News

Exclusive: The genre maestros at BoulderLight Pictures (Barbarian) and Divide/Conquer (Heart Eyes) are teaming on Amityville, a radical new spin on the famed haunted house story for a new generation, sources tell Deadline.

Joseph and Vanessa Winter, the married writer-director duo behind the excellent SXSW found footage horror movie Deadstream, are set to direct from their own script. Plot details are under wraps. But Raphael Margules & J.D. Lifshitz will produce for BoulderLight, alongside Adam Hendricks & Greg Gilreath for Divide/Conquer.

Given that BoulderLight has been under a first-look deal with New Line since 2023, that will be the filmmakers’ first stop with the material, though it’s not yet been exposed to studios. Producers are looking to fast-track the film, with Q4 2025 being targeted for production.

While you’re probably familiar with the Amityville Horror film franchise, going back to the the late ’70s, and 1977’s instant bestseller of a book from Jay Anson,...

From All Of Us Strangers to Hundreds Of Beavers to The Zone Of Interest, last year was by all metrics a banger of a year for cinema — just check out our 20 Best Movies of 2024 if you need any further reminder. And as your friendly neighbourhood Empire has pored over what the next twelve months has in store on screens both big and small, we've found a lot of movies that you simply must see in 2025. 133 to be exact.

In a year that's set to see James Gunn's Dcu take flight with Superman; Ethan Hunt take on quite possibly his last impossible mission; Yelena Belova return to our screens in Dark Av— er, Thunderbolts*; James Cameron whisk us away to Pandora in Avatar: Fire And Ash; Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan scare us up good and proper with Sinners; and new movies fly at us from seasoned auteurs, buzzy new filmmakers,...

In 2024, Prime Video took a chance on the world of espionage, and it left with an Emmy-nominated spy drama Mr. & Mrs. Smith for its troubles. The announcement for a second season followed some months after, and while we expected filming to kick off soon after, that didn't materialize. That delay probably stemmed from the fact that series stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine had not been confirmed for a return. Ultimately, it has been confirmed that the pair, who performed expertly in Season 1, will not return for a sophomore run. In their place, Yellowjackets star Sophie Thatcher is set to be the new lead alongside a star from Anora, Mark Eydelshteyn. The exact stories behind their characters remain to be seen, but they are likely to be another rogue spy couple.

Thatcher's biggest role yet is playing the teenage Natalie in Yellowjackets. Other credits include roles in The Book of Boba Fett,...

Already Watched M3GAN 2.0? These 3 Must-Stream AI Films Should Be Your Next Pick (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

If you enjoy watching sci-fi films like M3GAN and its sequel, M3GAN 2.0 and want to watch more movies about AI and robots, you’re in for a treat. Here are three gripping sci-fi films that delve into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and robots. And the best part: they are all streaming on Ott.

1. Companion Release Year – 2025 Director – Drew Hancock Rotten Tomatoes Score – 93% Streaming On – Jio Hotstar & Amazon Prime Video (Rent)

Plot: This romantic sci-fi thriller follows Iris and Josh (played by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid), a seemingly ordinary couple on a weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin. But the leisurely trip takes a terrifying and unexpectedly violent turn when the true nature of one of the guests is revealed. It also stars Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén,...

Gerard Johnstone's "M3GAN" danced its way into theaters (and our hearts) with its bloody brilliance. After all, who doesn't adore a horror movie about a rogue artificial intelligence doll who'll turn everyone into human pincushions if they dare to mess with her or her person? Let's just say that M3GAN's love extends into the "Single White Female" terrain, where obsession isn't an option, but it's the default mode in terms of affection.

Now, even though the world of "M3GAN" expands with spin-offs about horny AI lovebots and sequels, these films can't come soon enough for fans. Yeah, yeah, yeah... Good things come to those who stand at the gate, or procrastinate, or whatever the saying is that LinkedIn bros overuse to sell their courses to suckers. But what about us, the impatient and exalted ones, who crave the mayhem and macabre right now?

Here's the good news: there...

A new trailer for Zach Cregger’s next horror film, Weapons, starring Josh Brolin and Julia Garner, has finally dropped, and fans are reasonably excited. Cregger, who was notable for his association with the comedy group Whitest Kids U’Know, shocked viewers with his directorial debut, Barbarian, in 2022.

Having also teamed up with first-time director Drew Hancock to produce this year’s Companion, Cregger’s upcoming movie has generated buzz, especially due to its connection to his other revered Indie horror.

Zach Cregger’s Weapons is connected to his revered directorial debut, Barbarians

Starring Josh Brolin and Julia Garner in the lead, the movie follows an entire classroom of children (17) on one night without a trace, except for one kid. With a community puzzled, Brolin, who plays Archer Graff, one of the parents, vows to find his kid at any cost.

Josh Brolin in Weapons | Credit: Warner Bros.

Although the story beats remain under wraps,...

What does it mean to be human? Does mortal existence mean inhabiting a body made from flesh and bone? Being born from the womb of another human being? The ability to experience complex emotions or an intangible state that’s impossible to describe? Like pornography, is the state of authentic humanity something we simply know when we see? Now that artificial intelligence seems to be invading every aspect of our lives, it’s worth considering what it actually means to become self-aware and if this enhanced state of being equates to authentic corporeality.

Drew Hancock grapples with these complex ideas in Companion, a story of artificial intelligence told through the lens of feminist empowerment. Iris (Sophie Thatcher) is an AI girlfriend (or companion) designed to serve the needs of her male owner via sexual acts and emotional support. Through her story, we can explore ideas of synthetic autonomy while questioning...

Miramax announced Wednesday that Alexandra Loewy will serve as the studio’s new President of Film. She will officially assume the position on May 27.

The Los Angeles-based Loewy will work directly with Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman. Prior to her Miramax appointment, Loewy most recently worked for six years as the President of Working Title films, where she managed the studio’s Los Angeles office and executive produced films like “The Substance,” “The High Note” and the Richard Curtis-penned Peacock comedy “Genie.”

Loewy’s appointment comes just a few months after Miramax named former Village Roadshow exec Alix Jaffe its Television President in March.

Before her tenure at Working Title, Loewy served as the Senior Vice President of Production & Development at di Bonaventura Pictures, where she nabbed a credit as a co-producer of the Jason Statham-led hit “The Meg.” She has also held roles at Global Produce, Red Wagon and Unique Features.

Miramax has acquired remake rights to the Thai hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, the studio announced Wednesday, setting the stage for an English-language adaptation of Southeast Asia’s most talked-about film of the past year.

Directed by Pat Boonnitipat and produced by Bangkok-based powerhouse Gdh 559, the original film became a sensation across Asia following its release in April 2024, earning over $55 million at the international box office. It was also the first Thai film to be shortlisted for the Academy Awards. In the U.S., the film premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival and was widely praised by critics, earning a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

A family-centric comedy-drama, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies follows a college dropout who moves in with his terminally ill grandmother in a bid to secure her inheritance — only to discover a deeper emotional journey that reshapes his understanding of family and love.

Exclusive: Skydance won a weekend auction for Drift, an unpublished short story by Ben Queen & Jason Shuman that has It! helmer Andy Muschietti attached to direct. Deadline hears that the project sold for around $2 million against higher if the movie gets made. Andy & Barbara Muschietti’s Double Dream and Scott Glassgold’s 12:01 Film’s will produce.

The 38-page short story has all the makings of a big sci-fi mission film, and numerous other bids came in with other creative attachments. When his estranged son vanishes during a space mission, a once-legendary, now fallen from grace shuttle commander is pulled into a high-stakes hostage exchange in space to get his boy back from captors who are not from Earth. The comp is Gravity meets Arrival.

Queen & Shuman will be adapting their own short story which was on the market for less than 24 hours before selling. Skydance jumped into action quickly...

We’re going to be getting a lot of AI horror in the coming years. It’s not M3GAN’s fault, either, though I think that diva bears at least some responsibility. According to the Pew Research Center, 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about artificial intelligence, a sharp increase from the reported 37% just two years prior. Artificial intelligence is everywhere, and like the most frightening things we can imagine, AI is shapeless. It means so much, and is such a nebulous threat, it’s easy to understand why the country at large is kinda frightened.

And since horror is politics and politics are horror, it makes sense that the current genre landscape would endeavor to reflect those anxieties back at us. It’s not always successful, such as with Subservience and Afraid, and the best examples are less allegorical, more camp. The latest in what’s liable...

In a pre-emptive purchase, 20th Century Studios has muscled in on the rights to Ripped, a short story by Joe Ballarini for an adaptation to be produced by Seven Bucks and 12:01 Films.

Seven Bucks’ Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Hiram Garcia, as well as 12:01’s Scott Glassgold are the gym rats, um, producers, on this one.

While Johnson is not currently attached to star in Ripped, there does seem to be a character for which he could go beast mode. The logline concerns an insecure man who, in anticipation of his wedding day, enters a hardcore underground training facility led by a magnetic fitness guru, who commands cult like devotion with the promise of peak performance at any cost.

Ballarini is set to adapt his short story. Separately, the writer has landed a deal with Simon & Schuster/Atria new horror imprint 12:01 Books to expand the short story into a novel.

Jack Quaid Companion Streaming Success Rotten Tomatoes(Photo Credit –Prime Video/YouTube)

Jack Quaid isn’t just riding the wave of The Boys anymore, he’s stepping firmly into the spotlight of Hollywood’s next generation. With The Boys gearing up to wrap its satirical superhero saga in season 5, Quaid’s time as Hughie Campbell may be winding down, but the actor’s trajectory is clearly on the rise. He’s been building momentum steadily, and the past few years have made it obvious that this guy’s not fading into the background anytime soon.

Jack Quaid: Not Just a Famous Last Name

Quaid’s first steps onto the big screen came via The Hunger Games over a decade ago, but it didn’t take long for him to carve out his own identity, far beyond just being the son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan. From offbeat capers like...

As X continues to die a slow and painful death, many of the site’s most prolific users have fled to competing platforms. Stephen King, one of X’s most visible users, has jumped ship to Threads, where he reliably shares a compelling mixture of dad jokes, political hot takes, and movie recommendations. The dad jokes and hot takes don’t usually fall under our purview. However, King’s streaming suggestions are very much within our wheelhouse. Speaking of which, I have one queued up for you right now.

King recently posted: “Companion: A totally fine horror/science fiction movie. (Also pretty funny.) I wish I’d seen it in the theaters, but watched it on Amazon Prime. Try it.”

The setup for Companion goes like this: A weekend getaway at a remote cabin turns to chaos when it’s revealed that one of the guests—a subservient android built...

Be warned, major spoilers for "Companion" follow.

Ryan Coogler's vampire film "Sinners" made a deserved smash at the box office this weekend, but audiences who stayed home got to enjoy a different Warner Bros.-distributed horror picture: Drew Hancock's "Companion," which joined streaming service Max on Friday, April 18 and has since become its no. 1 ranked movie. In "Companion," Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) are a seemingly picture-perfect young couple. The movie opens with their meet-cute, and Iris, head over heels, narrates that meeting Josh was the first moment in her life she felt true purpose. The second? "The day I killed him."

Zach Cregger, director of the 2022 horror film "Barbarian," was a producer on "Companion." Like that picture, "Companion" makes a huge swerve after its first act, turning into a completely different movie than you'd expected. Unlike "Barbarian," where the secrets stayed locked up tight until release,...

Three years ago, actor and comedian, Zach Cregger, pulled a complete 180 and handed audiences one of the best horror movies in recent years with the release of Barbarian. Serving as his feature-length directorial and writing debut, the film pulled Cregger from his comedic roots and revealed the darker (yet still at times comical) side of his mind in an unnerving horror flick that starred Georgina Campbell, Justin Long, and Bill Skarsgård. In the time since, audiences have been eager for more to come from Cregger’s darkside, and now the wait is finally starting to wind down. Today Warner Bros. has finally shared the first official teaser to come from the director's latest production, Weapons.

Short, spooky, and largely silent, our first real look at Weapons showcases the film's primary plot when a group of children disappears into the night. The ticking of a clock can be heard in the background,...

Jack Quaid has become a fan-favorite following his role in the Prime Video satirical superhero series The Boys, and has starred in many critically acclaimed films since his career took off. 2025 has already been a Jack Quaid-filled year, with two lead roles, and he continues to be wildly popular.

Quaid starred in the sci-fi thriller Companion, which debuted in theaters in January, as well as the action comedy Novocaine, which was released in theaters in March. Both have been successful, yet the former was a smash hit. Companion was just released on Max, and immediately after became a huge hit globally, per FlixPatrol.

Following its release in theaters on Jan. 31, the movie, which Warner Bros. distributed, premiered on Max on Apr. 18, with a debut on HBO on Apr. 19. Companion immediately topped the charts globally. On Apr. 20, it was already the No. 1 film in 50 countries, including the U.S.

However, the...

“Companion”, the new live-action, ‘killer robot’ science fiction psychological thriller, written and directed by Drew Hancock, stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén and Rupert Friend, now streaming on Max:

“…a billionaire's death sets off a chain of events for ‘Iris’ and her friends…

“…during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

A new month has brought another wave of streaming acquisitions for Max subscribers to enjoy. The streaming platform just added a wide array of films to its library in April, including one of 2024’s late financial and critical hits and an early 2025 thriller that still ranks as one of the best movies of the year so far. April, in other words, gives you the chance to catch up on a pair of recent films that you may have missed. There are, of course, more than a few easily recommendable movies released before last year that have also made their way to Max this month.

Here are TheWrap’s picks for the seven best movies streaming on Max in April.

“Aftersun” (A24) “Aftersun” (2022)

A mesmeric, wrenching exploration of grief, love and memory, “Aftersun” is the haunting, rightly acclaimed directorial debut of writer-director Charlotte Wells. Set both in the present day and the late ’90s,...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Benediction (Terence Davies)

Time is everything in a Terence Davies film. In Benediction, his biopic about English poet Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden), he eventually covers his subject’s marriage to Hester Gatty (Kate Phillips). There’s a shot of the couple standing still, facing the camera as they pose for a wedding photo (a shot that tends to pop up throughout the director’s filmography). The camera flashes, we see the black-and-white photo, and then a fade transitions us to the future, where it rests on their bedside while Hester looks at their newborn child. The sequence is an encapsulation of what Davies does best: observing life with one’s head facing backwards, the cumulative weight of the past bearing down on every moment of the present.

“Companion”, the new live-action, ‘killer robot’ science fiction psychological thriller, written and directed by Drew Hancock, stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén and Rupert Friend, streaming April 18, 2025 on Max:

“…a billionaire's death sets off a chain of events for ‘Iris’ and her friends…

“…during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

New Line Cinema’s Companion will make its global streaming debut on Friday, April 18 exclusively on Max. Companion will debut on HBO linear on Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 p.m. Et. New Line Cinema—the studio that brought you “The Notebook”—and the unhinged creators of “Barbarian” cordially invite you to experience a new kind of love story… Written and directed by Drew Hancock, Companion stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert ... Read more...

Gold Derby's top news stories for April 11, 2025.

Ted Kotcheff, director of First Blood, Weekend at Bernie’s, North Dallas Forty, dies at 94

Canadian filmmaker Ted Kotcheff, best known for directing such well-known movies as First Blood, Weekend at Bernie’s, and North Dallas Forty, has died at the age of 94, according to Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper. In addition to directing Sylvester Stallone in First Blood, Kotcheff worked with Academy Award winners Richard Dreyfuss (1974's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz), Jane Fonda (1977's Fun With Dick and Jane), and Gena Hackman (1983's Uncommon Valor), and also spent 13 seasons as an executive producer on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, starring Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni.

The Pitt is a streaming hit

According to initial numbers from Max, The Pitt, the real-time hospital drama starring ER alum Noah Wyle, wrapped its final season on Thursday with 13 straight weeks of week over week growth...

Yellowjackets starSophie Thatcher and The Boys actor Jack Quaid's sci-fi thrillerCompanion, which earned almost universal praise from critics, has set its streaming release date. The New Line Cinema movie debuted in January, grossing just over $36 million against a budget of $10 million.

Per Deadline, Companion will start streaming globally on Max on April 18 and debut on HBO a day later at 8:00 p.m. Et. Written and directed by My Dead Ex helmer Drew Hancock, Companion stars Quaid and Thatcher as Josh and Iris, a couple on a weekend getaway with their friends in a remote cabin. While there, Iris discovers, to her dismay, that she is an AI companion rented from a tech company, and things turn ugly from there. The movie also stars Lukas Gage (Smile 2), Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever), Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), and Rupert Friend (Asteroid City). Zack Cregger,...

One of the best-reviewed movies of the year, Companion, finally has a streaming release date. Starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, the AI thriller follows a couple on a weekend getaway with a group of friends that goes awry when it is revealed one of them is a companion robot. The film currently has a 94% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score, one of the year's best thus far.

According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Companion is getting a global streaming release on Max later this month on Apr. 18. Additionally, the film will premiere on HBO the following day on Apr. 19 at 8:00 Pm Et. Made with a $10 million production budget, Companion made a killing at the box office, grossing $36.7 million worldwide. While a sequel has not been officially greenlit, the director behind the film already has ideas for a follow-up. If Companion proves to be a streaming success, it would be shocking...

Experience a new kind of love story when Companion makes his global streaming debut on Friday, April 18, exclusively on Max, followed by HBO linear on April 19 at 8pm Et.

A weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin goes haywire after it’s revealed that one of the guests is not what they seem.

Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”) and Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) star with Lukas Gage (Smile 2), Megan Suri (“Never Have I Ever”), Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”), and Rupert Friend (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”).

Produced by Zach Cregger and Boulderlight Pictures (Barbarian), the sci-fi horror thriller marks the directorial debut of Drew Hancock, who also penned the script.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “Though familiar in many ways, Hancock’s confident direction and commitment to entertaining mayhem ensures a highly entertaining ride that builds to one of the most triumphant conclusions in recent memory.”

Companion is...

New Line Cinema announced today that Companion will make its global streaming debut on Friday, April 18, exclusively on Max. The film will debut on HBO linear on Saturday, April 19, at 8:00 p.m. Et.

From the studio that brought you The Notebook and the unhinged creators of Barbarian, the new kind of love story is rated R for strong violence, sexual content, and language throughout.

Warner Bros. Pictures distributed the romantic sci-fi thriller to theaters on January 31, 2025. The film grossed $36.7 million at the global box office, with $20.8 million coming from North American theaters and $15.9 million from international markets.

Written and directed by Drew Hancock, Companion stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend.

Companion was produced by the filmmakers behind Barbarian—Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Zach Cregger, and Roy Lee. The executive producers are Tracy Rosenblum and Jamie Buckner.

The cinematographer is Eli Born.

New Line’s sci-fi thriller Companion, starring Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) and Jack Quaid (The Boys), will begin streaming globally on Max on Friday, April 18, debuting on HBO linear on Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 p.m. Et.

In Companion, written and directed by Drew Hancock (My Dead Ex), Thatcher plays Iris, who joins her boyfriend Josh (Quaid) and friends at a remote lake house, only to discover that she’s actually an AI “companion” rented from a tech company. We won’t reveal more than that, except to say that Iris doesn’t take the revelation lightly.

The film also stars Lukas Gage (Smile 2), Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever), Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), and Rupert Friend (Asteroid City). From the producers of horror hit Barbarian — Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Zach Cregger and Roy Lee — its executive producers are Tracy Rosenblum and Jamie Buckner.

Warner Bros...

Here’s the latest episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro-budget indie films to bigger-budget studio films and everything in between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dom Lenoir, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk about how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their filmmaking experiences from directors, writers, producers and screenwriters, to actors, cinematographers and distributors.

The Filmmaker’s Podcast #446: Companion – Crafting a smart genre blend with...

Chloë Grace Moretz (Carrie) has found her co-lead in The Edge Of Normal. Today, Deadline reports that the Kick-Ass actress will be joined in the serial killer flick by Rupert Friend. The actor has been pouring himself into the genre as of late, with his recent supporting role in Drew Hancock’s feature-length directorial debut, Companion. The thriller, which is eyeing a production start date sometime this spring, comes from helmer, Carlota Pereda, and will serve as the director’s first English-language flick. For those who haven’t seen it, Pereda’s most recent production, 2022’s Piggy, was a bloody and brutal entry into the genre, so we’re already expecting more of the same from The Edge Of Normal.

Exclusive: The Riverdale star is attached to star and will produce under her Small Victory’s first look deal at Amazon MGM Studios, Fake Wedding.

The project, based on Ali and Anthony Garland’s short story, is currently being developed with the twosome penning the screenplay. Fake Wedding follows two broke singles who throw a fake wedding to cash in on the registry and the very real problems the make-believe couple encounters. Scott Glassgold’s 12:01 Films assembled the project and is producing. Verve held the auction and sold the project in the low six figures.

Amazon MGM Studios is becoming quite the house of rom-coms. Recently their Reese Witherspoon-Will Ferrell movie You’re Cordially Invited amassed 827M viewing minutes within its first few days of availability on Prime, putting it at No. 6 on Nielsen’s overall Top 10. The pic debuted on the streamer on Jan. 30. Amazon MGM...

Jack Quaid addresses the possibility of reprising his role in the highly anticipated Scream 7. With Scream veterans Kevin Williamson and Guy Busick at the helm, the seventh installment of the horror franchise is set for a harrowing return with Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott once again leading the charge against the enduring murders and mystery of the iconic masked killer Ghostface. Quaid's character, Richie Kirsch, was unveiled as one of the Ghostface killers in the 2022 reboot. Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters on February 27, 2026.

In a recent interview with Et Online, Quaid responded to questions about his potential involvement in Scream 7. Quaid’s Ghostface reveal in Scream was an interesting twist for the slasher franchise, largely due to his established reputation as an awkward, yet charming actor in roles like The Boys and Star Trek: Lower Decks. His latest role in Companion continues to weaponize his "nice guy" persona.

The Boys star Jack Quaid is going to extremes to promote his new movie. The actor gets battered and bruised while sitting courtside at a Los Angeles Clippers game in a brilliant marketing stunt for Novocaine.

In the short clip shared by Pop Crave on X, Quaid can be seen watching the Los Angeles Clippers take on the Sacremento Kings alongside his Novocaine co-star Amber Midthunder. The actor, who is wearing a cast on his arm, seemingly gets more injured throughout the night. He eventually conducts an interview in the arena wearing a neck brace, with cuts and bruises on his face.

Jack Quaid promoted his new movie ‘Novocaine’ at the Kings versus Clippers game by getting more and more beaten up as the game progressed on. pic.twitter.com/ZWav0EQFUj— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 11, 2025

Novocaine sees Jack Quaid starring as Nathan, a bank executive who has a...

Village Roadshow’s Alix Jaffe is joining Miramax as the studio’s new president of television on March 31.

Jaffe, who will report directly to Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman, will be responsible for overseeing the company’s teams in Los Angeles, London and Doha, Qatar. Senior vice president Mirsada Abdool Raman will report to Jaffe.

“I’m thrilled to join Jon and the incredible team at Miramax,” Jaffe said in a Tuesday statement. “I have long admired their rich catalog and look forward to creating bold new shows, developing fresh original content and telling stories that push boundaries and resonate with audiences around the world.”

Jaffe brings over two decades of experience in TV development and production, most recently serving as Village Roadshow Entertainment Group’s executive vice president of television.

At Village Roadshow, she successfully launched and led the company’s independent TV business, overseeing development to production of scripted content and library titles,...

Drew Hancock’s global hit Companion is one of those do-or-die slick-flicks which blend genres and bend the rules of mass entertainment. The unexpected is heaped onto the plot with such weird nonchalance as if to say that cinema is not about fulfilling expectations but building them.

This is not an unwatchable film by any stretch of the imagination. Writer-director Drew Hancock sucks us into the vortex of the blind-dating game and then charts out a living hell for his heroine Iris (Sophie Thatcher), who is taken by her new boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) to a posh farmhouse in the back of the beyond. Iris should have known better. But if she had, there would be none of the carefully constructed calamitous happenings that swiftly swerve the romance into the horror-thriller genre.

And yes, there is science fiction, too…oh yes! Iris discovers she is a robot companion to Josh,...

It goes without saying that Stephen King has penned some great horror stories, and people take notice whenever he recommends a genre movie or TV series. From hailing overlooked horror shows like "The Midwich Cuckoos" to explaining why "Night of the Living Dead" is the scariest movie ever made, King isn't shy about expressing his opinions, and many people agree that he has excellent taste. With that in mind, King has now heaped praise on "Companion," the first great movie of 2025, adding to all of the acclaim the horror-comedy has received since its release.

"Companion: A totally fine horror/science fiction movie. (Also pretty funny.) I wish I'd seen it in the theaters, but watched it on Amazon Prime," the author wrote on Threads.

King didn't provide any more insights about the film, though he was probably wary of giving away spoilers. Directed and written by Drew Hancock, "Companion...

Paramount has released a final trailer for Novocaine. The upcoming action movie is currently fresh on review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes at 88 percent.

Jack Quaid leads Novocaine as Nathan Caine, a meek bank executive who has a rare disorder that leaves him completely unable to feel pain. When his girlfriend (Prey's Amber Midthunder) is taken hostage by bank robbers, Nathan uses his unique disorder to his advantage, overcoming his fears to come to the rescue. Check out the final Novocaine trailer below.

Dan Berk and Robert Olsen directed Novocaine from a screenplay written by Lars Jacobson. The action movie also stars Ray Nicholson (Smile 2), Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Betty Gabriel (Jack Ryan), and Matt Walsh (Upright Citizens Brigade).

Jack Quaid Is a Star on the Rise

Novocaine was Quaid's first movie to feature him at the top of the call sheet, an experience that the actor told Newsweek was "odd.

Paramount has released the trailer to Novocaine, which stars Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Lou Beatty Jr., Van Hengst, Conrad Kemp and Jacob Batalon. The unconventional action comedy features a reluctant hero who has a condition in which he cannot feel pain. This average joe embarks on an adventure that has him facing down a horde of villains and using his abilities as an advantage. The new trailer headlines all the positive buzz the movie is getting from critics, who are all basically calling the movie a violently good time as the premise takes you on a ride and the humor keeps you laughing.

The official synopsis reads,

“When the girl of his dreams (Amber Midthunder) is kidnapped, everyman Nate (Jack Quaid) turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.”

Novocaine has been rated R for strong bloody violence,...

Nearly one quarter of the way through the year (yikes!) and already the horror game is strong. So far, we’ve been lucky enough to see a nice hodge-podge of pics come to life thanks to Leigh Whannell’s latest pairing with Universal, Wolf Man, Drew Hancock’s debut foray into feature-length filmmaking in Companion, Josh Ruben’s rom-com horror, Heart Eyes, and Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs follow-up, The Monkey. With fans flocking to their local cinemas to take in the latest and greatest that the genre has to offer, one movie is topping out at the box office, with Perkins’ Stephen King adaptation currently in the number one spot with a staggering financial earning of $39.1 million.

Miramax has acquired the rights to I Can See You’re Angry, an R-rated comedy written by Brandon Cohen. The studio outbid several competitors for the project, which will be produced by Barbarian producer BoulderLight Pictures.

Details about the plot have not been disclosed, but the film is described as being in the style of Wedding Crashers and There’s Something About Mary.

Miramax and BoulderLight have an existing working relationship, with both involved in an upcoming remake of The Faculty. Robert Rodriguez is producing that project, with Drew Hancock writing the script.

BoulderLight has been involved in multiple recent releases, including Companion, a horror comedy that debuted in January starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. The company is also behind Friendship, an A24 dark comedy featuring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd. That film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall and is expected to be released this spring.

Exclusive: In a competitive situation, Miramax has landed the hot spec I Can See You’re Angry from writer Brandon Cohen. Barbarian producer BoulderLight Pictures will produce the comedy. The studio beat out several suitors for the spec.

Plot details being kept under wraps, but the spec is described as a high-concept R-rated comedy in the vein of Wedding Crashers and There’s Something About Mary.

Miramax and BoulderLight already have strong ties after the former tapped the latter to co-produce a remake of The Faculty, with Robert Rodriguez joining as a producer with Companion writer Drew Hancock penning.

BoulderLight has been on a roll as of late starting with the horror comedy Companion, which bowed in January and starred Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. Next up is the A24 dark comedy Friendship coming this spring. That film stars Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd and premiered at last fall’s Toronto Film Festival.

Quick LinksHeart Eyes' Hobbs and Shaw ExplainedHeart Eyes' Shaw Murders Hobbs

The following contains spoilers for Heart Eyes, now playing in theaters.

2025 has already provided fans with some intriguing horror movies. Companion focused on a female android having to become a killer to survive. In addition, Josh Ruben's Heart Eyes has done its own take on movies like Scream, but with a Valentine's Day twist.

The latter movie deals with a slasher known as Heart Eyes. The killer goes on a rampage to slaughter lovers on the romantic holiday. Interestingly, Ruben sneaks in a subtle reference to two pop culture icons that fly beneath the radar, all while hinting as to the big plot twist. This centers on Heart Eyes having its own Hobbs and Shaw, two major characters from the Fast & Furious movies.

Heart Eyes' Hobbs and Shaw Explained Hobbs and Shaw Are Shady Detectives Hunting...

Quick LinksWomen's Bodies Are Commodities in Buffy and CompanionLove Unchecked Can Be a Dangerous ForceWarren and Josh Are More Dangerous Than They First Appear

Buffy the Vampire Slayer may have ended over two decades ago, but it is more relevant than ever. There is a reason why, after all this time, stars are coming out of the woodwork to comment on the recent reboot announcement. No matter the allegations against the series' creator, Buffy still told emotionally resonant tales that appealed to all generations. In her capacity as the famous slayer destined to rid the world of evil forces, Buffy Summers encounters a wide array of monsters, which are just metaphors for the evils of everyday life. Starting in high school, the series becomes more mature as the series continues.

The one recurring theme in Buffy the Vampire Slayer would return to was the most corrosive villain of the series,...

Horror movies have a strange fate in theaters—they often get overlooked by the mass population due to their appealing nature to a particular group of audience. Perhaps, not everyone likes jump scares! Well, whatever the case, the same unfortunate destiny seemingly struck the 2025 American black comedy horror sci-fi, Companion.

A still from Drew Hancock’s Companion (2025) | image: Warner Bros.

Drew Hancock’s movie, starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid quietly slipped past many moviegoers. But while the world was busy missing out on the film, James Gunn appeared to be paying undivided attention. And guess what? The Guardians of the Galaxy director took to social media to call the film “freaking incredible”.

James Gunn lauded Drew Hancock’s 2025 horror sci-fi as “incredible”

Given his experience in filmmaking, when James Gunn speaks, movie-buffs offer their full attention to the legend. Known for his bold storytelling and a keen eye for great cinema,...

After hitting theaters near the end of 2024, A24's horror film, Heretic, is heading to its new streaming home in March.

The Hugh Grant-led horror flick, Heretic, officially lands on Max on March 7. The official synopsis for the film reads: "Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse." In addition to Grant, Heretic stars Sophie Thatcher (Companion), Chloe East (The Fabelmans), Topher Grace (Spider-Man 3), and Elle Young (Little Fish). Heretic was written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, best known for the Adam Driver-led film, 65, and as screenwriters of A Quiet Place.

RelatedHeretic's Ending, Explained

A24's Heretic finale is filled with bloodshed, provocative messages about religion, and an existential deep-dive into toxic masculinity.

After landing in theaters on Nov.

A vengeful sex bot, a murderous monkey toy, and a blood-sucking icon lead this week’s lineup of new horror movie releases, and they’re joined by a twisted perversion of a pop culture icon.

Here’s all the new horror that released February 17 – February 21, 2025!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

Prepare for a sea of blood, because the public domain slasher Popeye’s Revenge sailed onto VOD exclusively on Amazon via ITN Distribution this past Tuesday, February 18.

The indie horror film turns the classic character into a slasher villain when the legend of Popeye haunts a group of counselors as they intend to open a summer camp.

William Stead directs from a script by Harry Boxley (Cinderella’s Curse).

Steven Murphy stars as Popeye alongside Poohniverse alumni Kelly Rian Sanson, Danielle Scott, Danielle Ronald, and Amanda Jane York.

Created by E.C. Segar, Popeye the Sailor...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

The Brutalist (Brady Corbet)

Brady Corbet’s long-gestating architecture epic looks and feels as painstakingly crafted as its lead character’s intricate architectonics. For as barren and minimalist as László Tóth’s (a terrific Adrien Brody) designs are, they pack a beautiful, mysterious, occasionally revelatory punch, much like Corbet’s winding three-and-a-half-hour (complete with built-in intermission!) story about a Hungarian architect who immigrated to New York after WWII only to be mentally and emotionally sucked in by the tide of a momentous decades-long project initiated by a ruthless Pennsylvania business tycoon. Its scope is enormous––almost impossible not to get wrapped up in. A sense of impending gravity gives this film the weight of the real, as if we’re witnessing history.

Caption: (L-r) Sophie Thatcher as Iris and Director and Writer Drew Hancock in New Line Cinema’s “Companion”, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Matt Infante Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. As both the writer and director of the film Companion, Drew Hancock had a clear vision of how he wanted the story to play out on the screen. But one thing he hadn’t really considered was how difficult the leading role of Iris would be for whichever actress wound up playing her. As Hancock explained, it was really like playing two roles in one and, until Sophie Thatcher came along, none of the performers who’d tried out had even come close to winning the role. (Click on the media bar below to hear Drew Hancock.) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Drew_Hancock_Sofie_Thatcher_Companion.mp3 Companion is now playing in theaters.

The less you know about Drew Hancock’s “Companion” the bigger chance you have of enjoying it. The film which stars the Heretic (2024) breakout Sophie Thatcher has a wild twist pretty early into the film. For someone who has seen the trailer for “Companion,” everything, including the ending and the twist, might not feel like they come off as a surprise in any way. So, if you are the select few who went into the film blind and were confused by how the movie pans out, here is a detailed breakdown.

Companion (2025) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

The opening monologue by Iris sort of gives away the “Companion” ending by directly telling you Josh’s eventual fate, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

The story kicks off with Josh (Jack Quaid) and Iris (Sophie Thatcher) driving to a lake house that is secluded and away from any kind of civilization.

One of the surprise hits of the year so far, Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher's starring turns in Drew Hancock's Companion have captured the eyes of the world, shooting the movie beyond the subdued expectations many likely had prior to release. Now, despite having officially landed on digital on February 18, 2025, Companion looks set to continue returning in its theatrical run, with the movie predicted to surpass the $20 million mark domestically by the end of this week. Currently, Companion is on $18.7 million from nationwide theaters, with another $14.2 million from overseas markets combining for a total worldwide haul of $32.9 million.