"The most important things to remember about backstory are that (a) everyone has a history and (b) most of it isn't very interesting." -- Stephen King, On Writing
Sequels used to be the way film franchises were created, but these days, prequels are the preferred mode of extending a TV series.
It's almost as if TV audiences explicitly asked for stories set in the past of their favorite shows at some point.
Whether they were asked or not, TV executives are banking on audiences who want to know how every story ends before it starts.
Related: The Age of Nostalgia: Why Young Audiences Are Seeking Out Old TV
Where did this prequel trend come from, and why has the TV industry embraced it so thoroughly?
Is it solely about money, or is there a more significant cultural reason keeping our collective gaze focused on the rearview?
Prequel vs Sequel
Movie...
Sequels used to be the way film franchises were created, but these days, prequels are the preferred mode of extending a TV series.
It's almost as if TV audiences explicitly asked for stories set in the past of their favorite shows at some point.
Whether they were asked or not, TV executives are banking on audiences who want to know how every story ends before it starts.
Related: The Age of Nostalgia: Why Young Audiences Are Seeking Out Old TV
Where did this prequel trend come from, and why has the TV industry embraced it so thoroughly?
Is it solely about money, or is there a more significant cultural reason keeping our collective gaze focused on the rearview?
Prequel vs Sequel
Movie...
- 6/12/2024
- by Paullette Gaudet
- TVfanatic
Shyamalan’s ‘The Watchers’ Big Twist: Not All Nepo Babies Are Good Directors ‘The Watchers’ is the directorial debut of M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter, Ishana. It starts off promising but ends on shaky ground, following a similar pattern to her father’s work. Ishana Night Shyamalan introduces herself with a promising beginning but stumbles when it comes to clarifying the bizarre scenario of ‘The Watchers’. This film is an adaptation of A. M. Shine’s 2022 novel and initially entices with its mysteries and meta-textural elements but falls apart under the weight of excessive explanations. Drawing on her expertise from “Servant,” Ishana excels...
- 6/11/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Another weekend in the books, another disappointing opening for a much-anticipated horror movie. Warner Bros. released Ishana Night Shyamalan's "The Watchers" in theaters this past weekend, and given that the daughter of "The Sixth Sense" director M. Night Shyamalan was getting into the family business, there was excitement around this one. Unfortunately, the end result left much to be desired in the early going, both critically and commercially.
"The Watchers" opened to an estimated $7 million in its debut domestically. It opened against "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," which easily won the weekend with an impressive $56.5 million opening. Unfortunately, even though this seemed like an example of solid counterprogramming, Shyamalan's mysterious horror flick landed at number four on the charts, also placing behind "The Garfield Movie" ($10 million) and "If" ($8 million). Those movies were in their third and fourth weekends, respectively. Needless to say, this isn't what WB had in mind.
"The Watchers" opened to an estimated $7 million in its debut domestically. It opened against "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," which easily won the weekend with an impressive $56.5 million opening. Unfortunately, even though this seemed like an example of solid counterprogramming, Shyamalan's mysterious horror flick landed at number four on the charts, also placing behind "The Garfield Movie" ($10 million) and "If" ($8 million). Those movies were in their third and fourth weekends, respectively. Needless to say, this isn't what WB had in mind.
- 6/11/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Horror author Paul Tremblay developed a deep love of spooky stories early on, and he tackles the haunted films genre with his newest novel, “Horror Movie” (out Tuesday via William Morrow and Company). The plot concerns a ’90s cult classic horror movie which left all but one cast member dead and the dark stories that are dredged up as a remake comes closer to reality.
Professionally, Tremblay is no stranger to scary movies, as his 2019 novel “The Cabin at the End of the World” was adapted into M. Night Shyamalan’s 2023 film “Knock at the Cabin.” Next up is an adaptation of his 2015 book “A Head Full of Ghosts,” which is set to be produced by Robert Downey Jr. and directed by Austrian filmmakers Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, who also helmed dark horror films like “Goodnight Mommy” and “The Lodge.”
Tremblay spoke with Variety about horror movies both real and imagined,...
Professionally, Tremblay is no stranger to scary movies, as his 2019 novel “The Cabin at the End of the World” was adapted into M. Night Shyamalan’s 2023 film “Knock at the Cabin.” Next up is an adaptation of his 2015 book “A Head Full of Ghosts,” which is set to be produced by Robert Downey Jr. and directed by Austrian filmmakers Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, who also helmed dark horror films like “Goodnight Mommy” and “The Lodge.”
Tremblay spoke with Variety about horror movies both real and imagined,...
- 6/10/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ Delivers a Welcome $56 Millon Haul; ‘The Watchers’ Stumbles in First Weekend
The domestic box office finally changed course after a slow start to the summer release season, as ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ won the weekend with a successful $56 million opening. This is the best R-rated opening in theaters since last year's 'Oppenheimer.' It’s also Will Smith’s sixth-highest domestic opening and the first notable major summer title that over-performed against tracking numbers.
The fourth film in Smith and Martin Lawrence's action franchise was projected to do well, but Hollywood had reasons to temper that optimism. For starters, this was Smith’s first major release after the infamous Oscars slap in 2022, and it wasn’t clear if the fallout would have a lasting impact on his box office marketability. And while the previous installment, ‘Bad Boys for Life,’ was the biggest hit of 2020 with $427 million worldwide, it was also the last hit of 2020 when the global pandemic brought the industry to a screeching halt.
The thriller ‘The Watchers,’ the directorial debut of Ishana Shyamalan, opened in fourth place to just $7 million, a disappointing debut for a genre film supported by a bankable star in Dakota Fanning and a first-time director with built-in name recognition as the daughter of supernatural hit-maker M. Night Shyamalan.
Chris Pratt’s animated comedy ‘The Garfield Movie’ held in second place in its third week, earning $10 million for a $192 million worldwide total, while another family film—John Krasinski's animated/live-action film ‘IF’—also held its appeal with $8 million in its fourth weekend for a $160 million total worldwide.
It was another rough weekend for ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,’ as it dropped to sixth place behind ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.’ The 'Mad Max: Fury Road' prequel took in a $4.25 million, a 60% drop from last week, while 'Apes' continued to draw audiences with $5.4 million.
In the top 10 were also re-releases of two The Lord of the Rings movies, ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ ($2.44 million) and ‘The Two Towers’ ($1.91 million), which played on 1,529 screens each, capitalizing on audience nostalgia.
Next weekend, all eyes turn to Disney and Pixar to deliver with the release of animated sequel ‘Inside Out 2.’ Hollywood could use another bright spot this summer, and there isn’t another big hit expected until July, with the release of ‘Despicable Me 4’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’
See all the weekend box office results at Box Office Mojo...
The fourth film in Smith and Martin Lawrence's action franchise was projected to do well, but Hollywood had reasons to temper that optimism. For starters, this was Smith’s first major release after the infamous Oscars slap in 2022, and it wasn’t clear if the fallout would have a lasting impact on his box office marketability. And while the previous installment, ‘Bad Boys for Life,’ was the biggest hit of 2020 with $427 million worldwide, it was also the last hit of 2020 when the global pandemic brought the industry to a screeching halt.
The thriller ‘The Watchers,’ the directorial debut of Ishana Shyamalan, opened in fourth place to just $7 million, a disappointing debut for a genre film supported by a bankable star in Dakota Fanning and a first-time director with built-in name recognition as the daughter of supernatural hit-maker M. Night Shyamalan.
Chris Pratt’s animated comedy ‘The Garfield Movie’ held in second place in its third week, earning $10 million for a $192 million worldwide total, while another family film—John Krasinski's animated/live-action film ‘IF’—also held its appeal with $8 million in its fourth weekend for a $160 million total worldwide.
It was another rough weekend for ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,’ as it dropped to sixth place behind ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.’ The 'Mad Max: Fury Road' prequel took in a $4.25 million, a 60% drop from last week, while 'Apes' continued to draw audiences with $5.4 million.
In the top 10 were also re-releases of two The Lord of the Rings movies, ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ ($2.44 million) and ‘The Two Towers’ ($1.91 million), which played on 1,529 screens each, capitalizing on audience nostalgia.
Next weekend, all eyes turn to Disney and Pixar to deliver with the release of animated sequel ‘Inside Out 2.’ Hollywood could use another bright spot this summer, and there isn’t another big hit expected until July, with the release of ‘Despicable Me 4’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’
See all the weekend box office results at Box Office Mojo...
- 6/10/2024
- by IMDb Editors
- IMDb News
Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (June 6-8) Total gross to date Week 1. Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (Sony) £2.9m £3.9m 1 2. If (Paramount) £866,000 £10.8m 4 3. The Garfield Movie (Sony) £729,503 £7.4m 3 4. Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes (Disney) £620,929 £14.3m 5 5. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Warner Bros) £436,839 £5.6m 3
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die charged to the top of the UK and Ireland box office this weekend with a £2.9m debut for Sony.
The fourth instalment in the buddy cop franchise starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence opened in 643 sites, giving it a £4,391 location average. Including previews, the action comedy made £3.9m.
Ride Or Die...
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die charged to the top of the UK and Ireland box office this weekend with a £2.9m debut for Sony.
The fourth instalment in the buddy cop franchise starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence opened in 643 sites, giving it a £4,391 location average. Including previews, the action comedy made £3.9m.
Ride Or Die...
- 6/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
Shyamalan’s The Watchers, helmed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, marks her entry into the directorial arena with a film that begins with promise but stumbles as it progresses. Released on June 7, this adaptation of A. M. Shine’s 2022 novel starts by establishing an eerie atmosphere, only to lose its grip due to an over-reliance on convoluted explanations. A Family Affair in Filmmaking Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of M. Night Shyamalan, makes her feature-length directorial debut with The Watchers. Known for her work on Apple TV+’s Servant, she brings her talent for mood-setting to this new horror thriller. As M. Night...
- 6/10/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Worldwide box office June 7-9 Rank Film (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l)3-day (int’l)Territories 1. Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (Sony) $104.6m $104.6m $48.6m $48.6m 61 2. The Garfield Movie (Sony) $25.3m $192.7m $15.3m $124.1m 62 3. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Warner Bros) $17.9m $144.4m $13.7m $85.7m 79 4. If (Paramount) $14.2m $160.7m $6.2m $67.2m 66 5. Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes (Disney) $12.3m $359.7m $6.9m $210m 53 6. The Watchers (Warner Bros) $11.7m $11.7m $4.7m $4.7m 66 7. Be My Friend (various) $7.7m $9.8m $7.7m $9.8m 1 8. Walk The Line (various) $7.5m $10.6m $7.5 $10.6m 1 9. Crisis Negotiators (various) $5.5m $9.2m $5.5m $9.2m 2 10. A Little Something Extra...
- 6/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
Worldwide box office June 7-9 Rank Film (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l)3-day (int’l)Territories 1. Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (Sony) $104.6m $104.6m $48.6m $48.6m 61 2. The Garfield Movie (Sony) $25.3m $192.7m $15.3m $124.1m 62 3. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Warner Bros) $17.9m $144.4m $13.7m $85.7m 79 4. If (Paramount) $14.2m $160.7m $6.2m $67.2m 66 5. Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes (Disney) $12.3m $359.7m $6.9m $210m 53 6. The Watchers (Warner Bros) $11.7m $11.7m $4.7m $4.7m 66 7. Be My Friend (various) $7.7m $9.8m $7.7m $9.8m 1 8. Walk The Line (various) $7.5m $10.6m $7.5 $10.6m 1 9. Crisis Negotiators (various) $5.5m $9.2m $5.5m $9.2m 2 10. A Little Something Extra...
- 6/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
June 10 Update: In his first major theatrical return since the Oscars slap of 2022, Will Smith demonstrated his enduring star power as Columbia Pictures’ Bad Boys: Ride Or Die opened top of North American box office on an estimated $56m, injecting a much-needed boost to the early summer season.
The R-rated fourth instalment in the cop buddy franchise pairing Smith and Martin Lawrence played in 3,885 locations, grossing $21.6m on Friday, $19.5m on Saturday, and a projected $14.9m on Sunday.
The debut was a significant rebound too for co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, whose Batgirl was shelved by Warner Bros in 2022.
Reportedly costing $100m,...
The R-rated fourth instalment in the cop buddy franchise pairing Smith and Martin Lawrence played in 3,885 locations, grossing $21.6m on Friday, $19.5m on Saturday, and a projected $14.9m on Sunday.
The debut was a significant rebound too for co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, whose Batgirl was shelved by Warner Bros in 2022.
Reportedly costing $100m,...
- 6/9/2024
- ScreenDaily
In his first major theatrical return since the Oscars slap of 2022, Will Smith demonstrated his enduring star power as Columbia Pictures’ Bad Boys: Ride Or Die opened top of North American box office on an estimated $56m, injecting a much-needed boost to the early summer season.
The R-rated fourth instalment in the cop buddy franchise pairing Smith and Martin Lawrence played in 3,885 locations, grossing $21.6m on Friday, $19.5m on Saturday, and a projected $14.9m on Sunday.
The debut was a significant rebound too for co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, whose Batgirl was shelved by Warner Bros in 2022.
Reportedly costing $100m,...
The R-rated fourth instalment in the cop buddy franchise pairing Smith and Martin Lawrence played in 3,885 locations, grossing $21.6m on Friday, $19.5m on Saturday, and a projected $14.9m on Sunday.
The debut was a significant rebound too for co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, whose Batgirl was shelved by Warner Bros in 2022.
Reportedly costing $100m,...
- 6/9/2024
- ScreenDaily
The first full weekend of June brought a modicum of hope to the summer box office, as Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunited for the fourth installment of their popular “Bad Boys” action-comedy franchise. Read on for the weekend box office report.
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” had been planned since 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life” became the highest-grossing blockbuster that year, partially due to Covid shutting down theaters a few weeks after its release. Opening in 3,885 theaters, including IMAX and other premium screens, “Ride or Die” received mixed reviews with 64% on Rotten Tomatoes, although it was expected to be fairly review-proof with the popularity of its two stars. It ended up making $5.88 million in Thursday previews beginning at 3pm, and $21.6 million on Friday, including those previews.
Sony is estimating it to make $56 million in North America its opening weekend, which is less than the previous movie’s $62.5 million holiday opening,...
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” had been planned since 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life” became the highest-grossing blockbuster that year, partially due to Covid shutting down theaters a few weeks after its release. Opening in 3,885 theaters, including IMAX and other premium screens, “Ride or Die” received mixed reviews with 64% on Rotten Tomatoes, although it was expected to be fairly review-proof with the popularity of its two stars. It ended up making $5.88 million in Thursday previews beginning at 3pm, and $21.6 million on Friday, including those previews.
Sony is estimating it to make $56 million in North America its opening weekend, which is less than the previous movie’s $62.5 million holiday opening,...
- 6/9/2024
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” surpassed the $100 million mark globally in its first weekend of release.
The fourth installment in Sony’s buddy cop comedy series, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, has collected $104.6 million, including $48.6 million at the international box office. Moviegoers have embraced Smith’s first major film since he assaulted Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars, though it helped that he returned to theaters with a franchise that has endured over 30 years.
Sony spent $100 million to produce “Bad Boys 4” and many millions more to market the film to global audiences. At this rate, the fourquel is well positioned in its theatrical run. However, it remains to be seen if it’ll match 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life” as the franchise’s highest-grossing installment with $206 million domestically and $426 million globally. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah returned to direct “Ride or Die,” which follows detectives Mike...
The fourth installment in Sony’s buddy cop comedy series, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, has collected $104.6 million, including $48.6 million at the international box office. Moviegoers have embraced Smith’s first major film since he assaulted Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars, though it helped that he returned to theaters with a franchise that has endured over 30 years.
Sony spent $100 million to produce “Bad Boys 4” and many millions more to market the film to global audiences. At this rate, the fourquel is well positioned in its theatrical run. However, it remains to be seen if it’ll match 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life” as the franchise’s highest-grossing installment with $206 million domestically and $426 million globally. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah returned to direct “Ride or Die,” which follows detectives Mike...
- 6/9/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
[This story contains spoilers for The Watchers.]
As an artist, it’s no easy task to define oneself, to showcase a perspective and style that differentiates you from others. And it’s always that “other” that looms large, impacting your and everyone else’s perceptions of you. This is certainly the case for Mina (Dakota Fanning), a young, directionless artist whose car breaks down in the ancient woods of Ireland where she finds herself lost, in more ways than one, in The Watchers, based on the novel by A.M. Shine.
The film marks the feature debut of 24-year-old Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of cinematic storyteller, M. Night Shyamalan. The younger Shyamalan cut her teeth as a producer and director on her father’s the Apple+ series Servant, and as second-unit director on M. Night’s beach horror feature, Old (2021). With The Watchers, Ishana Shyamalan sets out to define herself as her own artist, while her father’s shadow,...
As an artist, it’s no easy task to define oneself, to showcase a perspective and style that differentiates you from others. And it’s always that “other” that looms large, impacting your and everyone else’s perceptions of you. This is certainly the case for Mina (Dakota Fanning), a young, directionless artist whose car breaks down in the ancient woods of Ireland where she finds herself lost, in more ways than one, in The Watchers, based on the novel by A.M. Shine.
The film marks the feature debut of 24-year-old Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of cinematic storyteller, M. Night Shyamalan. The younger Shyamalan cut her teeth as a producer and director on her father’s the Apple+ series Servant, and as second-unit director on M. Night’s beach horror feature, Old (2021). With The Watchers, Ishana Shyamalan sets out to define herself as her own artist, while her father’s shadow,...
- 6/9/2024
- by Richard Newby
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die jolted the battered summer box office back to life with a better-than-expected domestic opening of $56 million and $104.6 million globally.
Moreover, it puts Will Smith on the road to a career comeback two years after the infamous Oscars slap.
Ride or Die, reuniting Smith with Martin Lawrence, is the fourth outing in Sony’s long-running franchise and earned an A- CinemaScore in North America alongside generally positive reviews. Just as promising, 44 percent of the audience was between ages 18 and 34, showing Smith has a following among younger consumers. Black moviegoers made up the largest quadrant of the audience with 44 percent.
Ride or Die is arguably the first film of the summer to come in ahead of tracking, which had it opening in the $48 million to $50 million range. It’s also the second biggest domestic launch of the season behind Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,...
Moreover, it puts Will Smith on the road to a career comeback two years after the infamous Oscars slap.
Ride or Die, reuniting Smith with Martin Lawrence, is the fourth outing in Sony’s long-running franchise and earned an A- CinemaScore in North America alongside generally positive reviews. Just as promising, 44 percent of the audience was between ages 18 and 34, showing Smith has a following among younger consumers. Black moviegoers made up the largest quadrant of the audience with 44 percent.
Ride or Die is arguably the first film of the summer to come in ahead of tracking, which had it opening in the $48 million to $50 million range. It’s also the second biggest domestic launch of the season behind Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,...
- 6/9/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Turns out, Bad Boys are good for ticket sales.
Sony’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth entry in the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence-led buddy cop series, started strong with $56 million from 3,885 theaters in its domestic debut. The film also opened at the international box office with $48.6 million, bringing its worldwide tally to $104.6 million.
The sequel to 1995’s “Bad Boys,” 2003’s “Bad Boys II” and 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life” is notable as Smith’s first major film to grace the big screen since he assaulted Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars. So what should Hollywood take away from “Bad Boys” in its fourth go-around? Well, audiences haven’t soured on Smith — though it helps that he returned to theaters in a time-tested and generally well-received franchise.
Although it’s not cementing any franchise records (“Bad Boys for Life” remains the biggest opening of the quartet...
Sony’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth entry in the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence-led buddy cop series, started strong with $56 million from 3,885 theaters in its domestic debut. The film also opened at the international box office with $48.6 million, bringing its worldwide tally to $104.6 million.
The sequel to 1995’s “Bad Boys,” 2003’s “Bad Boys II” and 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life” is notable as Smith’s first major film to grace the big screen since he assaulted Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars. So what should Hollywood take away from “Bad Boys” in its fourth go-around? Well, audiences haven’t soured on Smith — though it helps that he returned to theaters in a time-tested and generally well-received franchise.
Although it’s not cementing any franchise records (“Bad Boys for Life” remains the biggest opening of the quartet...
- 6/9/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
With two new movies premiering this summer, M. Night Shyamalan is expanding the family business.
The Oscar-nominated director’s daughters Ishana and Saleka told The New York Times “it was unplanned” but “it feels right” that their respective movies, The Watcher and Trap, are debuting within months of each other.
“I feel like in some ways we’ve always done that, since we were growing up, experience things together,” said Saleka, the 27-year-old R&b singer who plays pop star Lady Raven in her dad’s latest directorial outing, Trap.
She and M. Night took inspiration from Prince‘s Purple Rain as they conceived the idea of Trap together, a thriller about a man (Josh Hartnett) taking his daughter to see her favorite artist, played by Saleka. Additionally, Saleka wrote 14 songs for her character to perform, all of which had to fit into the film’s narrative.
Although the father...
The Oscar-nominated director’s daughters Ishana and Saleka told The New York Times “it was unplanned” but “it feels right” that their respective movies, The Watcher and Trap, are debuting within months of each other.
“I feel like in some ways we’ve always done that, since we were growing up, experience things together,” said Saleka, the 27-year-old R&b singer who plays pop star Lady Raven in her dad’s latest directorial outing, Trap.
She and M. Night took inspiration from Prince‘s Purple Rain as they conceived the idea of Trap together, a thriller about a man (Josh Hartnett) taking his daughter to see her favorite artist, played by Saleka. Additionally, Saleka wrote 14 songs for her character to perform, all of which had to fit into the film’s narrative.
Although the father...
- 6/8/2024
- by Glenn Garner
- Deadline Film + TV
Dakota Fanning as Mina in New Line Cinema’s and Warner Bros. Pictures’ fantasy thriller “The Watchers,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jonathan Hession Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Watchers is the first feature film written and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, who is following in the footsteps of her father, M. Night Shyamalan. But while her family connection may have opened doors for her — her father is, in fact, one of the film’s producers — she has been working hard to carve out her own identity as a filmmaker. Dakota Fanning, who stars in The Watchers, told us that Ishana Night Shyamalan’s enthusiasm and vision for the project were contagious — and a big reason why she wanted to be part of the film. (Click on the media bar below to hear Dakota Fanning) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Dakota_Fanning_DFirector...
- 6/8/2024
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
In case you hadn't heard, the summer 2024 box office has been bad. Really, really, really, ridiculously bad. And when a situation is this bad, you need some bad boys to ride in and fix it -- or die trying. As luck would have it, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" arrived in theaters this weekend, bringing with it the oxygen mask of an estimated $53 million opening weekend. The fourth movie in the action-comedy series starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence brought in $21.6 million on Friday, including $5.9 million from Thursday previews, which puts it on track to slightly outperform early projections (per The Hollywood Reporter).
That number isn't far behind the $61 million debut of "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" during this same weekend a year ago. Under ordinary circumstances, a $53 million opening weekend wouldn't be considered one of the high points of the summer box office, where movies will frequently open north of the $100 million mark.
That number isn't far behind the $61 million debut of "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" during this same weekend a year ago. Under ordinary circumstances, a $53 million opening weekend wouldn't be considered one of the high points of the summer box office, where movies will frequently open north of the $100 million mark.
- 6/8/2024
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
Steven Spielberg has made some of the best films that have been celebrated by many critics and filmmakers. The director is one of the rare filmmakers who has successfully managed to deliver in every genre with great conviction. Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial are some of his best works.
Steven Spielberg made landmark sci-fi films including classics like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | Universal Pictures
Spielberg also has great admiration for other filmmakers and shares a very close relationship with Star Wars creator George Lucas. They have helped each other and supported each other’s work. Steven has hailed Lucas’ work on the Star Wars films. However, his choice of his best work may be a controversial one for fans of the franchise.
Steven Spielberg Hails Attack of the Clones as George Lucas’ Most Accomplished Film Attack of the Clones‘ subpar...
Steven Spielberg made landmark sci-fi films including classics like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | Universal Pictures
Spielberg also has great admiration for other filmmakers and shares a very close relationship with Star Wars creator George Lucas. They have helped each other and supported each other’s work. Steven has hailed Lucas’ work on the Star Wars films. However, his choice of his best work may be a controversial one for fans of the franchise.
Steven Spielberg Hails Attack of the Clones as George Lucas’ Most Accomplished Film Attack of the Clones‘ subpar...
- 6/8/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
After failing to gain popularity in its home country, the Spanish series Money Heist was released on Netflix. There it became an international sensation, the most popular non-English project on the platform and a rare series these days worthy of the word "cult."
Netflix decided that Money Heist was too good to end with season five. In 2023, Berlin was released – a full-fledged prequel series about what happened before the events of the main plot. Berlin assembles a team to commit one of the most daring robberies in history and get jewelry worth 44 million euros.
However, even before the world got acquainted with the Money Heist phenomenon, a British crime series was released in 2012 that did not receive the attention it deserved from viewers – Inside Men.
What is Inside Men About?
One day, criminals break into the company's vault, and make off with a large sum of money. But it soon...
Netflix decided that Money Heist was too good to end with season five. In 2023, Berlin was released – a full-fledged prequel series about what happened before the events of the main plot. Berlin assembles a team to commit one of the most daring robberies in history and get jewelry worth 44 million euros.
However, even before the world got acquainted with the Money Heist phenomenon, a British crime series was released in 2012 that did not receive the attention it deserved from viewers – Inside Men.
What is Inside Men About?
One day, criminals break into the company's vault, and make off with a large sum of money. But it soon...
- 6/8/2024
- by zoe-wallace@startefacts.com (Zoe Wallace)
- STartefacts.com
If early weekend estimates are correct, Sony’s buddy action comedy Bad Boys: Ride or Die could help jolt the battered summer office back to life with a domestic box opening of $53 million. Moreover, it could help put Smith on the road to a career comeback after the infamous Oscars slap, which was seemingly addressed in the film.
Bad Boys 4, reuniting Smith with Martin Lawrence in the fourth outing of Sony’s long-running franchise, earned generally positive reviews and, perhaps more importantly, an A- CinemaScore. Black moviegoers made up the largest quadrant of the audience with 44 percent.
Friday’s haul of $21.6 million included $5.9 million in Thursday night previews. Ride or Die is arguably the first film of the summer to come in ahead of tracking, which had it opening to $48 million to $50 million. It’s also the second biggest behind Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Ride or Die...
Bad Boys 4, reuniting Smith with Martin Lawrence in the fourth outing of Sony’s long-running franchise, earned generally positive reviews and, perhaps more importantly, an A- CinemaScore. Black moviegoers made up the largest quadrant of the audience with 44 percent.
Friday’s haul of $21.6 million included $5.9 million in Thursday night previews. Ride or Die is arguably the first film of the summer to come in ahead of tracking, which had it opening to $48 million to $50 million. It’s also the second biggest behind Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Ride or Die...
- 6/8/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Schindler’s List is arguably one of the most significant additions to the world of cinema, crafted by none other than Steven Spielberg. However, recognizing the grittiness and complexity of the subject matter, the director waited for more than a decade before fully committing to the project.
Spielberg on the sets of the film Schindler’s List | Credit: HBO.
Now, looking back, both Spielberg and audiences alike are glad he took the plunge. The film garnered seven Oscars and achieved the kind of acclaim many directors can only dream of in their entire careers.
Steven Spielberg Deemed Himself Not Mature Enough to Handle Schindler’s List
Steven Spielberg had been acquainted with the idea of the project Schindler’s List for a considerable length of time before he eventually brought it to life. However, he admitted that what he lacked back then was the courage and experience necessary to undertake such a monumental project.
Spielberg on the sets of the film Schindler’s List | Credit: HBO.
Now, looking back, both Spielberg and audiences alike are glad he took the plunge. The film garnered seven Oscars and achieved the kind of acclaim many directors can only dream of in their entire careers.
Steven Spielberg Deemed Himself Not Mature Enough to Handle Schindler’s List
Steven Spielberg had been acquainted with the idea of the project Schindler’s List for a considerable length of time before he eventually brought it to life. However, he admitted that what he lacked back then was the courage and experience necessary to undertake such a monumental project.
- 6/8/2024
- by Sampurna Banerjee
- FandomWire
Mark Wahlberg had a lot of regret in terms of movie projects he made in the past, but nothing as embarrassing as his streak of flop films. The actor notably starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening in 2008, which of course, failed critically.
Mark Wahlberg in Max Payne / 20th Century Studios
He booked another project that he thought would finally save his career, but John Moore’s Max Payne only worsened his bad luck. The movie also tanked miserably both at the box office and critic reviews.
Mark Wahlberg Thought Max Payne Will Save His Career
During his interview with Hollywood.com at the 2008 Comic-Con, actor Mark Wahlberg raved about his new Max Payne film after suffering from the failure that was M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening. He indirectly slammed the movie by claiming Max Payne saved him from utter embarrassment.
I remember The Happening had just come out,...
Mark Wahlberg in Max Payne / 20th Century Studios
He booked another project that he thought would finally save his career, but John Moore’s Max Payne only worsened his bad luck. The movie also tanked miserably both at the box office and critic reviews.
Mark Wahlberg Thought Max Payne Will Save His Career
During his interview with Hollywood.com at the 2008 Comic-Con, actor Mark Wahlberg raved about his new Max Payne film after suffering from the failure that was M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening. He indirectly slammed the movie by claiming Max Payne saved him from utter embarrassment.
I remember The Happening had just come out,...
- 6/8/2024
- by Ariane Cruz
- FandomWire
Released on June 7, 2024, The Watchers marks Ishana Night Shyamalan’s directorial debut in feature films. Crafted from A. M. Shine’s novel and produced by her father, M. Night Shyamalan, the film sets its eerie stage in the lush forests of western Ireland. A Strong Start with a Gothic Atmosphere Known for her work on the Apple series Servant, Ishana Night Shyamalan showcases her knack for mood-setting from the very beginning. Using dark cinematography and sound cues, she initiates the narrative with an immersive prologue narrated by Mina (Dakota Fanning). Mina’s voice-over hints at the forest’s sinister nature: draws in...
- 6/8/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
The Official JoBlo Originals’ Live Stream, Friday Night Flicks with Kier Gomes, is back! And now, there are more ways than ever to watch it! You can see the show on our JoBlo Originals channel (or via the embed above), over on our Rumble channel, and on Facebook Live – Tonight at 8pm Et/ 5pm Pt.
So, what’s Kier going to talk about this time? Plenty. First, there’s the new trailer for Venom: The Last Dance, which dropped earlier this week. We’ll dive into the different fan theories behind the trailer hints, reveals, and more! Kier’s also going to take a deep dive into one of the most underrated trilogies: M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable Saga. That’s right folks – it’s a legit trilogy. Kier will tell you why he thinks it rules And he’ll also be giving away a 4K Blu-ray copy of Unbreakable!
So, what’s Kier going to talk about this time? Plenty. First, there’s the new trailer for Venom: The Last Dance, which dropped earlier this week. We’ll dive into the different fan theories behind the trailer hints, reveals, and more! Kier’s also going to take a deep dive into one of the most underrated trilogies: M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable Saga. That’s right folks – it’s a legit trilogy. Kier will tell you why he thinks it rules And he’ll also be giving away a 4K Blu-ray copy of Unbreakable!
- 6/7/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
The enduring irony of M. Night Shyamalan’s cinema is that no matter how much he believes in the power and magic of storytelling, he nearly always struggles to spin a good yarn. The tin-eared dialogue, the crude sentimentality, and the compulsive overreliance on tension and startling-for-their-own-sake (and often tension-deflating) left turns are all part of what we’ve come to understand as distinctly Shyamalan-esque. And now, they’re present and accounted for in The Watchers, the debut feature of his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan.
Dakota Fanning stars as Mina, an American living in Galway, Ireland, who spends her time, no doubt as a consequence of her traumatic past, donning wigs and lying to men in bars between shifts at the local pet shop. When she’s tasked with delivering a gorgeous golden conure parrot to a zoo in Belfast, Mina takes the opportunity for some time away but, when her car breaks down,...
Dakota Fanning stars as Mina, an American living in Galway, Ireland, who spends her time, no doubt as a consequence of her traumatic past, donning wigs and lying to men in bars between shifts at the local pet shop. When she’s tasked with delivering a gorgeous golden conure parrot to a zoo in Belfast, Mina takes the opportunity for some time away but, when her car breaks down,...
- 6/7/2024
- by Rocco T. Thompson
- Slant Magazine
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for House of the Dragon, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Clipped and The Watchers.
The Watchers premiere
Writer/director Ishana Night Shyamalan premiered her directorial debut in NYC on Sunday, alongside father M. Night Shyamalan and stars Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré and Oliver Finnegan.
M. Night Shyamalan, Alistair Brammer, Olwen Fouéré, Dakota Fanning, Ishana Night Shyamalan, Georgina Campbell and Oliver Finnegan
House of the Dragon premiere
Showrunner Ryan Condal and stars Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Tom Glynn-Carney and Ewan Mitchell debuted season 2 of the Game of Thrones prequel in NYC on Monday.
Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy and showrunner Ryan Condal Fabien Frankel
Clipped premiere
FX celebrated the premiere of Clipped in downtown Los Angeles on Monday,...
The Watchers premiere
Writer/director Ishana Night Shyamalan premiered her directorial debut in NYC on Sunday, alongside father M. Night Shyamalan and stars Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré and Oliver Finnegan.
M. Night Shyamalan, Alistair Brammer, Olwen Fouéré, Dakota Fanning, Ishana Night Shyamalan, Georgina Campbell and Oliver Finnegan
House of the Dragon premiere
Showrunner Ryan Condal and stars Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Tom Glynn-Carney and Ewan Mitchell debuted season 2 of the Game of Thrones prequel in NYC on Monday.
Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy and showrunner Ryan Condal Fabien Frankel
Clipped premiere
FX celebrated the premiere of Clipped in downtown Los Angeles on Monday,...
- 6/7/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warning: In case the headline didn't give it away, this article contains major spoilers for "The Watchers."
Stop me if you've heard this one before: There's a new horror movie directed by a filmmaker with the last name Shyamalan that's about creepy (and possibly supernatural) threats in the middle of a secluded forest ... and, yes, there's a big plot twist hiding in plain sight. Reactions thus far have been rather divisive, as you can see from my rather mixed review for /Film, and the sense of atmosphere and tone certainly feel consistent with someone who received their film-school crash course while serving as a second-unit director on M. Night Shyamalan's 2021 film "Old" and a director on several episodes of his streaming series "Servant," but that's pretty much where the similarities between father and daughter end.
Ishana Night Shyamalan's debut feature "The Watchers" is very much abiding by its own rules entirely.
Stop me if you've heard this one before: There's a new horror movie directed by a filmmaker with the last name Shyamalan that's about creepy (and possibly supernatural) threats in the middle of a secluded forest ... and, yes, there's a big plot twist hiding in plain sight. Reactions thus far have been rather divisive, as you can see from my rather mixed review for /Film, and the sense of atmosphere and tone certainly feel consistent with someone who received their film-school crash course while serving as a second-unit director on M. Night Shyamalan's 2021 film "Old" and a director on several episodes of his streaming series "Servant," but that's pretty much where the similarities between father and daughter end.
Ishana Night Shyamalan's debut feature "The Watchers" is very much abiding by its own rules entirely.
- 6/7/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Based on a novel by Irish author A.M. Shine, writer-director Ishana Night Shyamalan’s The Watched — known as The Watchers in some territories — feels like a companion piece to her father M Night Shyamalan's Knock At The Cabin. Again, we’re deep in literal and metaphorical woods and a random set of strangers gather for momentous, ominous purpose. In Knock, things got less interesting the more was revealed. This goes the other way — to the extent that the premise sold in the trailer is rather underdone (little is made of the situation where abductees are on display all the time). But when the claustrophobia lets up, the story takes off in fresh, unsettling directions. It feels like a pilot for a series, setting out more mythology than it can explore.
Things are off-kilter even in the normal life of our hero Mina (Dakota Fanning): she’s working without...
Things are off-kilter even in the normal life of our hero Mina (Dakota Fanning): she’s working without...
- 6/7/2024
- by Kim Newman
- Empire - Movies
Steven Spielberg has delivered some impeccable Hollywood projects that continue to serve as a great inspiration for filmmakers. However, many often forget that the director himself was a newbie once upon a time, just like any other in the industry. Despite facing challenges, he created a masterpiece like Jaws (his second feature film), which was a complete nightmare to shoot.
Steven Spielberg | Photo by Gage Skidmore (Wikimedia Commons)
Nevertheless, it ended up cementing its place in the cinematic world and heavily inspired M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter in the making of her new horror project, The Watcher, starring Dakota Fanning.
M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter Credits Steven Spielberg’s Jaws as Inspiration for The Watcher
M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter makes her directorial debut with The Watcher, based on the novel of the same name by A. M. Shine. The movie revolves around 28-year-old artist Mina (Dakota Fanning) who gets stranded in an expansive,...
Steven Spielberg | Photo by Gage Skidmore (Wikimedia Commons)
Nevertheless, it ended up cementing its place in the cinematic world and heavily inspired M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter in the making of her new horror project, The Watcher, starring Dakota Fanning.
M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter Credits Steven Spielberg’s Jaws as Inspiration for The Watcher
M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter makes her directorial debut with The Watcher, based on the novel of the same name by A. M. Shine. The movie revolves around 28-year-old artist Mina (Dakota Fanning) who gets stranded in an expansive,...
- 6/7/2024
- by Priya Sharma
- FandomWire
After several weekends of disappointments at the box office, Miami’s finest may be here to turn things around.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die opened to a positive $5.9 million during Thursday night previews at 3,339 locations. The film is expected to open between $45 million and $50 million this weekend, with Sony setting expectations lower at $30 million. The film’s budget sits at $100 million.
Ride or Die is the follow-up to Bad Boys for Life, which earned $6.4 million in Thursday previews on its way to a $62 million opening weekend. Opening in January 2020, it went on to earn $426 million at the global box office before theaters were shut due to the global pandemic.
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, who have to go on the run after their late police captain gets linked to drug cartels and they attempt to clear his name. Adil El Arbi...
Bad Boys: Ride or Die opened to a positive $5.9 million during Thursday night previews at 3,339 locations. The film is expected to open between $45 million and $50 million this weekend, with Sony setting expectations lower at $30 million. The film’s budget sits at $100 million.
Ride or Die is the follow-up to Bad Boys for Life, which earned $6.4 million in Thursday previews on its way to a $62 million opening weekend. Opening in January 2020, it went on to earn $426 million at the global box office before theaters were shut due to the global pandemic.
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, who have to go on the run after their late police captain gets linked to drug cartels and they attempt to clear his name. Adil El Arbi...
- 6/7/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It might take some “Bad Boys” to save this summer’s bad box office start.
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” has made $5.875 million in Thursday previews at the box office so far.
Sony and Columbia’s fourth “Bad Boys” movie, and the follow-up to 2020’s surprise hit “Bad Boys for Life,” is expected to open between $45 million and $50 million this weekend. However, Sony has a smaller estimate at $30 million. The more conservative projection could be overly cautious due to the growing number of summer films, such as “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “If” and “The Fall Guy,” that have failed to connect with theatergoers.
With the summer box office far behind previous years’ grosses, theater owners are hoping for some relief sooner rather than later — and hopefully “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is their answer. It also marks Smith’s first major film since...
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” has made $5.875 million in Thursday previews at the box office so far.
Sony and Columbia’s fourth “Bad Boys” movie, and the follow-up to 2020’s surprise hit “Bad Boys for Life,” is expected to open between $45 million and $50 million this weekend. However, Sony has a smaller estimate at $30 million. The more conservative projection could be overly cautious due to the growing number of summer films, such as “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “If” and “The Fall Guy,” that have failed to connect with theatergoers.
With the summer box office far behind previous years’ grosses, theater owners are hoping for some relief sooner rather than later — and hopefully “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is their answer. It also marks Smith’s first major film since...
- 6/7/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Saleka, the R&b-singing daughter of director M. Night Shyamalan, has shared the song “Release” as Lady Raven, the pop star she portrays in her dad’s upcoming cat-and-mouse serial killer movie Trap.
In the film, Josh Hartnett plays a father/murderer who, with his young daughter, attends a Lady Raven concert, only to find out the police know the serial killer dubbed “the Butcher” is in attendance and have concocted the titular “trap” to catch him.
Saleka — whose music previously appeared on the soundtracks for her father’s Servant...
In the film, Josh Hartnett plays a father/murderer who, with his young daughter, attends a Lady Raven concert, only to find out the police know the serial killer dubbed “the Butcher” is in attendance and have concocted the titular “trap” to catch him.
Saleka — whose music previously appeared on the soundtracks for her father’s Servant...
- 6/7/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Sony is rolling out Bad Boys: Ride Or Die at 643 locations to make it the widest release in the UK and Ireland this weekend.
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles as two renegade cops standing in the way of a Miami drugs cartel, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directing.
It is the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise following the most recent, Bad Boys For Life, opening to £3.8m in January 2020, surpassing the £866,215 opening of 1995’s Bad Boys and the £3.2m of 2003’s Bad Boys II.
The Watched, known outside of UK-Ireland as The Watchers,...
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles as two renegade cops standing in the way of a Miami drugs cartel, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directing.
It is the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise following the most recent, Bad Boys For Life, opening to £3.8m in January 2020, surpassing the £866,215 opening of 1995’s Bad Boys and the £3.2m of 2003’s Bad Boys II.
The Watched, known outside of UK-Ireland as The Watchers,...
- 6/7/2024
- ScreenDaily
Folk horror aims for the darkest parts of our imaginations. The creatures that dwell out of sight can frighten and speak to larger cultural concerns. Ishana Shyamalan tackles the genre in her debut feature, The Watchers. With some interesting mythical characters, The Watchers touches on some interesting topics. However, a frustrating screenplay and questionable structure sink the film, especially in its final act.
SUGGESTEDHorror Film, Barbarian, Will Receive a Video Game Adaptation From Diversion3 Entertainment The Watchers Plot
Mina (Dakota Fanning) continues to struggle with the death of her mother. More than fifteen years after a car accident, she remains estranged from her sister. When her boss at the pet store asks her to deliver a bird to the zoo, Mina takes the gig to avoid facing her grief. However, after her car breaks down in the woods, she becomes trapped in a bunker with three strangers. Outside the shelter,...
SUGGESTEDHorror Film, Barbarian, Will Receive a Video Game Adaptation From Diversion3 Entertainment The Watchers Plot
Mina (Dakota Fanning) continues to struggle with the death of her mother. More than fifteen years after a car accident, she remains estranged from her sister. When her boss at the pet store asks her to deliver a bird to the zoo, Mina takes the gig to avoid facing her grief. However, after her car breaks down in the woods, she becomes trapped in a bunker with three strangers. Outside the shelter,...
- 6/7/2024
- by Alan French
- FandomWire
At the start of 2023, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan secured a multi-year deal with Warner Bros., and soon after that deal was made, we heard that his first movie for Warner Bros. would be Trap, a “psychological thriller set at a concert”. That project made its way through production toward the end of last year, with lead roles going to Josh Hartnett, fresh off his appearance in Oppenheimer (pictured below), and Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka. Now the film’s August 9th theatrical release date is swiftly approaching – and the latest bit of promotional material to be unveiled is a lyric video for the original song “Release.” The song first dropped online at the end of April, but now we have a video go along with it. Saleka recorded this song for the movie, where she plays a pop star called Lady Raven. You can watch the video in the embed above.
- 6/7/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Ishana Night Shyamalan had "something to prove" on her directorial debut 'The Watchers'.The 24-year-old filmmaker has made her bow behind the camera on the supernatural horror flick and was interested in confounding the expectations of those who expected a movie in a similar manner to the work of her father M. Night Shyamalan – the helmer of 'The Sixth Sense' and 'Knock at the Cabin'.Speaking to Digital Spy, Ishana said: "I was really interested in sort of playing with those expectations. Knowing that my being by him and the kind of audience expects from his filmmaking, I was interested in using that as a thing to start with and then kind of subverting that and surprising you as to where the movie goes and what the tone is, even."I think that's all wonderful. I really enjoy having something to prove and starting with what people think.
- 6/7/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
The summer movie kickoff has been a little bumpy, but the staff at IMDb have their sights set on several highly anticipated movies and shows coming out in June.
See IMDb’s June Picks
If you need something light and fun for the weekend, check out Glen Powell and Adria Arjona in ‘Hit Man’ on Netflix. Based on the true story of part-time undercover investigator Gary Johnson, director Richard Linklater's crime comedy finds Powell moonlighting as a fake hit man who starts to fall for a woman who enlists his services.
Those looking for thrills and chills can head to the theater, where Will Smith and Martin Lawrence go undercover in ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die,’ and Dakota Fanning finds herself trapped with a bunch of strangers under spooky circumstances in the directorial debut of M. Night Shyamalan's daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan.
The rest of June will keep many fans busy with new episodes of three Emmy-winning series: Season 4 of “The Boys” (6/13) on Prime Video, Season 2 of “House of the Dragon” (6/16) on Max, and Season 3 of “The Bear” (6/27) on Hulu.
There’s not a ton on the menu for families, but ‘Inside Out 2’ is expected to be one of 2024’s box office bright spots. The Pixar sequel brings back Riley’s original emotions and adds Maya Hawke (“Stranger Things”) as Anxiety and Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear’) as Ennui.
Take a look at all the staff picks for the month in our guide, where you can watch trailers, read more about what’s coming, and add movies and shows to your Watchlist....
See IMDb’s June Picks
If you need something light and fun for the weekend, check out Glen Powell and Adria Arjona in ‘Hit Man’ on Netflix. Based on the true story of part-time undercover investigator Gary Johnson, director Richard Linklater's crime comedy finds Powell moonlighting as a fake hit man who starts to fall for a woman who enlists his services.
Those looking for thrills and chills can head to the theater, where Will Smith and Martin Lawrence go undercover in ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die,’ and Dakota Fanning finds herself trapped with a bunch of strangers under spooky circumstances in the directorial debut of M. Night Shyamalan's daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan.
The rest of June will keep many fans busy with new episodes of three Emmy-winning series: Season 4 of “The Boys” (6/13) on Prime Video, Season 2 of “House of the Dragon” (6/16) on Max, and Season 3 of “The Bear” (6/27) on Hulu.
There’s not a ton on the menu for families, but ‘Inside Out 2’ is expected to be one of 2024’s box office bright spots. The Pixar sequel brings back Riley’s original emotions and adds Maya Hawke (“Stranger Things”) as Anxiety and Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear’) as Ennui.
Take a look at all the staff picks for the month in our guide, where you can watch trailers, read more about what’s coming, and add movies and shows to your Watchlist....
- 6/7/2024
- by IMDb Editors
- IMDb News
With the unofficial beginning of summer — Memorial Day — come and gone, the season has entered full swing. Several of the summer weekends will be crowded at the box office with sometimes three releases competing on similar dates. With action films like Bad Boys: Ride Or Die, A Quiet Place: Day One and Twisters taking us through July, some animated adventures like Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4 will provide fun for whole families.
Deadpool 3 will cap off July with a new Marvel installment from Shawn Levy, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, making way for more sinister films ahead of fall like M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap and Alien: Romulus. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice deserves an honorable mention although it won’t hit theaters until September to lead into spooky season and October.
Related: Summer Box Office Pines For $3 Billion: ‘Garfield’ Could Scratch ‘Furiosa’, ‘Beetlejuice 2’ Might See Best Opening Just Outside...
Deadpool 3 will cap off July with a new Marvel installment from Shawn Levy, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, making way for more sinister films ahead of fall like M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap and Alien: Romulus. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice deserves an honorable mention although it won’t hit theaters until September to lead into spooky season and October.
Related: Summer Box Office Pines For $3 Billion: ‘Garfield’ Could Scratch ‘Furiosa’, ‘Beetlejuice 2’ Might See Best Opening Just Outside...
- 6/7/2024
- by Dessi Gomez
- Deadline Film + TV
Dakota Fanning is speaking from experience as she gives tips for the next generation of child stars. On Sunday, June 2, the actress attended the New York City premiere of The Watchers, her new supernatural thriller set deep in the forests of Ireland. The film was directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of the acclaimed M. Night Shyamalan. As long as you love it, you’re in the right place, Fanning advised, emphasizing determination and passion. She continued, Sometimes you’re working in a cold, wet forest, and if you can still have fun there, then you’re on the right track. Dakota’s...
- 6/6/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Hollywood and nepotism are two things that go hand in hand it seems. While the concept of nepotism is not new, recently it has gained more traction as more and more people are pointing out how every other actor that gets inducted into the Hollywood regime turns out to be a son, a daughter, a niece or nephew of another Hollywood personality.
M. Night Shyamalan | Credits: Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore
M. Night Shyamalan is a name in the directorial world that fans clamor to, especially when it comes to the horror and thriller genre. His movies like The Sixth Sense, Split, Glass, Unbreakable, and so many more have made him a name in the industry. Actors and audiences alike are amazed by his incredible filmmaking, who is known to be one of the very best working in the directorial field in Hollywood. And now, his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan seems...
M. Night Shyamalan | Credits: Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore
M. Night Shyamalan is a name in the directorial world that fans clamor to, especially when it comes to the horror and thriller genre. His movies like The Sixth Sense, Split, Glass, Unbreakable, and so many more have made him a name in the industry. Actors and audiences alike are amazed by his incredible filmmaking, who is known to be one of the very best working in the directorial field in Hollywood. And now, his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan seems...
- 6/6/2024
- by Swagata Das
- FandomWire
Legendary filmmaker and master of the plot twist, M. Night Shyamalan, acts as producer for this serviceable horror offering from his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan. Titled The Watched in the UK and Ireland – it is known by The Watchers elsewhere – the film is an adaptation of the gothic novel by the same name by Irish writer A. M. Shine.
The film stars Dakota Fanning, Olwen Fouéré, Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) and Oliver Finnegan (Outlander).
Mina (Fanning), a troubled young artist working in a pet shop in the Republic of Ireland is tasked with delivering a parrot bought by a customer on the other side of the country. A couple of hours into her journey, Mina gets stranded in an mysterious, untouched forest when her car breaks down.
Lost in the forest with the sun about to set, Mina becomes the target of mysterious creatures. When she comes across a shelter in the forest,...
The film stars Dakota Fanning, Olwen Fouéré, Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) and Oliver Finnegan (Outlander).
Mina (Fanning), a troubled young artist working in a pet shop in the Republic of Ireland is tasked with delivering a parrot bought by a customer on the other side of the country. A couple of hours into her journey, Mina gets stranded in an mysterious, untouched forest when her car breaks down.
Lost in the forest with the sun about to set, Mina becomes the target of mysterious creatures. When she comes across a shelter in the forest,...
- 6/6/2024
- by Linda Marric
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
“The Watchers” is the first film directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, the 24-year-old daughter of M. Night Shyamalan. Its title refers to a race of spindly ash-gray monsters who haunt an Irish woods, gathering at night around a concrete fortress where the film’s four characters have holed up in a state of semi-permanent refuge. The building has just one room, an entire wall of which is a two-way mirror through which the Watchers peer, all because..they like to watch.
At the same time, the title could almost be referring to anyone who will watch this movie with eyes on the inevitable question of how much of a chip off the old Shyamalan block it is. Is “The Watchers” a glossy/clever mystery horror thriller? Yes. Did Ishana Night Shyamalan, whose father is one of the producers, write the movie as well as direct it? Yes (though she adapted...
At the same time, the title could almost be referring to anyone who will watch this movie with eyes on the inevitable question of how much of a chip off the old Shyamalan block it is. Is “The Watchers” a glossy/clever mystery horror thriller? Yes. Did Ishana Night Shyamalan, whose father is one of the producers, write the movie as well as direct it? Yes (though she adapted...
- 6/6/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Some of the most boldly assured first features by women in the past 20 years have been horror. Think Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook, Julia Ducournau’s Raw or Rose Glass’ Saint Maud. On the strength of The Watchers, Ishana Night Shyamalan, the 23-year-old daughter of You Know Who, fails to make that list, despite having what appear to be considerable resources thrown at her. While Dakota Fanning does yeoman’s work in the central role, this is basically the usual Irish hooey about faeries and changelings and other pesky entities dressed up in ponderous Jungian doubles theory.
Produced by dad M. Night Shyamalan and adapted from the novel by West Irish author A.M. Shine (apparently a real name), the movie charges right into its souped-up atmospherics, accompanied by Abel Korzeniowski’s hyperventilating score.
Eli Arenson’s camera tracks a panicked man (Alistair Brammer), hurtling through a dense forest in the...
Produced by dad M. Night Shyamalan and adapted from the novel by West Irish author A.M. Shine (apparently a real name), the movie charges right into its souped-up atmospherics, accompanied by Abel Korzeniowski’s hyperventilating score.
Eli Arenson’s camera tracks a panicked man (Alistair Brammer), hurtling through a dense forest in the...
- 6/6/2024
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The notion of seeing the "Shyamalan" name attached to any given title has always been as fascinating a journey as the films themselves. Anyone who was (unfairly) crowned "The Next Spielberg" at such an early juncture was probably doomed to have that follow them for the rest of their career, but M. Night Shyamalan managed to rewrite his own ending multiple times over, improbably enough: first weathering his status as an up-and-coming visionary, then becoming something of a pariah through the inevitable dry spell that seemed to cement his reputation, and finally culminating with several stripped-down, yet quintessentially Shyamalan hits in a row. Perhaps it's only fitting, then, that the next phase in this twisting odyssey has now arrived — this time, in the form of the next generation of Shyamalan storytellers.
Ishana Night Shyamalan's feature debut "The Watchers" will inevitably draw comparisons to her father's body of work, though...
Ishana Night Shyamalan's feature debut "The Watchers" will inevitably draw comparisons to her father's body of work, though...
- 6/6/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
If anything could revive the worn-out nepotism discourse, it would be this summer’s horror offerings. In August we have M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming thriller, Trap, built around an arena show for a pop superstar played by his pop-singer daughter, Saleka. And this Friday you can catch the directorial debut of his other daughter, Inasha Night Shyamalan. The Watchers, which is based on the novel by A.M. Shine, has a promising premise and compelling imagery, but can’t quite live up to those modest hopes.
The Watchers follows Mina (Dakota Fanning), an antisocial pet-store clerk tasked with delivering a rare yellow parrot to a client in another town. Her trip brings her to a mysterious forest that has a tendency for swallowing up anyone who enters. With the sun setting and her car nowhere to be found, Mina takes shelter in a strange one-room building (called the Coop) with three others,...
The Watchers follows Mina (Dakota Fanning), an antisocial pet-store clerk tasked with delivering a rare yellow parrot to a client in another town. Her trip brings her to a mysterious forest that has a tendency for swallowing up anyone who enters. With the sun setting and her car nowhere to be found, Mina takes shelter in a strange one-room building (called the Coop) with three others,...
- 6/6/2024
- by Gabrielle Marceau
- The Film Stage
Ishana Night Shyamalan, the daughter of filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, is all set to make her directorial debut with The Watchers. The upcoming horror feature will star the War of the Worlds star Dakota Fanning alongside Georgina Campbell and others.
The senior Shyamalan is known for his works in the horror and supernatural genres with movies like The Sixth Sense and Split. Dakota Fanning, who is hopeful about Ishana Night Shyamalan’s horror flick, revealed that working in The Watchers unexpectedly fulfilled her life-long desire.
Dakota Fanning in The Watchers | New Line Cinema
The Ocean’s 8 actress claimed that The Watchers was a special experience for her as she always wanted to work in an M. Night Shyamalan movie. The latter is associated as a producer in his daughter’s first directorial.
The War of the Worlds star thanks The Watchers for fulfilling her childhood wish
Dakota Fanning has been...
The senior Shyamalan is known for his works in the horror and supernatural genres with movies like The Sixth Sense and Split. Dakota Fanning, who is hopeful about Ishana Night Shyamalan’s horror flick, revealed that working in The Watchers unexpectedly fulfilled her life-long desire.
Dakota Fanning in The Watchers | New Line Cinema
The Ocean’s 8 actress claimed that The Watchers was a special experience for her as she always wanted to work in an M. Night Shyamalan movie. The latter is associated as a producer in his daughter’s first directorial.
The War of the Worlds star thanks The Watchers for fulfilling her childhood wish
Dakota Fanning has been...
- 6/6/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
Daniel Dae Kim has starred in many well-known projects over the years. While he has been a part of several successful films and shows, he has gotten the most attention for playing the role of Fire Lord Ozai in the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Outside of the Netflix series, he was also a recurring character in the ABC series, Lost.
Daniel Dae Kim as Ozai in Avatar: The Last Airbender I Netflix
During an interview, Kim talked about how his character in the series, Jin-Soo Kwon, was almost killed off in the first season. However, after surviving six seasons, the actor revealed how he felt about where Kwon was left off.
He also touched on aspects of race and how those kinds of prejudices affected his character’s entire run.
Daniel Dae Kim’s Character in Lost Was Almost Killed Off Too Early
When Jin-Son Kwon was initially introduced,...
Daniel Dae Kim as Ozai in Avatar: The Last Airbender I Netflix
During an interview, Kim talked about how his character in the series, Jin-Soo Kwon, was almost killed off in the first season. However, after surviving six seasons, the actor revealed how he felt about where Kwon was left off.
He also touched on aspects of race and how those kinds of prejudices affected his character’s entire run.
Daniel Dae Kim’s Character in Lost Was Almost Killed Off Too Early
When Jin-Son Kwon was initially introduced,...
- 6/6/2024
- by Ananya Godboley
- FandomWire
A Challenging Collaboration Working on The Watchers has not been an easy task for Ishana Night Shyamalan, who helms the project as both the writer and director. The film marks her feature debut, underscoring a significant milestone in her career. Speaking about the experience, Ishana highlighted the complexities of collaborating with her father, M. Night Shyamalan, a seasoned filmmaker. Debut Directorial Role Georgina Campbell, one of the film’s stars, described Ishana’s directorial approach with admiration, noting that working with her was a pleasure due to her clear vision and meticulous attention to detail. During an interview, Dakota Fanning expressed her...
- 6/6/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
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