouldn't gain proper steam until 2020, when pre-production began with director Elliott Lester and stars Noomi Rapace, Charlie Plummer and Sophia Lillis, though the trio would be replaced due to scheduling conflicts after the movie was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dinklage would forge on ahead with the movie in 2023 with Yellowjackets' Juliette Lewis, Levon Hawke and Esm Creed-Miles filling in the roles of the previously cast trio. The Thicket is set in post-Civil War America, centering on an innocent young man named Jack,...

Wait, you’re telling me there’s a Tubi original film that doesn’t—how do I put this—suck? Just from the look of the poster, The Thicket seems like a bad career move for Emmy-winner Peter Dinklage, an understandable one for Juliette Lewis, and an act of desperation from a director specializing in pop-star music videos.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Elliott Lester’s The Thicket is a masterstroke in pace and tone. Like Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven decades prior strips away the facade of the Old West. No, Lester’s great Western trailblazer strips away the lore, presenting a ruthless and cutthroat world unlike any we’ve seen in the genre in years.

Lester’s film captures the true dangers of the frontier, pitiless to the weak. Yet no matter how tough and seasoned these characters are, everyone calls out for their mamas by the end.

Juliette Lewis has a very good reason why her horseback ridings skills are so impressive in her new thriller, “The Thicket.”

“I’m a third-place ribbon barrel racer,” Lewis says on this week’s episode of “Just for Variety.” “I was an equestrian. I grew up riding horses before I was 12. So the first thing we did in Calgary [where the movie was shot in the dead of winter] was get on a horse. They wanted to check us out, how you rode. I got a very good rating with my horse riding.”

In the Elliott Lester-directed movie (in theaters Sept. 6), based on Joe R. Lansdale’s book of the same name, Lewis plays Cut Throat Bill, a violent hardened outlaw at the turn of the 20th century who kidnaps a young girl (Esmé Creed-Miles ). The girl’s brother (Levon Hawke) hires a bounty hunter (Peter Dinklage) to rescue his sister.

Cut Throat Bill, written in the original book as a man,...

Plot: West Texas. A boy who, after his sister is kidnapped by a violent killer known only as Cut Throat Bill, enlists a fierce bounty hunter named Reginald Jones who becomes the leader of the group of outcasts searching for the stolen girl.

Review: If there’s one thing I’ve always appreciated about Peter Dinklage it’s that he often avoids roles that highlight his dwarfism. He’s such a presence that he can take a role intended for a larger actor and make it totally believable. His desire to not be put into a box is quite commendable and it shines through in his work. He’s always putting his best foot forward, and creating interesting characters, which is why I was immediately interested in his new Western, The Thicket. Add in an eclectic group of side characters and you’ve got the makings of one of the better Westerns of the year.

“The Thicket” is a new ‘Old West’ action feature, directed by Elliot Lester, adapting the novel by Joe R. Lansdale, starring Peter Dinklage, Juliette Lewis, Levon Hawke, Leslie Grace and Gbenga Akinnagbe, opening September 6, 2024 in theaters:

“When fierce bounty hunter ‘Reginald Jones’ (Dinklage) is recruited by a desperate man to track down a killer known only as ‘Cutthroat Bill’ (Lewis), he rallies a band of unlikely heroes…

“…including a grave-digging ex-slave and a street-smart woman-for-hire.

“Together, they embark on a perilous quest to track down Cutthroat Bill that leads them into the deadly “no-man’s-land” known as…’The Thicket’….”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Peter Dinklage hunts a ferocious Juliette Lewis in a riveting period thriller that captivates from the first savage frame. Adapted from the acclaimed novel by bestselling author Joe R. Lansdale, The Thicket shows zero mercy to the weak and forlorn in a brutal, icy setting. It is kill or be killed as a desperate man searches for the bank robber who kidnapped his innocent younger sister. Human nature's ugliest tenets are put on display as those with a semblance of honor and decency battle for survival against iniquitous villains.

Into the Thicket and After a Kidnapped Girl

The Thicket 4/5 RThrillerWesternCrimeDrama

Set in the harsh Wild West, The Thicket follows a rag-tag group of people, including an ex-slave and a brutal bounty hunter, as they hunt down a mysterious killer who goes by the name Cutthroat Bill. Their journey to find Cutthroat Bill takes them deep into the inhospitable region known as the thicket.

Zoe Kravitz's directorial debut is a darkly comedic and disturbing thriller that sees a billionaire tech mogul living a life of luxury on a private island where things are not as they seem. Before settling on Blink Twice as the eventual title, Kravitz had created a completely different working title for her first film behind the director's chair.

Blink Twice 3/5

Release Date August 23, 2024Director Zoe KravitzCast Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis, Alia Shawkat, Levon Hawke, Trew Mullen, Saul Williams, Liz Caribel Sierra, Cris Costa, Julian SedgwickMain Genre Thriller Expand

The psychological thriller follows Frida (Naomi Ackie), a downtrodden cocktail waitress and aspiring nail technician who dreams of living like the wealthy elite. When she meets tech royalty Slater King (Channing Tatum) at an event, her dreams become reality as he whisks her and her friend Jess (Alia...

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The Thicket stars Levon Hawke, Leslie Grace, and Gbenga Akinnagbe open up about the cold, intense production of their Western thriller, also starring Peter Dinklage and Juliette Lewis.

When a bounty hunter and a band of unlikely heroes pursue a brutal killer, they find themselves in a deadly no-man's-land known as the Thicket. The Thicket will be released in theaters Sep. 6, 2024, from Samuel Goldwyn Films with a later streaming release on Tubi.

Quick Links Blink Twice Critiques the Power of Wealthy Men Saltburn Doesn't Have Much to Say Why Blink Twice Does It All Better

Opening theatrically on August 23, 2024, Zo Kravitz has drawn rave reviews for her directorial debut, Blink Twice. The shocking island-set thriller begins as one kind of film before flipping the script and revealing its true intentions in the second half, encouraging viewers to rethink the events and piece together a mysterious puzzle that ends with an unforgettable bang. While the twisty thriller conventions and themes of wealth and power call to mind Emerald Fennell's Saltburn, Blink Twice has more to say with its salient social commentary regarding the wealthy elites who quite literally get away with murder.

Whereas Saltburn depicted a conniving huckster infiltrating a wealthy family, moving into their lavish estate, and manipulating the family to usurp its invaluable property, the stylish filmmaking didn't succeed in...

Zo Kravitz's directorial debut in Blink Twice is making waves, with a standout thriller and darkly humorous tone. The film features a talented cast led by Channing Tatum, with an enigmatic storyline reminiscent of real-life figures like Jeffrey Epstein. Blink Twice explores themes of abuse, manipulation, and memory manipulation, ending with a surprising twist that empowers the protagonist.

Zo Kravitz is a well-known actress, having made her name with her roles in prestige TV, like her stint on HBOs Big Little Lies, and major motion pictures like 2022s The Batman. Recently, though, shes made her debut behind the camera as a director with her recent release Blink Twice. Although the movie has only been officially out in the theaters for a few days, having premiered on August 23rd of this year, its already proven to be a standout for the summer movie season.

Theres been a lot of talk, and...

Peter Dinklage and Juliette Lewis star in The Thicket and are recognized for their major TV and film roles. Director Elliott Lester is known for his work on projects like Chop Shop and Containment. The Thicket follows a group hunting a killer in the Wild West's dangerous "no-man's-land."

Screen Rant is proud to present an exclusive clip from The Thicket, which hits theaters on Friday, September 6. Based on Joe R. Lansdale's book of the same name, Tubi's new western thriller follows bounty hunter, Reginald Jones, who is tasked with tracking down a ruthless killer known as Cutthroat Bill. Reginald assembles a crew of unlikely heroes to help him find the murderer, and together, they embark on a journey through the treacherous no-mans-land."

Elliott Lester serves as the director and is most well-known for his work on projects such as Chop Shop, Containment, and Sleepwalker. In addition to Dinklage and Lewis,...

Despite her extensive experience working on movie and TV sets, Zoë Kravitz wasn’t prepared to say “Action!” right away when directing “Blink Twice.”

“It was crazy. I think I started saying, ‘Let’s go!’ because ‘Action!’ gave me anxiety,” Zoë Kravitz told me at the Los Angeles premiere of her directorial debut. “It was ‘Let’s go! and ‘Here we go!’”

“Blink Twice” tells the story of two friends (Naomi Ackie and Alia Shawkat) who are invited by a tech mogul (Channing Tatum) to join him and a group of friends on his private island. Things go awry after days of drinking and drugging.

Channing Tatum recalled shooting a teaser for “Blink Twice” before they made the psychological thriller. “I knew we were in for a true creative grind, and that’s why it’s such a good movie,” he said.

Meanwhile, Naomi Ackie praised Zoë Kravitz’s work behind the camera,...

This article contains massive spoilers for "Blink Twice."

"Blink Twice" is a confident, exciting piece of filmmaking that turns a talented actor into a multi-hyphenate triple threat. Zoe Kravitz, who you know from films like "The Batman" and shows like "Big Little Lies," co-wrote the screenplay for "Blink Twice" alongside E.T. Feigenbaum and makes her feature directorial debut with this spectacular and subversive movie, a gorgeous, colorful, primal scream of a thriller that uses its heightened, stylish trappings to terrific effect. /Film's Bj Colangelo called the movie "the biggest surprise of 2024," and considering we didn't know Kravitz had this in her as a filmmaker, I'm inclined to agree.

It's the type of film that starts going in one direction, builds to a reveal, takes a big turn, and ramps things up exponentially as it races toward the finish line. Here's what you need to know about the movie, and what its ending means.

Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, Blink Twice, begins as a Cinderella story. Frida (Naomi Ackie) is waitressing at a glitzy private event when a footwear malfunction sends her tumbling into the burly arms of charismatic tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum). Kneeling at her feet like a perfect Prince Charming, he snaps off the heel of her one unbroken shoe to provide her with a matching pair. A few hours, several flirtatious smiles, and a great many drinks later, Slater asks Frida to join him and his friends on his private island.

Blink Twice, which was originally titled Pussy Island, feels like the latest attempt to rebottle the lightning of Jordan’s Get Out. From Antebellum to The Menu, They Cloned Tyrone to Don’t Worry Darling, lots of movies have tried to replicate its formula—exploring inequality through high-concept thrillers with plots that hinge on a major twist. None...

Blink Twice is a psychological thriller film directed by Zoë Kravitz from a screenplay co-written by Zoë Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum. The thrilling new film follows the story of a cocktail waitress Frida as she gets invited for a dream on a private island by tech billionaire Slater King. But soon she finds herself losing her mind and experiences strange things that lead her to investigate the truth behind all of it. Blink Twice stars Channing Tatum, Naomi Ackie, Adria Arjona, Alia Shawkat, Haley Joel Osment, Levon Hawke, Christian Slater, Liz Caribel, Geena Davis, and Kyle MacLachlan. So, if you loved the thrilling mystery, complex characters, and the edge-of-the-seat experience in Blink Twice here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Don’t Worry Darling (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Warner Bros.

Don’t Worry Darling is a psychological mystery thriller film directed by Olivia Wilde from a screenplay by Katie Silberman.

Naomi Ackie stars as Frida in director Zoë Kravitz’s Blink Twice, an Amazon MGM Studios film.

Photo credit: Carlos Somonte. Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice starts out with a great deal of promise but ultimately fails to live up to its promise. The target Kravitz appears to be aiming for is a Get Out-style smart horror thriller, with a set-up the recalls both Knives Out and The Menu, where a select group of beautiful people on a private island with wealthy types, an island where things go very wrong. In this case, the island is owned by tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum), who invites a pair of waitresses who have dressed up to crash his posh cocktail party, Frida (Naomie Ackie) and Jess (Alia Shawkat), to join him and his friends for a couple...

Zoë Kravitz's directorial debut Blink Twice (formerly Pussy Island) comes out swinging like Emerald Fennell with Promising Young Woman. Kravitz and co-writer E.T. Feigenbaum unleash womanly rage without a hint of subtlety, but Kravitz's behind-the-camera demeanor stays cool as a cucumber. Aspects of Promising Young Woman, The Hunt, and Ready or Not influence a searing satirization about the sexist one-percent, lobbing grenades at manipulative therapy discourse and empty celebrity apologies. Blink Twice is appropriately despicable, excessively indulgent, darkly comedic, and playing for keeps. What a first showing, Ms. Kravitz.

Channing Tatum stars as Slater King, a once disgraced, now remorseful tech gazillionaire who healed through therapy after allegations chased him from the public eye. Naomi Ackie plays Frida, a lowly caterer who sneaks in front of Slater at a gallery event. Frida snaps her heel shank, and out of nowhere, Slater sweeps in like her savior. They flirt and...

Zo Kravitz's directorial debut delivers a wild (and wildly uneven) ride of dark truths and eerie tricks on a private island getaway. Channing Tatum's performance and the way Kravitz films him mesmerizes while the ensemble cast is brimming with brilliance. Blink Twice ultimately runs out of steam and makes some odd decisions that seem incongruous with the rules it establishes, but it's still a lavish, clever film.

Be careful out there, even if you think you're "having a good time." If a tech billionaire swoops in and wants to whisk you away to his private island on a whim, maybe think twice Blink Twice? even if your pal is along for the ride for moral support. If this concept sounds familiar in terms of narrative cinema, then so be it. But in her first feature film as a director and writer, acclaimed actress Zo Kravitz takes these familiar tropes...

There are a few cardinal rules that every screen character should live by: Don’t go in the basement. Never get off the boat. Never go against the family. And for fuck’s sake, never, ever go to a private island where a tech bro and his toxic buddies like to chill out, even if there are bottomless mimosas, psilocybin-microdose bonding, and the billionaire owner looks like Channing Tatum. Especially if he looks like Channing Tatum.

We’ll clarify why in a second, though the less you know about Blink Twice going in,...

This week, the “Dog Days of Summer” will be put to the test, with nothing new on the scale of “Alien: Romulus” or other big franchise movies from earlier in the summer. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

That term, which also represents the heat and humidity typical of August, comes from the fact that many studios will randomly dump their movies into the latter part of August in hopes of getting them off their roster before the fall. The weekend just before Labor Day has always historically been proof of that fact, with a scant few exceptions.

This weekend offers two new genre movies that may have done better at any other time of the year, but will be struggling against the returning fare, including “Alien: Romulus,” which should win the weekend despite a significant drop, probably to less than $20 million.

Actor Zoë Kravitz makes her...

Zo Kravitz's directorial debut wasn't always titled Blink Twice. The actor-turned-first-time-director recently opened up about why the movie was originally called Pussy Island.

Speaking with Collider, Kravitz who also co-wrote the movie with E.T. Feigenbaum shared that Blink Twice was originally titled Pussy Island to further drive home the fact that the movie is about "taking back power specifically that word and what we've come to feel when we hear that word and wanting to really explore how absurd it is that women are asked to forget and pretend and smile through pain and speak with our eyes because we can't say it out loud and really wanting to highlight how insane that is and tiring and fucked up."

Related Zoe Kravitz Joins Austin Butler for Darren Aronofsky's Next Movie

The Whale helmer Darren Aronofsky has found his lead stars for his next movie.

Kravitz continued, "And then I...

“Blink Twice” opens with a blurry close-up shot of a frog, which then comes into glistening focus. The sound is eerie; the image is sinister, fascinating, mysterious and trippy. That describes the movie as well. “Blink Twice” is the first feature directed by Zoë Kravitz, who also co-wrote it (with E.T. Feigenbaum), and it’s a post-#MeToo feminist party-girl nightmare thriller that’s been made with an unusual sense of intimacy. Kravitz, the veteran actor, doesn’t rely on the standard medium shot/Pov pedestrian film grammar. She composes the movie out of vibrant close-ups, using each shot to tell a story, drawing us into the center of an encounter, so that we’re staring at it and experiencing it at the same time. Her technique is riveting; this is the work of a born filmmaker.

I wouldn’t call “Blink Twice” a horror movie, but it’s rooted in some pretty horrifying things.

When Zoë Kravitz announced that she would be making her feature directorial debut, the project was titled "Pussy Island." She told Deadline at the time that the title was "kind of a joke at first," but as the story co-written with E.T. Feigenbaum ("High Fidelity") evolved, the title possessed a deeper meaning. "It alludes to this time and place we claim to not be in anymore, in terms of sexual politics," she said. Kravitz clarified that the title was still meant to be playful, and leads with that playfulness, but that it harbors some "heavy meaning" within its letters.

Unfortunately, the title doesn't exactly mesh with our Puritanical social rules, and putting a billboard outside the megaplex with Channing Tatum's face and huge letters reading "Pussy Island" was likely an impossibility, so the title was changed to "Blink Twice." Admittedly, there's a sick part of me that misses the far more provocative name,...

None of the female stars of Zoë Kravitz’s raucous, razor-sharp directorial debut “Blink Twice” (FKA “Pussy Island”) are ever directly told to smile, but as they’re increasingly battered with queries about how much fun they’re having — the phrase “are you having a good time?” is essentially weaponized here — the implication is clear. They better be having a good time. They better smile. And they better never forget where they are. As Kravitz’s stars, including an exceptional Naomi Ackie and a revelatory Adria Arjona, are forced to flicker through various kinds of self-presentation-as-self-preservation, Kravitz’s film kaleidoscopically changes shape. And you won’t want to miss a single frame of it.

Simply described as something of a #MeToo thriller, Kravitz’s film doesn’t just interrogate the possibilities of the sub-genre, but utterly redefines it with class and style. Mostly, Kravitz (who co-wrote the script with her...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Blink Twice, It Ends With Us, The Umbrella Academy and Borderlands.

The Umbrella Academy premiere

Stars Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher and Justin H. Min walked the carpet at the fourth and final season premiere of their Netflix series on Monday in Los Angeles.

David Castañeda, Elliot Page, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Tom Hopper, Ritu Arya, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher and Justin H. Min It Ends With Us premiere

Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate and Hasan Minhaj debuted their big-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s hit novel in New York City on Tuesday, with support from Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Brandon Sklenar, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Colleen Hoover and Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment...

Will Channing Tatum finally get his wish to star in a “Gambit” movie?

“I sure hope so,” he told me at Thursday’s premiere of “Blink Twice” at the DGA in West Hollywood. “From your mouth to God’s ears. Write it into existence, my friend. Please.”

Tatum’s newfound faith follows his surprise cameo as the X-Men mutant in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Tatum and his producing partner, Reid Carolin, spent four years developing a standalone “Gambit” film for 20th Century Fox, but the movie died when Disney acquired Fox in 2019.

Yes, he’s already told Marvel he still wants to make it happen. “Of course I’ve said it. I’ve been saying I want it for the last 10 years,” Tatum said. “It’s in Bob Iger and Kevin Feige’s hands. I pray to God.”

Tatum thanked Ryan Reynolds in an Instagram post in late July for bringing his Gambit to life.

The cast of Blink Twice stepped out to celebrate their new movie at the L.A. premiere!

Naomi Ackie and Adria Arjona were seen sharing an embrace while running into each other on the red carpet on Thursday night (August 8) at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles.

Also in attendance were co-stars Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment, Liz Caribel, Levon Hawke, Trew Mullen, Cris Costa, and Geena Davis, as well as writer and director Zoe Kravitz.

Channing and Zoe, who met and fell in love while making the movie, made their red carpet debut as a couple at the premiere!

Blink Twice hits theaters on August 23 and the trailer is out now.

Fyi: Adria is wearing a Versace dress. Christian is wearing Zegna. Zoe is wearing Saint Laurent.

We could all use a vacation. Wouldn’t it be nice to kick back, tuck into a good book, sip alcohol from a coconut, and dine on portions of fancy food a bird would say is minuscule? Luckily, Slater King (Channing Tatum) wants us to join him on his private island for a well-deserved rest. It’s a getaway where phones are discouraged, naps in the sun are mandatory, and memory loss is one of the paradise’s many amenities. Wait, what? Unfortunately, people who visit Slater’s island tend to lose themselves, and nothing is what it seems. In the latest Blink Twice trailer, Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut welcomes audiences to a dystopia as deadly as it is picturesque.

Here’s the official synopsis for Blink Twice courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery:

When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraising gala,...

“The Thicket” is a new Old West feature, adapting a 2013 novel by Joe R. Lansdale, directed by Elliot Lester, starring Peter Dinklage, Juliette Lewis, Levon Hawke, Leslie Grace and Gbenga Akinnagbe, opening September 6, 2024 in theaters:

“When fierce bounty hunter ‘Reginald Jones’ (Dinklage) is recruited by a desperate man to track down a killer known only as ‘Cutthroat Bill’ (Lewis), he rallies a band of unlikely heroes including a grave-digging ex-slave and a street-smart woman-for-hire.

“Together, they embark on a perilous quest to track down Cutthroat Bill that leads them into the deadly “no-man’s-land” known as…’The Thicket’….”

Click the images to enlarge…...

This September, get ready for an awesome new Western movie called “The Thicket“! The film is a dark reimagining of classic cowboy stories, with some pretty intense action scenes. What makes it so cool is how it mixes up the usual tropes of the genre.

Directed by Elliott Lester, “The Thicket” is based on a novel of the same name. It stars Peter Dinklage as Reginald, a sneaky bounty hunter, and Juliette Lewis as Cutthroat Bill, the leader of a terrifying gang. The movie takes place in Texas a long time ago.

Reginald is out to catch Cutthroat Bill’s gang after they kidnap the sister of an innocent guy named Jack, played by Levon Hawke. In an unlikely pairing, Reginald and Jack team up on a dangerous rescue mission into the Big Thicket wilderness – a super dangerous no man’s land.

The trailer gives a glimpse of the film...

In the trailer for the reimagined Western The Thicket, released Tuesday, Peter Dinklage and Juliette Lewis star as ruthless killers. The Elliot Lester-directed film follows bounty hunter Reginald Jones’ (Dinklage) tireless efforts to track down killer Cutthroat Bill (Lewis). After Cutthroat Bill’s gang kidnaps Jack’s (Levon Hawke), sister, the two men pair up.

“You ever shoot a man?” Reginald asks Jack, to which he responds he’s a Christian. “God knows how many this Cutthroat has.”

After Reginald rallies a troop of unsuspecting heroes, including a grave-digging ex-slave and a street-smart woman-for-hire,...

"If you do find her, it's probably not the sister you remember." Tubi has revealed an official trailer for an indie thriller titled The Thicket, which will actually be opening in theaters this fall. Despite being produced by the free streaming service Tubi, this will be getting a theatrical release in September before it's streaming later in the year. Adapted from the bestselling book of the same name by Joe R. Lansdale. When a renowned bounty hunter and a band of unlikely heroes head out to pursue a brutal killer, they find themselves in a deadly no-man’s-land known as The Thicket. Peter Dinklage stars as Reginald Jones, who's recruited by a desperate man to track down a killer known only as Cutthroat Bill, played by Juliette Lewis. A film about vengeance, justice, and unlikely companionship, this one also stars Esmé Creed-Miles, Levon Hawke, Macon Blair, Andrew Schulz, James Hetfield,...

The Western thriller The Thicket may be a Tubi Original, but this is one that’s going to be getting some theatrical play before it heads over to the Tubi streaming service. The theatrical release date is September 6th, and with that date right around the corner, a trailer for The Thicket has arrived online. Check it out in the embed above!

Described as “an edge-of-your-seat thriller that reimagines the western genre and immerses the audience into the harsh and unforgiving world of the West,” The Thicket was directed by Elliott Lester – whose previous credits include the drama Love Is the Drug, the Jason Statham crime film Blitz, the David Oyelowo one-man-show Nightingale, the thriller Sleepwalker, and the Arnold Schwarzenegger thriller Aftermath – from a screenplay by Chris Kelley, that was based on a novel by Bubba Ho-Tep author Joe R. Lansdale.

Starring Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) and Juliette Lewis...

Juliette Lewis and Peter Dinklage are unlikely outlaws, and cruel and bloody killers to boot, in the trailer for Tubi’s dark Western The Thicket, which dropped on Tuesday.

“You’re the littlest man I’ve ever seen,” Lewis, who plays violent gang leader Cutthroat Bill, tells Dinklage’s character, crafty bounty hunter Reginald Jones, a grave-digging alcoholic son of an ex-slave and a street-smart prostitute, at one point in the trailer.

“You’re the ugliest,” Reginald, no less a violent killer than Bill, shoots back. Director Elliott Lester’s film has Reginald on a collision course with Bill after her gang kidnaps the sister of Jack, an innocent young man played by Levon Hawke, the son of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.

The Thicket

Reginald and Jack track the sister into a violent no man’s land known as The Big Thicket on a mission to rescue her from Bill.

Juliette Lewis and Peter Dinklage hope to continue their respective career highs with the upcoming Western novel adaptation “The Thicket.”

Lewis, who reigned over 2022 TV with “Yellowjackets,” “Queer as Folk,” and “Welcome to Chippendales,” plays an assassin who is tracked by a bounty hunter, portrayed by Dinklage. The actor is next set to star in the buzzy musical film “Wicked” after a slew of recent film roles including “She Came to Me,” “Cyrano,” “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” and Jerry Seinfeld’s directorial debut “Unfrosted.”

The official synopsis for “The Thicket” reads: When fierce bounty hunter Reginald Jones (Dinklage) is recruited by a desperate man to track down a ruthless killer known only as Cutthroat Bill (Lewis), he rallies a band of unlikely heroes including a grave-digging ex-slave and a street-smart woman-for-hire. Together they embark on a perilous quest to track down Cutthroat Bill that leads...