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Celsius Entertainment has picked up world sales rights (excluding Switzerland) on Butterfly Stroke, directed by Denis Rabaglia and starring Judy Davis and Florence Hunt.

The film goes into production on July 28.

Also starring are Caroline Peters and Malaya Stern Takeda. The film follows Ruth (Davis), an eccentric, determined woman who wants control over everything. Even death. She heads to Zurich for an orderly, legal exit. Her estranged granddaughter, Lori (Hunt), gatecrashes and won’t leave without her. Their reunion is transformative and loving.

The full synopsis reads: Butterfly Stroke centres on Ruth (Davis), a British swimming champion, and a woman who wants control over every aspect of her life – including its end. Diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, she sets out on a final journey to Switzerland, where assisted dying is legal. She calls her estranged granddaughter, Lori (Hunt), to inform her of the plan and the inheritance she’ll soon receive.

For the first time since her acclaimed Netflix series Ozarkconcluded, Laura Linney is returning to TV. The four-time Emmy winner will star opposite Kevin Kline in the new comedy series American Classic. The MGM+ series will begin production in New Jersey this summer.

Kline will star in the series as Richard Bean, a temperamental and egotistical Broadway legend who has a public meltdown and retreats to his hometown, Millersburg, where his family ran a well-regarded theater. Once he gets back, however, he finds that the once-respected playhouse has fallen on hard times, and is now running low-rent dinner theater. His brother Jon runs the theater with his wife, Kristen (Linney), who is also the small town's mayor. Richard has a complicated history with Kristen: decades ago, they were in love, and tried to achieve Broadway stardom together. However, she tired of his selfishness and retreated back to Millersburg, where she...

Ahead of the Oscar nominations being unveiled, USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Adobe Foundation have released a new edition of their Inclusion List, with a focus on movies.

The top-scoring movies for supporting gender inclusion on screen and behind the cameras were A Thousand and One, You Hurt My Feelings, The Marvels, Priscilla and Barbie. For race and ethnicity, the top-scoring movies were Joy Ride, A Thousand and One, The Color Purple, House Party and The Blackening.

In an earlier Inclusions List, 476 theatrically released movies from 2019 to 2023 were analyzed, with on screen and behind-the-camera data used to determine the 150 most inclusive films in that four-year period. The latest Inclusion List builds on that ranking with a new set of films from 2023.

“Our goal with the Inclusion List is to celebrate those who are showcasing and working with exceptional talent from all backgrounds. In the second year of its release,...

Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” was a poster child for the power of inclusion when it broke box office records in 2023, but the $1.45 billion-grossing movie is only the 119th most inclusive film made in the past five years, according to the Inclusion List.

The annual list — presented by Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, in collaboration with the Adobe Foundation — is a data-driven ranking that identified the 150 most inclusive films from 2019 to 2023 and ranks a single year’s films across gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+, disability and age representation.

“Our goal with the Inclusion List is to celebrate those who are showcasing and working with exceptional talent from all backgrounds,” stated Dr. Smith in a press release announcing the researchers’ findings. “In the second year of its release, the newest iteration of the Inclusion List spotlights films, filmmakers, and distributors who clearly demonstrate that inclusion...

The second iteration of The Inclusion List from Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative has identified the 150 most inclusive films from 2019 to 2023, adding to its initial class of 100 films by naming 50 new titles for the year 2023.

Four films from that year have made it into the Top 10 Most Inclusive Films for that timespan, according to the study released Wednesday, with A Thousand and One taking the No. 2 spot overall, Bottoms coming in seventh, The Color Purple ninth and The Blackening in 10th.

The list’s point system took into account talent both in front of and behind the camera, with a total of 20 points broken down into 10-point halves for both on-screen and off-screen inclusion. Two distinct processes were used, one for leads/co-leads and the other for all speaking characters. A film could earn up to 10 points for on-screen inclusion based on the five inclusion indicators across leads/co leads (up to 5 points) and all speaking characters (up to 5 points).

A Thousand and One ranks second with a score of 13.6/20, while Bottoms scores a 12.2/20. The Color Purple and The Blackening are tied with a score of 11.8/20. The highest scoring film on the list remains Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Woman King (2022) with a 15/20.

The list also evaluated 2023 films displaying the best inclusivity across five categories: gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+, disability, and age. It named five of the most inclusive 2023 films within each of those categories.

The 2023 films that scored the highest for the gender indicator of inclusion were A Thousand and One, You Hurt My Feelings, The Marvels, Priscilla and Barbie. A Thousand and One also scored high on the race/ethnicity list alongside 2023’s Joy Ride, The Color Purple, The Blackening and House Party. In the LGBTQ+ category, the top five films of 2023 were All of Us Strangers, Theater Camp, Bottoms, Knock at the Cabin and Saltburn. 2023 releases ranking high in the disability category included What Happens Later, John Wick: Chapter 4, Moving On, Golda and The Holdovers. Films from 2023 that scored highest in their representation of age on the big screen were Moving On, Book Club: The Next Chapter, Marlowe, The Miracle Club and Golda.

Researchers also took into consideration the race and ethnicity of crew members in the roles of director, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor, composer, production designer, costume designer, casting director and assistant director.

The second Inclusion List also names 25 top achievers across inclusion metrics and 50 new winners for 2023 cinema. Released Jan. 22, the results calls attention to directors, editors and distributors involved in projects with the highest percentage of women and people of color employees who aided in the process of production from start to finish line.

Related: Women-Led Films Fell Close To 30% In 2023, Near A 10-Year Low, Per Study

Out of 400 evaluated directors, five were named the most inclusive: Catherine Hardwicke, Olivia Wilde, Destin Daniel Cretton, Reinaldo Marcus Green and Kasi Lemmons.

Eight editors were noted for their work in film over the past five years, including Annette Davey, Anne McCabe, Blair McClendon, Catrin Hedström, Hilda Rasula, Harry Yoon, Mary Jo Markey.

Related: Hispanics & Latinos Still Invisible In Hollywood, A Trend Across 16 Years, New Study Reveals

The top distributors — companies responsible for bringing top-ranking diverse films to audiences — were listed by the quantity of how many films released: Universal (29), Sony Pictures (21), Warner Bros (18) and, for smaller distributors, A24 (14), MGM (10) and Bleecker Street (9).

A panel discussing the results featuring Smith, Sumi Parekh, Executive Director, Group Effort Initiative, Tracy Oliver, Screenwriter, Director, Producer and Showrunner, Jesse Williams, Actor, Director, Activist, Dewayne Perkins, Writer, Actor, Producer, and Amy White, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Adobe, is set for Friday at Adobe House on the ground at the Sundance Film Festival.

Maggie Smith’s legendary status in film and theater is undisputed, and for Daniel Radcliffe, their first meeting left quite the impression. As a child actor, Radcliffe’s early encounters with veteran stars were often a blend of awe and nerves, but his introduction to Dame Maggie Smith was especially memorable.

Maggie Smith in the Harry Potter franchise | Credits: Warner Bros.

Smith’s sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude turned what could have been an intimidating first exchange into a charming and humorous moment, one that Radcliffe would never forget. Their unique connection, formed during the early stages of Radcliffe’s career, paved the way for an extraordinary professional relationship that would span over a decade, deeply influencing the young actor.

The Nearly Awkward First Meeting Between Daniel Radcliffe and Maggie Smith Maggie Smith in The Miracle Club | image: Embankment Films

In 1999, nine-year-old Daniel Radcliffe was gearing up for his very...

Following the recent passing of Maggie Smith on September 27, the world reflects on the rich legacy she leaves behind—a legacy that will forever be cherished in the hearts of her fans and colleagues. Although the legendary English actress was famously known for her role in the Harry Potter films and Downton Abby, it’s her final film The Miracle Club, released in 2023, that caught our attention.

Maggie Smith in The Miracle Club (2023) | image: Embankment Films

Serving as a beautiful tribute to her remarkable talent and the themes of friendship and love that permeate the narrative, The Miracle Club was apparently in development for nearly two decades. Embodying the relentless spirit of producers, Joshua D. Maurer and Alixandre Witlin, who navigated countless challenges to bring this heartfelt story to life, Maggie Smith’s last movie became a testament to perseverance.

The 18 Year Long Journey of Maggie Smith’s The Miracle Club...

Dame Maggie Smith has left behind a remarkable career with her passing on September 27, 2024, at the age of 89. Known for her versatility and sharp wit, she has appeared in over 70 stage plays and 60 films and television series, including her most famous roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series and Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey. Maggie Smith has also seen critical acclaim throughout her career, earning two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and one Tony Award.

Since her passing, there has already been an absence felt by long-time fans of the actor. While fans can still enjoy The Queen of Sass in the Downton Abbey series on Netflix, Maggie Smith has also appeared in three movies you can watch on the platform.

The Miracle Club (2023)

Lionsgate UK

Set in 1967 Dublin, The Miracle Club follows the adventures...

Acting legend Dame Maggie Smith, known for her iconic performances of resilient, determined women, has died at 89.

Smith was born on December 28, 1934, in Essex, England. Her cause of death has not been revealed. Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, shared the news on Friday.

The statement stated, “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

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“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days. We thank you for all your kind messages and...

“She always looks so extreme,” a fellow teacher observes of Maggie Smith’s trademark rigidity in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” (1969), putting her finger on the straight-backed, nose-high hauteur audiences enjoyed for more than half a century.

A shrill and tragically short-sighted instructor at a school full of impressionable-aged girls, Jean Brodie proved to be the defining credit of the English stage legend’s screen career, to the extent that her strict-but-caring Harry Potter character, deputy headmistress Minerva McGonagall, could be the selfsame martinet, curdled by several more decades of disappointment. (Kids who grew up on the J.K. Rowling adaptations will surely appreciate “Prime” once they’re older.)

That’s not to say she was never better. In fact, Smith, who died Friday, never gave a bad performance, and just as fine wines improve with age, that also goes for the legendary actor’s biting brand of vinegar, which...

It would be nice to go through a rundown of Dame Maggie Smiths accomplishments on the silver screen under happier circumstances, but she has regrettably passed away at the age of 89. The British actress has left behind quite a legacy though, as her earliest roles on stage date back to the 1950s. Prominent film roles started coming her way by the mid to late 1960s, and she remained active until 2023, with that year seeing the release of her final movie, The Miracle Club.

Beloved actor Maggie Smith has died at the age of 89, it has been confirmed. The news was announced by her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin in a statement. “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” it reads. “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

Smith’s career spanned several decades, across both stage and screen – she began her theatre career in the early 1950s, while her screen career began in earnest with 1958’s Nowhere To Go. Her cinematic breakout role came in the 1965 adaptation of Othello, in which she played Desdemona – and was nominated for an Oscar. The film also starred Michael Gambon...

Maggie Smith, the Oscar-winning British actress who starred in Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter series, has died at the age of 89.

Smith’s sons announced her death Friday morning in a statement. No cause of death was revealed, but the actress was at a British hospital at the time of her death.

“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin said in the statement to Rolling Stone. “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning,...

Dame Maggie Smith has passed away. Smith was an actress who had a prolific career in film and television. She was born in the United Kingdom in 1934 and began her career with in acting in the 1950s, when she was in her early 20s. She continued working throughout the majority of her life, with her most recent role being The Miracle Club in 2023, wherein she played Lily Fox.

As per BBC, Smith has sadly passed away. She was 89 years old.

It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the...

Dame Maggie Smith, the legendary British actor known for roles in A Room With A View, Downton Abbey, the Harry Potter franchise and more, has died. Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin confirmed the news to the BBC. She was 89 years old.

"It is with great sadness we have...

Cillian Murphy obtained one of acting’s most coveted achievements when he won an Oscar for his leading role in “Oppenheimer.” But his award season run for the acclaimed Christopher Nolan film didn’t end with his big night at the Dolby Theater. The Irish actor went on to receive his home country’s highest acting honor on Sunday at the Irish Film and TV Academy Awards when he won the Lead Actor — Film category for “Oppenheimer.”

The ceremony honored the best Irish film and television of 2023, with Pat Collins’ “That They May Face the Rising Sun” winning Best Film. Other notable winners included Paul Mescal taking Supporting Actor for “All of Us Strangers” and Alison Oliver winning Supporting Actress for “Saltburn.”

Keep reading for a complete list of winners from the 2024 Irish Film and TV Academy Awards.

Best Film

“Double Blind”

“Flora and Son”

“Lies We Tell”

“Lola”

“That They May Face the Rising Sun...

The 21st Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards, which highlight Irish filmmakers, television creators and performers, saw Pat Collins’ That They May Face The Rising Sun win Best Film in an upset. Despite earning a second-best 11 nominations, the top award was its only win.

Lies We Tell all with three wins: for Director Lisa Mulcahy, Lead Actress Agnes O’Casey, and Best Script. It came in with 13nominations.

Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy repeated his Best Actor win at the Academy Awards for Oppenheimer with a win for Lead Actor. In the supporting categories, Paul Mescal won for All of Us Strangers and Alison Oliver topped all for Saltburn.

Oppenheimer was named Best International Film, Emma Stone was Best Actress, and Paul Giamatti won International Actor for The Holdovers.

In the television drama categories, Kin was the winner for series, directing, script, lead actress Clare Dune, and supporting actress Maria Doyle Kennedy.

Filmmaker...

The Miracle Club, starring Kathy Bates and Maggie Smith, is based on writer Jimmy Smallhorne's Irish upbringing in a quaint town. Smallhorne's passion project took 20 years to come to life, featuring an ensemble cast in a nostalgic 1960s Europe setting. While the characters are fictional, The Miracle Club pays homage to the resilient working-class Irish women of Smallhorne's youth.

Released in July 2023, The Miracle Club is a delightful Irish dramedy that stars Oscar-winners Kathy Bates and Dame Maggie Smith. Directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan, the story concerns a group of blue-collar women from Ballygar who embark on a journey from Dublin to Lourdes, France in 1967 to witness the enchanting market town known for its religious miracles. Along with Elieen (Smith) and Lily (Bates), the women are joined by Chrissie (Laura Linney) and Dolly (Agnes O'Casey) on a pilgrimage of enlightenment.

With The Miracle Club recently added to Netflix, more people...

Oscar winner Julianne Moore (Still Alice) and Nicholas Galitzine lead the cast of Starz’s new period drama Mary & George. Episode one, “The Second Son,” premieres on April 5, 2024 at 9pm Et/Pt and finds Moore as Mary Villiers plotting how to improve her family’s standing.

The cast also includes Tony Curran (Mayflies) as King James I, Nicola Walker (The Split) as Lady Hatton, Niamh Algar (The Wonder) as Sandie, Trine Dyrholm (The Legacy) as Queen Anne, and Sean Gilder (Slow Horses) as Sir Thomas Compton. Adrian Rawlins (Living) plays Sir Edward Coke, Mark O’Halloran (The Miracle Club) is Sir Francis Bacon, Laurie Davidson (Masters of the Air) is Earl of Somerset, Samuel Blenkin (The Witcher: Blood Origin) is Prince Charles, and Jacob McCarthy (Sas: Rogue Heroes) as Kit Villiers.

“The Second Son” Plot: Mary Villiers develops a cunning plan to transform her family’s fortunes forever, but first,...

Maggie Smith's 2023 drama film The Miracle Club shines on Netflix, hitting the U.S. Top 10 chart for the week of March 25-31, 2024. The movie's success could be attributed to its timeless themes of friendship and compassion, appealing to viewers. With stellar performances, the talented cast of The Miracle Club likely played a role as well.

Harry Potter star Maggie Smith's 2023 drama film The Miracle Club has had a strong Netflix debut. English actress Smith boasts a stellar filmography and won Oscars for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite. She has enjoyed a glittering career across seven decades and enjoyed fame with modern audiences when she played the role of Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series. In more recent years, Smith has appeared in several acclaimed independent productions, including The Lady in the Van and My Old Lady.

Now, according to Netflix, Smith's The Miracle Club...

What the movie-streaming public wants depends on which top 10 chart you prefer. This week offered little consistency and some outright contradictions.

One thing is clear: Jake Gyllenhaal’s straight-to-streaming “Road House” remake is a massive hit. Amazon Prime reported over 50 million worldwide viewers through its second streaming weekend and gateway app Reelgood reported it as the week’s #1 movie for March 21-27 in the U.S.

“The Accountant,” a 2016 Warner Bros. drama starring Ben Affleck, is currently #1 at Netflix. On Easter weekend “The Passion of the Christ” led VOD at iTunes, while the just-released $19.99 “Imaginary” (Lionsgate) topped Fandango’s revenue-calculated list. (It was #20 at iTunes.) For a second week, Google Play did not update its list.

“Ordinary Angels” (also Lionsgate) is #2 at Fandango, but #14 at iTunes. Since Fandango calculates by revenue, that list favors PVODs — but this week, six of its top 10 rented for $5.99 or less; “The Passion of the Christ,...

Fresh from his Academy Award win for best actor, “Oppenheimer” star Cillian Murphy now has a chance to claim the same honor at his local awards.

The Irish Film and TV Academy (IFTA) has unveiled the nominees for its 2024 awards, with Murphy going up against “Saltburn’s'” Barry Keoghan and “All of Us Strangers” star Andrew Scott in the best actor category. Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley (“Fingernails”) and Saoirse Ronan (“Foe”) are among those nominated for best actress, while Paul Mescal (“All of Us Strangers”) and Kenneth Branagh (“Oppenheimer”) are in the running for best supporting actor.

But it was actually Irish features leading the pack of nominees, with Lisa Mulcahy’s “Lies We Tell” landing 13, followed by “That They May Face the Rising Sun” and “Double Blind.”

The IFTAs ceremony will be take place on April 20 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre with Irish TV personality Baz Ashmawy on hosting duties.

Cillian Murphy, Andrew Scott and Saoirse Ronan are among the nominees at the 21st Irish Film and Television Awards.

Fresh off his Oscar win, Murphy (Oppenheimer) is nominated for lead actor along with Scott (All Of Us Strangers). They are joined by Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan, The Last Rifleman’s Pierce Brosnan, That They May Face They Rising Sun’s Barry Ward and David Wilmot from Lies We Tell, the film with the most IFTA nominations on 13.

Lisa Mulcahy’s period drama is also up for best film, lead actress, supporting actor, director, script and seven craft awards. It had...

Lies We Tell, with 13, That They May Face the Rising Sun and Double Blind, with 11 each, are leading the nominations for the movie portion of the Irish Film & Television Awards 2024.

Lies We Tell is about an orphaned teenage heiress in 19th-century Ireland who is forced to embrace the dark legacy of her family when she becomes the ward of an uncle determined to marry her off. Rising Sun is an adaptation of John McGahern’s novel of passion, war, and migration. Double Blind is a horror film about an experimental drug trial that goes horribly wrong. Andrew Legge’s Lola, a science fiction drama set in 1940, received seven noms on Thursday.

Among the lead acting nominees are such big names as Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Eve Hewson, and Jessie Buckley. The best supporting film actor category, meanwhile, includes Kenneth Branagh and Paul Mescal.

And...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2024 Oscars Predictions:

Best Original Score Killers of the Flower Moon Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone Credit: AppleTV+

Weekly Commentary: It’s Ludwig Göransson taking home another Oscar for “Oppenheimer,” following his first win for “Black Panther.”

Next.

Will Win: “Oppenheimer” (Ludwig Göransson)

Could Win: “Killers of the Flower Moon...

Northern Irish actor Stephen Rea will honoured with an Irish Academy Award for lifetime achievement at the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) awards on April 20.

The Belfast-born actor, who was Oscar- and Bafta-nominated in 1993 for The Crying Game, receives the award for his outstanding contribution to the Irish and international screen industry.

After rising to international prominence with The Crying Game, Rea went on to star in Interview With The Vampire, Michael Collins, V For Vendetta and TV series The Shadow Line and The Honourable Woman – the latter two of which earned him Bafta nominations.

He most recently appeared in...

Sky has unleashed the full official trailer for the limited event series, ‘Mary & George,’ starring Academy Award and BAFTA-winning actor Julianne Moore alongside Nicholas Galitzine.

is inspired by the outrageous true story of Mary Villiers, who moulded her beautiful and charismatic son, George, to seduce King James VI of Scotland and I of England (Tony Curran) and become his all-powerful lover.

Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become the richest, most titled and influential players the English court had ever seen, and the King’s most trusted advisors.

And with England’s place on the world stage under threat from a Spanish invasion and rioters taking to the streets to denounce the King, the stakes could not have been higher.

Prepared to stop at nothing and armed with her ruthless political steel, Mary married her way up the ranks, bribed politicians, colluded with criminals and...

321 films are in contention for this year’s Academy Awards, while 265 features are eligible in the best picture category, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday as it released its annual “reminder list” for members.

To be eligible in the general categories, films (meaning a runtime of more than 40 minutes) must open in a commercial theater in at least one of the following areas: Los Angeles County; the city of New York; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia, between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2023. Additionally, it must complete a minimum qualifying run of seven consecutive days in the same venue.

To be eligible for the best picture category specifically, the movies must be eligible for the general entry and have “submitted a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards entry form.” Additionally, the film must meet two of the four standards required, in addition to the theatrical component.

European TV powerhouses Zdf Studios and France TV Distribution are partnering as producers on Berlin-based Boogie Entertainment’s new crime drama “Blood Red Thread.”

Set in the “glamorous and cutthroat” world of fashion, the six-part series – also described as “stylish, witty and outrageous” – will expose various challenges the industry is facing, all the while following businessmen who rule the boardroom and clash with “divas of design,” both battling for power.

Filming will take place in the U.K., France and Germany, with delivery scheduled for August 2025.

“We set out to try and describe a fashion world that felt real, that explored what fashion does in society. It holds up a mirror to our vanities and insecurities, it reflects our need for reinvention, our hope to be desirable and current,” showrunner and lead writer Timothy Prager explained to Variety.

“We seem to instinctively accept the disconnect between façade and reality when...

Our Pmc sister website Variety is reporting that the motion picture academy has named 149 movies as eligible for Best Original Score at the 2024 Oscars. See the complete list below of every score currently on the ballot for the music branch. A total of 15 will be announced this Thursday, December 21, on the Oscar short list. A final five will be revealed on January 23 as the the actual nominees.

SEEOscars 2024: Which 94 tunes are eligible for Best Original Song?

Gold Derby has been offering you the opportunity to predict the Best Original Score category for the past few weeks. Among some of the surprise omissions: “Asteroid City,” “Flora and Son,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Wonka.” Each film used too much non-original music to remain qualified.

According to our most current Gold Derby odds with over 6,800 people predicting, here are the scores ranked in the top 10:

1. “Oppenheimer” – 71/20 odds

2. “Killers of the Flower Moon...

Sky and Starz have released a first-look teaser trailer for the spectacular and unapologetic limited event series, ‘Mary & George,’ starring Academy Award and BAFTA-winning actor Julianne Moore alongside Nicholas Galitzine.

is inspired by the outrageous true story of Mary Villiers, who moulded her beautiful and charismatic son, George, to seduce King James VI of Scotland and I of England (Tony Curran) and become his all-powerful lover.

Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become the richest, most titled and influential players the English court had ever seen, and the King’s most trusted advisors.

And with England’s place on the world stage under threat from a Spanish invasion and rioters taking to the streets to denounce the King, the stakes could not have been higher.

Prepared to stop at nothing and armed with her ruthless political steel, Mary married her way up the ranks, bribed politicians,...

Universal scores a one-two with ‘Freddy’s’ and ‘Trolls Band Together’.

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Oct 27-29) Total gross to date Week 1. Five Nights At Freddy’s (Universal) £3.2m £5.4m 1 2. Trolls Band Together (Universal) £2.5m £9m 2 3. Killers Of The Flower Moon (Paramount) £1.5m £5.6m 2 4. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Trafalgar) £1.2m £10.4m 3 5. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Paramount) £708,000 £6.1m 3

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.21

Blumhouse horror Five Nights At Freddy’s topped the UK-Ireland box office on its opening weekend, starting with £3.2m at a healthy £5,293 average.

Distributed by Universal, Five Nights At Freddy’s polled in 595 cinemas. Having opened on Wednesday,...

Universal scores a one-two with ‘Freddy’s’ and ‘Trolls Band Together’.

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Oct 27-29) Total gross to date Week 1. Five Nights At Freddy’s (Universal) £3.2m £5.4m 1 2. Trolls Band Together (Universal) £2.5m £9m 2 3. Killers Of The Flower Moon (Paramount) £1.5m £5.6m 2 4. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Trafalgar) £1.2m £10.4m 3 5. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Paramount) £708,000 £6.1m 3

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.21

Blumhouse horror Five Nights At Freddy’s topped the UK-Ireland box office on its opening weekend, starting with £3.2m at a healthy £5,293 average.

Distributed by Universal, the film polled in 595 cinemas. Having opened on Wednesday, October 25, it has £5.4m in total.

Spanish distributors will present their international titles to exhibitors, broadcasters and platforms st the Merci market.

Seminci, the Valladolid International Film Week, will host an expanded third edition of Spain’s Independent Film Market for the first time from October 25-27.

Known as Merci Valladolid, the market is jointly organised by Seminci and the Association of Independent Film Distributors (Adicine).

The market used to be held at the Seville European Film Festival, which was previously run by Seminici’s new director José Luis Cienfuegos.

Sixteen Spanish independent distributors will present their international titles to exhibitors, television networks and platforms at Merci Valladolid.

‘Leo’ will soon become the highest-grossing Tamil-language film of all time.

RankFilm (distributor)Three-day gross (Oct 20-22)Total gross to date Week 1. Trolls Band Together (Universal) £3m £3m 1 2. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Trafalgar) £2.358m £8.7m 2 3. Killers Of The Flower Moon (Paramount) £2.356m £2.5m 1 4. Leo (Ahimsa Entertainment) £1.2m £1.2m 1 5. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Paramount) £642,345 £5.4m 2

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.22

Universal’s Trolls Band Together sang its way to a number one at the UK-Ireland box office with a £3m opening weekend as Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon and Indian action thriller Leo scored strong openings.

United King Films has started shooting Yohanan Weller’s comedy My Private Telenovela as cinemas tentatively reopen.

Film production has tentatively resumed in Israel starting with Yohanan Weller’s feature comedy My Private Telenovela (working title) as select cinemas begin to open their doors following the deadly Hamas attack on October 7 and escalating war in the region.

The film is the first feature to begin production again in the country, delayed from an initial start date of October 8.

My Private Telenovela is produced by Moshe and Leon Edery’s United King Films and will be released by the company’s distribution arm in Israel.

Trafalgar Releasing’s concert film “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” was on song at the U.K. and Ireland box office, debuting at No. 1 with £5.7 million ($6.9 million), according to numbers from Comscore.

The film is now the territory’s highest grossing event cinema release, surpassing National Theatre Live’s filmed play “Prima Facie,” starring Jodie Comer, which collected £5.5 million in 2022. Swifties will now strive to take the film beyond the £9.8 million earnings of “Michael Jackson: This Is It” (2009) to make it the highest-grossing concert film in the U.K. and Ireland.

Tim Richards, founder and CEO of cinema chain Vue International, said: “We saw an incredible response from Swifties across the U.K. and Ireland who dressed up, sang along and danced away with fellow fans, with sell out sessions despite scheduling an unprecedented number of shows so no one missed out.”

Paramount’s “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” made...

As the trailer emerged for this Mumsey pleasing movie, you sit there and think do we really need another film like this? Is it worth Maggie Smith getting out of bed for this one?

The answer isn’t as straight forward. After absorbing this pleasantly heartwarming flick albeit, we can offer this warning: even Professor Mcgonagall can’t magic her way out this sickeningly sweet affair.

Thaddeus O’Sullivan directs The Miracle Club, a touching drama about three generations of women who embark on a spiritual journey of enlightenment and forgiveness. From the get go, this film exudes comfort and charisma as we follow the women of Ballygar from Dublin as they experience a well-earned dose of freedom by winning a pilgrimage to the holy French town of Lourdes. Yet, it becomes quickly apparent, greater strings are being pulled as we discover their local priest has fixed the cards and orchestrated...

Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s comedy-drama film, The Miracle Club, showcases a rather impressive screenplay that’s elevated by the cinematography. Set in 1967 Dublin, the film stars famous actors like Maggie Smith, Laura Linney, and Kathy Bates in the lead roles. The film’s beautiful message of retrieving long-lost bonds looms large throughout its narrative. The plot brings out the urge of some women in Dublin to go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. The unfortunate death of one of the friends in the circle brings her daughter to the town, who also embarks on the journey with the other women, and in the process, the rifts between them get resolved. Some of the most sought-after similar films on the miracles of pilgrimages include Pilgrimage, The Pilgrims, and others. Will the pilgrimage do miracles? Will the bath restore the long-lost health of the people visiting? Let’s find out!

Spoilers Ahead

What Happens In The Film?...

This week's Empire Podcast would have been a lot longer had we kept in all the bits where Chris Hewitt was coughing. Needless to say, we cut (most) of them out (probably), leaving instead another fine and fun episode in which Chris is joined in the studio by James Dyer and Helen O'Hara, thus putting them at risk of infection. Thankfully, none of them turn into mindless zombies (how could we tell?) as they discuss the week's news, including the sad passing of Terence Davies, Kevin Costner's big-screen comeback, and rumoured upheaval at both Marvel Studios and A24, review :a[The Miracle Club]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-miracle-club/' }, Shortcomings, :a[BlackBerry]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/blackberry/' } and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and fail spectacularly to name all the Carry On movies. Oh, and James bangs on about Taylor Swift, which makes a change.

Competition comes from Paramount’s ‘Paw Patrol’ and ‘Sumotherhood’.

Pop icon Taylor Swift is looking to extend her cultural reach to cinemas this weekend, through the event cinema release of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

Opening in 651 UK-Ireland venues through Trafalgar Releasing, the film is a 168-minute recording of three Swift gigs from the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in August 2023, as part of Swift’s ongoing tour playing music from across her career.

It is the latest concert film from UK- and US-based director Sam Wrench, a former competitive slalom skier who has also directed BTS: Permission To Dance...

Universal’s “The Exorcist: Believer” debuted atop the U.K. and Ireland box office with £1.6 million ($2 million), according to numbers released by Comscore.

In its second weekend, in second place, Disney’s “The Creator” collected £1 million for a total of £4.1 million. Also in its second weekend, in third position, Lionsgate’s “Saw X” scared up £956,030 for a total of £3.8 million.

Warner Bros.’ “The Great Escaper” debuted in fourth place with £598,135. In fifth position, in its fifth weekend, Disney’s “A Haunting in Venice” took in £561,058 for a total of £7.8 million.

The other debut in the top 10 was National Amusements’ “Blackberry,” which bowed at No. 10 with £117,263.

The upcoming weekend sees two wide releases across more than 300 locations each, both from Universal. “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” the latest in the popular franchise, has the Paw Patrol pups magically gain superpowers after a meteor strikes Adventure City. However, things take a turn...

On Friday, October 13, 2023, at 10:40 Pm, BBC One will air Season 31, Episode 3 of “The Graham Norton Show.” In this episode, viewers can look forward to an exciting lineup of guests and entertainment.

The episode features the following:

1. Laura Linney: Laura Linney, a triple-Oscar-nominated star known for her role in “Ozark,” will join Graham Norton. She’ll discuss her new film, “The Miracle Club,” providing insights into her latest work.

2. Dawn French: Comedy star Dawn French will be on the show, sharing about her book “The Tw*t Files,” where she reflects on the mistakes she’s made in her life and career.

3. London Hughes: Stand-up comedian and actor London Hughes will be present to talk about her memoir, “Living My Best Life, Hun.” Viewers can expect to hear her stories and experiences.

4. Musical Performance: Sugababes will provide musical entertainment with a performance of their new single, “When the Rain Comes.

The Miracle Club, with a dream ensemble cast including Oscar-winning actors Dame Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) and Kathy Bates (Misery), along with the great Laura Linney (Ozark) and Agnes O’Casey (Dangerous Liaisons), is a story about three generations of friendship set against the backdrop of faith and forgiveness. Together the four women embark on a pilgrimage from Dublin to the French town of Lourdes, where millions travel to annually in search of a miracle.

Set in 1967, the film isn’t necessarily a feminist one, however it drives home the point that women are not only the backbone of their families but, when united in friendship, they become truly powerful, even before it was accepted in society for them to be so.

The Our Lady of Lourdes Sanctuary is in the Pyrenees mountains, located in southwestern France. As a Catholic tradition of faith, the body of water in Lourdes is believed...

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has announced the fall programming, which includes new film series, public events, and education programs.

The museum will screen Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy, which includes the world premiere of the 4K restoration of the 1997 film “Nowhere.” Moreover, the museum will host “Joe Alves: Designing Jaws,” a conversation and book signing on Sept. 9 with production designer Joe Alves and author Dennis Prince. Other screenings include newly scanned and restored versions of Fleischer cartoons every weekend of the fall season starting on Sept. 30. There will also be a Home Movie Day on Nov. 5 and programming and workshops focused on Indigenous voices, location and set design, portraiture, animation, and tactile filmmaking.

In advance of the opening of the new exhibit “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” the Academy Museum will show an extremely rare silent screening of his 1968 film “Eat Your Makeup,” featuring in-person live commentary from Waters himself.

The Miracle Club will move back into 200-300 movie theaters nationwide August 18 for the rest of the summer due to an “overwhelmingly positive response” from audiences that the distributor said translated into a demand for additional playdates.

The film by Irish director Thaddeus O’Sullivan with a starry ensemble cast opened July 14, the week before Barbie and Oppenheimer debuted, on 678 screens (to $688k). The screen count was down to 65 last weekend and will dip again this coming, before jumping back up.

The Miracle Club, which world-premiered at Tribeca in June, now has a cume of $1.729 million. It’s 84% Certified Fresh with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes and has strong word of mouth. Deadline’s review called it “a treat in store for older adult audiences.” However, Barbie and Oppenheimer have been unique blockbusters in many ways, including their crossover appeal with arthouse/adult audiences, where distributors were already fighting for screens.

Maggie Smith,...

A24’s supernatural horror Talk To Me by first time filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou blew past box office projections grossing over $10 million on 2,340 screens opening weekend. The breakout by the first-time filmmaker brothers and popular YouTubers from Australia was no. six at the domestic box office.

The film was well reviewed as a fresh spin on the possession tale and had great exits with a B+ Cinemascore — pretty much tops for horror, especially indie horror — and A24’s best wide-release Cinemascore ever across all genres.

It’s the distributor’s biggest opening weekend ever since 2018’s Hereditary from Ari Aster, who gave a big shoutout to Talk To Me at Sundance, where it premiered and was snapped up by A24 in a bidding war. Hereditary opened at $13.6 million on 2,900 screens. It’s arguably rather rare for indie films to cross $10 million in a weekend, (especially post-pandemic), marking another breakout...

Searchlight Pictures’ comedy Theater Camp held its own on a big weekend of box office coin flowing in from Barbie and Oppenheimer.

Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s Sundance-winner (U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble) expanded to 10 markets/51 theaters, up from six locations in New York and LA opening weekend, taking in an estimated $266,000 for a per-screen average of $5.2k. That follows a notable opening last week when the Ben Platt and Gordon-starrer sported a $50.2k PSA — Searchlight’s biggest PSA for a limited opening since Jojo Rabbit in 2019. It will move to another 35-40 markets next week, hitting 600-800 locations by August.

New markets this week included Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Toronto, with The Metreon in San Francisco, Boston Commons, Camelview Scottsdale and Alamo Sloans Lake in Denver among top locations.

Exit polls from AMC Boston Common, AMC River East...

by Cláudio Alves

Have you seen The Miracle Club yet? Thaddeus O'Sullivan's comedy has been in theaters for a week, and it's bound to bewitch actressexuals, showcasing performances from a cadre of lovely thespians. There's Kathy Bates and Laura Linney in what Matt St Clair described as a work of "unwavering grace and sly tenacity." There's also Maggie Smith, one of my favorite living actresses, delivering another late-career turn to remind viewers they shouldn't take her for granted. Sure, her decade-spanning portrayal of Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey seemed like a congealment of the actress's greatest hits. However, that doesn't mean Smith is a one-trick pony, that her filmography is without risk or variety.

To commemorate, let's make the two-time Oscar winner our subject for list-mania. So, dear reader, will you join me down Maggie Smith's extensive repertoire, searching for the top ten highlights? It's a vast scope of roles,...

By Nathaniel R

Tom Cruise is an eternal draw at the box office but Mission Impossible still came in under expectations. Was it that clumsy "Part One" in the title (on the Sixth film in a franchise no less)? Movies are starting to move away from this since the audience can often feel had as in 'my ticket doesn't get me the full movie?' Note that Spider-Verse dropped it's "part one" title before release even though it literally ends on a cliffhanger... 

Weekend Box Office

July 14th-16th...