News

Liam Neeson’s 2008 action-thriller Taken is now streaming on Hulu, having been added to the platform this August. The movie, directed by Pierre Morel and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, stars Neeson as Bryan Mills, a former CIA agent who must rescue his kidnapped teenage daughter and her friend from human traffickers in France.

Taken was first released in France on February 27, 2008. While critics gave it mixed reviews, the film was a big hit with audiences, earning $226 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. Many media outlets have said Taken marked a major turning point in Neeson’s career, helping him become known as an action star. The film also launched a franchise, including two sequels and a television series.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Taken holds a 60% rating from 178 reviews, with an average score of 5.8 out of 10. The site’s summary reads, “Taken is undeniably fun with slick action,...

Liam Neeson’s 2008 action-thriller Taken is now available to stream on Hulu, having been added to the platform’s library this August. The film, directed by Pierre Morel and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, helped redefine Neeson as a major action star.

In Taken, Neeson plays Bryan Mills, a former CIA agent whose teenage daughter Kim and her friend Amanda are kidnapped by human traffickers while on vacation in France. Determined to rescue them, Bryan uses all his skills to track down the kidnappers and save the girls.

The movie also stars Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Katie Cassidy, Holly Valance, and Famke Janssen.

The film first hit theaters in France on February 27, 2008. Though it received mixed reviews from critics, it became a big financial success, making $226 million worldwide on a budget of just $25 million.

Many media outlets have said Taken was a turning...

What are the greatest action movies of all time? It’s a controversial question, isn’t it? Any time any publication or site puts out a new list of what they consider the best action movies of all time, it can’t help but generate a ton of controversy. Nevertheless, we here at JoBlo have decided to throw our hats into the ring with a list we really hope generates some nostalgia among our viewers but also encourages them to seek out the movies on this list that they may not have seen. But first, some may wonder where superhero movies are on this list. Given how broad that genre is, we decided to stick to old-school action, so we have left them off the list, as they deserve their own ranking. There are also a few absences from the list, notably some Jackie Chan Hong Kong films (like Police Story...

"Schindler's List," "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," "Taken," and "Batman Begins" are really just the tip of the iceberg in the fruitful and long acting career Liam Neeson has had so far. Easily one of the best of his generation, the Northern Ireland-born actor's prowess and versatility are nothing short of astonishing. Few things demonstrate that better than the fact that at 73, Neeson is now starring in 2025's "The Naked Gun" as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen's immortal buffoonish detective in the spoof comedy franchise. Ever since his career began in the late 1970s, Neeson has portrayed controversial and unforgettable historical figures, superheroes, mentors, worrying fathers, and even skilled killing machines among a vast array of other characters in over 100 features.

As unlikely as it sounds, Neeson became an action star at the age of 56 with 2008's "Taken" (courtesy of director Pierre Morel...

"A piece of divine madness." Rialto Pictures & Studiocanal have unveiled the new official restoration trailer for the stylish thriller Diva from 1981, which is getting a 4K re-release this year. Diva is the influential 1982 Neo-Noir thriller by the late director Jean-Jacques Beineix – an "arthouse sensation, playing for over a year in some cinemas, nabbing four French Césars, and launched the cinema du look, an explosion of visually stunning, punk-inspired, super-cool French movies in the early '80s, soon followed by the films of Luc Besson & Leos Carax." Two tapes, two Parisian mob killers, one corrupt policeman, an opera fan, a teenage thief, and the coolest philosopher ever filmed all twist their way through an intricate and stylish French-language thriller. Starring opera singer Wilhelmenia Fernandez, Richard Bohringer, and Frédéric Andréi. This 4K restoration of Diva was produced from the original 35mm negative & sound negative. Then scanned in 4K by TransPerfect Media & finalized by Studiocanal.

“Dracula (A Love Tale)”, is a New France-produced ‘vampire’ movie, based on the book by Bram Stoker, written and directed by Luc Besson, starring Christoph Waltz, Caleb Landry Jones and Matilda De Angelis, opening July 30, 2025 internationally in theaters:

“…after his wife dies, a 15th century prince renounces his faith and becomes a ‘vampire’.

“Centuries later in 19th century London, he sees a woman resembling his late wife…

“…and pursues her, sealing his own fate…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

"Caleb put everything – the costume, the make-up, everything – before the shooting." EuropaCorp debuted a behind-the-scenes featurette for the new movie Dracula: A Love Tale, the new Dracula creation from French filmmaker Luc Besson. The movie opens in theaters in France this week – which is why this video is out now to promote the initial opening there. Though there's still no US release date set yet. Written in the 1890s, the old Dracula book follows a nobleman who loses his wife and in his grief and cursing of God is transformed into a vampire. While the original Bram Stoker story leaves on the doomed ship the Demeter, Besson's take will focus on the beginning of Dracula’s life and his relationship with his wife. Caleb Landry Jones (who was also in Besson's DogMan) stars as Prince Vladimir. When his wife is killed, a 15th century prince renounces God and becomes a vampire.

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It always seems like Netflix has an unending library of great movies and TV shows, but at the same time, it is also quite difficult to figure out what you actually want to watch. So, we thought why not let Netflix make it easy for you, as it removes movies and TV shows from its library every month, and we decided to pick the best of the best films and TV shows you should watch before you can’t anymore and also just a reminder 12 great AMC shows are also leaving Netflix next month.

Dawn of the Dead (August 1) Credit – Universal Pictures

Dawn of the Dead is an action horror film directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay by James Gunn. Based on the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead by George A. Romero, the 2004 film is set in...

“Dracula: A Love Tale”, is a New France-produced ‘vampire’ movie, based on the book by Bram Stoker, written and directed by Luc Besson, starring Christoph Waltz, Caleb Landry Jones and Matilda De Angelis, opening July 30, 2025 in theaters:

“…after his wife dies, a 15th century prince renounces his faith and becomes a ‘vampire’.

“Centuries later in 19th century London, he sees a woman resembling his late wife…

“…and pursues her, sealing his own fate…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz, two of the most stunning and mind-blowing talents in Hollywood’s entertainment industry, are currently making rounds on the internet. This time around, it’s not for their unparalleled works on the big screens, but rather, for their reunion.

As shared by Cruz on her Instagram handle @penelopecruzoficial, the two have finally reunited once again in a picture, with both flashing their gorgeous smiles at the cameras while clad in black. The same is currently breaking the internet as fans comment things like, “The two most beautiful women in the world ❤️” and “...

After a milestone year in 2024 that saw France solidify its status as Europe’s healthiest theatrical market, the country’s box office dipped 10% during the first half of 2025 in the absence of a massive success.

At the midpoint of this year, no movie has passed 5 million theatrical admissions in France, with overall admissions falling to 76 million tickets (an estimated gross of €542 million). Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch” has performed the best with 4.7 million tickets sold, followed by “God Save the Tuche” — the third opus of Pathé’s mainstream comedy — with 3 million tickets and Warner Bros.’ “A Minecraft Movie” with 2.6 million tickets, according to Comscore France.

It’s a stark contrast to 2024, when a duo of local language hits — “A Little Something Extra,” a comedy with a cast of disabled non-professionals, and Alexandre Dumas adaptation “The Count of Monte Cristo” — beat Disney’s “Inside Out” with 10 million and 9 million admissions,...

Known for her star-making turns in the Avatarand Guardians of the Galaxy franchises, Oscar-winning actor Zoë Saldaña offered one of her best performances in an otherwise panned 14-year-old film that's recently reignited interest online. The Saldaña-led action thriller, Colombiana,is now a streaming hit on Tubi.

Per Flix Patrol,Colombiana is one of the top 10 films on Tubi's U.S. movie chart. The film ranks 5th on the chart, moving up three spots from its eighth-placed ranking on Jul. 11, putting it behind '90s darlings such as Forrest Gump (4th) and Titanic (2nd). The list is topped by the 2003 Stephen King adaptation, The Dreamcatcher.

What Is Colombiana About?

Coming two years after the original Avatarand three years before Guardians of the Galaxy, Colombiana sees Saldaña play a much less heroic role than she did in James Cameron's sci-fi epic or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Saldaña portrays Cataleya, a contract...

In 2011, 14 years before the controversial Oscars buzz of Emilia Pérez, Zoe Saldaña was on top of the world. Having recently starred in huge blockbusters in Avatarand Star Trek, the actress could've taken on almost any project, small or large. Among other forgotten projects, one of Saldaña's most underrated movies was released in this period, namely the revenge thriller Colombiana, directed by Oliver Megaton of Transporter 3,Taken 2, and Taken3 fame.

Following Saldaña as Cataleya, who "works as a contract killer for her Chicago-based uncle," Colombiana is a hard-hitting, gritty action thriller that certainly pulls none of its punches. Proving divisive with audiences and critics, the latter gave the film just 28% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with viewers more appropriately awarding it 67%. Colombiana was originally planned as a spin-off to the beloved Leon: The Professional, with Luc Besson producing the 2011 thriller, but instead it was crafted into a vehicle for...

Freddie Highmore (“The Good Doctor”) is in negotiations to star as a reimagined Edgar Allan Poe in “Augustine & Edgar,” a new prestige detective period series set in Paris during the tumultuous mid-19th century.

Gaumont (“Lupin”) will be producing for French network TF1. It will mark Highmore’s French-language acting debut, though he has worked on a French production before — he voiced Arthur in the English-language version of Luc Besson’s animated feature “Arthur and the Minimoys.” The British actor is fluent in French and has said in several interviews over the last 10 years that he’d love to be offered a part in French.

Audrey Fleurot, one of France’s best known actors, is in talks to join the series as Augustine. Fleurot headlines the TF1 smash hit series “Hpi” which has been remade as “High Potential” by ABC.

Gaumont is co-producing the series with Maxime Chattam and Patrick Renault...

Friday Am: Universal and Amblin’s Jurassic World Rebirth came in higher on Thursday then what we spotted, a very good sign, with $25.3M, -17% off from its opening day. The revised outlook is now $137.5M over five days, $81.7M over 3-days at 4,063 theaters.

The Rotten Tomatoes Audience score is out on the Gareth Edwards directed movie, and it’s 72% which is slightly under Jurassic World Dominion‘s 77% and Jurassic World‘s 78%, and way over Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘s 48%. Audiences weren’t scared or happy with Jurassic Park III which has the lowest Rt moviegoer score at 37%, while the original 1993 movie, Jurassic Park, is best in score with 91%. We’ll see how well Jurassic World Rebirth holds today amid July 4th activities.

Brad Pitt in ‘F1’ Warner Bros/Everett Collection

Apple Original Films’ F1 via Warner Bros was up on Thursday over Wednesday by 26% at $6M with a first week of $83.4M at 3,661 theaters,...

Emily in Paris season 5 is currently filming, and the actress who portrayed the Netflix hit show's first-ever villain will be back in the new season. Emily in Paris season 4 upended Emily Cooper's (Lily Collins) status quo by moving her to Rome to head up Agence Grateau's new Italian office. Emily in Paris season 5 began filming in Rome before moving production back to France.

Varietyreports that Thalia Besson, who played "sexy and deceitful antagonist Geneviève" in Emily in Paris season 4, is confirmed to return for season 5. According to Variety, Emily Cooper’s new Italian love interest, Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), as well as her ex-boyfriends, Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) will also return, while another male character will join Emily in Paris season 5. Not returning, however, is Camille Razat, who played Camille in Emily in Paris seasons 1-4.

What Thalia Besson's Geneviève Returning Means For Emily In Paris Season...

Thalia Besson is officially returning for Emily in Paris season five as Geneviève!

The 23-year-old actress, who is the daughter of director Luc Besson, joined the show in season four as Laurent’s 20something daughter from a past relationship. She had just moved from New York City to Paris to start her career.

When season five began filming in May, Thalia had not yet signed on for the new season.

However, there’s been an update on the Lily Collins-starrer!

Keep reading to find out more…

Variety reports that she is officially back as the season films in Paris. They’re also reporting that another male is joining the show this season, but we don’t have word on who that is at this time.

Find out who is exiting Emily in Paris for season five.

Thalia Besson, who played sexy and deceitful antagonist Geneviève in Season 4 of Netflix’s hit romantic comedy series “Emily in Paris,” is back for Season 5, which is currently filming in Paris, Variety has learned.

Besson, who is the daughter of French director Luc Besson, is joining the key recurring cast, notably Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, who plays Emily’s nonchalant boss Sylvie, Samuel Arnold (Julien), Bruno Gouery (Luc), William Abadie (Antoine Lambert), as well as Ashley Park who stars as Emily’s best friend, Mindy Chen. Also returning are Emily Cooper’s new Italian love interest, Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), and her one-and-off boyfriends, the sexy French chef Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and dashing Brit Alfie (Lucien Laviscount). Another male character will join the show this season, a source told Variety.

Geneviève is the second “villain” from “Emily in Paris,” following Camille, Gabriel’s French girlfriend who was played by Camille Razat in the...

It has been 40 years since Luc Besson's Subway hit the big screen. Now it is out for you to buy as a Uhd + Bd set. Subway is an important part of French cinema and cinéma du look in particular. The film is a work of cinematic beauty so it is great to see it restored and in 4K.

It is characterised by harsh, cold, fluorescent lighting that was the bane of public buildings before LED lighting became ubiquitous, and by the darkness of the tunnels and conduits connecting the stations of the Paris Metro. The juxtaposition of light and dark is well served by Hdr. Music also plays a major part in the film. Éric Serra's varied and inventive soundtrack seems to have more presence. This is particularly true of Arthur Simms' vocals on the tracks It's Only Mystery and Guns And People.

Unfortunately I had no access to the.

The legendary Robert De Niro has starred in one of the greatest crime dramas of all time, The Godfather: Part II. But he has also headlined Luc Besson's forgotten gangster comedy The Family. De Niro has starred in one of the greatest heist films ever made, Michael Mann's Heat. But he has also appeared in the little-seen direct-to-video film Heist. As it turns out, there are few offers that he can refuse. However, despite a non-existent theatrical run in 2015, Heistis now gaining attention on the Paramount+ streaming service.

According to FlixPatrol, Heistfinished eighth on the Paramount+ streaming charts on June 20, ahead of Here After (not the Clint Eastwood weepy) and Flight 7500 (not the Joseph Gordon-Levitt thriller). The Paramount+ charts were led by longtime champion Gladiator II, followed by Top Gun: Maverick, which made nearly $1.5 billion worldwide a few years ago. By comparison, Heist made under $5 million at the box office,...

Metal Hurlant, the French comic book anthology from the 1970s and 80s credited with reshaping the contemporary sci-fi aesthetic and inspiring films such as “Alien,” “Tron,” “Blade Runner,” “Akira” and “The Fifth Element,” is returning on its 50th anniversary.

A new English-language quarterly edition of Metal Hurlant — first announced last year — is hitting shelves this week from publishers Humanoids, which launched the original in France in 1975. Variety can exclusively reveal several excerpts of new stories from the anthology alongside support from one of the biggest filmmakers working today.

Excerpt from ‘Respect’ by Matthew Allison

Metal Hurlant was first created by comic artists Jean Giraud (better known as Mœbius) and Philippe Druillet, together with journalist-writer Jean-Pierre Dionnet and finance director Bernand Farkas. Collectively, the four were known as “Les Humanoïdes Associés (United Humanoids), which became the name of their publishing house, first launched in Paris but now based in Los Angeles.

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network: alien monsters, eccentric families, annoying Chris Tucker and much more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Podmetheus

In space, no one can hear you make a TV series prequel, as Aj Black and Mark McManus discover as they break down the trailer for FX’s upcoming series, Alien: Earth…

Writers on Film

You can practically smell the roast from here as John Bleasdale talks to writer Julie Seabaugh about comedy and her new documentary about podcaster and actor Marc Maron…

At the Movies in the 90s

Get your multi-passes at the ready for admission as Aj Black and guest Sam Stokes discuss Luc Besson’s eccentric 1997 science-fiction blockbuster The Fifth Element…

MovieVersaries

Classic romance is on the agenda as Bo Nicholson, Violet Hammond and Ian Buckley tackle the 80th anniversary of David Lean’s Brief Encounter…

At the Movies in...

Excited at a chance to work with Francis Ford Coppola, Gary Oldman said his audition script for Bram Stoker's Dracula was only icing on the cake. He reflected on his experience working with the director, and how that film highlighted his impressive, eclectic career.

Gary Oldman wouldn't have starred in Bram Stoker's Dracula if not for its director, Francis Ford Coppola. Oldman said his reservations stem from previous adaptations of the character, especially the iconic versions from esteemed actors. "Let's put it this way. I didn't need to play Dracula," he told Josh Horowitz. "It had never even been on my radar to do it or even consider it or think about it. But it was Coppola and I thought that he would do something very interesting with it. And so I felt carried."

"Everyone in this world and his mother had played Dracula," Oldman also quipped, aware...

To celebrate the release of Luc Besson’s ultra-cool cult classic Subway from 23rd June, we’re giving away a Limited Edition 4K Uhd SteelBook to a lucky winner!

Studiocanal and Gaumont announce the definitive and strictly limited edition release of the iconic and irresistible crime thriller set on the Paris Métro, directed by Luc Besson (Nikita, The Fifth Element), starring Christopher Lambert (Highlander, Greystoke), Isabelle Adjani (Possession, The Driver), Jean-Hughes Anglade (Betty Blue, Nikita) and Jean Reno (Leon, Nikita).

The highly collectable SteelBook includes a 4K Uhd presentation of the film, and comes with two additional Blu-ray discs and a host of brand new extras.

After stealing sensitive documents from a mob boss, Fred (Christopher Lambert) takes refuge in the Paris Métro. Whilst hiding in this labyrinthine and surreal world beneath the city, Fred attempts to blackmail the mob boss’s wife, Héléna (Isabelle Adjani), into exchanging money for the documents.

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

Diablo is an action thriller film directed by Ernesto Díaz Espinoza from a screenplay by Mat Sansom. The 2025 film follows Kris Chaney, an ex-convict who kidnaps the daughter of a Colombian gangster to keep his promise to the girl’s mother. They are soon chased by ruthless killers hired by her father, and now Kris must do everything he can to stay alive. Diablo stars Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, Alana De La Rossa, Lucho Velasquez, and Diana Hoyos. So, if you loved the bloody action, thrilling story, and entertaining characters in Diablo, here are some similar movies you should check out now.

Avengement Credit – Samuel Goldwyn Films

Avengement is an action thriller film directed by Jesse V. Johnson, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Stu Small. The 2019 film follows Cain Burgess, a convicted criminal who breaks out of...

Over the decades, many actors have taken on the role of Count Dracula, but Gary Oldman delivered one of the most memorable performances in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Stepping into the shadow of legends like Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee was no easy task, but Oldman was eager to collaborate with director Francis Ford Coppola—especially after reading one particular line in the script that he couldn’t wait to say.

“I was about to read the script and audition for Francis,” Oldman told Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “And the thing I remember most vividly was, ‘I’ve crossed oceans of time to find you.’ And I thought, ‘God, I’d really like to say that line.’” It is a great line, and as he always does, Oldman delivers it perfectly.

Related Just call him Sir Gary Oldman: The iconic actor is “gobsmacked” after being knighted...

The Fifth Element, although sporting a goofy aesthetic with the humor to match, is a beloved sci-fi action film for many. For instance, Gary Oldman, who played the villain of the film, is a southern New York businessman named Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, who has a muppet-like creature as a pet that resides in his desk. Oldman has played a wide range of roles — from Sid Vicious to Dracula, to Drexl Spivey, to Winston Churchill. However, despite being an interesting creation of a character in an interesting film, Oldman can be quoted from a past interview in Playboy saying, “Oh no, I can’t bear it.”

Fast forward to today. Gary Oldman recently appeared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where host Josh Horowitz brought up The Fifth Element, stating how much audiences love the film. Oldman gave some heartwarming news of his new feelings toward the Bruce Willis/Milla Jovovich movie as he responded,...

Writer, director Luc Besson (“Léon: The Professional”), sticks his neck out for a romantic take on Bram Stoker’s evil vampire in “Dracula: A Love Tale”, starring Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz and Matilda De Angelis, opening July 30, 2025 in international theaters:

‘…this reimagining of Bram Stoker's novel, centers on a 15th-century prince…

“…who, after losing his wife, loses all faith and is turned into a vampire.

“Centuries later, in 19th-century London…

‘…he encounters a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to his deceased love…

“…leading him to pursue her, a decision that dooms him to an eternal fate…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

We first heard about Luc Besson's new take on Dracula starring Caleb Landry Jones as the legendary Transylvanian Count last summer, but updates have been pretty much non-existent since. Now, a first trailer and poster have been released online (via FearHQ.com).

The movie was originally titled Dracula: A Love Tale, and is described as a “a big-budget reimagining” of the vampire's origin story. This latest adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic tale is set to hit theaters on July 30.

“It’s a totally romantic approach,” Besson said of his film in a 2024 interview. “There’s a romantic side in Bram Stoker’s book that hasn’t been explored that much. It’s a love story about a man who waits for 400 years for the reincarnation of his wife. That’s the true heart of the story, waiting an eternity for the return of love.”

It's a common misconception...

A new Dracula movie starring one of Marvel's X-Men actors has unveiled its first trailer. It will be released theatrically in France on July 30.

Caleb Landry Jones (Banshee in X-Men: First Class) will star as the titular character in director Luc Besson's Dracula: A Love Tale. Based on the popular gothic horror novel by Bram Stoker, the film also stars Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) as Priest and Matilda De Angelis (The Undoing) as Maria. According to JoBlo, the film has yet to secure distribution in the United States at this time.

The trailer shows how Besson's take on the classic horror tale will focus on Dracula's connection with a woman in Paris who resembles his beloved wife Elisabeta after her death over 400 years ago. Dracula: A Love Tale offers a twist on the original story, trading Stoker's original UK setting for Belle Époque Paris, with the second...

Gold Derby's top news stories for June 6, 2025.

Mia Goth to star in Star Wars: Starfighter

The MaXXXine actress has signed onto the Shawn Levy-directed movie, which already has Ryan Gosling on board. The news comes hot off of reporting that recent Oscar winner Mikey Madison turned down the project over pay. Starfighter is currently scheduled for a May 2027 release.

Samuel L. Jackson joins the Taylor Sheridan Cinematic Universe

Deadline is reporting that the honorary Oscar winner has signed onto Nola King, a spin-off of the Sylvester Stallone-starring Tulsa King. According to the trade, Jackson will appeared in episodes of Tulsa King's upcoming third season before spinning off down to the Big Easy. Dave Erickson from Mayor of Kingstown is set to write.

Hustle & Flow's Craig Brewer to direct Snoop Dogg biopic

The Snoop D-o-Double-g is getting his own movie after appearing as a character in Straight Outta Compton.

A year has passed since we heard that director Luc Besson was making a “big-budget reimagining” of the Dracula concept that will feature “some epic and potentially spectacular set pieces,” and now that film is ready to start making its way out into the world. Besson’s Dracula has yet to secure distribution in the United States, but Snd will be giving it a theatrical release in France on July 30th – and with that date right around the corner, a trailer for the film has dropped online. You can check it out in the embed above.

Also known as Dracula: A Love Tale, the film is, as that title gives away, a love story, following Dracula as he connects with a woman in Belle Epoque Paris, who resembles his beloved wife Elisabeta, who died in mid-15th century Transylvania. Per legend, it was Elisabeta’s suicide that led Romanian ruler...

There’s a new take on Dracula heading our way this year, with Luc Besson directing. Here’s the trailer for the latest iteration.

Dracula is in fine cinematic fettle at the moment, despite the source material that the character is based on nearing its 130th birthday. In fact, you might say that the onscreen version of the unholy Count is developing the same unnaturally long lifespan that vampires are known for.

Earlier this year we had the brilliant Nosferatu courtesy of Robert Eggers, a thinly-veiled take on the Dracula story, and 2023 gave us two appearances from Drac that proved the character’s versatility. One was a goofball take with Nicolas Cage, while the other saw the vampire cast as a Predator-type killer in The Last Voyage Of The Demeter. The year before that gave us three Dracula films, and there are several currently in development too, not least Chloe Zhao...

"He's been looking for his beloved for more than 400 years..." Surprise! Luc Besson and EuropaCorp have been working on their own new Dracula movie, in addition to Robert Eggers' Nosferatu last year. Take a look at the very first trailer for Luc Besson's Dracula: A Love Tale, as it's officially called. Written in the 1890s, the old Dracula book follows a nobleman who loses his wife and in his grief and cursing of God is transformed into a vampire. While the original Bram Stoker story leaves on the doomed ship the Demeter, Besson's take will focus on the beginning of Dracula’s life and his relationship with his wife. Caleb Landry Jones (who was also in Besson's DogMan) stars as Prince Vladimir. When his wife is killed, a 15th century prince renounces God and becomes a vampire. Centuries later in 19th century London, Vlad sees a woman resembling his late wife and pursues her,...

John Krasinski and Natalie Portman’s latest Apple TV+ adventure movie may not be proving a hit with critics, but their treasure-hunting antics are quickly becoming a streaming success story. Portman, whose previous tenure in major franchises such as Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is no stranger to high-octane adventure and has repeatedly proven herself in multiple fan-favorite roles since first coming to widespread attention in Luc Besson's 1994 action thriller Léon: The Professional.

Her latest outing also sees her teamed with Krasinski, whose breakout role as Jim Halpert in the US version of The Office has helped make him one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors. More recently, however, Krasinski’s versatility has been proven from a series of more serious, action-focused roles in projects such as Prime Video’s Jack Ryan and his directorial forays into the horror genre with the A Quiet Place movies.

Fountain...

In what has become a familiar sight on the Croisette, Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne strolled up the red carpet to present their new film to a welcoming crowd.

The Dardennes’ latest, The Young Mother’s Home premiered early Friday evening, marking the brothers’ ninth entry in Cannes competition. The Dardennes almost never leave Cannes empty-handed.

Casual with suits and no ties (the early afternoon screenings are not mandatory black-tie), the Dardennes strolled up to the premiere accompanied by their somewhat more excited (and better dressed) young stars: Lucie Laruelle, Babette Verbeek, Elsa Houben, Janaïna Halloy Fokan and Samia Hilmi.

Warm, enthusiastic applause rolled over the auditorium in waves as the film credits rolled, and the Dardennes embraced their co-stars. The young actresses wiped away tears. Laruelle, who plays Perla in the film, was visibly shaking with emotion, before joining her co-stars in a group hug. The film, while containing...

While Luc Besson has had a long career as a director and producer, going all the way back to 1985’s Subway (starring a young Christopher Lambert), for many of us, his crowning achievement remains The Fifth Element. A respectable hit when it was released in the spring of 1997, its reputation has grown considerably in the years since its release, with it widely regarded as a classic. In it, Bruce Willis plays Korben Dallas, a futurist NYC cabbie, who crosses paths with Milla Jovovich’s Leeloo, the titular Fifth Element, and becomes embroiled in a quest to save the galaxy, with him opposed by Gary Oldman’s Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg.

While packed with show-stopping sequences, the movie is most famous for the extended opera house sequence. In it, Dallas, undercover for the government, attends an opera performance by Diva Plavalaguna, who performs the now iconic “Diva Dance”, with music by Eric Serra.

by Nick Taylor

We at Tfe are wishing a Happy 25th Birthday to Wong Kar-Wai’s melancholic romantic drama In the Mood for Love, which debuted on this day at Cannes. It went home with the Best Actor award and the Technical Grand Prize for its cinematography and editing, and if you ask around there’s a good chance folks would say it still got short-shrifted by Luc Besson’s jury. Its stamp on the cinema firmament, an apex of the sumptuous mood and style Wong made his name on, is beyond reproach. If you haven’t seen it, you’ve almost certainly felt its reverberations in art house cinema writ large, on individual directors like Barry Jenkins, aesthetic blogs or photoshoots, and an entire chapter of Everything Everywhere All At Once. More importantly, if you haven’t seen it then go watch it! Right now! You’re back? Then...

Several decades ago, Luc Besson had a dream: to build a world-standard studio complex in Paris which could rival the U.K.’s Pinewood. He wanted to attract iconic international shoots and stop big Hollywood movies from filming all locations in France and then moving to London or back to the U.S. to shoot interiors.

Besson opened La Cité du Cinéma in 2012, housing the 102,000 square foot Les Studios de Paris, the largest sound stage complex in the Paris area, boasting a stunning Cathedral style nave entrance.

On Friday, as part of Variety’s Global Conversations Summit at Cannes, Brigitte Segal, head of Les Studios de Paris, and John Bernard, doyen of France’s line-producers, doubled down on how far Les Studios de Paris and France at large are near to Besson’s dream, buoyed by indirect knock-on consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

When he...

Nearly three decades later, The Fifth Element still hits hard, especially for actress and fashion model Milla Jovovich. While the film is packed with solid characters and sci-fi flair, one scene continues to emotionally wreck the star like it did on Day 1.

In a GQ interview, Jovovich opened up about the moment that breaks her every time. Despite the 1997 film’s quirky energy and action-packed chaos, that quiet scene of emotional unraveling remains her most personal, and here’s why.

The Fifth Element scene that shattered LeeLoo and changed Milla Jovovich forever Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, and Bruce Willis in a still from The Fifth Element (1997) | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing

28 years pass by, and this one scene from The Fifth Element still hits Milla Jovovich like a punch to the soul. The moment where Leeloo is told she needs to develop communication skills – “If you want out, you’re going...

Usually, one needs to be decked out to get selected for a job, be it in Tinseltown or the whole wide world. However, it may not have been the case with Milla Jovovich, who shared that she got selected for her role in The Fifth Element because she was down with a hangover.

Jovovich, who starred in the director Luc Besson’s 1997 hit, The Fifth Element, revealed during an interview that it wasn’t her audition that impressed the French-origin filmmaker. Only when she appeared (genuinely) hungover after a wild party did Besson agree to cast her as Leeloo in the sci-fi action.

Reflecting on the hiring process, the 49-year-old star said that her messy hair and no makeup look did the ultimate trick.

Milla Jovovich shared the interesting way she got hired for The Fifth Element

Milla Jovovich revealed during an interview with GQ that initially she “auditioned for...

Exclusive: Artists First has signed actor Luke Stanton Eddy for management.

Eddy plays one of the title roles in June and John, a recent film from director Luc Besson, which is currently in theaters in Europe with plans for a release in the U.S. this fall. Shot entirely on a smartphone during the pandemic, the film follows an ordinary man living a monotonous life who finds himself immersed in an intense romance that drags him into an unpredictable journey.

Eddy trained at Playhouse West under Tony Savant before going on to further hone his craft by creating short films and performing in theater productions in New York City. Recently, he also appeared in director Barry Levinson’s Warner Bros gangster flick The Alto Knights, playing a young version of Robert De Niro’s Frank Costello.

Artists First, a talent management and production company focused on actors, writers, directors and producers in film,...

When you think of Robert De Niro, you probably picture him staring someone down with that iconic glare, saying something unforgettable, and maybe breaking a few bones in the process. He’s the guy from Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Casino, a walking masterclass in intensity, grit, and straight-up legendary acting.

But here’s the thing, De Niro’s career is so much more than mob bosses and crime sagas. The man has been in over a hundred films, and hidden between those Oscar-drenched roles are movies that barely made a blip on the awards radar but absolutely deserve your attention. Some are soft, some are strange, and some are surprisingly wholesome.

These aren’t just forgotten roles. They are hidden gems that remind us why De Niro is more than just his “you talkin’ to me?” bravado. So, if you think you’ve seen every shade of De Niro… think again.

Highland Film Group is excited to share the first look photo from the action thriller Protector starring Milla Jovovich (the Resident Evil franchise), Matthew Modine and Isabel Myers (Mixed-ish). Adrian Grunberg, whose credits include Rambo: Last Blood, Get the Gringo, and The Black Demon, will be directing Protector from a screenplay by Bong-Seeb Mun. Production has recently wrapped in New Mexico. Take a look at the preview photo below.

The official synopsis reads,

“Nikki (Milla Jovovich), a former war hero, thought she’d left her violent past behind for a peaceful life with her daughter, Chloe. That peace is shattered when Nikki awakens bound in an abandoned factory, only to discover that Chloe has been kidnapped. Quickly escaping, Nikki plunges into the city’s criminal underworld and in her quest to find Chloe, she draws the attention of both the police and the military, shooting her to the top of the most wanted list.

Since exploding onto screens way back in 2008, Liam Neeson’s Taken has had a lasting impact on the world of action movies. And that impact continues, with an all-new action thriller taking some cues from director Pierre Morel and writers Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen’s tale of a former CIA agent on a mission to rescue his kidnapped daughter. A tale that transformed Neeson into the quintessential aged action hero.

Now, the upcoming action thriller On the Hunt will put a female-led spin on proceedings, with Australian actress Nicky Whelan(The Flood) following in Bryan Mills’ footsteps as an ex-special forces operative who brings her particular set of skills out of retirement after her daughter is abducted by human traffickers. You'd think that these capable action heroes would be able to keep a better eye on their kids...

But thankfully for us, they don’t, as it allows...

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Exterritorial is a German action thriller film written and directed by Christian Zübert. The 2025 film follows Sara Wulf, a former Special Forces soldier visiting the US consulate with her son. When Sara’s son suddenly vanishes, she illegally stays on the premises to find her son, and she finds herself embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy. Exterritorial stars Jeanne Goursaud, Dougray Scott, Lera Abova, Kayode Akinyemi, and Lara Babalola. So, if you loved the brutal action, thrilling drama, and compelling characters in Exterritorial, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Extraction (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Extraction is an action thriller film directed by Sam Hargrave from a screenplay by Joe Russo. Based on the graphic novel Ciudad by Ande Parks, Joe Russo, and Anthony Russo, the 2020 film follows Tyler Rake, an Australian mercenary who is hired to...

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A Working Man is an action thriller film directed by David Ayer, who also co-wrote the film with Sylvester Stallone. Based on the 2014 novel Levon’s Trade by Chuck Dixon, the 2025 film follows Levon Cade, an ex-Royal Marine Commando working as a construction worker for his friend, Joe Garcia. When Joe’s teenage daughter is kidnapped by criminals, Levon takes it upon himself to rescue her, but ends up finding a dark web of corruption and crime. A Working Man stars Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, David Harbour, Michael Peña, Merab Ninidze, Cokey Falkow, and Maximilian Osinski. So, if you loved the thrilling action, cheesy drama, and entertaining characters in A Working Man, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Beekeeper (Prime Video & MGM+) Credit – Amazon MGM Studios

The Beekeeper is an action thriller film directed...

The action cinema of John Wick, Havoc and John Woo’s The Killer has constantly evolved as it’s travelled between filmmakers and eras.

Now on Netflix, writer-director Gareth Evans’ Havoc is an ultra-violent stew of influences. It’s set in a benighted US city, but was shot in Wales; its bullet-strewn action is directly inspired by Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo.

Then again, action cinema has always been a particularly international genre, taking in disparate bits of American westerns, low-key French thrillers and more besides. When John Woo directed A Better Tomorrow, released in 1986, its contemporary gangland setting and ferocious shoot-outs changed the look and feel of action cinema forever. Widely credited with inventing what was later dubbed the ‘heroic bloodshed’ genre, it made a star out of its lead, Chow Yun-fat.

Woo continued to hone his signature style – slow-motion photography, close-quarters action, and his characters’ habit of holding...

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Netflix Unpacks Apac

Singing from the same Kim sheet: Sara Merican headed to Tokyo this week for a Netflix Asia Pacific showcase event, which brought together many of the streamer’s key players from the region. Amid the manga and k-drama deluge, she sat down with Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s VP of Content for Apac to discuss everything from the streamer’s multi-billion-dollar program and movie investment in Korea to how she hopes zombie films from Indonesia and Thailand will land later this year. She even got into talking about the chance of live sports coming out of Apac (spoiler: not likely). An interesting nugget was the disclosure that Netflix is potentially on track to spend even more...

Four decades have passed since Luc Besson found fame as an emerging 26-year-old director with thriller Subway starring Isabelle Adjani and Christopher Lambert.

His feature credits since range from early stylized breakouts The Big Blue and Nikita; to sci-fi hits The Fifth Element and Lucy, and historic dramas The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc and The Lady, at the same time as building film company EuropaCorp and producing blockbuster franchises Taxi and Taken.

As the 40th anniversary of his big screen breakthrough approaches this fall, Besson is rolling out ultra-low budget romance June & John. Shot entirely with smartphones in L.A. during the Covid 19 pandemic with a 12-person crew, the guerilla-style production took Besson back to his early filmmaking years.

“It was very joyous. It was really two actors and a director because of the lockdown. From the time they were first in costume to the time we...