Musicals aren’t the most successful genre at the box office (see: “Cats,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Joker: Folie à Deux”). But song-and-dance films may be enjoying — as Glinda sings — a newfound popularity with “Wicked,” Universal’s adaptation of Act One of the beloved Broadway show. The film collected $114 million in North America and […]

“Wicked” debuted to $164.2 million at the global box office, a towering figure that includes $50.1 million in overseas ticket sales. Universal’s big-budget adaptation of the hit musical was far bigger in North America with $114 million, ranking as the third-biggest domestic debut of the year and the best ever for a Broadway adaptation. Globally, […]

If you care to find “Wicked,” look to the top of box office charts. Universal’s adaptation of Act One (with some padding) of the popular Broadway musical was No. 1 in North America with $114 million from 3,888 theaters over the weekend. Those dazzling ticket sales rank as the third biggest domestic debut of the […]

Jon M. Chu counted himself a fan of “Wicked” long before he was hired to direct the big-budget movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical. So it was a question of where, not if, he should pay homage to Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the stage roles of Elphaba and Glinda, in the […]

Samuel L. Jackson is in negotiations to star in the next movie from director J.J. Abrams. If the deal closes, he’ll join a cast that includes Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega and “Sex Education” star Emma Mackey. Abrams is writing and directing the untitled feature, of which details have been kept under wraps. Bad Robot, the […]

Marla Mindelle, the star of Off Broadway’s Golden Age fantasia “The Big Gay Jamboree,” gets anxiety during every performance. Sure, the delightfully ridiculous show — in which she plays a struggling actress who blacks out after drinking and wakes up to find she’s trapped in a classic musical, has been running since September. But muscle […]

Is “Glicked” the new “Barbenheimer”? Whether “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” inspires an unorthodox double feature à la last summer’s simultaneous blockbusters “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” remains a question. Either way, there’s a box office battle brewing between Universal’s pink-and-green musical and Paramount’s bloody sword-and-sandal epic, both of which open on Friday. “Wicked,” director Jon M. Chu’s […]

Moviegoers can channel their inner Glinda and Elphaba during sing-along screenings of “Wicked.” But they’ll have to wait. Interactive showings of Universal’s upcoming movie musical will be offered in roughly 1,000 North American cinemas starting on Dec. 25 — approximately one month after “Wicked” lands on the big screen. Exact plans, including the location count […]

“Challengers” star Josh O’Connor has joined the cast of Steven Spielberg’s new film. As previously announced, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo and Eve Hewson (“Bad Sisters,” “Flora and Son”) will round out the call sheet on the yet-to-be-titled film. Universal Pictures will release the movie on May 15, 2026. Spielberg is directing from a […]

“Gladiator II” entered the international box office arena with $87 million from 63 markets, a powerful start for the quarter-century-in-the-making sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 best picture winner “Gladiator.” This marks the biggest international R-rated opening weekend for Paramount Pictures as well as the best overseas debut for Scott, whose highest-grossing films include “The Martian” […]

“Red One,” a Christmas-set action comedy starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Santa’s head of security, unwrapped a soft $34.1 million from 4,032 North American theaters in its box office debut. Those ticket sales were enough to top the domestic box office, ending the three-week reign of “Venom: The Last Dance.” However, the Amazon MGM […]

Lina Esco, the actor best known for “S.W.A.T.” and “Kingdom,” has joined the cast of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s new film “RIP.” Joe Carnahan (“Narc,” “Smokin’ Aces”) is directing the action thriller for Netflix. “RIP” follows a team of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray when they discover millions in a derelict stash […]

Netflix film executive Niija Kuykendall is leaving the streamer after three years. She joined in October 2021 as VP of film, where she oversaw a new department focusing on mid-sized holiday, faith-based and young adult movies. Netflix didn’t give a reason for her departure but confirmed she’ll be exiting the company at the end of […]

Lupita Nyong’o is the latest boldfaced name to join the buzzy ensemble of Christopher Nolan’s next film. Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya and Anne Hathaway are among the A-listers who are expected to star in the untitled movie, which is otherwise shrouded in secrecy. It will release in theaters on July 17, 2026. Universal had […]

Will “Red One,” a Christmas action-comedy where Dwayne Johnson plays Santa’s head of security, bring movie theaters a box office bounty? The film, from Amazon MGM, is targeting $30 million to $35 million from 4,032 locations in its first weekend of release. Independent tracking services are mixed, suggesting that “Red One” could earn as little […]

Lionsgate has renewed a three-year, first-look deal with Kingdom Story Company. The announcement extends the partnership to 10 years and follows the theatrical release of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” which opened to $11 million over the weekend. Already this year, Lionsgate and Kingdom have collaborated on the faith-based “Ordinary Angels” starring Hilary Swank and […]

Ben Stiller is reprising his role from “Happy Gilmore” in the follow-up to Adam Sandler’s 1996 classic sports comedy, “Happy Gilmore 2.” Netflix is backing the long-awaited sequel, which is currently filming in New Jersey. Along with Sandler and Stiller, the cast will include familiar faces such as Christopher McDonald as pro-golfer Shooter McGavin, Julie Bowen […]

“Red One,” a Christmas-themed release in which Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays Santa’s head of security, didn’t have too big a bounty to unwrap in its international box office debut. The film collected just $26.6 million from 25,195 screens across 75 overseas markets over the weekend. By comparison, “Venom: The Last Dance” added $33 million […]

Jon M. Chu had a pretty good excuse for missing the premiere of “Wicked.” The director of the two-part musical epic couldn’t make the starry Los Angeles event because his wife gave birth to their fifth child, a girl, on Saturday, Nov. 9 — the same day as the pink-and-green celebration. “This movie has always […]