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This December, Peacock is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the highly anticipated comedy series Laid to the streaming release of the hit horror film Speak No Evil. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Peacock this month and have an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the five best films that are coming to Peacock in December 2024 with an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Catch Me If You Can (December 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96% Credit – Amblin Entertainment

Catch Me If You Can is a biographical crime comedy-drama film directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson. Based on the semi-autobiographical book of the same name by Frank Abagnale Jr., the 2002 film follows Frank Abagnale Jr, a young con man who cashes forged cheques while posing as a pilot,...

Zach Bryan Warned Fans After Item Was Thrown On Stage (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Zach Bryan paused his concert after a fan threw an item onto the stage and scolded them before warning them they would be kicked out.

The flying object hit the other guitarist on stage during Bryan’s concert at the Tacoma Dome in Washington on Saturday.

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Zach Bryan Was Furious With The Incident

The 28-year-old asked fans, “Who threw this?” moments after he grabbed the item from the floor. “Who was it? Does anyone know? Who was it?” he continued, adding, “Don’t throw s–t at concerts!”

Bryan threw the item back to the floor before stepping away from the microphone, only to return and continue reprimanding the unidentified fan. “And if you know who threw it, we can get them out of here,...

Four months into his tenure as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has faced mounting public disappointment, even prompting a petition demanding a fresh general election. And the petition, which has now earned over 2 million signatures, has also gained the backing of the retired Hollywood actor Michael Caine.

Michael Caine in The Dark Knight Trilogy | Credit: Warner Bros.

The Oscar-winning actor, celebrated for his iconic performances across a diverse range throughout his career, has taken the front row to voice his support for the movement and advocate for new elections.

Michael Caine Joins Growing Call for Fresh UK Elections as Petition Surpasses 2 Million Signatures

After Elon Musk, the legendary British actor Michael Caine has also shared his support for the ongoing petition calling for a fresh general election in the United Kingdom.

Michael Caine | Credit: Manfred Werner / Tsui/Cca By-sa 3.0/Wikimedia Commons

Known for his performances in classics like Get Carter, Alfie,...

Inception is a film that boggled the minds of millions of people and left the world with an ambiguous ending. With a script from Christopher Nolan and the visionary director’s skills, the movie was a rollercoaster (of dreams and reality).

Cillian Murphy in a still from Inception | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Amidst the plethora of thrilling scenes and collapsing dreams, the world fell in love with Leonardo DiCaprio’s iconic character. Having nightmares about his wife, DiCaprio spins the top at the end of the film and the scene cuts to black right before the spin seems to topple.

How Christopher Nolan Chose To End Inception

The entire film delves into the concepts of sleep and dreams. With DiCaprio’s Cobb usually stealing ideas from other people’s minds, the lead character is tasked with a reverse heist where he has to implant an idea. Well, the sleep is just the beginning.

Sandra Bullock almost killed Michael Caine? (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Sandra Bullock nearly turned Miss Congeniality into a murder mystery—and Michael Caine was almost the victim. The actress recently confessed that the legendary British star had a near-death experience during filming when he fell into an unmarked stage pit. Talk about a plot twist no one saw coming!

Sharing the wild moment on the About Last Night podcast, Sandra explained that a bright light was shining on Caine when he suddenly vanished—straight into the abyss. “He could’ve sued us, but he didn’t,” she admitted, still marveling at his grace under pressure. The crew freaked out, of course, but the ever-classy Caine brushed it off like a pro.

How did he bounce back? Quite literally. Sandra called him “a beast” who recovered so fast it was almost supernatural. Fun fact: acupuncturists on set “jumped on him” and left him feeling “bright as rain.

Screenwriter Derek Kolstad wrote around 50 scripts before he finally broke through with the spec screenplay that became John Wick.

It’s an odd profession, screenwriting. There are some who’ve spent years trying to break into it, only to have their work changed to such a degree that their original idea has effectively vanished by the time it reaches the screen. There are others who get paid handsomely by studios to write screenplays that then wind up on a shelf, unused. For every celebrated screenwriter with millions in the bank and awards on their shelves, there are countless others who are behind on their rent and remain largely unknown.

Screenwriter Derek Kolstad, meanwhile, is something of an inspiration. He toiled away for years in the hope of making a career out of writing, and almost gave up when some of the low-budget movies he worked on didn’t bring in much of a salary.

Serendipity seems to follow Ralph Macchio — and it most recently took him to Australia.

In October, Coldplay released the song “The Karate Kid,” and it’s exactly what you think it’s about, down to the lyrics about “Daniel.” That, of course, is the name of the lead character played by Macchio in three “The Karate Kid” movies and six seasons of Netflix’s “Cobra Kai.” After Macchio heard the tune, he shared it on social media — and that’s when Coldplay concocted a plan. Frontman Chris Martin asked Macchio to come to Australia, where they were playing a series of dates, and film the music video. The ruse included bringing the actor on stage to help perform “The Karate Kid.”

“It was just one of those whirlwind things,” says Macchio, who just returned from Down Under. “It’s just a beautiful track. It blew my mind that he wrote the song,...

Despite his many memorable leading man performances over the years, Jude Law has at least one regret in his filmography.

The 2x Oscar nominee recently reflected on director Charles Shyer’s 2004 remake of Alfie as a “bad move” for his career following Academy Award-nominated performances in Cold Mountain (2003) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).

“I was in a really strong position [at that time] because I’d just had another [Oscar] nomination on the back of Cold Mountain, and for Alfie to be the film I chose to do quite soon after that, I think was a bad move,” Law told British GQ.

After Michael Caine portrayed the titular playboy in the original 1966 film, followed by Alan Price in the 1975 sequel Alfie Darling, Law was left underwhelmed by an early screening of his own rendition.

“I just felt it hadn’t elevated [the material] and felt a little light, a little too cheesy,” he admitted. “I think...

Jude Law admitted in an interview with GQ Magazine UK that it was a “bad move” to sign on to star in 2004’s “Alfie” after earning his second Oscar nomination. Law earned raves for “Cold Mountain” and competed for best actor at the Academy Awards. Then came “Alfie,” a remake of the 1966 film starring Michael Caine. The movie flopped at the box office and was mostly panned by critics.

“I was in a really strong position [at that time] because I’d just had another [Oscar] nomination on the back of ‘Cold Mountain,'” Law said, “and for ‘Alfie’ to be the film I chose to do quite soon after that, I think was a bad move. I just felt it hadn’t elevated [the material] and felt a little light, a little too cheesy. I think it was made for too much money, and I was probably paid too much money, which I underestimated at the time.

Interstellar Box Office Re-Release (Italy): Re-Issue Day Update ( Photo Credit – Prime Video )

Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar will always be one of the director’s best works. It is one of Nolan’s highest-grossing films, and it is making a comeback in the theatres. It has already arrived in cinemas in some parts of the world. In Italy, it is already winning hearts again. Scroll below for the deets.

The movie was originally released in 2014 and is returning to celebrate its tenth anniversary. A few months back, Variety reported about the film’s re-release; as per that, it will be shown on 70mm IMAX prints as well as on digital screens. The sci-fi drama by Nolan had an ensemble cast comprising Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, Matt Damon, and Michael Caine.

Interstellar is set in a dystopian future where Earth is suffering from catastrophic blight and famine.

“What a thrill to be here in the Criterion … cupboard,” said Jude Law as he cheekily hinted at his British sensibilities within what is actually — quite famously — known as the Criterion Closet. Though America has many faults, this is not one of them and we will forgive Law this grievous correction.

Taking a stop in the closet amidst promoting his period cop thriller “The Order” and the upcoming Disney+ series “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” Law took home six films that reflect his broad appreciation for cinema and all it can offer. After pulling off Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Stalker” and discussing its “stillness” alongside another one of the filmmaker’s epic works, “Andrei Rubelev,” the actor selected a classic French film with connections to one of his earliest roles.

“So this holds a very special place in my heart. ‘Purple Noon’ or ‘Plein Soleil,’ which was the first realization of ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley...

Merry Saltzman, the firstborn child of Harry Saltzman, who co-produced the first nine James Bond films, has died. She was 77.

Saltzman died Oct. 30 at her home in San Jose, California, after a brief battle with cancer, family members told The Hollywood Reporter.

Saltzman served as an associate producer on the 2019 feature Mermaid Down, and four years earlier, she announced that she had secured the rights to a stage project she was calling James Bond: The Musical. The show, a parody, was designed to open in Las Vegas or Broadway but never made it.

Saltzman was born in Manhattan on Dec. 21, 1946, to Herschel Saltzman, a Canadian, and the first of his three wives, Tanya. Before the movies, her father served as a wartime spy, and she “helped in an amazing way to enlighten his work and contribution to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and in the U.S. secret service Oss,...

Christopher Nolan’s space epic Interstellar is set to for an Imax rerelease to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the film’s theatrical debut.

Commencing Dec. 6, Imax will host a one-week exclusive rerelease of the Paramount Pictures movie in 70mm film and digital in select cities in states including New York, California, Texas, Arizona, Indiana and Florida. Tickets go on sale Nov. 7 for the 70mm film screenings. Advance ticket sales for digital screenings will be available later in November.

Interstellar — shot with 64 minutes in exclusive Imax aspect-ratio — earned $730 million at the global box office and picked up five Oscar nominations, with a win for best visual effects. The A-list cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Timothée Chalamet, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Irwin, Wes Bentley, David Oyelowo and Casey Affleck.

Nolan has worked closely with Imax for years, including when he made the Dark Knight...

Blu-ray.com has announced the new release of a 4K Collector’s Edition Blu-ray for the 1992 Ron Howard movie Far and Away. The film stars Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Thomas Gibson, Robert Prosky, and Barbara Babcock. This new physical media release comes from the Shout Factory label and is scheduled to hit retailers on December 17.

Description: Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in the critically acclaimed romantic adventure, Far And Away, from director Ron Howard. Joseph Donelly (Cruise), a poor tenant farmer, is determined to bring justice to an oppressive landlord, but soon finds himself running away with the man’s daughter (Kidman) to America in a quest for land. In the excitement of the Oklahoma land rush, they realize their dreams of land and life together in this breathtaking epic of love and freedom.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

Disc One – 4K Blu-ray

New 4K Transfer From The 35Mm Interpositive,...

Our odyssey through the work of Michael Caine reaches a grim nadir: the 1984 comedy Blame It On Rio. Brace yourselves, readers.

Michael Caine showed no sign of slowing down as he entered his third decade as a leading man. The 1980s would see him win his first Academy Award (Hannah and Her Sisters), tackle new genres such as horror (The Hand) and shark-based revenge movie (Jaws: The Revenge) whilst continuing to work with interesting new auteurs like Brian De Palma (Dressed to Kill) as well as old friends from classic Hollywood such as John Huston (Escape to Victory).

Film by film, I’ll be taking a look at Caine’s 1980s filmography to see what hidden gems I can unearth alongside the more familiar classics…

Spoilers for Blame it on Rio lay ahead…

Directed by:

Stanley Donen

Tagline:

This had multiple taglines, starting innocuous enough but I became increasingly uneasy as they went on…...

Updated with more tributes: Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Will Smith, Kamala Harris, Dr. Dre and more are among the latest industry heavyweights to pay tribute to Quincy Jones, the music giant who died Sunday at 91.

Steven Spielberg, who directed 1985’s The Color Purple, which Jones produced and composed the music for, said: “For all of us who value what Quincy Jones contributed to art, society and the human race, he was the World, we are his children. Never to be forgotten for his inimitable talent and legendary contribution to music and culture, and the goal of healing the world, Q was also a profoundly wonderful mentor, a doer and a uniter. Most of all, he was our friend. All of us who were lucky enough to be in his circle were given nicknames by Q. Mine was ‘Carl,’ because in 1980 when we met, my answering machine had a voice message...

Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer and composer, died November 3 at age 91, his family announced Monday morning. Tributes immediately began pouring in, as celebrities from all over the entertainment industry paid tribute to the 28-time Grammy winner for his contributions to culture, which included producing Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” and “Bad,” producing and conducting the “We Are the World” charity single, and composing the score for and producing the film “The Color Purple,” among countless other achievements in music, film, and television.

“The world mourns the loss & celebrates the life of Quincy Jones – a legendary talent whose contributions to music spanned generations and genres. What an Mj/Q decade-long partnership produced is unmatched and includes the biggest selling album of all time,” the official X account of Michael Jackson’s estate posted. “Rest in Peace, Q.”

“My Celestial twin Quincy was a titan in the musical world,...

Quincy Jones’ countless friends, fans, and peers have started sharing tributes to the legendary musician and producer following his death on Sunday, Nov. 3, at the age of 91.

On Instagram, the estate of Michael Jackson called Jones “a legendary talent whose contributions to music spanned generations and genres,” and celebrating his “unmatched” collaborations with Jackson, from their hit albums to the seminal charity single, “We Are the World.”

“But it was Quincy’s role as a father that was the most important to him,” the Jackson estate added. “Condolences to all of his children.

Tom Cruise has been in all corners of the film industry. He has tried genres and characters, explored every kind of director, and been in everything from a blockbuster film to a box-office bomb. Considering how well-experienced he is, it is not surprising that his talent has gained him the one honor higher than being loved by critics in Hollywood: being respected by one’s peers.

Credits: Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder | Credit: Paramount Pictures

Cruise has been praised for his talent by all of the greats. Big names like Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner have sung nothing but praise for the actor, and he is deserving of nothing less.

Most recently, Michael Caine spoke on his first meeting with Cruise. It is safe to say that his description was quite interesting.

Tom Cruise’s First Meeting with Michael Caine

In 1983, Tom Cruise had just started his career in Hollywood,...

Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Will Smith and the Estate of Michael Jackson were among the prominent Hollywood figures to pay tribute to Quincy Jones following news of his death early Monday.

Jones died Sunday night at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.

A giant in the music industry, Jones had a phenomenal career that spanned more than 60 years. He produced Michael Jackson’s best-selling albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad; helmed the historic recording sessions for the 1985 charity single “We Are the World,” the best-selling single of all time; and produced Lesley Gore’s 1963 chart-topping hit “It’s My Party.”

Jones received the Motion Picture Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, an honorary Oscar in 2024 and the Grammy Legend Award in 1991 and reeled in 28 Grammys from an all-time best 80 nominations.

The Estate of Michael Jackson said in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter,...

At 91 and with more than 70 years(!) in the industry, Michael Caine has obviously come across some of the most powerful talents to ever hit the screen. But one that stood out even at the start of his career was Tom Cruise, who Michael Caine remembers as a dynamic, eager up-and-comer who wanted to make a name in Hollywood.

Speaking with The Sunday Times, Michael Caine recalled the first time he met Tom Cruise. “I’ve known Tom for more than 40 years. We were doing a big event for Educating Rita (1983) and I turned around and there was this young actor, very polite, asking questions about how not to be just a flash in the pan. That was Tom, probably around the time of Risky Business.” Keep in mind that Cruise was just now trying to get his movie stardom going, with 1983 being his real breakout year after supporting roles in...

Legendary British actor Sir Michael Caine recently shared his memory of meeting a young Tom Cruise over 40 years ago, offering insight into the dedication that has fueled Cruise’s success. In a new interview promoting his memoir, Caine recounted an encounter with Cruise around 1983 after the premiere of Caine’s film “Educating Rita.”

At the time, Cruise was just breaking out with his role in “Risky Business” but was remarkably humble and inquisitive. “I turned around and there was this polite young actor asking me questions about avoiding being a one-hit wonder,” Caine said. While he can’t recall his exact advice, Caine remarked it clearly served Cruise well as his star rose quickly.

Even early in his career, Caine saw Cruise’s special qualities. “He had a great attitude and self-assurance for someone just starting out,” Caine observed. Today, Cruise remains one of the few true movie stars people...

Michael Caine has shared that a young Tom Cruise asked him for career advice when the pair first met 40 years ago.

Double Oscar winner Caine, now 91, has penned his memoir called “Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over” and in an interview with The Sunday Times newspaper he revealed that he met the future superstar at an event for Caine’s film Educating Rita, back in 1983.

The British actor recalled:

“I turned around and there was this young actor, very polite, asking questions about how not to be just a flash in the pan. That was Tom, probably around the time of Risky Business.

“I can’t remember what I said, but it obviously didn’t do him any harm! There was something special about him. He had a great attitude, this sense of poise. What interests me is that he is really one of the last true stars in movies.

Inception’s simply shocking ending explained ( Photo Credit – Prime Video )

It’s been over a decade since Inception hit screens, but the movie’s final shot still haunts us. That heart-numbing moment—Cobb’s spinning top—lingered in our minds long after the credits rolled. Did it topple? Was it real? Or were we trapped in a dream like Cobb himself? The debates raged, with viewers lighting up metaphorical cigarettes and diving deep into every frame for answers.

First, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. The Inception final act starts with Cobb and his crew navigating the layered dreamscape crafted by their chemist, Yusuf. The mission? Plant an idea in Fisher’s head to dismantle his father’s empire, all while avoiding the projection of Cobb’s deceased wife, Mal. As if that weren’t enough, Mal shows up, and chaos ensues—Fisher gets shot, and the team has to...

Stephanie Collie, the costume designer behind film and television projects such as “Peaky Blinders,” died of cancer on Oct. 26 at St Christopher’s Hospice in London.

Over the course of her career, Collie worked with talent including Michael Caine, Henry Cavill, Jessica Chastain, Daniel Craig, Penélope Cruz, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L. Jackson, Cillian Murphy, Gary Oldman, Ryan Reynolds and Michelle Williams.

Collie began her career in the sewing room of the BBC alongside costume designer Susan Coates. Following an introduction from Coates to David Parfitt, she worked as a wardrobe assistant to Branagh on “Much Ado About Nothing.” From there, Collie worked as a costume designer on “Peter’s Friends,” which was directed by Branagh.

In 1988, Collie had her work featured onscreen in Guy Ritchie’s crime comedy film “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.”

Of her design for the film, Christopher Laverty said: “You could not pick up a men...

Jude Law’s most beloved character Mr. Napkin Head almost had a very different origin story.

While fans of Nancy Meyers’ 2006 “The Holiday” are well-versed in the lore of Law’s single father character donning a white napkin over his face and wearing glasses, it turns out that the bit was originally for an entirely different movie: “Alfie.”

Law told Variety that the Mr. Napkin Head scene was cut from the 2004 feature, and Meyers took inspiration from it.

“I’d actually done Mr. Napkin Head before,” Law says. “I did ‘Alfie’ with Charles Shyer, who had been married to Nancy Meyers. And Charles included Mr. Napkin Head in ‘Alfie,’ but the scene got cut. And then I did Nancy’s film, and Mr. Napkin Head was in that.”

“Alfie,” which was a remake of the Michael Caine-led original, starred Law as the titular ladies’ man who cheats on his...

Oliver Stone has rewatched all four Jaws films – but it’s 1987’s Jaws: The Revenge that he’s keen to defend.

There aren’t too many people willing to stand up and take one for the team where 1987’s Jaws: The Revenge is concerned, but you can now count multiple Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone among them.

To this point, the most talked-about part of the fourth and thus-far final Jaws movie is Michael Caine’s oft-told story. It’s the one where he revealed that he’d never seen the film itself, but he had very much seen and enjoyed the house that it paid for.

Oliver Stone has been active on his Facebook page of late, with pages of thoughts on assorted movies. And he’s told how over the summer, he treated himself to a viewing of all four Jaws films. “In my shark fever, I particularly enjoyed...

Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy are synonyms of the Hollywood industry. One of the biggest directors of the 21st century and the Oscar-winning Irish star of modern cinema has an iconic partnership that goes beyond working together professionally. Nolan and Murphy have worked on some of the biggest projects such as Inception, Oppenheimer, Batman Begins, Dunkirk, and The Dark Knight Rises. While Murphy’s unbelievable acting performances in Nolan’s movies have been universally acclaimed, the Peaky Blinders star isn’t the one who has most appeared in Nolan movies.

Christopher Nolan directing Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer

Interestingly, it is Sir Michael Caine who has collaborated the most with Nolan and has appeared in eight of his films.

Michael Caine Has Worked the Most With Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is a both critical and commercially acclaimed director who has worked with some of the biggest actors in the industry. From Ken Watanabe,...

In the "The Simpsons" episode "Brother from the Same Planet", Homer (Dan Castellaneta) forgets about Bart (Nancy Cartwright) at soccer practice, leaving him to wait for many hours. Bart, as he often does, accuses Homer of being a terrible father, and seeks revenge by submitting his name to the Bigger Brother agency (a riff on Big Brothers Big Sisters of America) hoping to find a new temporary guardian to care for him. Bart is paired with a charming, caring man named Tom (Phil Hartman), an ultra-cool test pilot. Tom is gentle and attentive, and Bart enjoys the time they spend together. Bart eventually starts to feel guilty, though, when he realizes Tom's time could be spent caring for a more disadvantaged child than he. 

As one might be able to intuit from watching the episode, Tom was meant to be played by a visiting celebrity, and Hartman, ever the professional,...

On Saturday 26 October 2024, ITV broadcasts The Jonathan Ross Show!

Special Guests Season 21: Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Jonathan Ross Show,” titled “Special Guests,” promises to be an exciting one. Jonathan Ross will welcome a star-studded lineup that includes some of the biggest names in entertainment. Viewers can look forward to a lively and entertaining discussion with Samuel L. Jackson, known for his iconic roles in film. His presence is sure to bring a lot of energy to the show.

Paul Rudd, beloved for his charm and humor, will also join the conversation. His light-hearted approach often adds a fun twist, making for some memorable moments. Kirsten Dunst, another talented guest, will share her experiences in the industry and perhaps talk about her latest projects.

The episode will also feature sports personality Peter Crouch and his wife Abbey Clancy, who are known for their engaging stories and chemistry.

BBC Studios’ natural history series “Asia,” narrated by David Attenborough, will premiere in China on Nov. 5 across multiple platforms, BBC Studios president of global markets Nick Percy revealed at the Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum held at BAFTA in London on Friday.

The seven-part series will launch on Dragon TV and streaming platforms iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku and Bilibili through partnerships with Shanghai Media Group and Phoenix TV. Filmed over nearly four years, the series explores locations from the Himalayas to the Western Pacific, featuring wildlife stories including elephants that have learned to stop buses to steal food in Sri Lanka and sea snakes hunting in partnership with fish.

Percy also highlighted BBC Studios’ expanding partnership with Shanghai Media Group, including the upcoming Chinese adaptation of BBC’s long-running crime series “Silent Witness,” titled “Forensic,” announced at Mipcom earlier this week.

The forum, in its second edition, drew over 230 industry professionals.

Over the weekend, the Chicago International Film Festival and Second City honored Mike Myers with a “Career Achievement Award,” in recognition of his work in beloved movies such as Wayne’s World, Austin Powers and Shrek. Thankfully, the event didn’t end with one of the organizers suddenly remembering that The Love Guru exists and attempting to wrestle the award out of Myers’ hands.

The ceremony also included a “lengthy conversation” between Myers and Kids in the Hall’s Dave Foley. The talk touched on a number of different subjects, including Myers’ fears that the studio wouldn’t release Wayne’s World, his fears that the studio wouldn’t release Austin Powers and how Michael Caine couldn’t get Beyoncé’s name right while filming Austin Powers in Goldmember. “He’d just go, ‘Hey, Be-yonts,’” Myers recalled.

They also chatted about how Myers’ Wayne’s World 2 co-star Christopher Walken seemingly couldn’t...

Alvin Rakoff, the Canadian-born filmmaker who directed Laurence Olivier in A Voyage Round My Father, has died. He was 97.

His death was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by his longtime publicist, Nick Pourgourides. He passed away on Oct. 12 surrounded by family at home in Chiswick, a neighborhood in London.

Rakoff as a writer, director and producer of over 100 TV, film and stage productions, as well as novels, directed Olivier and co-stars Alan Bates and Jane Asher in the 1982 TV drama A Voyage Round My Father, a film written by John Mortimer and which earned the director his second Emmy Award.

Alvin and Olivier also worked together on Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson and A Talent for Murder, both shot in 1983. The two-time Emmy Award winner also gave a young Sean Connery his first leading role in the 1957 film Requiem for a Heavyweight, and Alan Rickman as a young actor was...

Alvin Rakoff, the Canadian director who made films including Say Hello To Yesterday and who helped launch the careers of Sean Connery and Alan Rickman, has died at the age of 97.

Rakoff died on October 12, “peacefully…surrounded by his loving family in the same, beautiful old house in Chiswick he had bought back in 1971”, according to Nick Pourgourides, a long-time representative of the filmmaker.

Rakoff directed 11 feature films across a near 70-year career, including 1969 crime film Crossplot starring Roger Moore and Claudie Lange; 1970 drama Hoffman led by Peter Sellers; and 1971 romantic comedy Say Hello To Yesterday starring Jean Simmons.

He...

Canadian director, writer and producer Alvin Rakoff, best known for directing Laurence Olivier in “A Voyage Round My Father,” has died at the age of 97.

The cause of death was “old age,” his publicist told Variety. He died on Oct. 12 at home, surrounded by his family.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, which began when television was still only available in black-and-white, Rakoff was involved in over 100 television, film and stage productions as well as writing novels. According to his representatives, he was still working into his ’90s.

Rakoff was the third of seven children born to Sam and Pearl Rakoff in Toronto in 1927. His parents owned a dry goods shop but the director grew up in poverty after the Great Depression hit in 1929. He would later recount the experience in his novel “Baldwin Street.”

After seeing his first film in a theater at the age of 6, his...

Beta Film has released a swashbuckling, pulse-pounding trailer for “Rise of the Raven,” its epic 10-part drama series based on the bloody 15th-century battle that changed the course of Europe. The show will world premiere at Mipcom in the Grand Auditorium of Cannes’ Palais des Festivals on Oct. 22.

Adapted from author Bán Mór’s bestselling novels, the series tells the story of the Hungarian warrior Janos Hunyadi, who defeated the Ottoman army in 1456 at the Battle of Belgrade, halting its march across Europe and marking a turning point in the history of the continent.

The series is produced by veteran Canadian producer Robert Lantos’ Serendipity Point Films and Beta Film, the production and distribution powerhouse behind series including “Gomorrah” and “Babylon Berlin.” The Munich-based company is also repping the show internationally as part of a packed Mipcom slate.

In a trailer shared exclusively with Variety, Hunyadi (Kádár L. Gellért) delivers...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

Opening a momentary window to the past just like in the movie, Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic “Interstellar” is set to return to theaters this fall on its 10th anniversary. As a birthday present to the audience, a special-edition collector’s box set will also be released, now available to pre-order on Amazon.

Special-edtion

Interstellar 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition [4K Uhd + Blu-Ray + Digital Copy]

Buy Now On Amazon $67.99

The limited-edition box set includes the film in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray along with second a bonus content CD, plus reproductions of five costume patches, five theatrical posters and Nolan’s never-seen-before director storyboard archives.

Since releasing this week, it’s already at the top of Amazon’s Blu-ray charts. However, it won’t officially ship out until Dec. 10, just in time for holiday gifting.

Walmart...

If you are looking for a taste of Britain, I recommend trying out Marmite under the rain, or giving “The Italian Job” a watch – although that second option is probably safer. The caper film “The Italian Job” came out more than half a century ago, in 1969 to be precise. It was directed by Scottish filmmaker Troy Kennedy Martin and became a cult classic in the UK almost immediately. Unfortunately, the movie is not nearly as famous overseas, but it definitely deserves its cult status and is worth (re)watching. If you enjoyed “Ocean’s Eleven” (2011) and the other films of the saga, this is the perfect pick for you.

Iconic characters and brilliant performances

Moviegoers enjoy a good heist story: after all, few things are funnier than seeing a resourceful criminal meticulously planning out a con – especially since we all like to root for the underdog. “The Italian Job” gives us all of this and more.

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The sci-fi epic Interstellar is back in the spotlight, with news that the film will return to theaters this fall to mark its 10th anniversary. Ahead of the film’s re-release, a special collector’s edition Blu-ray set has been unveiled on Amazon to celebrate the milestone.

Originally released in November 2014, the Christopher Nolan film ended up making more than $700 million at the box office, while cementing lead...

Heath Ledger died months before The Dark Knight arrived in theaters. As a result, the actor never got to see the response to his performance as The Joker or receive the "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar, which he was posthumously awarded the following year.

According to The Amazing Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield, Ledger was understandably confident about The Dark Knight being a hit after teaming with Christopher Nolan on the Batman Begins sequel. 

Garfield, who shared the screen with Ledger in 2009's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, remembers the actor as a "very generous, beautiful, creative spirit." He'd call him "a kind of beacon, it was like a wild animal" on set, adding, "He was so free and so wild and so, kind of dangerous on set in a way that was the kind of thing that is inspiring and spontaneous."

"He would say before every take, or one take every scene,...

"That's the thing about folks like us, Artie. We're all living with ghosts." Samuel Goldwyn Films in the US has revealed a new US trailer for the drama titled The Last Rifleman, made by filmmaker Terry Loane. This already opened in the UK last year - we posted the first trailer almost a year ago but it's only opening in the US now. Another patriotic "never forget!" story about old WWII veterans – this film tells the exact same story as The Great Escaper with Michael Caine. The same exact characters and everything. A WWII veteran escapes his care home in Northern Ireland and embarks on an arduous but inspirational journey to France to attend the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, finding the courage to face the ghosts of his past. The film stars Pierce Brosnan (in prosthetics) as 92 & 3/4-years-old Artie Crawford, Clemence Poesy, John Amos, Jürgen Prochnow, Claire Rafferty,...

Christopher Nolan is reportedly teaming up with Matt Damon once again after Oppenheimer for his next film. The untitled film will officially place Damon among the esteemed list of actors who have worked with Nolan three or more times. The Jason Bourne actor previously appeared in Nolan’s Interstellar, alongside Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.

Matt Damon in Interstellar | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Nolan is known to re-partner with actors he enjoys working with. Damon now joins the ranks of frequent collaborators like Cillian Murphy and Christian Bale. Interestingly, Damon had earlier revealed that he came out of a hiatus specifically to work with the Following director.

Matt Damon Will Join The Ranks Of Actors Who Have Worked 3 Or More Films With Christopher Nolan Matt Damon and Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer | Credits: Universal Pictures

Matt Damon revealed to EW that he had made a deal with his wife...

One of Christopher Nolan’s most enigmatic films, Interstellar, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and Paramount Pictures is marking the momentous occasion with limited screenings in IMAX cinemas this December. The exclusive limited engagement of Interstellar blasts off on December 6, 2024, with tickets going on sale on November 7. In addition, a Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD set will arrive on December 10, 2024.

In Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, a team of pioneers undertakes the most important mission in human history—to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars. Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey stars as the ex-pilot turned farmer who is forced to leave his family and a foundering Earth behind to lead an expedition traveling beyond this galaxy.

Known as one of the headiest dramas in science-fiction cinema, Interstellar distorts time and space to deliver a heartfelt story about family, connections through time, and unbreakable familial bonds. Nolan’s cerebral...

Academy Award-winning director Christopher Nolan’s landmark epic Interstellar is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Paramount Pictures is marking the occasion with a 10th Anniversary IMAX exclusive limited engagement on December 6, 2024, with tickets going on sale on November 7.

In addition to the IMAX rerelease, a Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD set will arrive on December 10, 2024.

A transcendent sci-fi drama, Interstellar became a cultural phenomenon, thrilling audiences and critics with its exploration of humanity’s future. Acclaimed for its scientific accuracy, the movie captured viewers’ imaginations, earning over $730 million worldwide and five Oscar nominations, with a win for Best Visual Effects.

The film features an extraordinary cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Timothée Chalamet, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Irwin, Wes Bentley, David Oyelowo, Casey Affleck, and more.

In the film, a team of pioneers undertakes the most important mission in human history...

The early 2000s were a bad time for Sylvester Stallone professionally. In the mid-nineties, after a short-lived resurgence of three hit movies, Cliffhanger, Demolition Man and The Specialist, Stallone’s career as a bankable action star began to sputter, with Judge Dredd, Assassins and Daylight all losing money. Copland, an indie drama directed by James Mangold, made money and earned Stallone his best reviews since the original Rocky, but his follow-up movies were disastrous. His attempt at a slasher/ horror movie, D-Tox, sat on the shelf for years, finally being released under the lame title Eye See You. His 2000 remake of Get Carter was another disaster, with critics eviscerating him for remaking the Michael Caine classic, with even a cameo from Caine himself not easing their fury. In 2001, he teamed with Cliffhanger’s Renny Harlin on a go-for-broke would-be blockbuster called Driven.

Sporting a huge budget, for the time, a...

Rising star Rachel Zegler has her pick of work, from starring in Disney’s live action adaptation of “Snow White” to making her Broadway debut in “Romeo + Juliet,” but she’s ready to work with some non-human talent for a change. As part of Variety’s New York Issue, Zegler spoke with the publication about her career and the roles she hopes to take on, including being the main player in a Muppet movie.

“Michael Caine did it for ‘Christmas Carol,’” she said. “Tim Curry did it for ‘Muppet Treasure Island.’ I want to be the one!”

Other talent have taken up this mantle in recent history as well, with Ashanti playing Dorothy in 2005’s “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” and Jason Segel and Amy Adams starring in 2011’s “The Muppets.” Its most recent entry was a Halloween special in 2021 called “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” a tie-in with the famous Disney ride.

“Spoiler alert: I die,” Rachel Zegler says.

You’ll have to forgive the 23-year-old actress for giving away the ending to her next project. But to be fair, it’s been 400 years since a certain Englishman wrote the play in which she’s making her Broadway debut.

On Oct. 24, following a month of previews, Zegler will take the stage as Juliet in director Sam Gold’s revival of Shakespeare’s best-known romance. Things are going to get intense for her and her Romeo, played by “Heartstopper” star Kit Connor — after all, the tagline for the production reads, “The youth are f**ked.”

In other words, you won’t see them donning tunics or Elizabethan ruffs. Gold’s vision leans heavily into the culture of its Gen Z cast: Zegler says he originally pitched the project to her as “‘Romeo and Juliet’ if it was set in Troye Sivan’s ‘Rush’ music video.

In the movie Hook, Steven Spielberg’s 1991 Peter Pan sequel starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman, Williams’ Peter visits the London home of his wife’s family, where he reconnects with her grandmother, a very grown up Wendy Darling played by Dame Maggie Smith. She first appears as a ghostly silhouette at the top of a staircase before descending and creeping into the light. Smith was only in her 50s when she shot the movie but had been aged up to look impossibly frail and elderly — her hair a bushy nest,...

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

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

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

For most people born in the past three decades, Maggie Smith became a familiar figure as Minerva McGonagall, the transfiguration professor and deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter movies. That strict but kind sorceress dispensed both imperious commands and compassionate counsel in a clipped Scottish brogue from beneath her pointed black hat.

Others might have met her as Violet Crawley, the tart-tongued Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey, whose advanced age and creeping infirmity did nothing to diminish her Old World authority — “I wouldn’t know, I’m not familiar with the sensation,” she once remarked, on the foreign concept of being wrong — or her precision at landing a cutting put-down.

Smith died today in London, aged 89, and those who know her only from those two signature roles would do well to sample the many jewels elsewhere in her seven-decade filmography.

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