News

Sandra Bullock is a true-blue Hollywood force to be reckoned with. Her flawless transition from the rom-com girl-next-door to a full-blown dramatic powerhouse has been a marvel to witness.

While her 2018 hit thriller Bird Box saw worldwide success and captivated Netflix users across the globe, it’s her Y2K action-comedy Miss Congeniality that has been garnering a delightful resurgence, for all the right reasons. Its comeback on streaming platforms in recent times only proves, once and for all, that classics age like fine wine.

Sandra Bullock’s Miss Congeniality makes it big as a ‘streaming sensation’

Released in cinemas in December 2000, Miss Congeniality introduced viewers to Gracie Hart- a no-nonsense FBI operative who goes undercover as a beauty pageant contestant in order to prevent a bombing at the Miss USA pageant.

Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

The film was a clever melting pot of action and comedy,...

Netflix adds mayhem and mirth this week, with a sprinkling of sports and sentiment for good measure. As usual, there's something for everyone this week in the debuting titles on your favorite streaming service.

For those of you that observe Easter, I hope you have a wonderful day. Just be sure to find every last one of those Easter eggs you hid under the couch. For those that don't celebrate, you have all those half-price chocolate bunnies, Cadbury creme eggs, and assorted candies to fill your larder until next year.

And as my daughter wisely pointed out years ago, the Reese's peanut butter eggs have the highest ratio of peanut butter filling to chocolate of all varieties. Do not waste this opportunity!

In the meantime, we have a dozen actual movies and shows coming to us this week. Good thing, too, as we're losing some great shows this week. No Hard Feelings,...

The third week of any given month is not overly emotionally difficult for Netflix subscribers regarding favorite titles leaving. The real exodus occurs at the end of every month, and the other items saying goodbye are scattered about.

Such is the case with the list below. While 18 items are going away, many of them belong to a couple of particular franchises. For instance, three Motu Patlu titles are moving on. Rudra fans also have to say heartfelt goodbyes to a couple of titles. Overall, not a bad week.

There are a couple of winners you only have a short time to watch before Netflix drops them. One is the Jennifer Lawrence comedy, No Hard Feelings. Is the film great? Maybe not, but it is fairly fun. Lawrence also does something a lot of actors do not and goes full frontal, but in the unsexiest way possible (and the funniest way...

It will be a while before fans get a chance to discover the new Universal Studios theme park, but as the project starts to take shape, some exciting possibilities are starting to emerge. This week, BBC reported that the construction of the UK project in Bedfordshire is eyeing franchises like 007, Paddington and The Lord of the Rings to populate the park. However, construction is only set to begin next year if planning permissions are granted.

According to the BBC source, however, the deal has already been established, and it is "unlikely" that plans will change as the project moves on. The source went on to say that the team responsible for projecting the new Universal theme park is in the final stages and only making tweaks to The Lord of the Rings section. In any case, since it looks like the park will celebrate pop culture icons that hail from the United Kingdom,...

A former brickworks in Bedfordshire, UK will be turned into a Universal theme park, it’s been confirmed. It’s due to open in 2031.

Two years after the plans were first announced, it’s been confirmed that a Universal theme park is to be built in the UK. The land for the venue, located in Bedfordshire, was first acquired by the media giant in 2023. Once built, it’s said that the resort will be one of the largest of its kind in Europe, covering some 500 acres.

Although it’s unknown what attractions Universal has planned for its British resort, its other sites, including Los Angeles and Orlando, Florida, have rides based on the likes of Minions, The Fast And The Furious and Jurassic World, so fast cars, dinosaurs and small yellow people will likely figure somewhere.

The government has welcomed the announcement, saying it’ll bring some 28,000 jobs to the...

Picture the scene: You're taking your children to the theaters. You buy a drink and popcorn and sit down in the screening room to watch A Minecraft Movie. But, every five minutes, the audience, which is filled with grown adults, screams and claps and everyone loses their collective minds when Jack Black shouts "Chicken jockey" or "Ender pearl!"A Minecraft Movie has become an online sensation since its theatrical release, with theaters screening to sold-out audiences who shout, whoop, holler, and applaud during the most memeable moments. While many online are enjoying the trend, movie theater companies are warning audiences against following the popular TikTok trend.

Some screenings have been so disruptive that theaters have thrown audiences out. According to the BBC, a Cineworld theater in Oxfordshire, England, has issued a warning to audiences against following the Minecraft trend, otherwise they will be removed without a refund. "Any form of anti-social behavior,...

Universal is set to build a major new theme park in the UK, prime minister Keir Starmer has confirmed.

The studio’s first theme park in Europe will be constructed near Bedford and is set to open in 2031.

The government said in a statement: “A multi-billion-pound investment in a major new Universal theme park and resort in Bedford has been agreed between Universal, the government and the local council, in a move that represents a major vote of confidence in the UK economy and the future of partnerships between the UK and the US.”

The statement added that the project...

NBCUniversal and the U.K. government have unveiled plans for a multibillion-pound Universal theme park and resort in Bedford, England, that is set to be the largest visitor attraction in the U.K. and “one of the largest and most advanced” theme parks in Europe. Set to open in 2031, it will create nearly 20,000 jobs during the construction period, with a further 8,000 new jobs across the hospitality and creative industries upon its opening, according to a joint announcement.

Universal said it expects the new attraction, construction on which is expected to start next year, to generate nearly £50 billion ($64 billion) for the economy by 2055, with 8.5 million visitors expected in its first year, which would make it the largest visitor attraction in the U.K. The development will be the first Universal-branded theme park and resort in Europe and will be part of a larger 476-acre entertainment resort complex, located around 60 miles northwest of London.

Despicable Me Tetralogy Box Office( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The audience always welcomes animated films with warm hugs. Despicable Me is among the most popular franchises and the highest-grossing animation, with over $5 billion in collections at the worldwide box office. The franchise has six movies in total, including two prequels. However, we will discuss the main franchise in this tetralogy box office series. The most recent release was 2024’s Despicable Me 4. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The franchise kicked off in 2010 with the first film. It achieved several feats on its release, including becoming one of the year’s highest-grossing films. It was the first film produced by Illumination Entertainment and became one of the most successful debuts for a new animation studio. The first film set a new benchmark for non-Disney and non-Pixar animation success domestically. Its massive success and popularity paved the way for such a popular franchise,...

Wicked: For Good leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande joined the filmmakers on stage in Las Vegas to round out an ebullient Universal Pictures CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday.

Director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt brought a bewitching first-look ahead of the November 21 follow-up to last year’s $747m global hit that featured Dorothy (not in full view), and prompted Platt to assure that the film mines deeper and more profound themes.Chu noted impishly that this was the third successive year that a Wicked film has served as the studio’s presentation finale.

A rousing medley of Universal...

Michael Mann, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas Cage, Jim Carrey and Josh Brolin were among the many entertainment industry figures who paid tribute to Val Kilmer after news of his death was announced.

Kilmer died of pneumonia in Los Angeles, his daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer, told The New York Times. He was 65. The actor was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015.

His death was announced as the actor was meant to be arriving for a rare red carpet appearance at the Beverly Hills Film Festival on Tuesday night. “It was a shock to find this out. We had just confirmed Val to attend the West Coast premiere of American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective this past weekend,” Nino Simone, founder and president of the Beverly Hills Film Festival, said on Wednesday.

The much-loved and incredibly versatile actor had a diverse filmography, excelling both as a leading man (Batman Forever, The Saint, Top Secret!,...

It’s been a big news week for Nintendo fans, but it just got bigger. One day after revealing their own mobile news app called “Nintendo Today!,” the Japanese developer has dropped a bombshell, announcing a release date for their next big movie — a live-action adaptation of their classic franchise The Legend of Zelda.

In a 25-second video shared this morning via the Nintendo Today! app, the release date has been confirmed as March 26, 2027. As of reporting, the announcement hasn’t made its way to any other official Nintendo social...

The tragic glamor of a fatal disease diagnosis is a pop cultural go-to. Unlike death by misadventure, a terminal illness gives the patient the time and space to change their life, which can be as simple as being less of a doormat (The Big C) or as elaborate as going on a globetrotting adventure (Joe Versus the Volcano). Dying for Sex falls somewhere in the middle, and is probably TV’s most moving meditation on friendship, love, pleasure, pain, death and life that Also includes orgasm torture and puppy play.

Dying for Sex, adapted from the podcast of the same name, stars Michelle Williams as Molly. Two years into her remission from successful breast cancer treatment, Molly feels a pain in her hip that turns out to be a recurrence of her cancer, now metastasized to her bones. She can tell that her husband Steve (Jay Duplass) is, in a way,...

On Wednesday morning, the Marvel Studios social media accounts started livestreaming a video they labeled as an all-caps Announcement. The video showed a soundstage where, one by one, chairs reserved for actors were revealed, with a new chair coming into view every 10 minutes or so – and viewers quickly realized this was a long, slow way of revealing (a large chunk of) the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, which is now in production and aiming for a May 1, 2026 theatrical release. Some viewers found this stunt to be ridiculous and annoying, while others had fun with it. As someone who kept the livestream on for all 5 hours and 27 minutes so I could update an article here on JoBlo (you can see that article Here), I was put off by the slowness of the reveals at first, but soon got into the groove, eagerly looking forward to seeing which name would be next and...

Exclusive: Marvel Studios’ clever live five-hour-plus announcement of the cast of Avengers: Doomsday was their biggest livestream, bigger than any premiere red carpet, pulling in 275M digital views we’re told and 3.1M social mentions. The livestream began yesterday at 8Am Pst and lasted for 5 hours and 27 minutes.

That number is also more than 5x the social volume of the Deadpool & Wolverine Super Bowl trailer (currently the most viewed trailer of all time) from last year.

More deets I’m told: hour over hour the audience grew to what is the most view cross platform livestream stunt.

The stunt yielded over 55 distinct trending terms on Twitter/X throughout the day with #AvengersDoomsday holding the #1 trending spot on Twitter/X for over 7 hours. After 24 hours, the official Marvel YouTube livestream was at #2 on trending.

In total 27 cast member chairs were unveiled including, but not limited to the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps,...

Animated movies have long been crowd-pleasers, working with audiences of all ages. This can, perhaps, be attributed to the freedom that comes with the medium. With the genre’s history dating back to the late 1800s, it’s fascinating to see how animation has evolved from short, silent films to this billion-dollar culture machine.

A still from 2009’s Up | Credits: Walt Disney

While box office data began to be tracked in the 1920s, it wasn’t until the late 20th and early 21st centuries that animated films began breaking financial records. Today, a select group of these films has achieved rather extraordinary success, capturing the hearts (and wallets) of millions worldwide.

Let’s count down the animated movies that have made history, starting at number thirteen and working our way to the champion of the billion-dollar club. (You never know who overtakes them next).

Zootopia (2016)

Zootopia is a funny film with a big message.

A new release date and title is lurking for Sony Pictures’ shark thriller starring Bridgerton alum Phoebe Dynevor. The pic formally known as Beneath the Storm from director Tommy Wirkola now is titled Shiver and is set for summer 2026.

After originally being set to hit theaters on August 1 this year, the film is swimming to July 3, 2026. That, of course, is the Independence Day weekend — the setting for another summer popcorn flick starring a large, bloodthirsty fish from a half-century ago. The shift means Shiver now will go up against the latest installment of Universal’s Minions franchise, which opens July 1, 2026.

The plot of Shiver, which also stars Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou, is under wraps.

Adam McKay and Kevin Messick are producing under their Hyperobject Industries banner along with Wirkola. D. Scott Lumpkin is the exec producer.

Sony also said today that Legendary’s live-action Street Fighter has been taken off the release calendar.

Acquired studio films that have benefited from a wide theatrical release offer the best bang for the buck for Netflix, providing more views per dollar spent than original features or acquired series, a new report has found.

The report, “Unpacking Netflix’s evolving movie strategy,” published Wednesday by Ampere Analysis, tracks viewership across Netflix for feature films, both originals and licensed, over time. Author Christen Tamisin found acquired films, including those under Netflix’s premium pay deals with Sony and NBCUniversal “contribute significantly to Netflix’s total viewing,” and, “with their lower cost-per-view,” are more cost-efficient than Netflix’s big-budget originals.

Netflix spent $1.07 billion on movie licensing in the first half of last year, the report notes, with acquired movies drawing 9.23 billion total views for the period. The streamer’s original movie spend over the same period was just under half that, at $0.51 billion, with fewer than half the total viewers,...

Bruce Willis is no stranger to starring in thrillers. After starring in Die Hard (1988), Willis ascended to action hero royalty, reprising his role as cop John McClane in four sequels of varying quality, the most recent of which, A Good Day to Die Hard, sent the franchise out with a whimper in 2013. Willis appeared in a handful of well-received movies throughout the 2010s, including Red (2010), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), and Looper (2012), but the last decade or so of his career was mostly dominated by critically-panned, direct-to-vod action movies.

Though Willis retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, Megan Fox remains active in the world of Hollywood. Fox rocketed to fame due to her role as Mikaela in Transformers in 2007, a role she reprised in that film's 2009 sequel, subtitled Revenge of the Fallen. Since then, Fox has continued to appear regularly on-screen, including in multiple episodes of New Girl, but...

Despicable Me 4 Ott Verdict Week 2( Photo Credit – Disney+ Hotstar )

Despicable Me 4 remained immovable at 2024’s highest-grossers list at #3 for a long time until Moana 2 happened. The animated feature shows equal power by maintaining its spot at #2 on Netflix’s weekly global top 10 movies list. Venom 3 bested it and grabbed the top spot last time when they both debuted on the streaming platforms. Keep scrolling for the deets.

It is one of the most popular and loved animated film franchises. After the release of the fourth film, it became one of the highest-grossing animated franchises, surpassing $5 billion in total earnings. The film has achieved significant commercial success, reinforcing the enduring appeal of the franchise and its characters, particularly the Minions, among audiences globally.

Venom: The Last Dance debuted on Netflix at the #1 spot on the streaming platform’s weekly top ten list globally last week, but this time, the film was pushed to #4. Meanwhile,...

It’s time to get your fix of the most-viewed shows and movies on Netflix. The new weekly lists are out on Tudum, and our quick and easy summary of the top five is below. Check out now what you, your friends, and your family shouldn’t miss out on.

There’s always a selection of movies dropping on Netlfix regularly. This week’s top five movies are a great mix of recently added films. It’s quite varied, though, ranging from family fun to cult murders via a drug cartel-based Western and a superhero.

As for the most viewed shows, well, a few continue their top five run, underlining their quality and popularity. So you definitely don’t want to be missing out on any of those. There’s also a new entry that could give viewers the chance to have their say on a future series.

Top five...

One of the last movies of the late Gene Hackman has entered the Netflix Top 10 Global Movies chart 22 years after its initial release. Hackman was one of the most revered and successful actors in movie history, and enjoyed a strong filmography, which included a diverse mix of both blockbusters and character-driven dramas. He shot to prominence with early roles in movies like Bonnie and Clyde and I Never Sang For My Father before achieving global recognition and leading man status with the role of Popeye Doyle in William Friedkin's crime thriller The French Connection.

Hackman won an Oscar for his performance and reprised his role in the follow-up The French Connection II. He then went on to star in a number of successful and critically acclaimed box office hits, including Superman, Superman II, Mississippi Burning, and Unforgiven, for which he won his second Oscar. The '90s brought less critical acclaim,...

Netflix's charts are always dynamic, filled with all kinds of genres. Most recently, animated projects have experienced a surge in popularity.

Not long ago, the Despicable Me franchise kicked Shrek off the global streaming charts and proved why it's the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time. However, per Tudum, Despicable Me has a new fierce competitor with the SpongeBob spinoff, Plankton: The Movie. For the week between March 3 and March 9,Plankton: The Movie topped the charts globally. Although it only premiered on the platform on March 7, it still managed to add 14.3 million views, with 21 million hours viewed.

Despicable Me 4 followed just behind it in its second week on the platform. The latest entry in the franchise had 10.1 million views and 15.9 million hours viewed. The movie spent two weeks in the Top 10, and entered the charts in four countries. It wasn't the only title in the franchise in the Top 10 globally,...

James Gunn seemingly reached the nerd mountaintop upon becoming the co-chairman (with Peter Safran) of DC Studios in 2022. Nearly 30 years before that, however, he was just another struggling screenwriter slugging it out in the film industry trenches. Gunn earned his first screenplay credit as the co-writer of Troma Entertainment's "Tromeo and Juliet," which was not the calling-card effort that put him on Hollywood's radar. That would be his script for "The Specials," a superhero comedy that became a film under the direction of Craig Mazin in 2000.

Before that film was even made, though, Gunn found himself pitching projects to the major studios, one of which was a Silver Surfer movie at 20th Century Fox. Gunn knocked out a treatment that he once claimed was a "huge story, cosmic as hell," and he might've hung around to write the screenplay had another project not been dropped on his doorstep.

In 1999, filmmaker Jay Roach,...

Taylor Sheridan and Denis Villeneuve's Oscar-nominated movie has become a global Netflix hit a decade after its release. The Canadian director started his career with four French-language films, including Incendies, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature. From there, Villeneuve transitioned into English-language movies with Prisoners and Enemy, but gained further recognition for his sci-fi films Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Dune, and Dune: Part Two – which earned a total of 28 Oscar nominations and won 11.

On the other hand, Sheridan is the television mogul best known as the creator of the Yellowstone franchise, including its prequels 1883 and 1923, and several other Paramount+ series, such as Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, Lioness, and Landman. However, he has also written several neo-Western films, such as 2016's Hell or High Water, which was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay, and 2017's Wind River, which he also directed. However, Sheridan's...

Quick LinksFighting at Weathertop Proved Aragorn Was Destined to be KingWeathertop was One of the Nazgûl's Most Frightening ScenesThe Worst Moments for the Fellowship Brought out their Best Traits

The Lord of the Ringsgives each character a chance to develop and show audiences the depth of their personalities. One scene in particular hides a key detail about Aragorn, which cements the path he was supposed to follow in life. When the Fellowship was formed at the Council of Elrond, everyone made a pledge of allegiance to ensure Frodo would be guided and protected to the best of their ability. Aragorn was the second character to declare his solidarity with the young Hobbit.

"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will. You have my sword", were the words that he spoke when he stepped forward, and he stuck to them. He took his responsibility seriously. The Fellowship...

China’s Ne Zha 2 has been making history at the global box office. Released during the Chinese New Year holiday, the animated sequel has broken multiple records, including the biggest opening weekend ever for an animated movie.

In just over a month, Ne Zha 2 has reached an incredible milestone, surpassing $2 billion in worldwide earnings. The majority of its revenue has come from China, where it is now the country’s highest-grossing movie of all time by more than $1 billion.

This weekend, Ne Zha 2 officially passed Avengers: Infinity War, which made $2.04 billion globally, making it the sixth-biggest movie ever. It is expected to soon overtake Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($2.05 billion), securing its place among the top five highest-grossing films in history. Once its run is complete, Ne Zha 2 will stand alongside legendary hits like Titanic, Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, and Avatar: The Way of Water.

Not only...

Exclusive: Sacha Baron Cohen’s next film, an untitled scripted comedy, is being quietly shopped to distributors. The comedy was originally set at Universal, and none of the principals would comment. But is sounds like case of déjà vu. I’m referencing Baron Cohen’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Fox turned the first Borat into big hit, but Baron Cohen needed the Borat sequel released before the 2020 presidential elections. And so the film moved to Amazon Studios, got released in October 2020 at the height of election season, and the picture was nominated for two Oscars.

This time, after Baron Cohen’s next project was delayed by the year of double strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA — his last project was to revive his Ali G character in a standup tour — he is anxious for the next film to be released next year after missing the 2024 election season.

Unfortunately, Universal Pictures’ Donna Langley...

Here’s what lots of people viewed on Netflix last week, according to Tudum. If you want to keep up to date with the social chat and make sure you aren't missing out, you’ll need to know about the top five most-viewed movies and shows on Netflix listed below.

Neflix has been busy adding new movies again. A couple of their new releases in late February have had a big influence on the top five movies list. One movie stormed the list after a huge box office success. A second of those movie releases helped drive viewings of other films in the same series.

The top five shows see several from last week continue their success with more high viewing numbers. There are also a couple of new entries that aren't to be missed. An emotional, true story based drama and a brand new comedy.

Top five most watched...

As Despicable Me 4 continues to captivate young audiences on streaming, fans are already eager to know what's next for the beloved animated franchise.

The Despicable Me franchise began in 2010 with the release of the original film, introducing the villains of Gru and his adorable yellow minions. Following the success of the first film, Universal has expanded with three sequels, as well as two Minions spin-offs. 

Despicable Me 4 brought back beloved characters like Gru and Lucy, voiced by Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig, while introducing new villains, such as Maxime Le Mal, played by Will Ferrell. Now, the next chapter of the Despicable Me franchise is coming next year.

Read full article on The Direct.

Despicable Me 4 Ott Verdict (Week 1)( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Despicable Me 4 might have beaten Venom 3 at the worldwide box office but got axed by Tom Hardy’s movie during its debut week on Netflix. The 4th film is one of the biggest hits of 2024 which has been finally made available for free. Keep scrolling for the deets.

Besides this 4th movie, Despicable Me 3 and Minions have also occupied spots in the top five of the weekly top 10 global list. However, it got beaten by Venom: The Last Dance, probably because it started streaming a few days after the Sony movie. The 2024 animated movie features the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Stephen Colbert, Sofía Vergara, Steve Coogan, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, and Will Ferrell.

For the unversed, Despicable Me 4 premiered on Netflix on February 28, three days after Venom...

Venom: The Last Dance Ott Verdict (Week 1)( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Venom: The Last Dance left the theatres a few weeks back and was available on VOD on several digital platforms until it arrived on Netflix. Despite being the lowest-grossing film in the Venom trilogy, it is not an utter failure. The film is a box office success. It is now available to Netflix subscribers for free. They have shown their love to the lead actor, Tom Hardy, who does a commendable job as Eddie Brock/Venom. Scroll below for the deets.

Venom is part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe and the only successful franchise in that universe. It was directed by Kelly Marcel and was one of the top ten highest-grossing films of 2024 until Sonic the Hedgehog 3 surpassed its global haul to take the 10th position. Besides Hardy, the Marvel movie also featured Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans,...

Zero Day. (L to R) McKinley Belcher III as Carl Otieno, Mozhan Navabi as Melissa Kornblau, Robert De Niro as George Mullen, Jesse Plemons as Roger Carlson and Connie Britton as Valerie Whitesell in Episode 102 of Zero Day. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024 Netflix’s rankings for the week are here, offering a mix of thrilling mysteries, true-crime docuseries, blockbuster films, and international hits that have captivated audiences worldwide. At the very top of the list is Zero Day, a gripping limited series starring Robert De Niro. This cyber thriller, centered on a devastating digital power outage, dominated with 17.9 million views in its second week, proving to be a must-watch for fans of edge-of-your-seat storytelling. True-crime enthusiasts continued to flock to American Murder: Gabby Petito, which held steady at No. 2, gathering 11.3 million views. Bringing a lighter note to the lineup, Running Point, a comedy series helmed by executive producer Mindy Kaling and starring Kate Hudson,...

You are reading an exclusive WrapPRO article for free. Want to level up your entertainment career? Go here for more information.

“Zero Day” jumped to the top of Netflix’s most-watched TV list in its second week on the streamer.

The Robert De Niro-led political thriller series sat atop the Top 10 English TV list during the week of Feb. 24 with 17.9 million views. Despite a slight decline in its viewership from its debut week — during which “Zero Day” logged 19.1 million views — the show climbed up the list from its No. 2 position last week, when it failed to surpass viewership for “American Murder: Gabby Petito.”

This week, “American Murder” slid to the No. 2 position with 11.3 million views, down drastically from last week’s viewership of 31.3 million views. Still, viewership for “Gabby Petito” exceeded that of “Running Point,” which debuted in the No. 3 spot on the list with 9.3 million views.

Last week,...

Despite having some obvious flaws, Illumination'sDespicable Me film franchise has garnered a considerable following, and each film has received great praise due to the heartwarming sentiment that lies at the core of each film. One driving factor behind the series' continued success is the jaded yet comedic remarks frequently made by its main protagonist, Felonius Gru, who is a villain with a heart of gold.

While Gru wants nothing more than to be the evilest supervillain of all time, the unexpected friendship he forms with three young girls causes him to soften his rough exterior and exposes his kindhearted, fatherly side. Due to this comedic juxtaposition, many of Gru's quotes have perpetually resonated with viewers as a dynamic aspect of each Despicable Me film.

Updated on March 3, 2025, by Natasha Elder: The Despicable Me franchise and Minions movies are jam-packed with memorable quotes, many of which come from Gru. From funny jokes to surprisingly poignant advice,...

Despicable Me is already the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time based on its box office gross. Now, the series is also establishing its streaming dominance.

The franchise, which debuted in 2010, has since seen Gru's Minions branch out with their own films. With movies in the original series and two Minion-led spinoffs, the franchise has been a major hit, passing the four Shrek films and its two Puss in Boots spinoffs at the box office. Per Tudum, Despicable Me also beat Shrek on streaming, taking over the charts globally for the week between Feb. 17 and 23.

RelatedShrek 5 Casts Zendaya in Major Role

DreamWorks Animation announces the main voice cast for Shrek 5 and it includes Zendaya in a major role.

Just recently, the DreamWorks Adaptations Shrek franchise took over streaming with several installments ahead of the highly anticipated Shrek 5. The first three films stayed in the global charts for two weeks.

There are lots of changes from last week's top five lists of most viewed shows and movies on Netflix. The latest details are now on Tudum and reveal eight new entries across the two lists. Time then to take a closer look at whats new and the two that remained.

With lots of movies being added over recent weeks and a few departing from the platform, some changes were almost inevitable. Though I didn't expect to see just one remain unchanged from last week. As is often the case, some favorite old characters make a reappearance, too.

Likewise, in terms of shows there were some big hitters arriving on our screens recently. That's definitely had an impact this week with just one remaining from the previous week. The list highlights the ongoing popularity of a docuseries to get behind a story we know and fits well alongside the demand for great drama and thrillers.

You are reading an exclusive WrapPRO article for free. Want to level up your entertainment career? Go here for more information.

The 2025 SAG Awards failed to crack into Netflix’s Top 10 TV programs for the week.

The livestream of the awards show, which streamed Sunday, Feb. 23, was not included in the streamer’s Top 10 viewership list for the week of Feb. 17, meaning that viewership for the SAG Awards was exceeded by the Feb. 17 installment of WWE’s Monday Night Raw, which took the No. 10 spot on the TV list. While Netflix has not released exact viewing figures for the SAG Awards, it can be assumed the show saw less than the 2.8 million views seen by Raw.

Last year’s SAG Awards, which marked the first time Netflix livestreamed the ceremony, similarly did not rank within the Top 10 TV shows for that week.

“American Murder: Gabby Petito,” however, was Netflix’s...

You are reading an exclusive WrapPRO article for free. Want to level up your entertainment career? Go here for more information.

The 2025 SAG Awards failed to crack into Netflix’s Top 10 TV programs for the week.

The livestream of the awards show, which streamed Sunday, Feb. 23, was not included in the streamer’s Top 10 viewership list for the week of Feb. 17, meaning that viewership for the SAG Awards was exceeded by the Feb. 17 installment of WWE’s Monday Night Raw, which took the No. 10 spot on the TV list. While Netflix has not released exact viewing figures for the SAG Awards, it can be assumed the show saw less than the 2.8 million views seen by Raw.

Last year’s SAG Awards, which marked the first time Netflix livestreamed the ceremony, similarly did not rank within the Top 10 TV shows for that week.

“American Murder: Gabby Petito,” however, was Netflix’s...

Audiences are seemingly still enthralled by Gabby Petito’s disappearance, flocking to Netflix’s latest docuseries about the tragedy nearly four years later.

American Murder: Gabby Petito put up a massive 31.3M views from February 17 to February 23, reaching No. 1 on the English-language TV list globally. It was among the Top 10 in 90 countries, per Netflix.

It was a fairly strong week overall for Netflix’s unscripted content, even amid the release of some flashy scripted series. American Murder: Gabby Petito was one of five non-fiction series to hit the Top 10 English-language TV list,

The Search For Instagram’s Worst Con Artist came in third place with 5.5M views, followed by the latest season of Love Is Blind in fourth place with 5M views. Court of Gold served up 2.8M views, which was good enough for eighth place, and WWE’s Raw was once again on the list on tenth place with 2.8M views.

Minions: The Rise of Gru performed exceptionally well at the box office, indicating that, under the care of the Minions, the Despicable Me film franchise is alive and well. This franchise got its start in 2010 with Despicable Me and continually succeeded with its brand of energetic, family-friendly humor through 2022's The Rise of Gru, the fifth film in the beloved series. One of the most entertaining aspects of the film series is the colorful cast of villains who try to thwart the franchise's antihero, Felonious Gru, or his Minions.

The villains each have a unique gimmick that sets them apart and an ample supply of zany weapons at their disposal. They also have some of the best villain names in the history of villains. Although all the Despicable Me/Minions villains are funny and diabolical in their own right, a few of them stand out from the pack.

This article...

Love movies but don’t want to spend on subscriptions? You’re in luck! There are plenty of streaming platforms where you can watch free popular movies without paying a dime. From action-packed blockbusters to timeless classics, these films are available legally on services like Tubi, Pluto TV, and more. Whether you’re in the mood for thrilling adventures, heartwarming dramas, or laugh-out-loud comedies, this list has something for everyone. Grab your popcorn and start streaming today—no sign-ups, no hassle, just great entertainment at your fingertips! Here’s where you can watch some of the best free popular movies right now.

1. Gladiator (2000)

Where to Watch: Fawesome & Pluto TV

Maximus, a betrayed Roman general, rises as a gladiator to seek justice against Emperor Commodus. The film’s stunning action, emotional depth, and Hans Zimmer’s powerful score make it unforgettable. Russell Crowe delivers a career-defining performance, and the film won five Oscars.

It turns out Bikini Bottom is in Frisco, Texas.

NBCUniversal has cut a deal with Paramount Global, an agreement that will bring the long-running popular Nickelodeon show Spongebob Squarepants to the kids and family-focused theme park Universal Destinations and Experiences is building in the Lone Star State.

Universal officially announced all of the IP-driven lands that it is building at the new resort, which will open next year in Frisco. Most of the lands will be based on IP owned or connected to NBCUniversal, with Spongegob being the outlier (and one other with an asterisk).

The lands will include DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek, Puss in Boots, Trolls and Gabby’s Dollhouse; Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants; Illumination’s Minions, as well as Jurassic World.

Gabby’s Dollhouse, of course, is a Netflix series, but it is produced by Dreamworks Television. Minions, Jurassic World, Shrek and Trolls are all based on blockbuster franchises owned...

The following contains major spoilers for St. Denis Medical Season 1, Episode 12, "Buffalo Bruce and Matty the Kid," which debuted Tuesday, Feb. 18 on NBC.

St. Denis Medical Season 1, Episode 12, "Buffalo Bruce and Matty the Kid," will be remembered as the one with the plague cat. The NBC sitcom isn't quite as lovably strange as usual -- but this episode written by Mythic Quest alum Naomi Ekperigin still has some good laughs built into it. More interestingly, the subplot involving Serena's birthday gets surprisingly saccharine.

"Buffalo Bruce and Matty the Kid" focuses on Bruce and Matt being assigned to capture an emotional support cat that's running loose around the hospital. Like everything at St. Denis, this doesn't go according to plan, which is where most of the humor comes from. Yet the episode is a bit awkward when it delves into more emotional territory.

St. Denis Season 1, Episode 12 Is Dominated by...

Universal’s “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy” delivered a record-breaking debut at the U.K. and Ireland box office, grossing £12.3 million ($15.5 million) in its opening four-day weekend, according to Comscore. The highly anticipated fourth installment in the “Bridget Jones” franchise not only secured the biggest opening of the year but also made history as the highest-grossing romantic comedy debut ever in the region, surpassing the previous record set by “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.”

Universal reports that the U.K. and Ireland opening for “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy” was across 2,250 screens. The film claimed the title of the highest-ever opening for a Working Title production and landed as the 11th biggest Universal opening of all time in the market, ranking just behind “Jurassic World Dominion” and ahead of the opening weekends of “Oppenheimer,” “Minions” and “Despicable Me 3.”

The romantic comedy, behind which Miramax is the studio and co-financier,...

Update: Super busy weekend at the international box office with Marvel/Disney’s Captain America: Brave New World and Universal/Working Title’s Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy both making their debuts while Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 keeps zooming along — and also hit North America this session.

Captain America came in pretty much bang on worldwide projections with $192.4M (including domestic’s holiday Monday estimate). Of that, $92.4M is from 52 overseas markets through Sunday. The international bow is under the $110M we saw as a possibility before the weekend, though as cautioned, that included the swing market of China where Brave New World faced massive competition from Ne Zha 2.

Anthony Mackie’s first full feature adventure carrying the shield opened No. 1 or No. 1 non-local in nearly all major markets as well as most smaller markets. The most significant market not at No. 1 was the UK where Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy...

Captain America: Brave New World North America Box Office: Opening Day Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Captain America: Brave New World scored an encouraging release day number and could reportedly beat the industry’s projections. Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford’s MCU film’s release day number is on par with the Minions’, but it is below that of several other MCU movies that were released around the same time. It is also above Captain America: The First Avenger and The Winter Soldier’s release day numbers. Scroll below for the deets.

The film has received one of the worst scores for Marvel movies on CinemaScore. It has a disappointing B—on the website, lower than Venom: The Last Dance and The Marvels. Luckily, it did not get a D like the Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga starrer Joker 2. The critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes is also average, and a strong word of mouth,...

The first three Shrek movies have once again found themselves in the Netflix global Top 10. As of this writing, Shrek sits at number two, Shrek 2 is at number four, and Shrek the Third is at number eight. While none have yet to crack Netflix's United States top 10 chart, it proves that the animated classics are beloved by audiences worldwide.

When Shrek opened in 2001, it was one of DreamWorks Skg's earliest animated films. The studio was launched in 1994 by Hollywood and music legends Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. It was seismic, as it was the first major studio in decades and featured three of the most powerful people in entertainment. Spielberg was coming off the dual successes of Schindler's List and Jurassic Park, Katzenberg had turned around Disney's animated film division, and Geffen was one of the biggest music moguls on the planet.

The first animated movies that...

Ne Zha 2 Box Office: Beats Minions (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Ne Zha 2 maintains its momentum at the Chinese box office and has collected more than $50 million on its second Monday. It is something movies earn on their debut weekend but not the Ne Zha sequel; it is creating cinematic history every moment. It has now beaten Minions’ lifetime haul at the worldwide box office. Scroll below for the deets.

The animated feature, Minions, was released in 2015 and is a prequel to 2010’s Despicable Me. The film was followed by a sequel, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and another sequel is reportedly being developed. The animated feature was a massive box office, collecting $336.04 million in the US and $1.16 billion worldwide. It is reportedly one of the top ten highest-grossing animated movies of all time globally.

According to Luiz Fernando’s report, Ne Zha 2 continues to be the box office juggernaut in China.

“Storytelling has never been more important,” Illumination founder and boss Chris Meledandri said Saturday night in receiving the David O. Selznick Achievement Award at the PGA Awards.

“We find ourselves now in a far more fragile moment. Our country, our city, our industry, are experiencing unprecedented disruption and uncertainty. We should not forget. That the health of a society is directly tied to its reigning narratives,” said the producer whose animated comedies have delighted global masses to the tune of $11 billion.

Meledandri reflected on his early days in Hollywood as a runner working for producer Dan Melnick. The first day when Meledandri drove on the 20th Century Fox lot, he had an assigned parking space with his name on it. It was an early producing lesson for the young Meledandri that he would carry with him: “Everybody matters.”

Well before he arrived in Hollywood, Meledandri had already been reared in...