News

The week of the Super Bowl was a relatively light one for streaming in the United States — but that allowed a couple of shows to score solid positions in the top 10 despite relatively modest viewing times.

Netflix’s romance One Day, which premiered Feb. 8, was one of them — finishing fifth among original shows despite only gathering 296 million minutes of viewing in the U.S. for the week of Feb. 5-11. In the previous five weeks, the show in that slot had averaged 555 million minutes of watch time. Paramount+’s Halo also made its first appearance in the top 10, finishing fourth among originals with 354 million minutes as it opened its second season.

Only two shows, acquired stalwarts Young Sheldon (1.35 billion minutes on Netflix and Max) and Bluey (1.14 billion minutes on Disney+), eclipsed a billion minutes for the week. Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved into first place among originals with 765 million minutes of watch time.

“Wonka” reigns again on the VOD charts, but the week’s real star is Amazon/MGM’s “American Fiction.” Driven by its five Oscar nominations and continued success at the box office, it reached #2 at Apple TV/iTunes on Saturday and is currently #4. Not bad for a racial satire that’s grossed $17 million to date.

It suggests the film will earn substantially more than its theatrical take, reflecting smart strategy: While Amazon makes movies for streaming, it recognizes (like Apple) the value of making VOD its first at-home platform. It’s also a good argument that the Netflix Mo of deemphasizing theatrical and skipping VOD misses opportunities to get awards and audience traction.

“Oppenheimer” (Universal) repeats as #2 on two charts, though its reduced price keeps it from making Vudu revenue-driven list. Christopher Nolan’s Oscar frontrunner has been the strongest film since its home-viewing debut three months ago, now sustained by Oscar nomination-leading total.

Chris Hemsworth returns as Tyler Rake in Extraction 2, the sequel to Netflix’s blockbuster action film Extraction. After barely surviving the events of the first movie, Rake is back as the Australian black ops mercenary, tasked with another deadly mission: rescuing the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison where they are being held.

Hemsworth reunites with director Sam Hargrave, with Joe and Anthony Russo’s Agbo producing and Joe Russo writing. Golshifteh Farahani reprises her role from the first film, with Adam Bessa, Olga Kurylenko, Daniel Bernhardt and Tinatin Dalakishvili also co-starring.

The film hits Netflix on June 16.

This is a sequel to the first film that was based on the graphic novel ‘Ciudad’ by Ande Parks, from a story by Ande Parks, Joe Russo & Anthony Russo, with illustrations by Fernando León González. Extraction 2 is produced by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstot,...

In the comedy Arthur’s Whiskey, Diane Keaton finds the secret of eternal youth and shares it with her friends.

The film follows Joan who, after her husband dies, is shocked to discover he had invented an elixir that makes the drinker look young again. Sharing it with her two friends, the three women paint the town red but soon discover that they are no longer equipped to be young in the modern world.

The first-look image sees the film’s stars — Keaton, Patricia Hodge, and Scottish performer Lulu — walking arm-in-arm. Keaton is in a classic Keaton ensemble of a big hat, belt, and turtle neck.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Keaton talked about what inspires her to keep working in Hollywood after her decades-spanning career, saying, “A good part. A great piece of work. It doesn’t always work out well, but sometimes they’re fascinating.

Exclusive: Deadline has learned that IFC Films’ longtime Head of PR Laura Sok will be departing the indie distribution company.

Sok has been Head of PR for the last five years in an overall seven-year career at IFC (she worked there from 2008-2010), and was first hired by Jonathan Sehring to run the department. She led public-relations efforts for IFC Films, IFC Midnight, Sundance Selects and streaming service IFC Films Unlimited. Last December, her oversight was expanded to include the labels Shudder and Rlje Films.

Sok led 20th anniversary efforts for IFC Films and was integral in constructing the 2020 drive-in release and promotion strategy during the pandemic. She also led publicity strategy and campaigns for all films during the most successful financial years in IFC Films history.

While Sok is one of many executives to recently leave IFC including distribution head Jasper Basch,...

Once pitted against each other as rivals, streamers and broadcasters have become unlikely allies in the face of increased competition and economic pressure following the pandemic and the launch of more content viewing platforms.

Even in France, where Netflix was referred to as the “devil” by France Televisions president Delphine Ernotte Cunci in a 2019 interview, the tide has turned and a number of ambitious series have been jointly financed by both local broadcasters and streamers.

Examples of collaborations vary from period drama series such as “The Bonfire of Destiny” and “Women at War,” from TF1 and Netflix, to action series like Ziad Doueiri’s “Dark Hearts,” from France Televisions and Amazon Prime Video. What do these shows have in common? They shot in French with local casts, and have the high budgets and production values that are typically allocated to international co-productions like “Marie Antoinette,” which shot in English and...

James D’Arcy will star as Jo’s husband Magnus in the upcoming Apple TV+ thriller “Constellation,” Variety has learned. Additionally, Oliver Hirschbiegel and Joseph Cedar have been set to direct three episodes each of the eight-episode series.

The series follows Jo (Noomi Rapace), a woman who returns to Earth after a disaster in space — only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and for her to recover all that she has lost. Jonathan Banks also stars.

D’arcy’s credits include playing Jarvis in the Marvel series “Agent Carter” and film “Avengers: Endgame” as well as starring in Christopher Nolan’s 2017 film “Dunkirk” and Andy Goddard’s 2020 film “Six Minutes to Midnight.” Up next, he...

James D’Arcy is set to star alongside Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks in Constellation, an eight-episode conspiracy-based psychological thriller drama series at Apple TV+. Additionally, Oscar-nominated Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) and Joseph Cedar (Footnote) are set as directors on the series, joining previously announced director/EP Michelle MacLaren.

Created and written by Peter Harness (The War of the Worlds), Constellation stars Rapace as Jo, a woman who returns to Earth after a disaster in space — only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and for her to recover all that she has lost.

2022 Apple TV+ Pilots & Series Orders

D’Arcy will play Magnus, Jo’s husband.

Banks will play Henry, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. The answers...

“Spiritwalker,” a fantasy action film about a man who wakes up in a new body every twelve hours, grabbed the top spot at the South Korean box office over the weekend. It was one of three new films to get significant releases, a possible sign that Korea’s theatrical market is steadying.

Directed by Yoon Jae-kyun, “Spiritwalker” earned $2.16 million over the weekend, representing a 31% share of the overall market, according to data from Kobis, the theatrical tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Over its five opening days, it managed $2.96 million.

Sales agency K-Movie has confirmed to Variety the existence of a deal to license rights on “Spiritwalker” to Hollywood producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura for English-language remake. Further details are scarce.

Disney animation film “Encanto” placed second with $1.69 million over the weekend and $$2.15 million over five days.

Third place belonged to Korean title “Nothing Serious,” which scores $1.27 million...

Following a nationwide search, “The Crown” has found its Prince William in newcomer Senan West, Variety can exclusively reveal.

The 13 year old is the real-life son of Dominic West, who takes over from Josh O’Conner as Prince Charles in the highly anticipated fifth season of the hit Netflix show. Elizabeth Debicki (“Tenet”) will play his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, replacing Emma Corrin.

Variety understands Senan has been cast as a slightly older Prince William, portraying him as he begins to mature into a young man. He will make his on-screen debut in the final episodes of the season. It’s believed the young actor’s audition, submitted via tape by his agent, caught the attention of the show’s producers.

William had only just turned 15 in 1997 when Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris alongside her beau, Dodi Al Fayed. As Variety revealed in September, Al...

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tanel Toom (“Truth and Justice”) has wrapped production in Estonia on sci-fi thriller “Sentinel.”

The film stars Kate Bosworth (“Force of Nature”), Thomas Kretschmann (“The Pianist”), Lucien Laviscount (“Emily in Paris”) and Martin McCann (“The Survivalist”).

Written by Malachi Smyth (“The Score”), the film is set in the future on a war-ravaged Earth where four soldiers man Sentinel – a remote military base in a vast ocean that separates two warring continents. While they await their relief or the enemy, the simmering tension amongst them escalates when a mysterious boat drifts into range.

“Sentinel” is presented by Altitude Film Entertainment in association with Head Gear Film and Metrol Technology in association with Br/Arte, Tallifornia, Ichiban Films, Sentinel Entertainment and Vertical Entertainment.

Altitude Film Sales are handling international sales and will introduce the project to buyers at the AFM Virtual Market (Nov. 1-5).

The film is produced by Ben Pullen...

Next release is Mogul Mowgli on September 3.

Pacific Northwest Pictures has rebranded as Photon Films, marking the end of a two-year growth plan that saw the distributor consolidate offices in Toronto and Los Angeles and expand into production.

Photon Films’ next theatrical release is Mogul Mowgli on September 3 following a string of releases that include Oscar contender Sound Of Metal, Shiva Baby, Violation, and Made In Italy.

Among upcoming releases are rom-com Falling For Figaro with Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley, Juniper starring Charlotte Rampling, and documentaries Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché and the 2021 Hot Docs Audience Award Winner Dear Future Children.

Transport yourself to sunny Tuscany when Made in Italy arrives on DVD and Digital Download on June 14, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment UK, and you could win a copy of the film on DVD!

Made in Italy is a heart-warming comedy, set in glorious Tuscany, about bohemian London artist Robert (Liam Neeson) who returns to Italy with his estranged son Jack (Micheál Richardson) to make a quick sale of the house they inherited from his late wife. Neither expects to find the once beautiful villa in such a state of disrepair…

Renovations go badly, and father and son find themselves at odds –not for the first time. Robert’s comical lack of DIY experience leads him to seek help from some colourful locals, but for Jack, the state of the house seems to mirror his search for memories of happier times with his mother. Then Jack falls for Natalia, a vivacious young Italian chef,...

Made in Italy is the charming directorial debut from actor James D’Arcy, enriched with a profound sense of authenticity, given the theme of grief, and handing roles to both Liam Neeson and his son Micheal Richardson, who of course had to go through the tragic passing of wife and mother, Natasha Richardson.

To mark the film’s release, which does balance the more poignant themes with a light touch and comedic undercurrent, we had the pleasure of speaking to D’Arcy as he comments on his first experience stepping behind the lens, and explains why he was nervous about presenting the screenplay to leading star Neeson.

Watch the full interview with James D’Arcy here:

Synopsis

A bohemian artist travels from London to Italy with his estranged son to sell the house he inherited from his late wife.

Made In Italy will launch exclusively on Amazon Prime Video from 26th...

This month on Amazon Prime Video UK sees the final three episodes of Neil Gaiman fantasy drama American Gods arrive, along with the first three episodes of new comic book animated series Invincible, adapted from the books by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman.

Movies-wise, there’s the sequel to John Landis’ 1988 comedy Coming To America, which follows the story of Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem as he’s drawn back to the US ahead of taking on Zamunda’s throne. Also, in his most anticipated role since he put on a beanie for those Kia car ads, Robert de Niro plays a granddad fighting with his young grandson over the use of a bedroom in The War With Grandpa.

Also – tennis, and a collection of existing movies including the very good Call Me By Your Name, which lands on the 26th. We’ll update this guide as new release...

Netflix has debuted a new trailer for the relationship drama ‘The One’.

Based on a book by John Marrs, the eight-episode series is set ‘five minutes in the future’, in a world where a DNA test can find your perfect partner – the one person you’re genetically predisposed to fall passionately in love with. No matter how good your relationship, which one of us can honestly say we haven’t thought about whether there is someone better out there? What if a hair sample is all it takes to find them? The idea is simple, but the implications are explosive. We will never think of love and relationships in the same way again.

Created by Howard Overman (Misfits), the series stars Hannah Ware, Dimitri Leonidas, Amir El-Masry, Stephen Campbell Moore, Wilf Scolding, Diarmaid Murtagh, Lois Chimimba, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Pallavi Sharda, Zoë Tapper and Gregg Chillin.

Also in trailers – Liam Neeson...

Netflix have gone all ‘High School Musical’ in the newly released trailer for their next teen rom-com ‘A Week Away’.

Troubled teen Will Hawkins (Kevin Quinn) has a run-in with the law that puts him at an important crossroad: go to juvenile detention or attend a Christian summer camp. At first a fish-out-of-water, Will opens his heart, discovers love with a camp regular (Bailee Madison), and a sense of belonging in the last place he expected to find it.

Directed by Roman White, the film stars Kevin Quinn, Bailee Madison, Jahbril Cook, Kat Conner Sterling, Iain Tucker.

Also in trailers – Liam Neeson goes gaga over a house in trailer for ‘Made In Italy’

The film hits Netflix March 26th. Trailer time.

The post It’s an all singing and dancing affair in trailer for ‘A Week Away’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Lionsgate has released a new trailer for the Liam Neeson led ‘Made in Italy’ which will premiere on Amazon Prime.

Set in Tuscany, about bohemian London artist Robert (Liam Neeson) who returns to Italy with his estranged son Jack (Micheál Richardson) to make a quick sale of the house they inherited from his late wife. Neither expects to find the once beautiful villa in such a state of disrepair…

Renovations go badly, and father and son find themselves at odds –not for the first time. Robert’s comical lack of DIY experience leads him to seek help from some colourful locals, but for Jack, the state of the house seems to mirror his search for memories of happier times with his mother. Then Jack falls for Natalia, a vivacious young Italian chef, who restores both body and soul with delights from her local trattoria -until the pair find their developing...

Italy’s Cam Film and Fremantle’s The Apartment have teamed up to acquire rights to bestselling Italian author Carlo Rovelli’s “Helgoland,” an origin story about quantum physics, with plans to turn the book into a high-end TV series.

A bestseller in Italy, “Helgoland” will soon be published in the U.K. and elsewhere around world. It’s the story of quantum physics, the theory that has given rise to modern technology — the computer chip, for one — and atomic energy, but also to philosophical considerations and a new understanding of how just about everything works.

Rovelli’s previous books, “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics,” “Reality Is Not What it Seems” and “The Order of Time” are all international bestsellers, translated into 41 languages. He is a theoretical physicist who has worked in Italy and the U.S.

“In June 1925, 23-year-old Werner Heisenberg, suffering from hay fever, retreated to a treeless,...

The first week of December saw a lot of people watching holiday films at home. Makes sense; ’tis the season, even in this dreadful year. There’s also little in the way of new titles as competition — and the one major film to debut, timed to the awards season, failed to gain traction.

“Mank,” David Fincher’s Netflix biopic of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, is considered a leading Oscar contender but debuted to very little initial response. Available on Friday, it showed up at #10 Saturday (the first day it could chart), and has not reappeared since. The black-and-white film starring Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried didn’t gain the attention of other high-profile originals like “Da 5 Bloods,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Hillbilly Elegy,” all of which debuted at first or second. Bumping “Mank” from 10th place was the 2000 Adam Sandler comedy “Little Nicky.”

On the four VOD charts we track,...

Exclusive: IFC Midnight has acquired the North American distribution rights A Banquet. The indie horror hails from first-time feature director Ruth Paxton and is set to be released sometime next year.

Starring Sienna Guillory (Resident Evil film series), Jessica Alexander (Get Even), Ruby Stokes (Rocks), and, Lindsay Duncan (Made in Italy), the pic follows a widowed mother Holly (Guillory) who is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey (Alexander) experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith, Betsey refuses to eat but loses no weight. Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs.

Leonora Darby, Mark Lane, and James Harris of Tea Shop Productions (47 Meters Down) produced the pic with Nik Bower for Riverstone Pictures (At Eternity’s Gate) and Laure Vaysse (Billie) for Rep Productions 8, which also funded the production.

‘The Furnace.’

Most independent Australian distributors are doing it tough, forced to postpone releases while the exhibition business languishes with Victorian cinemas closed and seating capacity restricted in the rest of the country.

They fear the Federal Government’s media reforms, which will lower the Producer Offset for films to 30 per cent and double the minimum qualifying Australian production expenditure (Qape) threshold for features to $1 million, will lead to fewer narrative features and feature documentaries.

Another concern is that removing the obligation to release films in cinemas will further deplete the number of titles available to distributors next year.

However most are confident the cinema business will rebound from Boxing Day onwards with the launches of Warner Bros’ Wonder Woman 1984, Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age and Sony’s Peter Rabbit 2, and that 2021 will be a strong year.

“Business is not what it used to be...

‘The Furnace.’

Most independent Australian distributors are doing it tough, forced to postpone releases while the exhibition business languishes with Victorian cinemas closed and seating capacity restricted in the rest of the country.

They fear the Federal Government’s media reforms, which will lower the Producer Offset for films to 30 per cent and double the minimum qualifying Australian production expenditure (Qape) threshold for features to $1 million, will lead to fewer narrative features and feature documentaries.

Another concern is that removing the obligation to release films in cinemas will further deplete the number of titles available to distributors next year.

However most are confident the cinema business will rebound from Boxing Day onwards with the launches of Warner Bros’ Wonder Woman 1984, Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age and Sony’s Peter Rabbit 2, and that 2021 will be a strong year.

“Business is not what it used to be...

While the pandemic left major studios scrambling to reschedule entire film slates, a handful of indie distributors have found playtime on drive-in screens normally reserved for blockbuster films. IFC Films, Saban Films and Rlje Entertainment have thrived during the pandemic. IFC, for example, monetized the release of “The Rental” by offering drive-in screenings, as well as video on demand (VOD), which resulted in $420,871 in box office over its opening weekend, while also becoming the top-rented film on Apple TV and iTunes. It became the second film to ever top VOD charts and the box office in the same weekend, joining “Trolls World Tour.” “Along with our drive-in releases, we were able to rather quickly reconfigure our marketing to a more targeted strategy for digital audiences,” Arianna Bocco, EVP of Acquisitions for IFC, said. “Even though we didn’t get the usual theatrical exposure that we expected, we were able to...

“Mulan” (Disney) likely had the greatest revenues of any feature films available in homes this weekend. At $29.99, five times or more costly than alternatives and only in its second week of availability, the big-budget remake more than ever needs PVOD to bolster its chances to recoup its cost. With disappointing initial theatrical results in China ($23 million for its initial weekend), one of the countries where it is not streaming, Disney+ interest becomes even more important.

Perhaps the Chinese fiasco could lead to Disney replicating what Universal did with “Trolls World Tour” after its second weekend of home sales. It was an earnings call (not due for several weeks now though), but that is the one time the studio has released specific numbers on one of its releases ($95 million to that point).

After a weekend where much of the media finally noticed that “Tenet” had its initial domestic gross success overstated...

The Premium VOD debut of United Artists’ “Bill & Ted Face the Music” topped charts from the moment it debuted August 28. As a mid-budget title that’s thriving at $19.99, it could be as important as “Tenet” in determining the shape of movie distribution. “Bill & Ted” didn’t see much theatrical play, but given its day-and-date debut it also didn’t have the option. About 1,000 independent theaters did play the title, where by our estimate it grossed around $1.1 million, or around $1,000 per theater.

That’s not a lot, but it’s better than Searchlight’s theater-only flop “The Personal History of David Copperfield.” Based on those two performances, UA made the right move: Searchlight devoted marketing spend to a disappointheatrical release that now must wait until November before it can play VOD.

“Bill & Ted” was first on all three possible charts. “Fatima” (Picturehouse), the other new PVOD entry, appeared on two.

‘Tenet.’

The prolonged Australian box office drought has broken thanks to Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, which proves audiences are willing and able to return to cinemas.

The international spy thriller starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh scored almost $2.5 million last weekend on a mammoth 760 screens after making $1.5 million in paid previews the previous weekend.

So the $4 million launch is a commendable result for the first major Hollywood release since the pandemic flared in March, particularly given the limited seating and the Victorian shutdown, a market which typically generates 26 per cent of nationwide takings.

Warner Bros’ high stakes gamble in releasing Tenet on nearly 20,000 screens in 41 overseas markets including Canada has paid off, with a weekend haul of $US53.6 million.

The studio said the thriller captured in US dollars $7 million in the UK, commanding 74 per cent of the market, $6.8 million in France (a 68 per...

Michéal Richarson and his father, Liam Neeson, have been through a lot as father and son, especially when it came to grieving the loss of Richarson’s mother, Natasha Richardson. It’s the kind of pain that stays with a family forever, and when Richardson and his father worked together on a new movie, Made in Italy, [...]

The post ‘Made In Italy’ Was A Healing Experience for Michéal Richardson and Liam Neeson appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

On a weekend with some semblance of indoor theatrical moviegoing, the VOD and streaming charts hit maximum inconsistency. Among our four top-10 VOD rankings: Four different titles placed #1 and 25 movies occupied 40 total positions. Only “The Tax Collector” (#1 FandangoNow) and “The Silencing” (#1 AppleTV) made all four lists.

The other two #1 positions were taken by 2013 Jason Statham-starrer “Homefront” (Google Play), likely boosted by its bargain $3.99 price. At Spectrum, “The Deep Blue Sea 3” took the top spot as it moved off premium pricing.

Among the titles that debuted last Friday, “The Vanished,” directed by actor Peter Facinelli and starring Thomas Jane and Anne Heche as parents searching for their daughter, scored best. It was in second or third place at three sites (Spectrum ends its chart before Friday releases). The higher-profile “Tesla” from Michael Almereyda starring Ethan Hawke debuted at #2 at Apple TV, a platform that often presages later success at other sites.

Canada and the U.S. are in different worlds when it comes to Covid-19. The northern neighbor is good to go for most theaters (with safety measures in play). And with that, the country went its own way this weekend with two wide releases.

“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” took top spot for all theaters in both countries, grossing around $910,000 in 300 theaters. The Russell Crowe-starring thriller “Unhinged” was #2 with about $580,000 on 284 screens. “Peninsula,” the Korean “Train to Busan” sequel, made $119,000 in 45 theaters. This opens in 115 U.S. theaters this Friday.

In 2015, “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water” opened to $55 million ion North America, and Canada generally earns about 10 percent of the two-country total. If the new SpongeBob” opened in North America in a world without Covid, we might factor in a falloff of interest in the franchise over five years; a reasonable guess might be a...

‘Made in Italy.’

Madman Entertainment’s father-and-son comedy Made in Italy and Icon’s Mel Gibson starrer Force of Nature launched reasonably well last weekend but neither could match the market leader, Studiocanal’s Unhinged in its third frame.

Nonetheless exhibitors were encouraged by the uptick in ticket sales as proof that people are returning to cinemas in the lead-up to Warner Bros’ Tenet, which will have paid previews next weekend before the August 27 debut.

The re-issue of Disney’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope also juiced takings, as Numero reported the top 20 titles collared $2.3 million, up 10 per cent on the prior frame.

Magnum Films’ South Korean action horror film Peninsula and Rialto’s French import La Belle Époque had respectable debuts.

Director Derrick Borte’s road rage thriller Unhinged, which stars Russell Crowe and Caren Pistorius, rang up $452,000 on 198 screens, hoisting the total to $2.3 million.

George Lucas...

Made in Italy features real-life father/son team Liam Neeson and Michéal Richardson starring in the film as a father and son. While Richardon told us he enjoyed delving into the exploration of their father/son dynamic on the screen, Neeson said that, in some ways, it actually made the film easier to shoot because of their hardwired [...]

The post Shooting With His Own Son Helped Liam Neeson With ‘Made In Italy’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

“The Tax Collector” and “The Secret Garden” both showed strong VOD debuts Friday while taking different routes to success. Set among rival Los Angeles gangs, David Ayers’ “The Tax Collector” stars Shia Labeouf and placed #1 at Apple TV and FandangoNow, and #5 at Amazon (Spectrum’s charting period ended before it was available.) “The Secret Garden,” the fourth adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic story of an orphan girl who finds escape in a magical garden, took the top spot at Amazon and fourth at FandangoNow.

With a non-premium price of $6.99, “The Tax Collector,” distributor Rlje self-reports that it has first weekend rentals over $2 million and played at 129 theaters (mainly drive-ins), where it grossed $309,964. That’s first place among new releases; according to incomplete grosses on Comscore, “The Empire Strikes Back” was #1 overall. But Comscore doesn’t show 34 of the theaters that played “The Tax Collector.” We also don’t...

“The Tax Collector,” an action film directed by David Ayer and starring Shia Labeouf, generated $317,000 at the box office when it debuted in 129 theaters in the United States.

The movie, from Rlje Films, brought in $2,457 from each location — a mix of drive-in venues and traditional theaters. At the Vineland Drive-In in Los Angeles, “The Tax Collector” notched the highest single-day grosses since the theater reopened.

Next weekend, the film will expand to more drive-ins and brick-and-mortar theaters that have reopened. There are currently 1,195 movie theater locations open in North America, and of those, 229 are drive-ins.

On premium video-on-demand services, “The Tax Collector” ranked among the top purchases on many platforms, including Google, iTunes, Amazon and FandangoNow, with reports that it pulled in around $1 million in VOD sales.

In the film, Labeouf and Bobby Soto play two gang enforcers named Creeper and David who work for a crime lord. The “tax...

The new film Made in Italy us about a man and his son who work together to restore a house they’ve inherited in the Italian city of Tuscany. In a bit of inspired casting, the stars are Liam Neeson and his real-life son, Michéal Richardson. It’s actually the second time they’ve appeared in a movie [...]

The post Michéal Richardson And Liam Neeson Team Up For A Father-Son Relationship ‘Made In Italy’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

While the Hollywood studios continue to keep their tentpoles locked up till most American cinemas reopen, indie distributors are releasing a handful of smaller movies with big stars in supporting roles this week.

Can’t wait to see Robert Pattinson in “Tenet”? Well, you can always catch him in the festival-anointed imperialist critique “Waiting for the Barbarians.” While the release date for “Dune” remains in question, Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård leads the well-reviewed Scandinavian drama “Out Stealing Horses,” about a widower’s return to the country. And before Liam Neeson returns to action-hero mode with “Honest Thief,” you can watch him playing opposite real-life son Micheál Richardson in “Made in Italy.”

Ok, those pairings probably aren’t for the same potential audiences at all, but it’s still nice to see versatile actors’ more serious work finding its way to streaming. And not all the week’s movies are minor.

As most theatres around the world still remain closed, folks are hungry for any new content they can get their hands on and have turned to streaming and on demand to fulfill their needs. Thankfully, both platforms have really been stepping up and with the latter, in particular, this weekend brings a lot to get excited about.

For one thing, several big stars have new movies debuting digitally today, while a number of more under the radar films are also making their premieres on demand. In total, you’ve got a whopping total of 25 new titles available to rent/buy as of today, Friday, August 7th, and below, you can see the full list of options.

To Buy:

Weathering With You

The Tax Collector

Love Under the Rainbow

Lucky Grandma

Fantastic Fungi

She Dies Tomorrow

Waiting For the Barbarians

Spinster

To Rent:

Around the Sun

Alice

Star Light

The Stand:...

“Made in Italy,” a drama about the importance of family, isn’t one of the worst movies of the year, but it has to be the most disappointing. Starring Liam Neeson and his son, Micheal Richardson, it’s based partly on the two reeling from the loss of Natasha Richardson (who died in a skiing accident in 2009), and partly on director James D’Arcy’s experience losing his father at an early age.

Continue reading ‘Made In Italy’: Liam Neeson’s Father-Son Drama Gets Lost In Rom-Com Schmaltz [Review] at The Playlist.

To call Made in Italy a comedy (as it has been billed) is misleading as it is essentially a story of loss and the coming to terms with and ultimately overcoming that loss. Yet, while there are some lighthearted elements to the film, the dramatic core of the film is what gives it the heft and resonance that makes it an above average tale of a father and son reconnecting through the oddest of circumstances.

Jack (Michael Richardson) is the estranged son of once prolific and renowned artist Robert (Liam Neeson). But, when Jack finds himself in need of funds to purchase the art gallery that he currently runs he must reconnect with his father to repair and sell the family’s Italian villa which is now only an echo of its former glory following the death of Robert’s wife and Jack’s mother. Ultimately though, the house – and...

There’s a melancholic and very real-life current to the idea of Liam Neeson and his son Micheál Richardson starring as an estranged father and son grappling with the long-ago death of their wife and mother in actor-turned-writer/director James D’Arcy’s earnest melodrama “Made in Italy.” Richardson is the son of Neeson’s late wife Natasha Richardson, who died terribly and too soon after a skiing accident in 2009. “Made in Italy” recasts this off-screen tragedy as a sort of backdrop to frame a tearjerker about the mending of multigenerational wounds.

Unfortunately, . Even the shimmering Italian countryside can’t rescue “Made in Italy” from banality, and a pat premise that leaves no room for irreverence or the unexpected.

Jack (Richardson) is a floundering mid-20something, the recently divorced manager of an art gallery. It all seems like the makings of a cushy dream gig for a cash-strapped quarter-lifer, until his...

Early in “Made in Italy,” a cringingly syrupy tale of overdue bonding between an estranged father and his only offspring, someone describes Liam Neeson’s character as “a selfish prick.” Thus we learn, even before Neeson has made his entrance, that the Irish star will be playing the polar opposite of the all-caring and ultra-capable dad of his hit “Taken” franchise. Then again, no one would mistake firsttime writer-director James D’Arcy’s cliché-filled family melodrama as an extension of Neeson’s late-career reinvention as a badass action hero.

“Made in Italy” marks a return to earlier, mellower roles for Neeson, who plays Robert, a former toast-of-the-town, now-struggling London artist leading a carefree lifestyle. The actor makes his entrance looking unkempt, in urgent need of a shower and trim, barely able to remember his one-night-stand’s name. Was it Jennifer or Jessica? D’Arcy’s script offers a generic backstory as...

There’s almost always something really interesting to hear about when an actor makes their directorial debut, and especially when they’ve written the project as well. This was, unsurprisingly, no exception a few days ago when I was able to hop on the phone to chat for a few minutes with actor and now writer/director James D’Arcy, whose film Made in Italy is being released this weekend. You’ve likely already seen my positive review here on the site, and now you can listen to D’Arcy talk about what inspired him to make the flick, how he landed his leading man, and much more. Below you can hear my conversation with James D’Arcy. You probably know him from his acting, but his filmmaking is now something to take note of as well. D’Arcy talks about why this project came to him, how he was lucky...

Ordinary Love, a romantic dramedy starring Liam Neeson alongside Lesley Manville, can be viewed on Hulu as of today, August 3rd. The film, produced by Bleecker Street, features not only Neeson’s most recent performance (though that will soon change once Made in Italy releases later this month), but also one of his most heartwarming. For these reasons and more, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Neeson’s career spans several decades and dozens upon dozens of movies. During that time, the actor has cemented himself as one of the most recognizable faces of contemporary cinema. His roles are as versatile as his acting skills, too, as while most know him as the guy who often plays badasses, he can also portray a simple family man without expert combat skills.

One renowned romcom in which Neeson played such a character is the 2003 ensemble film Love Actually. Many years later, he...

Tales of fathers and sons are nothing new to movies. It’s all in how you choose to tell this story. For some, it becomes a gritty drama. For others, it becomes a silly comedy. Often, a road trip is involved. Actor turned writer/director James D’Arcy manages to take a tiny bit of all of that, shake it up, and spit out something more than a bit heartwarming with Made in Italy, a mix of comedy and drama that features a winning performance from Liam Neeson. Hitting screens this week, it’ll put a smile on your face and almost assuredly make you long for a trip to Italy (though I’d settle for a trip anywhere these days. Literally anywhere). The film is a dramedy (of sorts), with the focus being on a strained father and son relationship. The latter is Jack (Micheál Richardson), who is seeking to...

Made In Italy IFC Films Reviewed for Shockya.com & BigAppleReviews.net linked from Rotten Tomatoes by: Harvey Karten Director: James D’Arcy Screenwriter: James D’Arcy Cast: Liam Neeson, Micheál Richardson, Lindsay Duncan, Valeria Bilello Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, Opens: August 7, 2020 The most salient feature of “Made in Italy” is that the conflict between father […]

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Liam Neeson stars in Made In Italy as Robert, a London artist who comes back to Italy with his estranged son Jack (Liam’s son Micheál Richardson) to sell the house they inherited from his late wife. During their time renovating the villa, each of them start to develop a fondness for the area.

For Robert, he [...]

The post Liam Neeson And Micheál Richardson Strengthen Family Bond In ‘Made In Italy’ Trailer appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Best known around these parts for his roles in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Cloud Atlas, and Dunkirk, James D’Arcy has also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Homeland, Broadchurch, and more. The actor will now be stepping behind the camera for his first directorial effort, Made in Italy.

Starring Liam Neeson, the drama tells the story of a father who must return to Italy with his son in order to sell a house that belonged to his late wife. While there, Neeson’s character deals with a colorful variety of characters which include Lindsay Duncan as a tough realtor. Meanwhile, his son falls into a budding romance with a local chef. For an actor who has enjoyed a renaissance in action filmmaking these last few years, it looks like Neeson is charting a bit of a different path with this drama and Ordinary Love from earlier this year.

Liam Neeson and Micheál Richardson are teaming up for a heartfelt tale about the importance of family in “Made in Italy,” which is set to premiere in theaters and VOD platforms August 7. The trailer for the upcoming film dropped on Tuesday and promises an uplifting story for summer moviegoers looking for a bit of escapism.

Here’s the film’s synopsis: “Made in Italy” is a heart-warming father-son story set in glorious Tuscany about bohemian London artist Robert (Neeson), who returns to Italy with his estranged son Jack (Richardson) to make a quick sale of the house they inherited from his late wife. Neither expects to find the once beautiful villa in such a state of disrepair. Renovations go badly, with father and son soon finding themselves at odds.”

Neeson and Richardson star in the film alongside Lindsay Duncan and Valeria Bilello. Duncan plays an ex-pat making her living selling villas,...

Considering how Covid-19 has shaken Italy’s tourism industry, the upcoming film “Made in Italy” might be the solution. Following a father and son, as they repair an old house in Tuscany, this film looks to be full of beautiful shots of the Italian countryside.

Read More: 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2020

Described as a “heart-warming father-son story set in glorious Tuscany”, the movie stars Liam Neeson as bohemian London artist Robert.

Continue reading ‘Made in Italy’ Trailer: Liam Neeson Stars In A Heart-Warming Father-Son Drama With His Real-Life Son at The Playlist.

Exclusive: Verve is becoming a full-service agency with the launch of a talent team, which will be led by top TV talent agent Sean Grumman. He is leaving WME, where he was a partner in the talent department, to join Verve where he will become the agency’s 8th partner. WME and CAA alum Grumman will bring in other talent agents to build the Verve talent team.

This marks another step in the evolution of Verve, which was launched 10 years ago by WME motion picture lit agents Bill Weinstein, Bryan Besser and Adam Levine. The agency soon expanded into TV lit, and over the last few years also built up an alternative TV operation.

“As the agency continues to grow, we are excited to add Sean’s impeccable taste and client-first approach to both the Verve culture and Verve clients with the launch of our talent team,” the Verve partners said in a joint statement.