
Ne Zha 2 Box Office: Sets New Record In Just 10 Days (Photo Credit – Instagram)
The 2025 Chinese animated movie Ne Zha 2 has stunned the world with its unimaginable box office performance. It is already the highest-grossing film in the country’s history and the first 2025 film to earn over $900 million in just ten days. It will cross a massive milestone ahead of Sunday and has beaten Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ total as the highest-grossing film ever in a single market. Keep scrolling for the deets.
The Force Awakens is the sequel to the Return of the Jedi and the highest-grossing film of all time at the US box office. It collected $936.66 million in its domestic run. Meanwhile, the Chinese movie is the direct sequel to the 2019 film Ne Zha and the third film in the Fengshen franchise. The series is loosely based on the novel Investiture of the Gods. The...
The 2025 Chinese animated movie Ne Zha 2 has stunned the world with its unimaginable box office performance. It is already the highest-grossing film in the country’s history and the first 2025 film to earn over $900 million in just ten days. It will cross a massive milestone ahead of Sunday and has beaten Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ total as the highest-grossing film ever in a single market. Keep scrolling for the deets.
The Force Awakens is the sequel to the Return of the Jedi and the highest-grossing film of all time at the US box office. It collected $936.66 million in its domestic run. Meanwhile, the Chinese movie is the direct sequel to the 2019 film Ne Zha and the third film in the Fengshen franchise. The series is loosely based on the novel Investiture of the Gods. The...
- 2/8/2025
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi

The Chinese animated movie ‘Ne Zha 2’ has made history, earning over 7 billion Rmb (around $960.5 million) in China alone. This makes it the highest-grossing film ever in a single market, beating the previous record set by ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ which earned $936.7 million in North America. ‘Ne Zha 2’ has been a huge success since its release during the Lunar New Year period (January 28 – February 4) and continues to set new records.
The film broke the record for the biggest box office during the holiday season in China’s history. Just this past Thursday, it passed ‘The Battle at Lake Changjin’ to become China’s all-time highest-grossing movie.
As of now, ‘Ne Zha 2’ is still going strong, and experts predict it will soon reach 1 billion dollars in China, making it the first film to achieve this in a single market. Some forecasts are even predicting that the movie could...
The film broke the record for the biggest box office during the holiday season in China’s history. Just this past Thursday, it passed ‘The Battle at Lake Changjin’ to become China’s all-time highest-grossing movie.
As of now, ‘Ne Zha 2’ is still going strong, and experts predict it will soon reach 1 billion dollars in China, making it the first film to achieve this in a single market. Some forecasts are even predicting that the movie could...
- 2/8/2025
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon


A Chinese animated film has made history by breaking worldwide box office records, earning an unprecedented $960.5 million in its home market and positioning itself to become the first film to cross $1 billion in a single country.
“Ne Zha 2,” directed by Yang Yu, has surpassed the previous record set by “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” during its remarkable performance over the Lunar New Year holiday period. Industry tracking service Maoyan now predicts the film could reach a total of $1.48 billion in China alone.
The movie follows the magical adventures of Ne Zha and his friend Aobing, who face an existential crisis that threatens humanity. As their physical forms begin to dissolve, they must work with an immortal character to reconstruct their bodies and battle sea monsters.
This breakthrough comes at a critical time for China’s cinema industry. While 2024 saw a 25% decline in box office earnings, the...
“Ne Zha 2,” directed by Yang Yu, has surpassed the previous record set by “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” during its remarkable performance over the Lunar New Year holiday period. Industry tracking service Maoyan now predicts the film could reach a total of $1.48 billion in China alone.
The movie follows the magical adventures of Ne Zha and his friend Aobing, who face an existential crisis that threatens humanity. As their physical forms begin to dissolve, they must work with an immortal character to reconstruct their bodies and battle sea monsters.
This breakthrough comes at a critical time for China’s cinema industry. While 2024 saw a 25% decline in box office earnings, the...
- 2/8/2025
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely

With today’s running business included, Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has topped Rmb 7B ($960.5M) in China, far and away setting a new record for the biggest gross ever by a film in a single market worldwide. In reaching the milestone, this animated sequel overtakes 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens which was long the title holder for highest gross in a single market, that being $936.7M from North America.
Ne Zha 2 has been on a tear since it released during the Lunar New Year corridor in China (January 28-February 4). It set the single-film box office record for the holiday in the market’s history, and this past Thursday surpassed The Battle at Lake Changjin to become China’s biggest film ever.
The next record to fall will be when Ne Zha 2 soon hits $1B in China, thereby becoming the only film ever to...
Ne Zha 2 has been on a tear since it released during the Lunar New Year corridor in China (January 28-February 4). It set the single-film box office record for the holiday in the market’s history, and this past Thursday surpassed The Battle at Lake Changjin to become China’s biggest film ever.
The next record to fall will be when Ne Zha 2 soon hits $1B in China, thereby becoming the only film ever to...
- 2/8/2025
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV

“Ne Zha 2” has ascended to the pinnacle of the Chinese box office, becoming the highest-grossing film in the country’s history. The animated feature has amassed over RMB6.6 billion yuan ($905 million), per numbers from per ticketing and data firm Maoyan.
The film has easily surpassed the previous record held by the 2021 war epic “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” which earned $802 million, and sped past previous holders “Wolf Warriors 2” (2017, $791 million) and 2021’s “Hi, Mom” that collected $752 million.
Released on Jan. 29, to coincide with the Lunar New Year festivities, “Ne Zha 2” captivated audiences nationwide, contributing significantly to the holiday’s record-breaking box office total of $1.3 billion, an 18.8% increase from the previous year.
“Ne Zha 2” is showing no signs of slowing down post-Lunar New Year, with the animated juggernaut on track to hit a staggering $1.37 billion, per Maoyan. That milestone would make it the first film to crack the $1 billion mark in a single market.
The film has easily surpassed the previous record held by the 2021 war epic “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” which earned $802 million, and sped past previous holders “Wolf Warriors 2” (2017, $791 million) and 2021’s “Hi, Mom” that collected $752 million.
Released on Jan. 29, to coincide with the Lunar New Year festivities, “Ne Zha 2” captivated audiences nationwide, contributing significantly to the holiday’s record-breaking box office total of $1.3 billion, an 18.8% increase from the previous year.
“Ne Zha 2” is showing no signs of slowing down post-Lunar New Year, with the animated juggernaut on track to hit a staggering $1.37 billion, per Maoyan. That milestone would make it the first film to crack the $1 billion mark in a single market.
- 2/7/2025
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV


The Chinese film industry celebrated an extraordinary Lunar New Year with the animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” leading a record-breaking box office performance. The film generated an impressive Rmb 9.51 billion ($1.3 billion) between January 28 and February 4, marking a significant turnaround for the country’s entertainment sector.
“Ne Zha 2” emerged as the clear winner, earning Rmb 4.84 billion ($665.7 million) in its first week alone. The animated sequel has already claimed the title of highest-grossing animated film in a single market, outperforming Disney-Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” despite lower average ticket prices.
The film is on track to make global box office history. If it reaches its projected final gross of Rmb 8.7 billion ($1.2 billion), it will become the first film to cross the $1 billion mark in a single market, potentially surpassing the North American record set by “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.”
Directed by Yu Yang and based on the...
“Ne Zha 2” emerged as the clear winner, earning Rmb 4.84 billion ($665.7 million) in its first week alone. The animated sequel has already claimed the title of highest-grossing animated film in a single market, outperforming Disney-Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” despite lower average ticket prices.
The film is on track to make global box office history. If it reaches its projected final gross of Rmb 8.7 billion ($1.2 billion), it will become the first film to cross the $1 billion mark in a single market, potentially surpassing the North American record set by “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.”
Directed by Yu Yang and based on the...
- 2/5/2025
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely

A trio of U.K. stars have joined Guy Richie’s “Wife & Dog,” rounding out the cast of the director’s next adventure into the colourful and backstabbing world of the British upper classes (which he recently explored in “The Gentleman” film and TV series).
James Norton, Paddy Considine and Pip Torrens will star in the feature, now in production, joining the previously announced Cosmo Jarvis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rosamund Pike and Anthony Hopkins.
“Wife & Dog” — first announced by Variety — was written by Ritchie, who also produces alongside long-time producing partner, Ivan Atkinson and Black Bear’s John Friedberg. Executive producers include Teddy Schwarzman and Michael Heimler for Black Bear, and Louise Killin. Black Bear launched sales on the title in Cannes last year, and the film marks the company’s third collaboration with Ritchie and Atkinson following “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” and “In the Grey.”
The film...
James Norton, Paddy Considine and Pip Torrens will star in the feature, now in production, joining the previously announced Cosmo Jarvis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rosamund Pike and Anthony Hopkins.
“Wife & Dog” — first announced by Variety — was written by Ritchie, who also produces alongside long-time producing partner, Ivan Atkinson and Black Bear’s John Friedberg. Executive producers include Teddy Schwarzman and Michael Heimler for Black Bear, and Louise Killin. Black Bear launched sales on the title in Cannes last year, and the film marks the company’s third collaboration with Ritchie and Atkinson following “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” and “In the Grey.”
The film...
- 2/3/2025
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV

There are plenty of weird aliens roaming around the "Star Wars" universe, but one of the earliest ones the property introduced was the Tusken Raiders. Described with contempt by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as "Sand People" in "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope," these particular Tusken Raiders attack Luke and nearly steal his car before old Ben/Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) swoops in to scare them away. He then tells Luke they need to leave the scene soon, explaining, "The Sand People are easily startled but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers."
We don't see a whole lot of the Tusken Raiders after this in the original trilogy, but they do make a major return in the prequels, most notably when Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) murders a whole bunch of them -- men, women, and children alike. It's a dark moment for the character, but...
We don't see a whole lot of the Tusken Raiders after this in the original trilogy, but they do make a major return in the prequels, most notably when Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) murders a whole bunch of them -- men, women, and children alike. It's a dark moment for the character, but...
- 1/27/2025
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film

Ryan Gosling, best known for his role in Barbie, is reportedly negotiating to star in director Shawn Levy’s highly anticipated Star Wars project. Levy, celebrated for directing Deadpool and Wolverine, has been developing this standalone Star Wars film since 2022.
Sources suggest that if Gosling officially joins the project, production could begin as early as this autumn. The Star Wars film is expected to take precedence over Levy’s other commitments, including a boy band movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
Details About The Upcoming Star Wars Movie
Details about the storyline remain under wraps, including its setting within the Star Wars timeline and any possible ties to the Skywalker saga.
However, it has been confirmed that the movie will be a standalone addition to the franchise, much like 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Shawn Levy has emphasized his creative freedom in shaping this project. In a 2023 interview with Variety,...
Sources suggest that if Gosling officially joins the project, production could begin as early as this autumn. The Star Wars film is expected to take precedence over Levy’s other commitments, including a boy band movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
Details About The Upcoming Star Wars Movie
Details about the storyline remain under wraps, including its setting within the Star Wars timeline and any possible ties to the Skywalker saga.
However, it has been confirmed that the movie will be a standalone addition to the franchise, much like 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Shawn Levy has emphasized his creative freedom in shaping this project. In a 2023 interview with Variety,...
- 1/23/2025
- by Chijioke Chukwuemeka
- Celebrating The Soaps

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.
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.
- 1/22/2025
- by Dessi Gomez
- Deadline Film + TV

Ryan Gosling gearing up for a Star Wars role? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )
Ryan Gosling may be gearing up for a journey into the Star Wars universe. The actor is reportedly in talks for a feature project within the iconic franchise, with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ director Shawn Levy at the helm.
It Will Be a Standalone Film
Details about the film remain a mystery, though sources confirm it will be a standalone story, separate from the Skywalker Saga, meaning it won’t feature characters like Luke, Leia Skywalker and their father Anakin, aka Darth Vader. Gosling’s potential role in the project is also still unclear as of now.
Lev has been working on the project since 2022 and is collaborating with Jonathan Tropper on the script.
Trending Razzie Awards 2025: Despite Earning $550M+, Mufasa: The Lion King Joins Madame Web For Worst Cinematic Honors – See The Full List Of Nominations A...
Ryan Gosling may be gearing up for a journey into the Star Wars universe. The actor is reportedly in talks for a feature project within the iconic franchise, with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ director Shawn Levy at the helm.
It Will Be a Standalone Film
Details about the film remain a mystery, though sources confirm it will be a standalone story, separate from the Skywalker Saga, meaning it won’t feature characters like Luke, Leia Skywalker and their father Anakin, aka Darth Vader. Gosling’s potential role in the project is also still unclear as of now.
Lev has been working on the project since 2022 and is collaborating with Jonathan Tropper on the script.
Trending Razzie Awards 2025: Despite Earning $550M+, Mufasa: The Lion King Joins Madame Web For Worst Cinematic Honors – See The Full List Of Nominations A...
- 1/22/2025
- by Arunava Chakrabarty
- KoiMoi

Let’s be honest—the Star Wars universe is so expansive that the possibilities feel infinite. So, when the tantalizing rumor surfaced nearly 10 years ago that Ryan Gosling might play Luke Skywalker’s son in Episode VII, fans went absolutely wild. Now, don’t go waving your Jedi hand too quickly, because while this might sound like an outlandish rumor from a galaxy far, far away, it has more than a little spark of truth behind it.
Ryan Gosling | Jimmy Kimmel Live / YouTube
Disney had reportedly been eyeing Gosling and Zac Efron for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In this imagined scenario, the La La Land star would step into the role of Luke Skywalker’s son. Yes, Mark Hamill’s Luke, now the wise, reclusive Jedi in The Last Jedi after going into hiding, would have been passing the torch to a new generation—and Gosling was the chosen one.
Ryan Gosling | Jimmy Kimmel Live / YouTube
Disney had reportedly been eyeing Gosling and Zac Efron for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In this imagined scenario, the La La Land star would step into the role of Luke Skywalker’s son. Yes, Mark Hamill’s Luke, now the wise, reclusive Jedi in The Last Jedi after going into hiding, would have been passing the torch to a new generation—and Gosling was the chosen one.
- 1/22/2025
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire

Exclusive: International action star Iko Uwais, known for The Raid, Expendables and Skyline franchises, is officially launching his production label Uwais Pictures with two new films on sale at next month’s EFM in Berlin.
The action-focused production company he runs with his team of collaborators is expanding its remit to the global market. The aim is to replicate the success of modestly budgeted, local-language hits such as The Raid, The Raid: Redemption, and The Night Comes for Us.
First up on the slate are two completed action films: Timur, which is inspired by the 1996 Mapenduma hostage crisis, and Ikatan Darah. Both will be screened at the EFM by Uwais Pictures in collaboration with Gersh.
Indonesia-based action outfit Uwais Pictures specializes in incorporating fight choreography, action design, and stunt performance from the inception of its projects. Uwais and his team of collaborators have worked together for a number of years.
The action-focused production company he runs with his team of collaborators is expanding its remit to the global market. The aim is to replicate the success of modestly budgeted, local-language hits such as The Raid, The Raid: Redemption, and The Night Comes for Us.
First up on the slate are two completed action films: Timur, which is inspired by the 1996 Mapenduma hostage crisis, and Ikatan Darah. Both will be screened at the EFM by Uwais Pictures in collaboration with Gersh.
Indonesia-based action outfit Uwais Pictures specializes in incorporating fight choreography, action design, and stunt performance from the inception of its projects. Uwais and his team of collaborators have worked together for a number of years.
- 1/21/2025
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV

Disney has already kicked off the marketing campaign for an upcoming movie that will almost certainly make $1 billion. The entertainment conglomerate is no stranger to billion-dollar movies, as their Walt Disney Animation Studios animated output has included Frozen ($1.27 billion), Zootopia ($1.02 billion), and Frozen II ($1.45 billion) while billion-dollar Walt Disney Studios movies include 2019's The Lion King ($1.661 billion), 2017's Beauty and the Beast ($1.27 billion), 2019's Aladdin ($1.05 billion), and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest ($1.07 billion). However, the company has put out even more billion-dollar titles thanks to its acquisitions of various studios.
In fact, the only 2024 releases that have so far earned $1 billion belong to two of these studios, namely Pixar's Inside Out 2, which grossed $1.69 billion, becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, and Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine, which is the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, with $1.34 billion. Other acquisitions that have since turned out billion-dollar titles...
In fact, the only 2024 releases that have so far earned $1 billion belong to two of these studios, namely Pixar's Inside Out 2, which grossed $1.69 billion, becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, and Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine, which is the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, with $1.34 billion. Other acquisitions that have since turned out billion-dollar titles...
- 1/15/2025
- by Brennan Klein
- ScreenRant

The day people learned about Carrie Fisher’s death was perhaps the saddest day in the life of a Star Wars fan. She passed away in December 2016 just a few months after they completed The Last Jedi. Still, the actress appeared in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.
Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: The Last Jedi / Credits: Lucasfilm
The Star Wars team went through a rigorous process to make this happen, and since her story needed a conclusion, they had to make sure she’s there in the final installment of the sequel trilogy even though she could no longer be.
How J.J. Abrams resurrected Carrie Fisher for The Rise of Skywalker
It was a tricky decision to bring back Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia after her death, but director J.J. Abrams would not let go of the fact that she needed to be part of the story. They could...
Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: The Last Jedi / Credits: Lucasfilm
The Star Wars team went through a rigorous process to make this happen, and since her story needed a conclusion, they had to make sure she’s there in the final installment of the sequel trilogy even though she could no longer be.
How J.J. Abrams resurrected Carrie Fisher for The Rise of Skywalker
It was a tricky decision to bring back Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia after her death, but director J.J. Abrams would not let go of the fact that she needed to be part of the story. They could...
- 1/15/2025
- by Ariane Cruz
- FandomWire

From Walk the Line to Logan to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, James Mangold’s career has been defined by bold choices and creative risks. Now, he tackles a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, a film set 25,000 years before any other entry in the franchise. With co-writer Beau Willimon by his side, Mangold is poised to explore a truly uncharted era in the Star Wars universe — and he’s ready to defy expectations.
For Mangold, the appeal of Dawn of the Jedi lies in the creative freedom it offers. In an interview with MovieWeb, he explained, "To me, the really important aspects are the freedom to make something new. Beau and I [...] have been working on a script, and we'll see what happens [...] Do we find a way on the page to say something original?"
Originality in the Star Wars franchise is no small feat.
For Mangold, the appeal of Dawn of the Jedi lies in the creative freedom it offers. In an interview with MovieWeb, he explained, "To me, the really important aspects are the freedom to make something new. Beau and I [...] have been working on a script, and we'll see what happens [...] Do we find a way on the page to say something original?"
Originality in the Star Wars franchise is no small feat.
- 1/15/2025
- by Srabana Aich
- Winter Is Coming

Mark Hamill, the legendary Luke Skywalker, opened up about a scene from The Force Awakens that has sparked a lot of fan debate. Known for his sharp humor and deep connection to the Star Wars universe, he didn’t hold back when expressing his thoughts on Rey’s sudden mastery of the Force.
Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Credits: Lucasfilm
This particular moment has left many fans puzzled over the years, and Hamill’s take provides a fresh, witty perspective on what many consider a questionable part of the film. His comments are sure to resonate with fans who’ve long questioned the scene.
Why does Mark Hamill think Rey’s training in The Force Awakens doesn’t make sense?
Mark Hamill, the iconic actor who brought Luke Skywalker to life, has been very open about his thoughts on The Force Awakens. Not only that but he...
Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Credits: Lucasfilm
This particular moment has left many fans puzzled over the years, and Hamill’s take provides a fresh, witty perspective on what many consider a questionable part of the film. His comments are sure to resonate with fans who’ve long questioned the scene.
Why does Mark Hamill think Rey’s training in The Force Awakens doesn’t make sense?
Mark Hamill, the iconic actor who brought Luke Skywalker to life, has been very open about his thoughts on The Force Awakens. Not only that but he...
- 1/13/2025
- by Sakshi Singh
- FandomWire

Seven years before Star Wars: The Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams' popular show Lost referenced the single most iconic line in Star Wars. Lost premiered in 2004, and it captivated audiences for six seasons with its delightful characters, innovative concepts, and mind-bending plot twists. Although the Lost series finale remains controversial, the show is impressively still a topic of conversation nearly 15 years after its conclusion.
Creator and executive producer of Lost, J.J. Abrams, went on to direct The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, both of which also proved quite controversial. Lost and Star Wars have more in common than J.J. Abrams and a bit of controversy, though. One surprising (and devastating) moment in Lost season 4 was really the perfect Star Wars Easter egg.
Lost Season 4 Uses Star Wars' Most Iconic Line This Line Has Appeared In Star Wars From The Very Beginning
In Lost season 4, things...
Creator and executive producer of Lost, J.J. Abrams, went on to direct The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, both of which also proved quite controversial. Lost and Star Wars have more in common than J.J. Abrams and a bit of controversy, though. One surprising (and devastating) moment in Lost season 4 was really the perfect Star Wars Easter egg.
Lost Season 4 Uses Star Wars' Most Iconic Line This Line Has Appeared In Star Wars From The Very Beginning
In Lost season 4, things...
- 1/13/2025
- by Liz Declan
- ScreenRant

Hollywood doesn’t serve up lineups like this every day — a Marvel star rocking a baby bump, two Star Wars icons getting the Oscar nod, and Julia Roberts smack dab in the middle of her prime. This movie had it all: excellent performances, major star power, and a sprinkle of behind-the-scenes chaos to make it legendary.
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman | Credits: Touchstone Pictures
Roberts called it luck, but when the stars align this perfectly, you know it’s something special.
Julia Roberts’ lucky streak: Pregnancy surprises, oscar nods, and missed roles Julia Roberts in a still from Closer | Credits: Columbia Pictures
Julia Roberts might be Hollywood royalty, but even icons have near-misses. The Oscar-winning actress revealed that she turned down the lead in Nora Ephron’s 1998 rom-com You’ve Got Mail.
The role, made famous by Meg Ryan (who also appeared in the 2012 Star Trek TV episode as Captain Cole...
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman | Credits: Touchstone Pictures
Roberts called it luck, but when the stars align this perfectly, you know it’s something special.
Julia Roberts’ lucky streak: Pregnancy surprises, oscar nods, and missed roles Julia Roberts in a still from Closer | Credits: Columbia Pictures
Julia Roberts might be Hollywood royalty, but even icons have near-misses. The Oscar-winning actress revealed that she turned down the lead in Nora Ephron’s 1998 rom-com You’ve Got Mail.
The role, made famous by Meg Ryan (who also appeared in the 2012 Star Trek TV episode as Captain Cole...
- 1/13/2025
- by Heena Singh
- FandomWire

Mark Hamill has etched himself into the fabric of pop culture by playing Luke Skywalker, a character that is crucial in the Star Wars universe. The actor himself is known for being deeply committed to his craft. If you simply watch him talk for a minute, you’ll know how expressive he is, whether it be his body language or tone.
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi | Lucasfilm
Hamill has portrayed the Jedi Master with a beautiful mix of wisdom, vulnerability, and heroism. However, his return to one movie in the franchise made him feel both excited and disappointed, and here’s why!
Mark Hamill was disappointed by Star Wars: The Force Awakens Mark Hamill during Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 | Star Wars / YouTube
Mark Hamill was quite excited to know that he was returning to Star Wars in The Force Awakens.
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi | Lucasfilm
Hamill has portrayed the Jedi Master with a beautiful mix of wisdom, vulnerability, and heroism. However, his return to one movie in the franchise made him feel both excited and disappointed, and here’s why!
Mark Hamill was disappointed by Star Wars: The Force Awakens Mark Hamill during Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 | Star Wars / YouTube
Mark Hamill was quite excited to know that he was returning to Star Wars in The Force Awakens.
- 1/12/2025
- by Sonika Kamble
- FandomWire

It's been 10 years since I publicly revoked my love for a controversial Star Wars character, and now, I've completely changed my mind - and I want to formally give that love back to them. I was a child of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, having spent my most formative years watching as two of the three movies were released for the very first time. Much of the earliest parts of my childhood were defined by these movies, which bled into the first video games I played incessantly, and the action figures I borrowed from my brother.
Because I was so surrounded by the Star Wars prequels, with a particular passion for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, I loved essentially every aspect of them. The only thing I remember feeling hesitant about at the time was Anakin Skywalker burning on Mustafar, which was difficult to watch at such a young age.
Because I was so surrounded by the Star Wars prequels, with a particular passion for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, I loved essentially every aspect of them. The only thing I remember feeling hesitant about at the time was Anakin Skywalker burning on Mustafar, which was difficult to watch at such a young age.
- 1/12/2025
- by Molly Brizzell
- ScreenRant

The most controversial aspect of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker made this one line from Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith the perfect foreshadowing. The Star Wars sequel trilogy remains divisive among Star Wars movies and TV shows, with many still considering all three to be among Star Wars' worst movies, although The Rise of Skywalker in particular. There were admittedly problems with the sequel trilogy, but perhaps the single biggest criticism of all was the poorly explained resurrection of Emperor Palpatine.
This return was a true shock, not only because Palpatine seemed confirmed to be dead, but also because neither Star Wars: The Force Awakens nor Star Wars: The Last Jedi had given any indication that the story was headed in this direction. This is likely because a Palpatine resurrection wasn't the original plan—after all, the trilogy changed hands multiple times, making one clear arc difficult.
This return was a true shock, not only because Palpatine seemed confirmed to be dead, but also because neither Star Wars: The Force Awakens nor Star Wars: The Last Jedi had given any indication that the story was headed in this direction. This is likely because a Palpatine resurrection wasn't the original plan—after all, the trilogy changed hands multiple times, making one clear arc difficult.
- 1/12/2025
- by Liz Declan
- ScreenRant

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Stand #2
Star Wars has just revealed that a secret battle during the Battle of Jakku helped ensure the future events seen in the sequels. As seen in the established Star Wars canon, the Battle of Jakku was the definitive end of the Galactic Civil War with the surrender of the remaining Imperial forces to the New Republic, the aftermath of which is shown littering the desert world to be scavenged by Rey Skywalker in the years preceding The Force Awakens. However, it's recently been revealed that the conflict could have been much, much, worse.
In Marvel's new and canonical Battle of Jakku series, the Empire's Moff Adelhard initially refuses to accept the Empire's defeat after Endor. Operating in a state of denial, Adelhard didn't bow to Palpatine's protegé Gallius Rax who began marshaling Imperial forces over Jakku following the implementation of Operation Cinder,...
Star Wars has just revealed that a secret battle during the Battle of Jakku helped ensure the future events seen in the sequels. As seen in the established Star Wars canon, the Battle of Jakku was the definitive end of the Galactic Civil War with the surrender of the remaining Imperial forces to the New Republic, the aftermath of which is shown littering the desert world to be scavenged by Rey Skywalker in the years preceding The Force Awakens. However, it's recently been revealed that the conflict could have been much, much, worse.
In Marvel's new and canonical Battle of Jakku series, the Empire's Moff Adelhard initially refuses to accept the Empire's defeat after Endor. Operating in a state of denial, Adelhard didn't bow to Palpatine's protegé Gallius Rax who began marshaling Imperial forces over Jakku following the implementation of Operation Cinder,...
- 1/12/2025
- by Kevin Erdmann
- ScreenRant

From Walk the Line to Logan to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, James Mangold’s career has been defined by bold choices and creative risks. Now, he tackles a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, a film set 25,000 years before any other entry in the franchise. With co-writer Beau Willimon by his side, Mangold is poised to explore a truly uncharted era in the Star Wars universe — and he’s ready to defy expectations.
For Mangold, the appeal of Dawn of the Jedi lies in the creative freedom it offers. In an interview with MovieWeb, he explained, "To me, the really important aspects are the freedom to make something new. Beau and I... have been working on a script, and we'll see what happens... Do we find a way on the page to say something original?"
Originality in the Star Wars franchise is no small feat.
For Mangold, the appeal of Dawn of the Jedi lies in the creative freedom it offers. In an interview with MovieWeb, he explained, "To me, the really important aspects are the freedom to make something new. Beau and I... have been working on a script, and we'll see what happens... Do we find a way on the page to say something original?"
Originality in the Star Wars franchise is no small feat.
- 1/11/2025
- by Srabana Aich
- https://dorksideoftheforce.com/

The star of Netflix's recently released Western miniseries American Primeval, revealed that he broke his foot during a stunt while filming Episode 2. American Primeval, created by Mark L. Smith and directed by Pete Berg, is a gritty, six-episode limited series set in early northwestern America. The American Primeval cast is led by Taylor Kitsch, who portrays Isaac, sustained an injury while filming a fight scene.
During an interview with Decider, Kitsch reveals that he sustained the injury while filming a scene at a skinning camp. The scene involves Isaac defending Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin Rowell (Preston Mota), from a group of ill-tended bear trappers. Check out Kitsch's comment below:
"'I broke my foot in this and I think that was in episode 2 at the skinning camp"
Kitsch shares more details of his experience to People, explaining that a fellow stunt performer landed on his foot,...
During an interview with Decider, Kitsch reveals that he sustained the injury while filming a scene at a skinning camp. The scene involves Isaac defending Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin Rowell (Preston Mota), from a group of ill-tended bear trappers. Check out Kitsch's comment below:
"'I broke my foot in this and I think that was in episode 2 at the skinning camp"
Kitsch shares more details of his experience to People, explaining that a fellow stunt performer landed on his foot,...
- 1/9/2025
- by Alexis Zaccaria
- ScreenRant

Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford first met on the set of Star Wars in the mid-1970s and had an instant connection. Their on-screen chemistry as Han Solo and Princess Leia was a treat for the viewers. They were both ambitious actors working on a game-changing franchise that would redefine Hollywood.
Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Lucasfilms
Fisher was only 19 at the time and Ford was 33, and their affair remained a secret for a long time. But one statement suggests that the former possibly felt some guilt, particularly concerning Ford’s wife at the time.
Carrie Fisher hints at feeling guilty for Harrison Ford’s wife Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in Star Wars franchise | Lucasfilms
In her memoir, The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher puts forth a raw and honest account of their affair. “It wasn’t just my secret to keep,” her words...
Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Lucasfilms
Fisher was only 19 at the time and Ford was 33, and their affair remained a secret for a long time. But one statement suggests that the former possibly felt some guilt, particularly concerning Ford’s wife at the time.
Carrie Fisher hints at feeling guilty for Harrison Ford’s wife Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in Star Wars franchise | Lucasfilms
In her memoir, The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher puts forth a raw and honest account of their affair. “It wasn’t just my secret to keep,” her words...
- 1/9/2025
- by Sonika Kamble
- FandomWire

Portraying the on-screen lovers in the iconic galactic saga Star Wars, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher also got involved in a brief affair. The actors kept their romance out of the limelight, but the late actress opened up about their relationship in detail in her 2016 memoir, The Princess Diarist.
Han Solo and Princess Leia | Credit: Lucasfilm
Among the details about their affair and obsessively falling in love with her co-star on the set of the 1977 film, Fisher also reflected on her relationship with Ford at the time, revealing that the actor remained unresponsive to her even after she reached out to him shortly before her passing in 2016.
Carrie Fisher’s heartbreaking recollection of Harrison Ford shortly before her death
Known for portraying the fiery Rebel Princess Leia in the Star Wars saga, Carrie Fisher opened up about her brief relationship with co-star Harrison Ford in her 2016 memoir, The Princess Diarist.
Han Solo and Princess Leia | Credit: Lucasfilm
Among the details about their affair and obsessively falling in love with her co-star on the set of the 1977 film, Fisher also reflected on her relationship with Ford at the time, revealing that the actor remained unresponsive to her even after she reached out to him shortly before her passing in 2016.
Carrie Fisher’s heartbreaking recollection of Harrison Ford shortly before her death
Known for portraying the fiery Rebel Princess Leia in the Star Wars saga, Carrie Fisher opened up about her brief relationship with co-star Harrison Ford in her 2016 memoir, The Princess Diarist.
- 1/8/2025
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire

“F1,” the new Formula 1 racing movie starring Brad Pitt, is the latest high-profile production to have shot in Abu Dhabi. Cameras rolled on the film during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.
The hotly anticipated Apple Original film which, besides Pitt, stars Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia and Samson Kayo, recently wrapped filming on the Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A team comprising Pitt and Damson Idris spent a total 29 days filming in the emirate over three separate occasions, supported by local production partner Epic Films, according to a statement.
Filming for “F1” has taken place at actual Formula 1 events, like the British Grand Prix, the Rolex 24 at Daytona sportscar race as well as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The “F1” movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, follows Pitt as former Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes,...
The hotly anticipated Apple Original film which, besides Pitt, stars Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia and Samson Kayo, recently wrapped filming on the Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A team comprising Pitt and Damson Idris spent a total 29 days filming in the emirate over three separate occasions, supported by local production partner Epic Films, according to a statement.
Filming for “F1” has taken place at actual Formula 1 events, like the British Grand Prix, the Rolex 24 at Daytona sportscar race as well as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The “F1” movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, follows Pitt as former Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes,...
- 1/8/2025
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV

Few Star Wars properties show how dangerous blasters truly are, but the franchise’s first movie – A New Hope – and the first film in the sequel trilogy – Star Wars: The Force Awakens – are among them. Blasters are one of the Star Wars galaxy’s most common weapons, firing pulses of irradiated explosive gas known as blaster bolts, which explode on impact with solid objects. Blasters may be ubiquitous, but certain types of blasters are more powerful than others, as shown by civilian models, which struggle against body armor while military-grade blasters easily burn through it.
Blasters work in Star Wars by including different firing modes, with “kill” being the most common setting but “stun” being a useful alternative for incapacitating targets. The most powerful blasters not only include multiple firing modes, but also adjustable power settings, which can significantly change the abilities of blasters. Typically, blasters set to kill are...
Blasters work in Star Wars by including different firing modes, with “kill” being the most common setting but “stun” being a useful alternative for incapacitating targets. The most powerful blasters not only include multiple firing modes, but also adjustable power settings, which can significantly change the abilities of blasters. Typically, blasters set to kill are...
- 1/7/2025
- by David Miller
- ScreenRant

After some of the recent MCU smash successes, I can't believe it's been almost half a decade since the franchise last broke one key box office record. The MCU timeline has been rife with major financial successes, which encouraged the blossoming of the Marvel movie empire as we know it today, and led to a slew of releases that quickly earned audience adoration. With that said, it's easy to overestimate and underestimate the franchise in equal measure as a result of the high bar set for the MCU both critically and financially.
Since Avengers: Endgame is still the second-highest-grossing movie of all time - beat out for the top spot only narrowly by James Cameron's Avatar - conversations around the McU's upcoming releases are often based on whether it seems the future releases can ever hope to compare up to this behemoth installment and its various record-breaking results. Interestingly,...
Since Avengers: Endgame is still the second-highest-grossing movie of all time - beat out for the top spot only narrowly by James Cameron's Avatar - conversations around the McU's upcoming releases are often based on whether it seems the future releases can ever hope to compare up to this behemoth installment and its various record-breaking results. Interestingly,...
- 1/7/2025
- by Zoe Miskelly
- ScreenRant

It feels like Chris Hemsworth has been a full-fledged movie star for a long time, but he's a young pup compared to his "The Avengers" co-stars. While Hemsworth was well known in his native Australia after a series of television appearances in the 2000s, he didn't make his Hollywood feature debut until 2009 as the father of Captain James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek." So, he was only two whole years into his film acting career when he landed his thus far defining role as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since then, he's worked with a couple of legendary auteurs ("Blackhat" with Michael Mann and "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" with George Miller), but for the most part he's clearly defined, perhaps even a tad typecast, as Thor.
Now that the MCU appears to be in a calling-all-cars brand conundrum in the wake of its post-"Avengers: Endgame...
Now that the MCU appears to be in a calling-all-cars brand conundrum in the wake of its post-"Avengers: Endgame...
- 1/7/2025
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film


Somehow, Dark Helmet has returned.
In 1987, MGM and Brooksfilms released a feature-length parody of the Star Wars movie trilogy that would become almost as enduring as its target with Spaceballs, a Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis and John Candy-starring send-up of science-fiction’s three biggest films. Since then, George Lucas revived the Star Wars franchise with a second trilogy, spun off the series with countless novels, comic books, TV shows and video games, sold Star Wars to Disney for a bajillion Space Bucks and watched as the franchise bloated into a behemoth of cash-in content and merchandising that would make Yogurt proud.
However, in the nearly 40 years since Mel Brooks produced, wrote, directed and starred in Spaceballs, the comedy icon has taken a break from following every branching path that the vast, multimedia Star Wars franchise has gone down. As such, when Josh Gad approached Brooks about giving Spaceballs a...
In 1987, MGM and Brooksfilms released a feature-length parody of the Star Wars movie trilogy that would become almost as enduring as its target with Spaceballs, a Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis and John Candy-starring send-up of science-fiction’s three biggest films. Since then, George Lucas revived the Star Wars franchise with a second trilogy, spun off the series with countless novels, comic books, TV shows and video games, sold Star Wars to Disney for a bajillion Space Bucks and watched as the franchise bloated into a behemoth of cash-in content and merchandising that would make Yogurt proud.
However, in the nearly 40 years since Mel Brooks produced, wrote, directed and starred in Spaceballs, the comedy icon has taken a break from following every branching path that the vast, multimedia Star Wars franchise has gone down. As such, when Josh Gad approached Brooks about giving Spaceballs a...
- 1/6/2025
- Cracked

Though Star Wars’ lightsabers are undoubtedly iconic, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has recently reiterated that they do not define what it truly means to be a Jedi. Lightsabers have been a part of Star Wars’ iconography since the beginning. The first time we see Darth Vader wield his blood-red lightsaber or see Luke Skywalker turn on his father’s blue lightsaber is intrinsically tied to our love for Star Wars.
Since then, the importance of lightsabers to the Jedi has become a focal point for the franchise. Lightsabers are an extension of a Jedi. Building them is an almost spiritual ritual, a milestone to be achieved. Losing one is like losing a limb. We’ve witnessed Jedi fight countless duels and battles with their lightsabers, acting as beacons in the metaphorical and literal darkness. There’s more to the Jedi than lightsabers, though, and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has recently...
Since then, the importance of lightsabers to the Jedi has become a focal point for the franchise. Lightsabers are an extension of a Jedi. Building them is an almost spiritual ritual, a milestone to be achieved. Losing one is like losing a limb. We’ve witnessed Jedi fight countless duels and battles with their lightsabers, acting as beacons in the metaphorical and literal darkness. There’s more to the Jedi than lightsabers, though, and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has recently...
- 1/5/2025
- by El Kuiper
- ScreenRant

Sunday Am Writethru: After Saturday Am update. The first weekend of 2025 — which sources have declared “a normal year” — is eyeing a grand estimated total of $105.5M for all movies, which is certainly better at +23% than the first weekend of 2024 which did $85.9M, per Box Office Mojo. Overall, it was a blasé frame of holiday carryovers without any new wide releases: one of three currently in 2025 along with Oct. 31 and Dec. 12.
The first weekend currently ranks second on a post-covid basis to that of 2023 when the holdover success of Avatar: The Way With Water and M3GAN delivered a $106.2M marketplace. We did not hear of any major theater closures (yet) due to Winter Storm Blair, which is expected to impact over 60 million people, per CNN, from the Plains to the East Coast with a mix of snow, ice and blizzard conditions. For fun, just to juxtapose that number next to the moviegoing public,...
The first weekend currently ranks second on a post-covid basis to that of 2023 when the holdover success of Avatar: The Way With Water and M3GAN delivered a $106.2M marketplace. We did not hear of any major theater closures (yet) due to Winter Storm Blair, which is expected to impact over 60 million people, per CNN, from the Plains to the East Coast with a mix of snow, ice and blizzard conditions. For fun, just to juxtapose that number next to the moviegoing public,...
- 1/5/2025
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV

While Harrison Ford has headlined many acclaimed releases on both the big and small screen to this date, for many, his career is mostly defined by Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Given how rich his filmography has been, it’s safe to say that being linked to one specific franchise would be frustrating for any actor, and the actor hasn’t shied away from dishing out playful jabs at the IP.
Harrison Ford as Han Solo | Credit: Lucasfilm
Although most of his apparent issues with Star Wars seemingly boil down to its cultural impact, which has often taken the spotlight away from Ford’s other works, he did have one specific issue with his character.
Han Solo isn’t Harrison Ford’s brightest gig Han Solo in the Star Wars | Credit: Lucasfilm
Despite Han Solo’s stature in the beloved franchise, Harrison Ford isn’t really a big fan of his persona.
Harrison Ford as Han Solo | Credit: Lucasfilm
Although most of his apparent issues with Star Wars seemingly boil down to its cultural impact, which has often taken the spotlight away from Ford’s other works, he did have one specific issue with his character.
Han Solo isn’t Harrison Ford’s brightest gig Han Solo in the Star Wars | Credit: Lucasfilm
Despite Han Solo’s stature in the beloved franchise, Harrison Ford isn’t really a big fan of his persona.
- 1/5/2025
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire

Christopher Nolan is not going to touch another film in the superhero genre after the Dark Knight trilogy. He was quick to reply with a “no” when asked the same during an interview. Nolan’s films, in which Christian Bale played Batman, are often hailed as some of the best superhero films of all time. However, it doesn’t mean Nolan is done with big franchises.
Christopher Nolan with Matt Damon and Matthew McConaughey on the sets of Interstellar | Credits: Paramount Pictures
He couldn’t give a definitive answer when asked about directing a Star Wars film. It appears that George Lucas’ space opera films have always challenged the Inception director, who once shared that he was afraid to touch the subject. According to the director, he first saw the 1977 film when he was just seven years old.
Christopher Nolan would never return to the superhero genre after The Dark Knight...
Christopher Nolan with Matt Damon and Matthew McConaughey on the sets of Interstellar | Credits: Paramount Pictures
He couldn’t give a definitive answer when asked about directing a Star Wars film. It appears that George Lucas’ space opera films have always challenged the Inception director, who once shared that he was afraid to touch the subject. According to the director, he first saw the 1977 film when he was just seven years old.
Christopher Nolan would never return to the superhero genre after The Dark Knight...
- 1/4/2025
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Last Stand #1
Star Wars has finally begun to explain where its most famous heroes were during the Battle of Jakku. The aftermath of this battle was prominently featured on the desert world in 2015's Force Awakens, having served as the last definitive conflict that ended the Galactic Civil War, about a year after the destruction of the second Death Star over Endor. That said, the specifics about Luke, Leia, Lando, and Han Solo's involvement haven't really been revealed before.
While previous novels, comics, and even games have covered the Battle of Jakku, the details and the whereabouts of certain characters have been slim. Luke Skywalker's involvement in particular has only been covered in myth and legend. Leia, Han Solo, and Lando Calrissian can be accounted for before and after the battle, but not their exact involvement during Jakku itself.
Star Wars has finally begun to explain where its most famous heroes were during the Battle of Jakku. The aftermath of this battle was prominently featured on the desert world in 2015's Force Awakens, having served as the last definitive conflict that ended the Galactic Civil War, about a year after the destruction of the second Death Star over Endor. That said, the specifics about Luke, Leia, Lando, and Han Solo's involvement haven't really been revealed before.
While previous novels, comics, and even games have covered the Battle of Jakku, the details and the whereabouts of certain characters have been slim. Luke Skywalker's involvement in particular has only been covered in myth and legend. Leia, Han Solo, and Lando Calrissian can be accounted for before and after the battle, but not their exact involvement during Jakku itself.
- 1/1/2025
- by Kevin Erdmann
- ScreenRant

As much as Adam Driver's career has reached some impressive highs, it has been met with some notable lows. On the one hand, Driver has been a part of some major moneymakers over the past decade. All three of his Star Wars movies made over $1 billion, with Star Wars: The Force Awakens making just shy of $2.1 billion. On the other hand, however, Driver has played roles in films that have lost boatloads of money. Most infamously, he played the lead in Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis, which made a mere $13.8 million on an $120 million budget.
The same disparity applies to the critical reception of Driver's films as well. The actor has been a part of indie darlings like Frances Ha and Inside Llewyn Davis that have earned Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes scores of over 90%. His work has been praised in similarly high-scoring movies like Paterson and Marriage Story. On the other hand,...
The same disparity applies to the critical reception of Driver's films as well. The actor has been a part of indie darlings like Frances Ha and Inside Llewyn Davis that have earned Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes scores of over 90%. His work has been praised in similarly high-scoring movies like Paterson and Marriage Story. On the other hand,...
- 12/31/2024
- by Hannah Gearan
- ScreenRant

Abu Dhabi is stepping up efforts to lure more film and TV shoots to the United Arab Emirates’ capital by enhancing its new rebate, which is now set to reach up to 50% of qualified below-the-line spend starting in January.
After becoming a prime Middle East hub for Hollywood and Bollywood productions over the past decade, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission in October announced they were upping their previous 30% rebate to more than 35%. Now they have unveiled how, on top of the rebate’s new 35% baseline, productions can reach a total rebate of 50% on their principal photography and post-production costs by meeting new criteria.
These include featuring the UAE’s national history, culture and identity in the productions’ storylines; carrying out full post-production work in Abu Dhabi; and doing the main unit production of a feature film in Abu Dhabi and/or filming an entire TV series in the emirate.
Abu...
After becoming a prime Middle East hub for Hollywood and Bollywood productions over the past decade, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission in October announced they were upping their previous 30% rebate to more than 35%. Now they have unveiled how, on top of the rebate’s new 35% baseline, productions can reach a total rebate of 50% on their principal photography and post-production costs by meeting new criteria.
These include featuring the UAE’s national history, culture and identity in the productions’ storylines; carrying out full post-production work in Abu Dhabi; and doing the main unit production of a feature film in Abu Dhabi and/or filming an entire TV series in the emirate.
Abu...
- 12/30/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV

7 years after the premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I still can't believe that Star Wars missed the opportunity to take full advantage of the movie's, and one of the franchise's, biggest plot twists. The Last Jedi is known for deviating greatly from the path Star Wars: The Force Awakens initially set everything on, from Luke Skywalker's refusal to train Rey to Finn's attempt to flee the Resistance - amongst many other things. Not all of these deviations were necessarily negative, but they certainly caused a great uproar that has since made The Last Jedi highly controversial.
Of all these twists, however, one still stands out the most to me, but mostly because of its missed potential. This was a moment I hadn't expected to see in the least, even as it was foreshadowed over the course of the film, and I was genuinely shocked in the...
Of all these twists, however, one still stands out the most to me, but mostly because of its missed potential. This was a moment I hadn't expected to see in the least, even as it was foreshadowed over the course of the film, and I was genuinely shocked in the...
- 12/29/2024
- by Molly Brizzell
- ScreenRant

A major Easter egg in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew suggests that Star Wars' most terrifying villains may be having a secret resurgence. Skeleton Crew is the newest addition to Star Wars' movies and TV shows, and it has already proven itself as a unique story in the franchise. Unlike the story of the Jedi and the Sith seen in so many Star Wars stories, particularly Star Wars movies, Skeleton Crew focuses primarily on pirates.
However, the most recent episode of the new show suggested that the Sith could have some role to play in Skeleton Crew after all, and it could have major implications for the Star Wars galaxy. Skeleton Crew is set during the New Republic Era of the Star Wars timeline, between Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With Skeleton Crew being closer to Return of the Jedi, this should be a period of relative inactivity for the Sith,...
However, the most recent episode of the new show suggested that the Sith could have some role to play in Skeleton Crew after all, and it could have major implications for the Star Wars galaxy. Skeleton Crew is set during the New Republic Era of the Star Wars timeline, between Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With Skeleton Crew being closer to Return of the Jedi, this should be a period of relative inactivity for the Sith,...
- 12/28/2024
- by Liz Declan
- ScreenRant

Star Wars' newest TV show, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, is giving me absolutely everything I wanted from the Star Wars sequel trilogy—and I'm loving it. The Star Wars sequel trilogy still receives plenty of criticism, even five years after the final movie of the trilogy debuted. There were admittedly a number of problems with the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in particular, although I tend to have a more favorable view of the movies than most (perhaps with the exception of The Rise of Skywalker).
Part of the issue with the sequels, and why they were a letdown to so many viewers, is that they felt like a wasted opportunity. This era of the Star Wars timeline had yet to be explored in Star Wars' new canon, following Disney's acquisition of the franchise, meaning the story possibilities were endless. Rather than break away from the norm,...
Part of the issue with the sequels, and why they were a letdown to so many viewers, is that they felt like a wasted opportunity. This era of the Star Wars timeline had yet to be explored in Star Wars' new canon, following Disney's acquisition of the franchise, meaning the story possibilities were endless. Rather than break away from the norm,...
- 12/28/2024
- by Liz Declan
- ScreenRant
Moana 2 Domestic Box Office Nearing Major Milestone The Original Disney Movie Missed Internationally

Moana 2 is approaching a huge domestic milestone. The new Disney animated movie is the sequel to their 2016 smash hit and follows the title character (Auli'i Cravalho) reuniting with the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) for a brand-new adventure. The Moana 2 release began the day before U.S. Thanksgiving, but it has continued to thrive through the Christmas holiday weekend, maintaining the No. 1 position for three consecutive weeks and keeping a spot in the Top 5 through its fifth weekend so far.
Per Deadline, as of Saturday morning, the Moana 2 box office is projected to reach a cumulative domestic total of $394.2 million by the end of the post-Christmas weekend. This sees the movie drawing ever closer to the $400 million domestic milestone, which only three movies have passed so far in 2024. The original movie was unable to pass this milestone in either market, as it earned $248.7 million in North America and $643.3 million internationally.
Per Deadline, as of Saturday morning, the Moana 2 box office is projected to reach a cumulative domestic total of $394.2 million by the end of the post-Christmas weekend. This sees the movie drawing ever closer to the $400 million domestic milestone, which only three movies have passed so far in 2024. The original movie was unable to pass this milestone in either market, as it earned $248.7 million in North America and $643.3 million internationally.
- 12/28/2024
- by Brennan Klein
- ScreenRant

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has introduced a new starship that gives even the Millennium Falcon a run for its money as Star Wars' biggest "hunk of junk." Although the Falcon has become iconic in Star Wars movies and TV shows and is largely considered one of the best starships in Star Wars, it is a long-running joke in the franchise that the Falcon is really just a piece of junk. Luke was the first to verbalize this in the original Star Wars trilogy, but Rey reiterated it in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, referring to the Falcon as "garbage."
Skeleton Crew has now introduced a new ship, the Onyx Cinder, a pirate starship previously owned by the famed pirate Tak Rennod. Despite having quite the legacy, though, the Onyx Cinder has clearly fallen into disrepair over the years, no doubt in part because it was lodged in the ground of At Attin,...
Skeleton Crew has now introduced a new ship, the Onyx Cinder, a pirate starship previously owned by the famed pirate Tak Rennod. Despite having quite the legacy, though, the Onyx Cinder has clearly fallen into disrepair over the years, no doubt in part because it was lodged in the ground of At Attin,...
- 12/27/2024
- by Liz Declan
- ScreenRant

Star Wars: The Last Jedi secretly revealed Han Solo's revenge against the First Order, but you can be forgiven for not spotting it. Rian Johnson's controversial Star Wars sequel is often criticized for pivoting too much on the story of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There's an old saying that the devil is in the details - but in this case, a lot of the continuity is as well.
Take, for example, the death of Han Solo. Han sacrificed himself on a mission to rescue Rey from the First Order, taking the opportunity to confront his son. The scene was heartbreaking, with a beloved member of the Star Wars original trilogy cast dying at Kylo Ren's hands. But The Last Jedi subtly gave Han his revenge.
Quick Links "Han Says Hi" Is The Perfect Payback Han Was A Legend, & Wasn't Just Mourned By Leia "Han Says Hi...
Take, for example, the death of Han Solo. Han sacrificed himself on a mission to rescue Rey from the First Order, taking the opportunity to confront his son. The scene was heartbreaking, with a beloved member of the Star Wars original trilogy cast dying at Kylo Ren's hands. But The Last Jedi subtly gave Han his revenge.
Quick Links "Han Says Hi" Is The Perfect Payback Han Was A Legend, & Wasn't Just Mourned By Leia "Han Says Hi...
- 12/27/2024
- by Thomas Bacon
- ScreenRant

Adam Driver's career has starkly divided both critics and audiences. The actor's strong points have been quite so, with films such as BlacKkKlansman and Paterson scoring a universally positive 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Driver's career has also included several other movies with Rotten Tomatoes scores in the 90s, including early indie hits such as Frances Ha and Inside Llewyn Davis as well as mainstream favorites like Star Wars: The Force Awakens. On the other hand, the actor's lows have gone pretty low, including his 36% Tomatometer for 65 and 44% for This is Where I Leave You.
What is odd about Driver is that even his better-rated movies have been the subject of mockery and memes. This most notably includes Marriage Story, which, despite earning Driver an Oscar nomination and strong critical reviews, has been the subject of ridicule in the years since its release. This year, Driver was in the mixed-reviewed Megalopolis,...
What is odd about Driver is that even his better-rated movies have been the subject of mockery and memes. This most notably includes Marriage Story, which, despite earning Driver an Oscar nomination and strong critical reviews, has been the subject of ridicule in the years since its release. This year, Driver was in the mixed-reviewed Megalopolis,...
- 12/27/2024
- by Hannah Gearan
- ScreenRant
I Watched The Star Wars Movies In Both Chronological And Release Order, & Here's Which One Is Better

Few things are more satisfying for Star Wars fans than a complete movie marathon, but is it better to watch them in chronological or release order? I first heard of this debate as a kid when I decided to watch Star Wars for the first time and was renting the movies at my local library. I assumed I should start with Episode I, but my mom kindly informed me that I should watch the Star Wars original trilogy first.
It turned out that George Lucas started with Episode IV and then returned to make the Star Wars prequel trilogy several years later. While fans have plenty of arguments in favor of both orders, I decided to see which holds up best when applied to all 11 live-action Star Wars movies. So, whether you're showing someone the saga for the first time or having a marathon, here's what I believe is the best Star Wars viewing order.
It turned out that George Lucas started with Episode IV and then returned to make the Star Wars prequel trilogy several years later. While fans have plenty of arguments in favor of both orders, I decided to see which holds up best when applied to all 11 live-action Star Wars movies. So, whether you're showing someone the saga for the first time or having a marathon, here's what I believe is the best Star Wars viewing order.
- 12/26/2024
- by Nathaniel Roark
- ScreenRant

Director Christopher Nolan has established himself as one of the few filmmakers who can consistently tell fresh stories. Nolan’s films received critical acclaim and the director built his success on the back of his Dark Knight trilogy. However, Nolan has since stayed away from the plague of franchise filmmaking.
Christopher Nolan is known for his unique filmmaking style (Credit: BFI | YouTube).
During an interview, Nolan discussed his link-up with directing a Star Wars movie and admitted to being a fan of the franchise. While he admitted that the space opera saga impacted him as a filmmaker, he couldn’t dare touch the franchise for one important reason. Here is why Nolan revealed he could never direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Christopher Nolan admitted he could never direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens
J.J. Abrams launched a new era of the Star Wars franchise with the first installment in...
Christopher Nolan is known for his unique filmmaking style (Credit: BFI | YouTube).
During an interview, Nolan discussed his link-up with directing a Star Wars movie and admitted to being a fan of the franchise. While he admitted that the space opera saga impacted him as a filmmaker, he couldn’t dare touch the franchise for one important reason. Here is why Nolan revealed he could never direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Christopher Nolan admitted he could never direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens
J.J. Abrams launched a new era of the Star Wars franchise with the first installment in...
- 12/24/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire

Although her name is now canonically Rey Skywalker, the original idea for Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was key both for the character and for the future of Star Wars. Admittedly, I don't dislike the idea of Rey Skywalker. I think Rey's name is perfect payback for Anakin Skywalker, in that Rey rejected the Palpatine name and lineage and instead continued Anakin's legacy—effectively giving the Skywalkers the final word. Even so, the idea for Rey to be a nobody was so much more compelling, both in The Force Awakens and in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
This began with Rey being little more than an orphaned scavenger from Jakku, which Kylo Ren directly referenced when he interrogated her in The Force Awakens. The Last Jedi maintained this idea, with Kylo telling Rey she was nothing and didn't have a place in this story. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker...
This began with Rey being little more than an orphaned scavenger from Jakku, which Kylo Ren directly referenced when he interrogated her in The Force Awakens. The Last Jedi maintained this idea, with Kylo telling Rey she was nothing and didn't have a place in this story. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker...
- 12/24/2024
- by Liz Declan
- ScreenRant

Many characters in Game of Thrones failed to make it to the screen adaptation due to budget constraints, and it’s sad to know that many of them have fascinating stories and lives worth exploring. In fact, some of them have a close connection with the main characters in the HBO series.
House Martell in Game of Thrones / Credits: HBO
One of the most underappreciated houses in the show was House Martell. Clearly, the figures from this clan deserved more spotlight because they are not just a noble house, but they played a crucial role in keeping the independence of Dorne.
Game of Thrones wasted Quentyn Martell’s possibly epic TV storyline
One of the most popular characters from House Martell in Game of Thrones was Pedro Pascal’s Oberyn Martell. He became the most memorable because of his brutal fight with The Mountain, which ended with the former’s demise.
House Martell in Game of Thrones / Credits: HBO
One of the most underappreciated houses in the show was House Martell. Clearly, the figures from this clan deserved more spotlight because they are not just a noble house, but they played a crucial role in keeping the independence of Dorne.
Game of Thrones wasted Quentyn Martell’s possibly epic TV storyline
One of the most popular characters from House Martell in Game of Thrones was Pedro Pascal’s Oberyn Martell. He became the most memorable because of his brutal fight with The Mountain, which ended with the former’s demise.
- 12/23/2024
- by Ariane Cruz
- FandomWire
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