Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a 2023 animated superhero film produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, it is the sequel to the Academy Award-winning Into the Spider-Verse (2018).
Shameik Moore returns as Miles Morales, who is pulled across the multiverse and introduced to the Spider-Society — an interdimensional task force of Spider-People led by the severe Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac). When Miles learns the Society operates on a rigid doctrine about which tragedies must be allowed to happen, he finds himself at odds with hundreds of versions of himself. Hailee Steinfeld returns as Gwen Stacy, with Jason Schwartzman voicing the villainous Spot.
Released on June 2, 2023, the film grossed over $690 million worldwide and drew rapturous reviews, with critics calling its animation among the most ambitious ever committed to a mainstream feature. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and ends on a cliffhanger leading into Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Tammy is a 2014 American comedy film directed by Ben Falcone and co-written by Falcone and Melissa McCarthy. The film stars McCarthy as Tammy, a recently fired woman who hits rock bottom and decides to take a road trip with her grandmother, played by Susan Sarandon. The film also features Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass, Dan Aykroyd, and Kathy Bates in supporting roles.
After being fired from her job and finding her husband cheating, Tammy decides to leave her small town and go on a road trip with her grandmother. Along the way, the two women get into all kinds of trouble, from robbing a fast food joint to getting drunk at a Fourth of July party. Throughout the trip, Tammy and her grandmother begin to repair their strained relationship and discover new things about each other.
Tammy was released in the United States on July 2, 2014, and received mixed reviews from critics. While McCarthy's performance was praised, the film was criticized for its uneven tone and lack of focus. Despite this, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $100 million worldwide against a budget of $20 million.
Let's Be Cops is a 2014 American buddy cop comedy film directed by Luke Greenfield and written by Greenfield, Nicholas Thomas, and Damon Wayans Jr. The film stars Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson as two friends who dress up as police officers for a costume party, but decide to continue their masquerade as real cops after being mistaken for actual law enforcement. However, their fun and games take a dangerous turn as they find themselves embroiled in a real criminal underworld.
Let's Be Cops was released by 20th Century Fox on August 13, 2014, and received mixed reviews from critics. Despite this, it was a commercial success, grossing over $138 million worldwide against a $17 million budget. The film was praised for its comedic performances and its handling of darker themes, but criticized for its plot and characterization.
The film's success led to talks of a potential sequel, but nothing has been officially announced as of 2021. However, the film's stars have expressed interest in returning for a follow-up, and Greenfield has stated that he has ideas for where a sequel could go. In the meantime, Let's Be Cops has gained a cult following among fans of the buddy cop genre, and has been noted as an example of the trend of R-rated comedies featuring unconventional heroes.
Father of the Bride is a 2022 American comedy film directed by Gary Winick from a screenplay by Matt Lopez, which serves as a remake of the 1991 film of the same name. The film stars Andy García, Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona, Diego Boneta, and Isabela Merced, and follows a Cuban-American family as they plan a wedding in Miami. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, it was released on October 7, 2022, through HBO Max.
In the film, Andy García plays George Banks, the father of the bride, and Gloria Estefan portrays his wife, Nina. The couple's daughter, played by Isabela Merced, announces her engagement to a man from a wealthy family, and the family prepares for the wedding. George has trouble accepting that his daughter is growing up and faces challenges as he tries to navigate the wedding planning process.
The film was first announced in September 2020, and the cast was announced in May 2021. Filming took place in Miami and New York City from May to July 2021. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the cast but criticized the film for being too similar to the original.
Ride Along is a 2014 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Tim Story and written by Greg Coolidge, Jason Mantzoukas, Phil Hay, and Matt Manfredi. The film stars Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Bryan Callen, Tika Sumpter, and Laurence Fishburne. It follows Ben Barber, a high school security guard, who goes on a ride-along with his fiancée's brother, James, a hot-tempered Atlanta Police Department detective, in order to prove himself worthy of marrying James's sister. However, the two men find themselves in the middle of a major case when they stumble upon a dangerous criminal activity.
Ride Along had been in development for several years before being greenlit in 2012, with Tim Story signing on as director and Ice Cube attached to star. The film was primarily shot in Atlanta, Georgia, with some scenes also being filmed in Miami, Florida. It was released on January 17, 2014, and grossed over $154 million worldwide, becoming a box office success despite receiving negative reviews from critics.
A sequel, Ride Along 2, was released in 2016, with most of the original cast returning. A potential third film was discussed by Ice Cube in 2019, but as of 2021, no further updates on the project have been announced. The film's success led to the development of a television series spin-off, which was announced in 2017, but ultimately did not move forward.
Free Guy is a 2021 American science-fiction action comedy film directed by Shawn Levy from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn. The movie follows Guy, a non-player character (NPC) in a popular open-world video game called Free City, who becomes self-aware and decides to take control of his life. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi.
The film was first announced in 2019 and was originally scheduled for release in July 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie was released in the United States on August 13, 2021, by 20th Century Studios. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Reynolds' performance and the film's humor and action sequences.
Free Guy was a box office success, grossing over $300 million worldwide. A sequel to the film is currently in development, with Reynolds and Levy set to return as star and director, respectively.
House Party is a comedy movie released in 2023 and directed by Calmatic. The film is a reboot and a remake of the 1990 House Party movie. Jamal Olori and Stephen Glover wrote the screenplay, while the production is by New Line Cinema and LeBron James' SpringHill Company. The plot revolves around two young aspiring club promoters who work as house cleaners and throw a party at LeBron James' mansion, their latest job site. The film stars Tosin Cole, Jacob Latimore, Karen Obilom, D.C. Young Fly, and Kid Cudi.
House Party premiered in the United States on January 13, 2023, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The movie received predominantly negative reviews from critics and managed to gross over $9 million worldwide. Despite the negative reviews, the cast's performances were praised by some critics, while others appreciated the film's lively and entertaining tone. The movie's financial performance was lower than expected, with several factors attributed to its box office failure, including its limited marketing campaign and the competition from other releases at the same time.
In conclusion, House Party is a comedy film with a star-studded cast that retells the story of the original 1990 House Party movie. While it received negative reviews, it still managed to gross over $9 million worldwide. Despite its mixed reception, the film is entertaining and has some admirable performances from its actors. The movie's limited marketing campaign and competition from other releases could have impacted its box office performance.
Black Adam is a 2022 American superhero film that follows the story of an ancient superhuman named Teth-Adam or Black Adam. Produced by New Line Cinema, DC Films, Seven Bucks Productions, and FlynnPictureCo. and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the movie is a spin-off to Shazam! (2019) and the 11th film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Dwayne Johnson plays the role of Black Adam, who is released from his magical imprisonment by a group of archaeologists to free the nation of Kahndaq from a crime syndicate known as Intergang. Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, and Pierce Brosnan appear in supporting roles.
Johnson was initially set to portray the villain Black Adam in Shazam! but later convinced the producers to give the character his own film. The screenplay was written by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani, with Jaume Collet-Serra directing. The film was originally planned to be released in December 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays. Filming took place from April to August 2021 at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, and also in Los Angeles.
Black Adam had its world premiere in Mexico City on October 3, 2022, and was released in the United States on October 21. The movie received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $393 million worldwide. However, the film was widely labeled as a box-office bomb after marketing and distribution costs were factored in. Despite the mixed reviews, Johnson's portrayal of Black Adam was praised by many viewers, and a sequel is currently in development.
Empire of Light is a romantic drama movie set in a British coastal town in the early 1980s. The film, directed, written, and co-produced by Sam Mendes, focuses on the power of human connection during difficult times. The ensemble cast includes Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Monica Dolan, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth.
Empire of Light premiered at the 49th Telluride Film Festival on September 3, 2022, before being released by Searchlight Pictures with a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 9, 2022, and theatrically in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2023. Although the film received praise for Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward's performances and Roger Deakins's cinematography, the screenplay was criticised by some. At the 80th Golden Globe Awards, Colman received a nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama, while Ward received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 76th British Academy Film Awards. The film also earned a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 95th Academy Awards.
Empire of Light explores the complexity of human relationships and how they are impacted by challenging circumstances. With a talented cast and the vision of Sam Mendes, the film has gained critical recognition for its performances and technical aspects.
The Menu is a 2022 dark comedy thriller film directed by Mark Mylod and written by Will Tracy and Seth Reiss. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, Nicholas Hoult, and John Leguizamo, with supporting roles from Jessica Henwick and Zawe Ashton. It follows a young couple who visit a remote island off the coast of Italy to attend an exclusive, high-end restaurant where the chef has prepared a menu full of surprises.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, and was released in the United States on November 18, 2022, by Searchlight Pictures. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the cast and the film's dark humor but criticized its pacing and lack of substance. The film has grossed over $15 million worldwide against a $10 million budget.
The Menu has been compared to the 2019 South Korean film Parasite due to its themes of class warfare and the stark contrast between the wealthy restaurant guests and the working-class staff. The film also explores the lengths people will go to achieve their dreams and the consequences that come with that pursuit. Anya Taylor-Joy's performance as the ambitious sous-chef has received particular praise from critics, with some calling it a standout role in her already impressive career.
"The Banshees of Inisherin" is a 2022 film directed, written, and produced by Martin McDonagh. It tells the story of two lifelong friends, played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who become estranged, causing unexpected and dangerous consequences for both. The movie is set on a fictional remote island off the west coast of Ireland and also stars Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan. McDonagh previously worked with Farrell and Gleeson in his directorial debut, "In Bruges."
The film premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022, where Farrell won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and McDonagh won the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay. "The Banshees of Inisherin" was theatrically released in Ireland, the UK, and the US in October 2022 by Searchlight Pictures. It received critical acclaim for McDonagh's direction and screenplay, the cast's performances, and Carter Burwell's score. The film grossed $49 million worldwide, surpassing its $20 million budget.
The movie received nine nominations at the 95th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor (Gleeson and Keoghan), Best Supporting Actress (Condon), and Best Original Screenplay. It also won three Golden Globe Awards and four BAFTA Awards. It was named one of the Top Ten Films of 2022 by the National Board of Review. Overall, "The Banshees of Inisherin" is a successful film that received critical acclaim for its storytelling, performances, and production.
