News

Heavy-hitter Marike Muselaers, VP international financing & co-production for the Scandi group Nordisk Film Production, has unveiled a solid slate of premium series, as its co-production “The Institute” is being pitched at Series Mania CoPro Pitching on Tuesday.

From Denmark, the four-parter “Snake Killer” is the first Prime Video Danish Original series, co-produced by Amazon MGM Studios, which holds first window rights in the Nordics. Anders Ølholm, credited for the hit thriller “Enforcement” (“Shorta”), is making his serialised debut as creator-helmer. In this crime show, toplining Pilou Asbæk, the story turns on Copenhagen’s mobile drug squad (Uropatruljen). A rogue cop, notorious for breaking the law to uphold it, rages war against a mysterious crime family after one of his informants is brutally killed.

The series illustrates Nordisk Film Production’s ambitions and unique leveraging power in a competitive market where financing decisions are back in the hands of producers, away from cash-shy broadcasters or streamers.

The upcoming thriller Fog of War brings World War II to American soil with a taut tale of espionage and suspicion. The movie takes place in Massachusetts in 1944, where evidence of the Allies’ developing plans for their D-Day invasion are taken by a German spy. The movie was directed by Michael Day, and written by Luke Langsdale.

ScreenRant is happy to present the trailer for Fog of War. In it, the thriller’s incredibly high stakes are quickly established as it’s clear that if the Nazi spy escapes, the balance of the world’s largest war could easily tip in the Nazis' favor. The trailer also promises a twisting, turning narrative that will have audiences unsure of whom to trust. Take a look at the trailer, which features the film’s stars Jake Abel and Brianna Hildebrand as well as John Cusack and Mira Sorvino, below.

How Fog Of War...

Joe Dante’s late ’80s dark comedy favorite The ‘Burbs is getting a TV series adaptation from streamer Peacock, and Variety brings us the latest casting news this afternoon.

Haley Joel Osment (Blink Twice), Rj Cyler (The Harder They Fall), Justin Kirk (“Weeds”), Kyrie McAlpin (Cheaper by the Dozen), Danielle Kennedy (“Narcos”), and Randy Oglesby (“For All Mankind”) have joined the cast as recurring guest stars.

Previously announced, Keke Palmer (Nope), Mark Proksch (“What We Do in the Shadows”), Jack Whitehall (Jungle Cruise), Julia Duffy (“Newhart”), Paula Pell (“Saturday Night Live”), and Kapil Talwalkar (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”) are series regulars.

Celeste Hughey is adapting Dante’s film for television.

“Set in present-day suburbia, The ‘Burbs follows a young couple returning to the husband’s childhood home.

“Their world is upended when new neighbors move in next door, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter...

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

This March, Hulu is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the wacky crime comedy series Deli Boys to the much-anticipated streaming release of Anora. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Hulu this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the ten best films that are coming to Hulu in March 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

High Fidelity (March 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91% Credit – Touchstone Pictures

High Fidelity is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears from a screenplay co-written by D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack, and Scott Rosenberg. Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, the 2000 film follows Rob, a record store owner who has been unlucky in relationships. However, his bad luck might...

March is set to be a big month for Hulu, with a packed lineup of movies and shows heading to the streaming service. Things kick off on March 1 with a huge drop of over 50 films, including some major fan favorites.

Sci-fi lovers have plenty to look forward to as Hulu adds nearly the entire Alien franchise to its catalog. Viewers will be able to stream Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection, Alien vs. Predator, Alien: Covenant, and Prometheus. Prey and Alien: Romulus are already available, so this update brings the full saga together in one place.

For those more interested in award-winning dramas, March 1 also brings several critically acclaimed films, including American Hustle, Brooklyn, Jojo Rabbit, Good Will Hunting, The Social Network, and Sideways.

The Oscars will also be a major event on Hulu this month. The streaming service will air the live broadcast of the Academy Awards on March...

A24 has released the first trailer for “Friendship,” a comedy starring Tim Robinson (“I Think You Should Leave”) and Paul Rudd. The film is slated for a theatrical release this May, following a March 9 SXSW premiere.

In “Friendship,” suburban dad Craig (Robinson) falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor (Rudd), as Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives. Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra and Billy Bryk also star. Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed “Friendship” in his feature debut.

The comedy first premiered on Sept. 8, 2024 at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of its Midnight Madness section. A24 acquired the film a week later, following strong reviews out of the fest.

“Friendship” marks Robinson’s first starring role in a movie. He is best known for his Netflix sketch comedy series “I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson,...

Delving deeper into the mystery that led to Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Tess Caldwell attempting suicide at the beginning of “Surface” Season 1, the psychological thriller returns Friday, February 21 for eight new episodes.

Shifting setting from San Francisco to London, where her story supposedly began, Season 2 finds Caldwell searching for answers in her past. Will she find them? Watch the trailer at the bottom of this piece to get a hint.

Still suffering from amnesia after jumping off a ship, Caldwell spent the first season remembering her real identity, as she had been referring to herself as Sophie Ellis up to that point. Now that she knows that she’s Tess Caldwell, she’s ready to find out more and must do so by immersing herself in elite British society. It’s there where she reconnects with an heiress who may know more about her than she lets on. However, Caldwell’s...

Just like Netflix, Prime Video's most-watched charts can be an uneven affair. For every quickly-forgotten Peter Dinklage and Josh Brolin action comedy that hits the Prime Video rankings, there's a beloved John Candy movie reminding us all how it's supposed to be done. Now, yet another solid film is proving that streaming audiences can demand more than generic SVOD slop, as "Blink Twice" is making an impressive run up the Prime Video charts.

Directed by Zoë Kravitz, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside E.T. Feigenbaum ("High Fidelity"), "Blink Twice" was one of the biggest surprises of 2024, establishing Kravitz as not just a capable filmmaker, but also a director to watch moving forward. The film stars Naomi Ackie as cocktail waitress Frida, who, alongside her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat), accepts an invitation to the private island of tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum). Once on the island, however, Frida slowly begins...

When it comes to politicians showing courage, the bar has been on the floor over the last decade. In a system where confrontation is rewarded over competence or cooperation, it’s a rare thing to see leaders putting their ideals to the test, especially if it costs them their elected position. Leave it then to Steve Pink, the director behind the sublime Hot Tub Time Machine and scribe of Cusackian masterpieces, Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity, to tell the story of former congressman Adam Kinzinger in The Last Republican with the breeziness of a comic book film and the impact of a deep journalistic dive. The epithetic irony of his last name – Pink’s politics lay quite left of center – makes for a perfect dynamic duo of differing ideologies, coming together to tell this unique, powerful, and sometimes ridiculous story of contemporary America.

Hulu has added some great original series to the streaming service, including the sequel sitcom How I Met Your Father and chilling documentary series like Killing County. Between the streaming service's originals, and their partnership with networks like Fxx, they have amassed a broad collection of bingeworthy drama series that offer something different for every viewer. Of the genres they offer, romance is always a fan-favorite, with new hits and old classics for audiences to enjoy.

Among that collection are some of the steamiest romance series on TV, like Rivals and High Fidelity. Hulu also has a collection of complex dramas that mix their sexy themes with action, thrills, and comedy. The best steamy shows on Hulu are more than what they appear, blending different themes and genres to create something fresh and compelling.

Updated by Alex Roush on December 27, 2024: Romance and intimacy go hand in hand, and some...

While now considered a cult classic, one of John Cusack's more underrated movies nearly ended in disaster, as recalled by his co-star in it. The Golden Globe nominee first broke out in the world of coming-of-age films in the '80s, featuring in everything from John Hughes' Sixteen Candles to his breakout leading turn in the teen romantic dramedy Say Anything.... The years since have seen Cusack expand his talents to a wide variety of genres, including the Nicolas Cage-co-starring action thriller Con Air, the adaptation of Stephen King's 1408 and the blockbuster disaster thriller 2012.

In addition to this on-screen work, Cusack has often been a key figure behind the camera on his movies, including co-writing and producing a number of his projects. Some of his more notable include the 2000 film adaptation of High Fidelity, which earned him his Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy,...

One of the most memorable episodes of "Seinfeld" is named after the grand love story "The English Patient," which would go on to win the Best Picture Oscar a few weeks after the episode's airing on March 13, 1997. "Seinfeld" is known for finding humor in the small, ordinary things like disliking a movie and not understanding why it's so beloved. Everyone seems to love "The English Patient" — Elaine's boyfriend (who dumps her for disliking it), her friends, and even her boss who insists on taking Elaine after she lies about not having seen it. The World War II-era blockbuster is about a plane crash survivor with a burned face who recovers at a picturesque Italian monastery. While a kind nurse cares for him and tries to discover his forgotten identity, flashbacks reveal his passionate affair with a married Englishwoman.

For the 20th anniversary of "The English Patient," Vanity Fair wrote an...

The acclaimed 2009 comedy "500 Days of Summer," memorably starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, is widely considered a love story, despite the movie explicitly denying this association. As its lead actors maintain, the film is more of a coming-of-age tale than a conventional romance, with its protagonist confronting the truth about the nature of love. For those who enjoy the movie's quirky sense of humor, eclectic soundtrack, and refreshingly grounded and related performances, there are several thematically similar films. While some of these comparable movies are outright romantic comedies, what really links them to "500 Days of Summer" are their young adult coming-of-age sensibilities.

This isn't to say that these movies are directly inspired by "500 Days of Summer" either; several on this list were released years before. What these movies have in common is a wry, often self-aware and dialogue-driven sense of humor, with the story anchored by two likable leads.

The newest Jack Black movie sees the actor returning to an unexpected genre after nearly two full decades. Black, who had his breakout role in the 2000 John Cusack movie High Fidelity, is best known as an actor in a wide variety of comedy movies including Shallow Hal, School of Rock, Tropic Thunder, and Kung Fu Panda. While he has appeared in movies consistently throughout his career, he experienced a major resurgence when he starred in the two most recent Jumanji movies opposite Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart.

In the past five years since his appearance in Jumanji: The Next Level, Black's output has included a variety of well-known titles. This includes the animated feature The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1 billion, and the fourth Kung Fu Panda movie, which is the sixth highest-grossing movie of the year worldwide at the time of writing. His upcoming projects...

Paramount+'s newest Christmas movie Dear Santa flips the usual understanding of Santa on its head. When Liam writes his letter to Santa and addresses it to the North Pole, his spelling error ensures the letter ends up with the devil instead. When Dear Santa's Satan arrives, Liam is startled by his appearance but proceeds to befriend him anyway, believing him to be the real Santa. What follows is a chaotic but fun Christmas movie with some lovable characters.

Dear Santa's premise is lovably silly and lighthearted, and the cast holds the movie up with their fitting and funny performances. The unique new Christmas movie will certainly be a hit both with families and older viewers looking for a fun, easy watch. Along with some new faces, Dear Santa also includes several well-known comedic actors who help ensure that the movie will be a hit with audiences of all ages.

John Cusack has always been a fascinating actor, as he has consistently been able to reinvent himself by appearing in wildly different genres. Cusack started off his career as a teen heartthrob of sorts with his charismatic performances in the coming-of-age classics Better Off Dead and Say Anything, yet was able to make the transition into more serious roles in The Grifters and Eight Men Out. The next decade offered Cusack the opportunity to be more self-aware with satirical roles in the dark comedies Being John Malkovich and High Fidelity. Unfortunately, his career has somewhat floundered within the past few years. More often than not, Cusack has gone the same route as Nicolas Cage or John Travolta, in that many of his films have been released direct-to V-d or streaming. Although it is a bit disappointing that a great actors talents are being wasted, Cusack gave the most menacing performance...

It is entirely possible to have a captivating thriller without chase scenes, shoot-outs, explosions, or high-octane action. That's what Stephen Frears' 2002 bold British social thriller Dirty Pretty Things with its impressive 94% nod on Rotten Tomatoes clearly demonstrates. Set against the still globally relevant subject of overlooked immigrants with London at its epicenter, the film is a statement about the inhumanity of immigration procedures, castigating how people have become secondary to processes. Through his picture, Frears confronts nationalism and argues that people's nationality, whatever that may be, should not precede humanity. He weaves this argument through a narrative that is heart-pounding and full of tension; about survival, morality, and exploitation. This boldness is not surprising coming from a director who isn't afraid to explore different genres, including helming projects like High Fidelity and The Queen as well as some of the most memorable TV series, such as the historical drama A Very English Scandal and Quiz.

What do you get when you cross Jon Snow with a Disney prince? Apparently, you get the bizarre but brilliant-sounding horse-racing comedy Chariot. Kit Harington and Billy Magnussen have signed onto the movie, which comes from director Steve Pink, who is best known in Hollywood as being the writer of Grosse Point Blank and High Fidelity, as well as the director of movies such as...

Exclusive: Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) and Billy Magnussen (Roadhouse) have been set to star in Steve Pink’s out-there horse racing comedy Chariot.

This sounds a fun one. The synopsis reads: “Paul Rovia, an oversized jockey, seeks redemption after causing a major racing accident that gets him suspended from the sport for two years. Desperate to compete in the Grand National again, Paul teams up with Kate O’Leary and her wild Centaur named Chariot. Paul and Chariot clash at first but eventually form an unstoppable duo, taking the racing world by storm.”

Pink is known for writing Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity and directed Hot Tub Time Machine, About Last Night and most recently The Wheel.

The Exchange is launching worldwide sales on the movie at the upcoming American Film Market. The sales deal was negotiated by Brian O’Shea on behalf of The Exchange and by Lastine Entertainment Lawon behalf of the filmmakers.

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

As winter approaches we are all in need of something spicy to watch to make our temperature rise and if you are a fan of romantic comedies, then we have the perfect recommendations for you. From critically acclaimed movies like Rye Lane to iconic romantic comedy movies like Knocked Up, Hulu has everything you need. So, here are the 8 best R-rated romantic comedy movies available on Hulu right now.

If you want to watch more R-rated romantic comedy movies here are some more recommendations for you available on Netflix and Max (formerly known as HBO Max).

Punch-Drunk Love Credit – Sony Pictures

Punch-Drunk Love is an absurdist romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 2002 film follows Barry Egan, the owner of a bathroom supply business, who suffers from violent outbursts despite being shy and timid.

‘Blink Twice’ (2024) is the psychological thriller written and directed by Zoë Kravitz, marking her directorial debut. The film explores complex and disturbing themes, such as manipulation, power dynamics and abuse. We follow a nail artist/ cocktail waitress named Frida (Naomi Ackie) as she and her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) are given the opportunity to join tech mogul billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) on his private island. What starts as an idyllic getaway quickly turns into a nightmare for the women involved. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy. Behind...

Da’Vine Joy Randolph has already brought her vocal chops to “Rustin,” “High Fidelity,” and the upcoming Pharrell Williams biopic, but the Academy Award winner is ready to fully showcase her opera background onscreen.

Randolph told IndieWire while attending the “Through Her Lens” cocktail reception, hosted by Tribeca and Chanel, that Pablo Larraín’s buzzy Maria Callas film “Maria” has opened the door for opera biopics — and Randolph is more than ready to bring history-making Leontyne Price’s story to the screen.

“It’s ironic because Angelina Jolie has the Maria Callas biopic [‘Maria’] coming up,” Randolph said. “I’m a classically trained opera singer. I want to do a biopic of an opera singer.”

Leontyne Price is celebrated as one of the great modern vocalists — she played title roles in both “Porgy and Bess” and “Aida.” If a success, “Maria” — and Randolph — could be what ultimately ushers Price’s legacy into movie theaters.

A24 has landed rights to “Friendship,” a comedy starring Tim Robinson of “I Think You Should Leave” fame and Paul Rudd. The movie had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival as part of the Midnight Madness program.

Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed “Friendship” in his feature debut. Channeling the cringe comedy of “I Think You Should Leave,” Robinson plays a suburban dad who obsessively pursues a bond with his charming neighbor (Rudd). Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra and Billy Bryk also appear in the film.

“Friendship” is Robinson’s first starring role in a movie. Rudd is known for comedies like “Anchorman,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Clueless” and “I Love You, Man.” DeYoung has directed episodes of “The Other Two,” “Pen15,” “High Fidelity” and “Our Flag Means Death.”

Daily Beast critic Nick Schager called “Friendship” the “funniest film of the year,” adding that “what truly elevates Robinson...

In a world where movie sequels, prequels, reboots and legacy sequels are the norm, audiences may be surprised that a lot of their favorite films have actually been turned into TV shows that they've never heard of. Some of these missed the mark so completely that they have faded into obscurity.

Television shows like High Fidelity, 10 Things I Hate About You, Cobra Kai and What We Do in the Shadows are all perfect examples of television shows that absolutely lived up to the reputation of the original. Unfortunately, television isnt always so on point. There are many shows that fall flat for fans, and many more that almost threatened the reputation of the original.

"As If!" a Clueless Sitcom Couldnt Work

Rotten Tomato Scores for the Original Film and the Reboot TV Show

Clueless (1995)

Clueless (1996-1999)

81%

53%

The iconic adventures of Cher Horowitz in Clueless, which was inspired by Jane Auestens Emma,...

The level of enjoyment audience members will have with Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship is tied directly to their tolerance for the humor of Tim Robinson. The star of the meme-inspiring Netflix series I Think You Should Leave has cultivated a devoted following by creating situations of embarrassment and characters who veer wildly from absurdist rage to complete self-delusion. (See the infamous “we’re all trying to find the guy who did this” meme.) In my mind, I Think You Should Leave is the funniest series of the last decade or so. While Robinson’s full-length feature as star does not reach his show’s highs, it’s still a hysterically funny, pitch-black comedy.

That feature is Friendship, and it is exactly what Robinson fans would expect and want. Not unlike the Tim Heidecker-starrer The Comedy, or even Larry David’s underrated Sour Grapes, Friendship sees a performer embracing discomfort and frustration for 90-or-so minutes.

“The Last Republican” arrived at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend, and the documentary marks a surprising turn from Steve Pink, co-writer of “High Fidelity” and “Grosse Pointe Blank” and the director of both “Hot Tub Time Machine” movies. The film centers on Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, who broke with his party in an effort to hold Donald Trump responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection. Kinzinger was among 10 Republicans who voted to impeach the president for instigating an insurrection, later serving on the Congressional committee to investigate Jan. 6.

Why choose Kinzinger as the subject of this documentary, which sees the right-wing lawmaker open up to a left-wing documentarian? “I’m a comedy director, right?” Pink told TheWrap editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman at TheWrap’s 2024 TIFF Studio sponsored by Moët & Chandon and Boss Design. “My whole life has been the subversion of expectation and surprise. And Adam was probably engaged...

Because no ‘80s movie is immune to the Hollywood reboot trend (a $20 million-per-episode prestige TV remake of Weird Science will surely happen any day now), we’re now getting a new version of The ‘Burbs, the 1989 Tom Hanks comedy about a gang of middle-class suburbanites who begin to suspect that their new “Slavic” neighbors are murderous Satanic cultists.

Play

As we’ve pointed out before, The ‘Burbs has arguably never been more relevant, coming at a time when conspiracy theories are as rampant as ever, and American xenophobia has been cranked up to 11. And while the original was clearly riffing on the “Satanic Panic” paranoia of the 1980s, we’re currently living at a time when everything from Taylor Swift concerts to restaurants at Disney World have been accused of promoting demonic messaging.

At least people seem to have backed off from the idea that He-Man toys and Smurf dolls are the handiwork of Lucifer.

Keke Palmer is heading to The Burbs as Peacock is adapting the beloved cult movie! Here's what we know! TV adaptations of movie comedies have been a staple for the business for decades. Most of the time, they go for famous films to try and bring that spirit to TV. There's also been some sequel series to past films and it's good to see TV work these films into a series, often successful.

Peacock, in particular, has been doing this with the Ted series based on the Seth McFarlane films. That's with the sequel series to Saved By the Bell and Punky Brewster and Bel-Air, a darker reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Now, Peacock is getting into it again with plans to adapt the 1989 film The Burbs.

With the show just announced, and no other cast added yet, it's unlikely filming will begin before the end of 2024. It's...

Joe Dante’s dark comedy favorite The ‘Burbs is headed to the small screen with a TV series adaptation for Peacock, and Keke Palmer (Nope) has been set to star in the series.

Variety reports that The ‘Burbs has been ordered straight-to-series by Peacock. Celeste Hughey is adapting Dante’s film for television.

Here’s a particularly cool bit from the website’s report: “The series will film on the Universal Studios backlot, just like the movie.” The show’s official synopsis previews…

“Set in present-day suburbia, The ‘Burbs follows a young couple returning to the husband’s childhood home.

“Their world is upended when new neighbors move in next door, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.”

Seth MacFarlane will executive produce, along with Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment.

Keke Palmer is starring and also executive producing.

Keke Palmer is set to star in a TV adaptation of the dark comedy film “The ‘Burbs,” which has been ordered straight-to-series at Peacock.

Celeste Hughey will adapt the film for television. Seth MacFarlane is set to executive produce, as will Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment, with Imagine having produced the film. Dana Olsen, who wrote the film, will co-executive produce.

The series will film on the Universal Studios backlot, just like the movie. Released in 1989, “The ‘Burbs” starred Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, Rick Ducommun, and Corey Feldman. In the film, the residents of a suburban neighborhood suspect their new neighbors are ritualistic murderers. Produced by Universal Pictures, the film grossed just over $49 million against a reported budget of $18 million. It is now considered a cult classic.

The official logline for the series states, “Set in present-day suburbia, ‘The ‘Burbs’ follows a young couple returning to the husband’s childhood home.

“Tell Me Lies” Season 2 has finally arrived, welcoming back fan favorites as well as new additions to the cast.

Grace Van Patten and Jackson White return as Lucy and Stephen, respectively, who reunite at college as exes following their dramatic breakup at the beginning of summer. The exes have to deal with not only the fallout of their split, but also the ripple effects that Season 1’s dramatics had on their friend group.

Season 2 will also welcome in several new faces to the fold, including “Gossip Girl” star Thomas Doherty and “Lucifer” star Tom Ellis.

Josh Stringer/Hulu

Grace Van Patten as Lucy Albright

Grace Van Patten returns as Lucy Albright, now a sophomore in college who recently went through a dramatic breakup with Stephen after dating her for most of her freshman year. She is close friends with Bree and Pippa, who also became entangled with Stephen’s friend group of upperclassmen.

It's honestly almost impossible to imagine anyone besides Mads Mikkelsen portraying Dr. Hannibal Lecter on the cult NBC series "Hannibal," as the Danish actor fully embodies the show's version of the character. He is Hannibal Lecter, at least onscreen: a Machiavellian manipulator with an obscene wealth of knowledge, an impeccable sense of style, and a tendency toward eating people. His chemistry with his co-stars is undeniable, especially with Hugh Dancy, who plays empath and criminal profiler Will Graham. But back when NBC and series creator Bryan Fuller were first developing the show, they floated some very different actors before finally deciding on the magnificent Mikkelsen. 

Fuller has revealed in interviews that he had to fight a bit to get Mikkelsen cast, because the network wanted someone "more mainstream" than the man mostly known to American audiences as the bloody-teared villain Le Chiffre from "Casino Royale." Thankfully he got his way...

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...

Spoilers are ahead for Blink Twice.

This article contains discussions of sexual assault and abuse.

The lizard in the opening shot of Blink Twice hints at Frida's past on Slater's island, immediately revealing a major twist. Frida's encounter with Slater's therapist subtly foreshadows the tech mogul's dark intentions. The red flowers and repeated phrase "Red Rabbit" serve as important clues when it comes to unravelling the island's sinister secrets.

Well before Blink Twice's big reveal, the psychological thriller hints at its twist, allowing eagle-eyed and perceptive viewers to clock the movie's clever moments of foreshadowing. Helmed by Zo Kravitz, Blink Twice is the filmmaker's directorial debut, and Kravitz, who had a different title for Blink Twice, began working on the screenplay way back in 2017 with her High Fidelity co-writer E.T. Feigenbaum. The film opens with cocktail waitresses Frida (Naomi Ackie) and Jess (Alia Shawkat) ditching their work uniforms...

The new thriller “Blink Twice,” which opened in theaters on August 23, marks the directorial debut of Zoe Kravitz, who is otherwise best known for acting in projects like “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Big Little Lies” and “The Batman.” She does have a previous writing credit, though: she scripted an episode of her short-lived Hulu series “High Fidelity” with E.T. Feigenbaum, who also serves as Kravitz’s co-writer for this film. So how did she fare in her first at-bat as a filmmaker?

“Blink Twice” has a MetaCritic score of 72 based on 27 reviews counted as of this writing. Nineteen of those reviews are classified as positive, seven are somewhat mixed and only one is outright negative. On Rotten Tomatoes, where reviews are judged simply as positive or negative, the film has a freshness rating of 78%, with 72 out of 92 reviewers giving the film a thumbs up. The Rt critics consensus calls it...

New voices emerge in cinema every year, and sometimes, these voices aren’t entirely unfamiliar. It’s becoming increasingly common for actors to turn into filmmakers and try their luck behind the camera. Zoë Kravitz (The Batman) is the latest courageous artist with a desire to bring her ideas to the screen for the first time in Blink Twice, also contributing to the screenplay alongside E.T. Feigenbaum (High Fidelity). With an interesting cast led by Naomi Ackie (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody) and Channing Tatum (Magic Mike Xxl), alongside well-known names like Christian Slater (Mr. Robot) and Adria Arjona (Hit Man), Blink Twice has a wealth of talent at its disposal.

The story centers on billionaire Slater King (Tatum) and his spontaneous encounter with Frida (Ackie), a waitress at his fundraising gala. After a night filled with chemistry between the protagonists, King invites Frida to join him and...

Blink Twice writer and director E.T. Feigenbaum has signed with Rain for management.

Feigenbaum began writing Blink Twice (fka Pussy Island) in 2017 with his writing partner Zoë Kravitz. The film, starring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Christian Slater, Kyle MacLachlan and Geena Davis, is set for release Friday, August 23 by Amazon MGM Studios.

In the film, tech billionaire Slater King (Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Ackie) at his fundraising gala, and sparks fly. He invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. It’s paradise. Wild nights blend into sun-soaked days and everyone’s having a great time. No one wants this trip to end, but as strange things start to happen, Frida begins to question her reality. There is something wrong with this place. She’ll have to uncover the truth if...

Zoë Kravitz is aware of the comparison people have been making between Channing Tatum’s Blink Twice character and Jeffrey Epstein.

In an interview with IndieWire published Thursday, the actress, who makes her directorial debut with the film starring Tatum and Naomi Ackie, reiterated that despite similarities, Tatum’s character and the story is “all a metaphor” and not based on Epstein. Kravitz wrote the film alongside High Fidelity series writer E.T. Feigenbaum.

The film centers on Ackie’s character Frida, who is whisked away on an island vacation by billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum). However, things take a darker turn. In Ackie’s Hollywood Reporter cover story, the film is described as a “sort of a Get Out meets Promising Young Woman” and a “social satire plus class warfare plus gender politics.”

When asked whether Slater not being inspired by anyone in particular can represent more of the monsters...

Although Zoë Kravitz long had the hunger to write and direct, the actual process of creating “Blink Twice” was led by fast instincts. “I didn’t have a plan,” she tells IndieWire over Zoom. “I started writing the story because I just wanted to write it, and I felt the emotion behind it.” She did not know at first that she was writing a screenplay, but just the process of writing down these ideas and feelings she was processing was therapeutic.

Only upon completion was Kravitz able to look back at it and say, “’Oh, that’s what I was saying, and this is what I was talking about. And that’s what that means. And this is a metaphor for this.’ But art is so magical in the way that you don’t really know what you’re doing. You’re just feeling your way through it. And then once it’s finished,...

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...

Welcome to the dog days of summer.

This weekend at the box office will be sluggish as two new releases — director Zoe Kravitz’s twisted thriller “Blink Twice” and “The Crow” reboot starring Bill Skarsgård — target middling debuts. “Blink Twice” is aiming for $7 million to $8 million from 3,000 venues while “The Crow” looks to bring in $6 million to $9 million from 2,500 theaters.

Despite the pair of newcomers, last weekend’s champ “Alien: Romulus” will duel with “Deadpool & Wolverine” for the top spot on North American charts. The R-rated “Romulus” is projected to add $16 million to $19 million in its sophomore outing, declining 55% to 60% from its $41 million debut. Meanwhile, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is targeting a similar $16 million to $18 million range in its fifth weekend of release. Marvel’s superhero adventure is the second-biggest movie of the year with $546 million in North America and $1.14 billion worldwide.

“It Ends With Us,” too, will likely pace...

Zo Kravitz impresses as writer and director of a star-studded psychological thriller, Blink Twice. Positive first reactions and reviews indicate a highly anticipated and intriguing movie that won't disappoint. The exclusive theatrical release on August 23, 2024 leaves an uncertain timeline for when it will stream on MGM+ and Prime Video.

Zo Kravitz's highly anticipated directorial debut is here, and there are options for where to watch Blink Twice in theaters or on streaming. Although she is best known for her on-screen roles in The Batman, High Fidelity, and Big Little Lies, Zo Kravitz stepped behind the camera to write and direct the 2024 psychological thriller. The star-studded cast is headlined by Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie, who star as a tech billionaire and a waitress, respectively. From the original title to the first Blink Twice trailer, the intrigue around Kravitz's movie made it one to look forward to.

Anticipation for the movie...

Ahead of her directorial debut premiere, Zo Kravitz has revealed her favorite filmmakers. And one of them is rather controversial. Like any devoted film lover, Kravitz has a list of favorite directors, including Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Penny Marshall, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese, the Coen Brothers, and Roman Polanski. The latter, who was at the helm of Rosemary's Baby and The Tenant (two of Kravitz's favorite films), holds a legacy that is tainted by sexual misconduct and assault allegations that date back to the 1970s. Kravitz admits to Esquire that, while she knows it's "controversial" to hold Polanski's work in high regard, she explains that...

"It's okay that somebody bad was involved in something good. What are we supposed to do, get rid of America?"

Related Channing Tatum Went To 'Dark Places' For His Psychopathic Character In Zo Kravitzs Blink Twice

Channing Tatum opened up about leaving his comfort...

After striking recent performances in the High Fidelity series, Steven Soderbergh’s Kimi and as Selina Kyle in The Batman, Zoë Kravitz steps behind the camera with Blink Twice: an unsettling tale of coercion, violence and ‘cancel culture’.

Originally titled ‘Pussy Island’ — which we should all mourn, greatly — Blink Twice sees nail artist Frida (Naomi Ackie) and best pal Jess (Alia Shawkat) strike up an unlikely connection with wealthy tech mogul Slater King (Channing Tatum) after crashing a fancy gala. Slater is in the midst of a scandal — one that’s seen him step down from running his company, and issue a plethora of sincere online apologies for his ‘abuse of power’. That doesn’t bother the girls much, though; Tatum’s slick businessman is incredibly charismatic, so when he asks them to come to his private island, they say yes. Once they arrive, reluctantly handing in their phones,...

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,...

It’s 1970, and as the astronauts of Apollo 13 ventured around the dark side of the moon, they faced a life-threatening crisis. Who helped save the day? Judith Love Cohen. Judith had helped create the Abort Guidance System that would ultimately rescue those astronauts.

But wait, it gets better. Judith was still working on a problem for the Apollo program, the day she gave birth to a son. She took a printout to the hospital, called her boss to say she’d finished it, and then casually gave birth to the future star of School of Rock, Po himself, the man who brought Bernie Tiede to the silver screen, the one-and-only Jack Black. Talk about multitasking!

Now, with a mom like that, you’d think Jack would be all about the math and science, right? Well, not exactly. Jack was a kid who was not great at academics, but had a knack for making people laugh.

"What are we gonna do about you?" Amazon MGM Studios has revealed a second trailer for Blink Twice, a mystery thriller marking the feature directorial debut of actress Zoë Kravitz. She's co-writing & directing in collaboration with another writer from the "High Fidelity" series. "This summer, make some memories." Naomi Ackie stars as Frida is a young waitress in Los Angeles who has her eye on tech entrepreneur Slater King. She's invited on a dream vacation to his private island, where strange things start to happen. Frida will have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out alive. Uh oh... Co-starring Channing Tatum as Slater, plus Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis, and Alia Shawkat as her friend Jess. This still looks a lot like Don't Worry Darling and/or Spiderhead, set on a very fancy island where lots of weird,...

Zoë Kravitz is in talks to join Austin Butler in Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The film is based on the book of the same name by Charlie Huston, who also wrote the script. The story, per the logline, follows Hank Thompson, a burned-out former baseball player, who’s unwittingly plunged into a wild fight for survival in the downtown criminal underworld of 1990s New York City.

Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures, which is based in New York, is producing the film, alongside his partner Ari Handel. Together, they’ve worked on the director’s π, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler, Black Swan, Noah, Mother! and The Whale; as well as Tobias Lindholm’s The Good Nurse, Pablo Larraín’s Jackie, Lance Oppenheim’s Some Kind of Heaven, Josef Kubota Wladyka’s Catch the Fair One and Alex Pritz’s documentary The Territory.

Zoë Kravitz was just trying to “reclaim” the word pussy. The “Batman” star, who previously played Catwoman herself, recently told Entertainment Weekly that her feature directorial debut “Pussy Island” was retitled to “Blink Twice” after she realized that some women found the term “pussy” offensive.

“Interestingly enough, after researching it, women were offended by the word, and women seeing the title were saying, ‘I don’t want to see that movie,’ which is part of the reason I wanted to try and use the word, which is trying to reclaim the word, and not make it something that we’re so uncomfortable using,” Kravitz said. “But we’re not there yet. And I think that’s something I have the responsibility as a filmmaker to listen to. I care about people seeing the film, and I care about how it makes people feel.”

Kravitz added that including “pussy” in the...

Channing Tatum is determined to continue his trilogy streak.

After wrapping up “Magic Mike” with the third film in 2023, Tatum confirmed that the long-awaited follow-up to 2014 sequel “22 Jump Street” is still in development.

Tatum told ComicBook that he and co-star Jonah Hill have “been trying” to get the third “21 Jump Street” feature greenlit for years. Tatum and Hill co-starred as former teen nemeses turned police academy buddies who go undercover as high schoolers to thwart a rising drug gang. The duo reprised their respective roles for the 2014 film that saw their characters go to college.

During the infamous Sony leaked emails hack, it was revealed that a third “Jump Street” installment was planned to be a crossover with the “Men in Black” franchise. The feature, tentatively titled “Mib 23,” was never made.

“There is a project that was written and it’s still the best script that I’ve...