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As the NBA enters a busy offseason, Ron Wyden has tough words for any moneyed interests looking to take the Portland Trail Blazers out of Rip City: “Nobody takes the Blazers team out of town unless they stomp all over me in broad daylight,” the Oregon senator tells Rolling Stone.

The Trail Blazers are up for sale, at a moment when NBA franchises are fetching astonishing valuations. In March, the Boston Celtics changed hands for $6 billion; the Lakers agreed to be sold for $10 billion earlier this month. The sale announcement for the Blazers,...

One thing that brings every athlete, musician, actor, and social media personality under one roof is their love for sneakers. Over the last few years, celebrities including Kylie Jenner, Teyana Taylor, John Mayer, DJ Khaled, Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg, and more have shared about their love for sneakers and how they are one of their prized possessions.

DJ Khaled showing off his sneaker collection | Credits: Complex’s YouTube

These celebrities tend to have a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship of footwear, and of course, it goes on to showcase luxury. A recent study by the fast fashion brand Public Desire has revealed the celebrity who has the biggest sneaker collection.

DJ Khaled boasts a collection of 10,000 sneakers

According to a recent study by the fast fashion brand Public Desire, DJ Khaled tops the list of celebrities with the biggest shoe collection, owning 10,000 pairs of sneakers, which exceeds about $8 million in worth.

Break-ups often lead to rebounds—and it seems that Ben Affleck is quite like us in that matter. After his high-profile marriage to Jennifer Lopez hit a bump in 2024 leading to their divorce finalization, it seems that Affleck might be finding himself thinking back to his earlier celebrity crush, Jessica Alba.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in The Greatest Love Story Never Told | image: Prime Video

Well, considering how Jennifer Lopez is making headlines for her rumored romance with Kevin Costner, Ben Affleck might as well get on with finding happiness in a new romance. And sources believe that currently there’s no one better than Jessica Alba for Affleck. Based on their “undeniable” chemistry, insiders noted that it’s the right time for Alba and Affleck to hit it off.

Ben Affleck might turn his crush into romance with Jessica Alba

For those who had high hopes for Jennifer...

Just like fashion trends, sneaker styles are also constantly evolving. Design and function-wise, sneakers have indeed changed a lot over the years. They were originally invented for athletics purposes, but they eventually turned into a fashion statement.

However, while shoe designs are changing, there are shoe brands and styles that will always remain iconic. Take, for example, Nike.

Air Force 1 is one of the most popular and iconic shoe silhouettes by Nike (Credit: Sport Car Hub / Shutterstock)

From its small beginning in Oregon, Nike has grown into the world’s largest athletic footwear and apparel manufacturer.

Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan is more than just a tagline; it’s a call to action, a mantra that inspires millions to challenge their limits. As Naomi Klein eloquently puts it, “When Nike says, just do it, that’s a message of empowerment. Why aren’t the rest of us speaking to...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Unstoppable.

The 2024 sports biopic Unstoppable chronicles the remarkable true story of Anthony Robles, which continued long after his historic wrestling career at Arizona State University. As depicted at the end of Unstoppable, Robles faced obstacles and challenges both on and off the wrestling mat before becoming the 2011 NCAA wrestling champion. Directed by Oscar-winning editor William Goldenberg in his feature film directorial debut, Unstoppable is based on Robles' 2012 book Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion. Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome leads an outstanding Unstoppable cast including Jennifer Lopez, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle, and Bobby Cannavale.

Unstoppable has received mostly positive reviews, earning a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 74%. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and the real-life Anthony Robles produced the film. Robles also appears in the film as his own double in certain scenes. Robles remains the only NCAA wrestler with one leg to...

Fans of action thrillers have reason to celebrate: it has been confirmed that John Wick: Chapter 4 star Scott Adkins is set to join Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in the upcoming Netflix film Rip. Written and directed by the acclaimed Joe Carnahan, the movie features an ensemble cast that includes Sasha Calle, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Nestor Carbonell. Rip is produced by Actors Equity, a joint actors-led studio founded by Affleck and Damon.

According to Deadline, Scott Adkins will play the role of Ben Afflecks brother in Rip. The plot of the movie revolves around a team of Miami police officers who are sent into action after discovering a huge amount of cash in a stash house. The official synopsis reads:

"A team of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray when they discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure,...

Film audiences may have first recognized Ben Affleck for his appearance in the 1992 film "School Ties," where he played the main sidekick of the film's central bully. In 1993, Affleck was already behind the camera as well, having made a rather notorious 16-minute short film called "I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her on a Meat Hook, and Now I Have a Three-Picture Deal at Disney." Affleck played a boorish womanizer named Shannon in Kevin Smith's 1995 comedy "Mallrats," and he teamed with Smith again in 1997 to make the stirring queer romantic drama "Chasing Amy." At the end of 1997, Affleck and his friend Matt Damon became awards darlings thanks to Gun Van Sant's "Good Will Hunting" which they both wrote and starred in. 

Affleck has remained a superstar ever since, having appeared in terse studio dramas, mainstream romances, and numerous action films. He played the superheroes Daredevil and Batman and continued to work with Kevin Smith.

Exclusive: We’ve seen efforts to share risk and upside in success, and many times they come and go. Artists Equity, hatched by pals Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and backed by a long-term financial commitment from RedBird Capital billionaire Gerry Cardinale, has a real chance to reshape the tenuous pay landscape in a talent-friendly way. Since Deadline first broke their plans, Affleck and Damon have used their personal relationships and the hard-knock lessons from over 30 years of their Oscar careers to create a sound equity participation formula for those involved in their projects. It’s a formula they believe provides more transparency in profit sharing than is available from the studios and streamers that will release the films Artists Equity bankrolls.

Housed in Los Angeles offices with a staff that has swelled past 70 employees working on film, TV, a full-scale ad agency and a lean-in on documentaries, Artists Equity is growing quickly.

John Wick: Chapter 4 star Scott Adkins is set to join Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in their upcoming Netflix crime thriller.

Per Deadline, Adkins has joined the cast for Rip, a crime thriller starring Damon and Affleck. Adkins will reportedly play the brother of Affleck's character in the film. In addition to Adkins, Affleck, and Damon, Rip also stars Sasha Calle, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno and Nestor Carbonell. The film is written and directed by Joe Carnahan, best known for films such as Smokin' Aces, The A-Team, and The Grey. Adkins was most recently seen in The Killer's Game, an action comedy starring Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella. Adkins is perhaps best known for playing Killa in John Wick: Chapter 4, one of the many antagonists that Keanu Reeves' vengeful hitman had to battle throughout the course of the film.

Related Matt Damon's Bourne 6 Gets Unfortunate Update From...

I got out of the Uber in industrial Brooklyn, trying to get my bearings on this sweatbox morning. There was no address on the brewery to my right or the scrapyard across the street. I tried the front door of a brick-block building, but found it firmly locked. Five minutes later, a middle-aged man pulled up, wearing gold-tint rims and a Kangol hat. He, too, tried the handle of the door, then stepped back, puzzled as I was. What had seemed like a brilliant idea in March now felt, in June,...

It’s difficult to keep sending back 12-year-old Claressa Shields (Jazmin Headley) when she’s got more fight in her than any of the boys he’s training, but that’s what Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry) knows. Girls don’t box. So, he tells her she can stay and do some drills—he’s not going to kick her out. Jason just doesn’t want her to mimic the boys in his lessons and get her hopes up that something more will come of it. Until he finally recognizes that gender doesn’t play into desire. If Claressa is going to box anyway, why not protect her from her opponents instead of a populace too narrow-minded to consider she might be a champion?

What first-time director Rachel Morrison (Oscar-nominated cinematographer of Mudbound) and screenwriter Barry Jenkins understand about Shields’ story, however, is that the epiphany Jason comes to is hard-won.

After he cowrote the script for Good Will Hunting with longtime friend Matt Damon, actor Ben Affleck has added more well-known titles to his career and catalog. In addition to Good Will Hunting, Affleck won an Oscar for directing Argo (2012), in which he also starred.

The actor’s directing chops have expanded to projects like the recent film Air (2023), in which he portrays former Nike CEO Phil Knight. We’ve rounded up the best Ben Affleck movies, many of which also star Matt Damon.

Related: Matt Damon & Ben Affleck To Star In Crime Thriller ‘Rip’ From Artists Equity And Joe Carnahan: Hot Package...

Laika is getting serious about its live-action output, with a new project called “Crumble” to be written and directed by Brian Duffield and produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

“Crumble” will tell the tale of “a married couple who go on a world-traversing adventure in the hope of finding a cure to an ancient curse.”

The announcement was made by Laika’s president of live-action film and series Matt Levin. “We’re so excited to partner with Brian and the entire team at Lord Miller on this special film,” he said in a Tuesday statement. “Brian has such a singular voice and ‘Crumble’ perfectly embodies the bold, emotional and inventive storytelling that we champion at Laika. Lord Miller is in a class of its own and we could not ask for a better creative team to bring this story to life.”

Aditya Sood will produce for Lord Miller alongside Duffield.

Damon and Affleck's first genre-specific collaboration, Rip, will be their 10th film together, marking a major milestone in their partnership. Despite individual action movie success, Damon and Affleck have never starred in an action thriller together, making Rip a groundbreaking project. With a track record in action films, both stars will bring their unique strengths to Rip, promising an exciting and successful collaboration.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's work together runs 35 years deep, but their next joint movie will mark their first-ever genre-specific collaboration. Long before bursting onto the Hollywood scene, Damon and Affleck were childhood buddies in Boston. Their acquaintance made the earliest film projects of their late teens and early twenties extra special, as in movies like Field of Dreams and School Ties, they got to share the experience. Yet, it wasn't until '97 that they - and the world - got to truly revel in their...

Affleck was never in Saving Private Ryan, but he later starred in Pearl Harbor, a less serious WWII movie than Spielberg's. Burns, not Affleck, played a main role in Saving Private Ryan and is often mistaken for his friend due to their physical resemblance. Damon played the title character in Saving Private Ryan, but his career trajectory differs from that of Ben Affleck.

Some viewers misremember Ben Affleck in the Saving Private Ryan cast. Saving Private Ryan is a men-on-a-mission tale at its heart, with Tom Hanks' Captain Miller reluctantly leading his squad in search of a young soldier named Ryan, whose brothers were all killed in combat. The movie is full of then-up-and-coming acting talent, with Giovanni Ribisi and Vin Diesel both being part of Miller's squad, Nathon Fillion playing a young soldier mistaken for Ryan, and even Bryan Cranston in a small role.

However, many people mistakenly...

Animation wizard Henry Selick has seen the remastered “Coraline.” And he loves it.

“It’s gorgeous. I saw it about a week and a half ago and it very much represents the original dream of how to use the 3D really well,” Selick said during a surprise appearance at Variety‘s “Laika Celebrates Coraline’s 15th Anniversary” panel at Annecy Animation Festival. “It took the original concept to a greater height.”

Moderated by Variety chief film critic Peter Debruge, Selick was joined by Laika’s Brian McLean (director of Rapid Prototype), Oliver Jones (director of Practical Effects) and Jeff Stringer (chief technology officer).

“I’ve gotten used to seeing ‘Coraline’ in 2D over the years, but nothing looks better in 3D than stop-motion,” Selick said, looking back at his years at Laika. “I was never more spoiled. I got support there like nobody’s business. Nobody was saying: ‘No, we don’t need that,...

The critically acclaimed stop-motion horror film Coraline is returning to theaters, 15 years after its 2009 debut, with a remastered edition and a brand-new poster.

The poster features the film's beloved protagonist Coraline and her black cat with the caption, "It's time to go back." Produced by Laika Studios, Coraline's re-release was hyped in a post on X by the studio with the accompanying poster and post stating, "Are you ready to go back to the Other World bigger and better than ever? On Aug. 15-22, Coraline returns to theaters around the world in remastered 3D!"

Related Coraline's Biggest Differences Between the Book and the Movie

Coraline was a beloved Neil Gaiman book before being adapted into an equally beloved stop-motion classic by Laika. Here's where the two differ.

Are you ready to go back to the Other World bigger and better than ever? On Aug. 15-22, #Coraline returns to theaters around the world in remastered 3D!

Netflix is adding to its sports docuseries lineup with three new shows centered on the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics as well as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

In partnership with the International Olympic Committee, Netflix is doing docuseries on gymnastics great Simone Biles, the U.S. men’s basketball team, and Olympic track athletes, the last of which was ordered last year and is now titled “Sprint.”

The Biles series is titled “Simone Biles: Rising,” and will debut its first part in July ahead of the Summer Games. The series consists of four 45-minute episodes. The official description states:

“Simone Biles has unfinished business. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she was one of the biggest stories leading into the Games. But in sport, as in life, competitions do not always go as planned. And for Simone, the world had a front row seat as her private struggle with mental health exploded on...

Netflix has joined America’s Team.

The streamer said during its upfront today that it is teaming with Skydance Sports, NFL Films and Stardust Frames Productions on the upcoming documentary series about the Dallas Cowboys.

Billed as a “defining” docuseries, the untitled project tells the story of team owner Jerry Jones and his unique journey in transforming the Cowboys franchise, leading a historic set of players and coaches to three NFL titles in the 1990s and searing his imprint into the global sports business landscape. Along the way, Jones has become one of the most innovative and influential leaders in sports, with his team being the most valuable sports franchise in the world.

No premiere date is set for the 10-episode series, which features never-before-seen footage and interviews with 35-year owner, president and general manager Jones along with players, coaches and rivals of the 1990s including Pro Football Hall of Famers Troy Aikman,...

The Way Back started a trend of basketball movies for Ben Affleck, showcasing his talent beyond superhero roles. Both The Way Back and Air were critically acclaimed, proving basketball can set the stage for powerful storytelling. Despite box office challenges, Affleck's love for basketball should inspire more projects like The Way Back and Air.

The Way Back started a modern awesome Ben Affleck trend that should definitely be continued. After starring as Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017), Affleck has returned to more traditional roles in dramas such as Jack in The Way Back, Pierre d'Alenon in The Last Duel (2021), and Vic in Deep Water (2022). His most recent role was Rex Stone in This Is Me... Now (2024), an Amazon Prime Video original film starring Affleck's wife, pop singer Jennifer Lopez.

Although The Way Back is not based on a true story, the film featured real-life...

Long before the superheroes of Marvel and DC became cult icons with fans, the 80s were all about another hero, He-Man. The animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe based on Mattel’s popular toy line, ran for 2 seasons with 65 episodes each between 1983 and 1985 and went on to become one of the most successful shows on television.

A still from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (image credit: Mattel)

Die-hard fans of the franchise were ecstatic to hear that the show was going to be revived as a live-action film in 2022. Unfortunately, with Sony and then Netflix unexpectedly backing out of the project, it seemed that it would not materialize. But latest information coming in has given the film a fresh lease of life.

This He-Man Live-Action Film Has Been Picked Up By Amazon

Audiences who grew up in the 70s and 80s will have nostalgic memories...

Exclusive: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, J.K. Simmons, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson have locked deals to return for The Accountant 2, the sequel to the Gavin O’Connor-directed action thriller The Accountant, on which Amazon MGM Studios has teamed with Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity.

Also set to return is O’Connor, who directs from a script penned by the original film’s screenwriter, Bill Dubuque. Artists Equity serves as the studio for the sequel and set the pic up at Amazon MGM after acquiring sequel rights from Warner Bros. This will be the companies’ fourth project together after the chart-topping Jennifer Lopez doc The Greatest Love Story Never Told, Golden Globe-nominated sports marketing drama Air, and the upcoming Unstoppable, based on the true story of wrestler Anthony Robles.

Grossing $155M worldwide in its 2016 theatrical release before going on to become the most-rented digital film of the subsequent year, the...

[Editor’s note: This following article spoils the ending of “This Is Me…Now: A Love Story.” We promise you, this doesn’t matter.]

For Ben Affleck fans who thought his small role as Phil Knight in “Air” just needed to be a little Bigger, Prime Video has a film for you.

And yet, “film” isn’t exactly the right word. The 65-minute “narrative-driven cinematic odyssey” (press release’s words) for Jennifer Lopez’s wannabe-“Lemonade,” “This Is Me…Now: A Love Story,” follows her search for love, set alongside music videos for several songs off her new album of the same name (also out today!). It’s a bombastic, simplistic misfire.

Opening with a Puerto Rican myth about roses and hummingbirds, viewers are treated to J.Lo working in a steampunk love factory (complete with a giant mechanical heart about to explode!) and a fictionalized-but-clearly-autobiographical tale about realizing she’s a love addict. She’s searching for love in several doomed marriages, before learning the person she really needs to love is…herself.

Here we go again. Another year is starting, which means it's time for the "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" movie to get yet another director. Like so many projects stuck in developing hell, it seems like practically every director currently working in Hollywood has, at some point, been involved in this film.

Now, Deadline reports that Travis Knight — the director of "Bumblebee" and "Kubo and the Two Strings," founder and CEO of Laika, and son of Nike co-founder Phil Knight — is the latest name to be attached to the long-in-development "Masters of the Universe" movie from Mattel. The report specifically says he is in "final negotiations" to direct, yet the deal hasn't closed just yet as other elements of the film are still being figured out. Nevertheless, this is exciting news, and brings the project one step closer to actually getting made.

Knight is reportedly bringing along writer...

It’s the dawn of a new day for Tiger Woods but he’s still wearing his Sunday best.

The golf superstar on Monday unveiled the creation of a lifestyle brand called Sun Day Red, launched as a full partnership with TaylorMade Golf Company. The premium line will feature footwear and apparel to start, first with a menswear range that will be sold exclusively online at SunDayRed.com in the United States and Canada on May 1. Plans call for an expansion into retail and key territories outside of North America and later, lines for women and children.

The 48-year-old golf superstar, a 15-time major champion and 82-time PGA Tour champion, turned up in at Palisades Village in Pacific Palisades on Monday evening to introduce the brand, share his vision for it and explain once again why red has long been his color and the inspiration behind the new moniker. In doing so,...

Long-term friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are set to reunite yet again for Netflix thriller ‘Animals.’

Affleck will remain behind the camera at the helm on the project whose plot details are being kept locked up but the story will focus on a kidnapping. Damon will star.

Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray have penned the script. Affleck and Damon are producing the project with Dani Bernfeld through their company Artists Equity.

Also in news – Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza set for dark comedy ‘Honey Don’t!’

Brad Weston and Collin Creighton are producing ‘Animals’ with Fifth Season. Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran from Artists Equity are executive producing.

The pair have most recently paired up for Amazon Studios’ ‘Air,’ in which Damon starred as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro opposite Affleck in a supporting role as Nike founder Phil Knight. Affleck also directed the picture. The movie was the first time Affleck directed Damon.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are teaming up once again for “Animals,” a new crime thriller that Netflix has just acquired. Affleck will direct, with Damon starring, from a script by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray.

Affleck will remain behind the camera for “Animals” — unlike his previous collaboration with Damon, Amazon Studios’ “Air,” in which Damon starred as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro opposite Affleck in a supporting role as Nike founder Phil Knight. Like “Air,” Affleck and Damon are producing the project with Dani Bernfeld through their company Artists Equity, which they founded in 2022 with the intention of sharing profits with not just fellow actors, but below-the-line crew as well.

Plot details are scarce for “Animals,” but the story will focus on a kidnapping.

Affleck and Damon famously became friends in high school and collaborated as screenwriters for the 1997 indie sensation “Good Will Hunting,” which won them an Oscar for best original screenplay.

Tiger Woods said Monday that his sponsorship relationship with Nike has ended, bringing to a close a 27-year partnership that teamed golf’s and the sports world’s biggest athlete with the biggest athletic brand.

The partnership began when Woods turned pro at the age of 20. For Nike, it was perhaps the most prominent teaming with an athlete apart from the company’s even longer association with Michael Jordan.

In exchange for the roughly $500 million it paid to Woods, Nike benefited from billions in sales of its golf apparel and gear. The swoosh-emblazoned red shirt and black cap that Woods wore during climactic Sunday rounds of dozens of championships gave Nike untold extra ad impressions.

The partnership faced a major test in 2009 when a flurry of reports about Woods seeing women other than his then-wife, Elin, put the golfer under a harsh spotlight. While AT&T and others bailed and Woods...

After nearly 30 years, Tiger Woods and the sports apparel giant Nike are splitting up.

Woods announced the split on his social platforms Monday.

“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world. The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories, if I started naming them, I could go on forever,” Woods wrote. “[Former Nike CEO] Phil Knight’s passion and vision brought this Nike and Nike Golf partnership together and I want to personally thank him, along with the Nike employees and incredible athletes I have had the pleasure of working with along the way.”

Nike, meanwhile, posted a photo of Woods with the caption “It was a hell of a round, Tiger.”

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Nike signed Woods when he was a 20 year-old golf phenom, ultimately developing his...

By the late 1990s, legendary animator Will Vinton had trouble finding new work. He brought in outside investors to help, which included the co-founder of Nike, Inc., Phil Knight, and his son, Travis Knight. By the mid-2000s, Knight gained a majority share of the company, so it was renamed Laika, and the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Henry Selick, joined up to direct their first movie, the breakthrough hit Coraline.

For much of their conversation, Ben Affleck and Michael B. Jordan seem mutually star-struck, even though they’ve known each other for 10 years. They first connected after “Argo,” Affleck’s third directorial effort, won best picture and Jordan’s career skyrocketed following his searing leading performance in Ryan Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station.”

Today, Affleck inundates Jordan with praise for his directorial debut, “Creed III,” the latest entry in the “Rocky” franchise, starring Jordan as the indomitable heavyweight champ Adonis Creed. Jordan, meanwhile, is eager to learn how Affleck directed his lifelong friend Matt Damon for the first time in “Air,” a film about how Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) convinces founder and CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) to build a shoe line around NBA rookie Michael Jordan — or, as Affleck puts it, “the other Michael Jordan.”

Michael B. Jordan: “Fruitvale Station” had premiered at Sundance, and I remember you and Matt [Damon] were basically like,...

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with first-timer Alex Convery’s screenplay for the Ben Affleck-directed Air.

Did you know that Michael Jordan makes $400 million a year in passive income due to the percentage he gets from the sale of Air Jordans? To understand how this came to be, we must travel back to the 1980s and the campus of famed sneaker label Nike, where Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon), a daring sneaker salesman, is on an ambitious quest to sign Jordan, arguably the most game-changing sports figure ever.

Affleck plays the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who focuses on Nike’s improbable bid to land Jordan. While it seemed an unlikely feat at the time, it ultimately forged the most impactful partnership between a sports brand and an athlete, turning the global sneaker industry into a multibillion-dollar enterprise.

Intellectual property — the books, films, characters and properties that get butts into seats — has long been a cornerstone of Hollywood moviemaking. But many of this year’s films have drawn from less likely, though perhaps inevitable, sources of inspiration: products and brands. Movies ranging from “Barbie” and “Air” to “BlackBerry” and Michael Mann’s upcoming “Ferrari” all to one extent or another leverage the namesake of the object, or the business associated with it in the name of attracting audiences to theaters.

This parade of product-driven titles seems to mark an inflection point in a crowded entertainment landscape where consumer recognizability has become one of the most important (or seemingly only) factor when deciding which movies to make.

At their best, these movies hit it out of the park with critics and moviegoers, as in the case with “Barbie,” the biggest movie of the year, or gain critical heat, as with “Air,...

The Gotham Awards have announced that actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck‘s “Air” will be honored with the Visionary Icon and Creator Tribute when awards are handed out on Monday night, November 27, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

“Air” follows Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon), the basketball talent scout for Nike who in 1984 fought to bring fledgling talent Michael Jordan onboard as a new spokesperson for the company’s basketball shoes. In addition to directing the film, Affleck has a co-starring role as Nike co-founder and CEO Phil Knight. This is the fifth feature film Affleck has helmed, following “Gone Baby Gone” (2007), “The Town” (2010), “Argo” (2012) and “Live by Night” (2016). All of those were nominated for Oscars save “Live by Night,” with “Argo” winning Affleck the award for Best Picture.

See‘Air’ will aim for comedy/musical nominations at the Golden Globes

The Gotham Film and Media Institute...

Air has been set for a special honor at next month’s Gotham Awards.

The film, which tells the story of the creation of the Air Jordan brand, will receive the Gotham Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute. The newly created award recognizes director Ben Affleck’s film as well as the real-life collaborators on the Michael Jordan shoe phenomenon.

The Gotham Film & Media Institute’s ceremony, this year set for November 27 at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street, represents the unofficial kickoff of awards season. Nominees for competitive categories in film and TV will be announced October 24.

“Both gripping and hilarious, Air is a deeply refreshing reminder to the film industry that audiences respond to smart, original narratives,” said Jeffrey Sharp, the institute’s executive director. “By capturing the dramatic story behind the most monumental partnership in the history of sports marketing, the film highlights the power of knowing your...

“Air,” the story of Michael Jordan’s game-changing collaboration with Nike directed by Ben Affleck, will receive the Gotham Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute at the 33rd annual Gotham Awards Ceremony, the Gotham Film & Media Institute announced on Monday. The in-person event will take place on November 27, 2023 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Nominees for the Gotham Awards will be announced on Tuesday, October 24th.

According to the Gotham Film & Media Institute, the Icon & Creator Tribute was developed for the 2023 Gotham Awards to “recognize cultural icons and the filmmakers responsible for bringing that icon’s story to life.” In this case, the recognition goes to both Jordan and Affleck. The Gotham Film & Media Institute had previously announced that George C. Wolfe’s upcoming Rustin would be the recipient of the Icon & Creator Tribute for Social Justice at this year’s ceremony.

In a statement, Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director...

The Air Jordan movie, directed by Ben Affleck, focuses on the story of salesman Sonny Vaccaro planning to sign Michael Jordan to a contract with Nike. Jordan is intentionally sidelined as a sign of respect and to avoid distracting audiences. Ben Affleck believed that having an actor portray Michael Jordan would be too distracting for audiences, as they would reject the idea of someone pretending to be him. Jordan's absence reinforces his mystique and legacy. The original script for Air included a moment where audiences would see Jordan's face, but the decision was made to leave him out completely due to the potential scrutiny and distraction it could cause. Leaving him out allows the film to focus on the business side and strengthen Jordan's legacy.

The Air Jordan movie is Ben Affleck's take on the story of Nike creating the famous shoes, but Michael Jordan is not in Air for a good reason.

Nealy 15 years after Coraline's release, audiences have begun to wonder if a potential Coraline 2 will ever be released from animation studio Laika. 

Opened by the son of Nike owner Phil Knight in 1998, Travis Knight's stop-motion animation giant has become masters at their craft, producing some of the most beloved animated films of the last 20 years. 

But it all started with 2009's Coraline. The adaptation of the cult classic Neil Gaiman novella followed a young girl (played by Dakota Fanning) as she discovered a new world hidden within her house with a dark secret. 

Read full article on The Direct.

Kyrie Irving — the singular basketball talent and moth-to-the-flame of NBA controversy — has embarked on a rebranding campaign with his new corporate benefactor, Chinese apparel giant Anta. Irving is now the superstar face of Anta Basketball — in a deal that also makes him the brand’s chief creative officer. In late September, Irving and Anta unveiled Kyrie’s new logo called “Enlightened Warrior.”

This Anta debut turns the page on a disturbing chapter in Irving’s career. But has his deal with the Chinese shoe giant simply opened the lid on even darker controversy?...

The wardrobe in "Air" is a seamless blend of replication and creativity, thanks to costume designer Charlese Antoinette Jones. Jones extensively researched the film's real-world subjects and used their personalities to influence each character's wardrobe. While some costumes were period-accurate, others, like Phil Knight's late '80s, early '90s outfit, were chosen for their cool factor rather than historical accuracy.

Air tells the origin story of the best-selling sneaker of all time. Nike’s 1984 courtship and subsequent deal with then-rookie Michael Jordan would go on to become perhaps the most consequential brand partnership in sports history, and thanks to director Ben Affleck, screenwriter Alex Convery, and the rest of the cast and crew, audiences can see the mostly true story of Jordan’s Nike deal come to life. What’s more, the film successfully transports viewers back in time, with a soundtrack full of early 1980s hits and...

Editor’s Note: This review was published during the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Vertical Entertainment will release “Widow Clicquot” in theaters on Friday, July 19.

Despite being remembered as some of the most prominent voices of 19th century British literature, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë lived lives beset by misfortune. All three siblings were under the age of eight when their mother died of cancer, and they lost two other sisters to a typhoid epidemic in elementary school. And despite her brilliance, Emily died of tuberculosis at the age of 30, never getting a chance to witness the mainstream popularity of “Wuthering Heights.” But those inconveniences pale in comparison to the tragedy that still casts a leaden shadow over their bleak lives: all three sisters lived and died without seeing Ben Affleck’s 2023 film “Air.”

The sludgy river of news flowing across our phones at all hours of the day makes it...

Travis Knight, president and CEO of animation studio Laika, has been appointed to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Board of Trustees. Additionally, the museum announced the appointment of motion picture producer and former chair of the Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee, Effie T. Brown, as an honorary trustee (a lifetime position), effective July 1, 2023.

According to an official statement from the museum: “As the governing body of the Academy Museum, the Board leads the museum toward a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, in addition to securing adequate resources to advance the museum’s mission. Knight and Brown will help continue the success of the museum and its social impact for audiences worldwide.”

Additionally, the Academy Museum’s Board of Trustees has also re-elected Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Arnaud Boetsch, Olivier de Givenchy, Ray Halbritter, Ryan Murphy, Regina Scully, whose current terms end June 30, 2023, for another three-year term.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s production banner Artists Equity states that it “did not consent” to the use of a monologue from the film “Air” in a new campaign ad for Donald Trump.

On Saturday, Trump shared a fundraising video on his Truth Social platform. The ad features footage and images of the former president throughout his life, accompanied by audio of Damon’s climactic monologue from the film “Air.” In the spring release, Damon’s Nike exec gives the speech to a young Michael Jordan to convince him to sign a sponsorship deal with the shoe company.

“We had no foreknowledge of, did not consent to and do not endorse or approve any footage or audio from ‘Air’ being repurposed by the Trump campaign as a political advertisement or for any other use,” a spokesperson for Artists Equity told Variety on Sunday. “Specifically in terms of any and...

If you’re looking for a slam dunk movie that tells the true story behind what’s now a household name, find out where to watch Air.

Air is a retelling of the story behind one of the biggest business partnerships the world has ever seen. This partnership was between two surprising underdogs at the time, Michael Jordan and Nike’s basketball division. Nike’s Marketing VP and CEO sent out a basketball talent scout to bring them back a player that would fill some big shoes — being their new spokesperson. The scout came back with Michael Jordan and the rest, as you probably know, is history (that’s explored in an entertaining fashion in this movie)!

Air

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Related: Air Music Supervisor Talks Creating The Movie’s Iconic Soundtrack

Where To Watch Air

Air has wowed audiences as they learn the true story behind one of...

Back in October, Oregon Republicans were feeling optimistic for the first time in a long time: National GOP donors — with a major assist from local billionaire Phil Knight, the founder of Nike — were pouring staggering sums of money into state house races under the assumption they actually had a shot of flipping the Oregon Senate for the first time in 20 years.

The man spearheading Republicans’ efforts to retake the chamber was minority leader Tim Knopp. If they’d won, Knopp would have been anointed Senate president. But they lost. And...

Clockwise from top left: True Lies (20th Century Fox), M3GAN (Universal Pictures), Air (Amazon Studios), Brokeback Mountain (Focus Features)Image: The A.V. Club

June is Pride Month (hooray!) and it’s also Month Two of the 2023 summer movie season (hooray?), so Prime Video is turning up the heat with...

If you’re looking for something new to watch on Amazon Prime Video, you’ve come to the right place. May brings a couple of high-profile 2022 releases to the streaming service for the first time, as well as the streaming debut of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s feel-good sports story “Air,” which opened exclusively in theaters earlier this year. Whether you’re looking for an auteur-driven drama, whimsical comedy or a full-on Western, there’s truly something for everyone in our curated list of the best films newly streaming this month.

Check out some of the best new movies to stream on Amazon Prime Video in May below.

“Air”

Have you ever wondered how Nike secured the rights to Michael Jordan’s likeness and created the unstoppable Air Jordan brand? Well, even if you haven’t, here’s a movie that explains it anyway. Matt Damon stars as Sonny Vaccaro,...

Air tells a captivating true story with a good sense of humor and a star-studded cast. The film is one of 2023's biggest surprises, revolving around the backstage of the ambitious partnership between the market giant Nike and the recently discovered Michael Jordan, who would eventually become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

The film gathers all the best facts and details about the deal that would lead to a massive cultural phenomenon in the world of sports: the launching of Air Jordan. While Air remains loyal to history and the real people involved, the narrative is conducted in an easy-going fashion, immersing the audience in a world where business and sports collide. The film marks Ben Affleck's return to the director chair, seven years after his previous movie, Live By Night. While the latter met a disastrous reception among the critics and the public audience with a 34% on Rotten Tomatoes,...

Ben Affleck’s freshly released sports film Air expertly depicts the fascinating history of Nike’s legendary sneaker brand, “Air Jordan.” The focus of the movie is Nike talent scout Sonny Vaccaro’s tenacious pursuit of Michael Jordan in order to secure him for their upcoming launch and create a shoe line exclusively for him. Numerous additional Nike employees were actively involved in the pursuit, much like Sonny Vaccaro. Although not all leading employees at Nike initially agreed with the notion, Vaccaro’s ground-breaking approach eventually convinced them, leading them to accept and fall in love with this innovative strategy.

Spoilers Ahead

Rob Strasser

Rob Strasser (played by Jason Bateman), Nike’s Vice President of Marketing, contrasted with Sonny Vaccaro in his approach to risk-taking. Rather than being a bold risk-taker, Rob was known for his calculated nature and ability to validate various opinions while adapting to different perspectives. However,...

Deloris Jordan, born Deloris Peoples in North Carolina in 1941, is the mother of basketball legend Michael Jordan. Deloris Jordan, played by Viola Davis in Ben Affleck’s sports drama Air, emerges as a crucial and important figure in Michael Jordan’s quest to become a sporting superstar. Although the film largely concentrates on the history of how Nike introduced the “Air Jordan” to the world, it places a significant emphasis on Deloris and her role in her son’s success. Deloris’s brilliance, perseverance, and unfailing conviction in her son’s skills is highlighted by Viola Davis’s outstanding performance. The portrayal of Deloris in the film symbolizes the spirit of a loving mom who is actively involved in molding her child’s destiny.

Although Sonny Vaccaro never approached Jordan’s parents directly, the movie takes artistic license to illustrate Deloris as having a significant impact on Michael’s life.