Jacob Hall
Weekend Box Office Report: ‘Interstellar’ and ‘Big Hero 6′ Have a Showdown
The showdown between 'Interstellar' and 'Big Hero 6' has got to be one of the most interesting things to happen to the box office in 2014. After all, it would be tough to find two movies that are simultaneously so different and so alike. Both are pro-science adventures that are all about using your intelligence to save your friends and family. However, one is an animated, family friendly release from Disney and the other is a three-hour epic from the ever-serious Christopher Nolan. In other words, they represent opposite ends of the blockbuster spectrum.
Weekend Box Office Report: ‘Nightcrawler’ Edges Out the Competition in a Very Close Race
Although 'Nightcrawler,' the only new wide release of the week, did end up taking the top spot at the box office this weekend, it did so in one of the tightest races we've ever seen. The top six films all came within $3 million of each other and the order could have radically changed by a stiff breeze for all we know. Heck, some titles may get swapped around by tomorrow when the studios release some more official numbers.
Weekend Box Office Report: ‘Ouija’ Scares Up a Victory Over ‘John Wick’
It feels like common sense: of course the horror movie released a week before Halloween is going to win the weekend war at the box office over the action movie. And yet, most horror movies continue to get released as far away from the season of the witch as possible. Can the recent success of 'Annabelle' and this weekend's 'Ouija' change that?
Despite Leaking Online, the ‘Avengers 2′ Trailer Broke All Kinds of Records
Every few months, someone on the internet loudly declares that we're probably nearing the end of the superhero movie as a popular genre. And then, every few months, another trailer arrives that proves that we're going to be watching movies starring people wearing capes and tights for a long time yet. The new trailer for 'Avengers 2' lit the internet on fire, as you'd expect from the sequel to one of the most popular blockbusters in recent years. In fact, if success can be measured in trailer views, then Marvel and Disney can already call this one a big winner.
Disney Setting Sail With ‘Moana’ From the Directors of ‘The Little Mermaid’
With 'Frozen' still a raging phenomenon and 'Big Hero 6' right around the corner, the folks at Disney Animation are probably feeling pretty good about their lives and careers at the moment. So the first news about their next film, 'Moana,' arrives at a time when the world's most famous animation studio is at a fairly incredible high and like their last major blockbuster, this is a female-led adventure. Prepare for the merchandise, parents.
Weekend Box Office Report: ‘Fury’ Rages Into First Place
Brad Pitt's new World War II drama 'Fury' opened at number at the box office and has officially defined what this October has been about: long, R-rated movies featuring huge movie stars bucking the usual trends and out-grossing their family friendly competition. Between this and 'Gone Girl,' it looks like grown adults are heading to their multiplex more than ever these days.
Scarlett Johansson Offered $10 Million to Star in ‘Ghost in the Shell’
The last time we heard from DreamWorks' planned live action adaptation of 'Ghost in the Shell,' the studio was courting 'The Wolf of Wall Street' star Margot Robbie for the lead role. Now, things have changed and a bigger name has been thrown into the mix: Scarlett Johansson, aka, Black Widow, aka, 'Lucy,' aka, the most bankable female action star of the moment.
‘Django Unchained’ and ‘August: Osage County’ Actress Misty Upham Found Dead
It's sad news to end the week with: actress Misty Upham, who recently appeared in 'Django Unchained' and 'August: Osage Country,' was found dead at the bottom of a Seattle ravine. Her body was discovered by a search party led by her family, who are now accusing the local police of failing to assist in the situation in any way.
The ‘SNL’ Jan Hooks Tribute: Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig Present ‘Love Is But a Dream’
The unfortunate and untimely death of the great Jan Hooks this past week sent the comedy world into mourning, with countless writers and comics stepping forward to pay tribute to the late 'SNL' star. It could have been easy for this week's new episode to gloss over the passing of one of their own (it is a comedy show, after all), but 'SNL' has always been a slightly class institution -- it remembers those who came before.
‘SNL’ Gets Gleefully Offensive and Celebrates White People
The latest episode of 'SNL' featured Sarah Silverman as the host and it looks like their raunchy guest encouraged the rest of the crew to crawl out on a few limbs. Would the writers have created a fake commercial celebrating the slowly dying power of white people if the world's most offensive female comedian wasn't on hand? Who knows!