Yearly Archives: 2025

China to restrict US film releases after Trump’s tariff hike

Hours after Donald Trump imposed record 125% tariffs on Chinese products entering the US, China has announced it will further curb the number of US films allowed to screen in the country.“The wrong action of the US government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favourability towards American films,” the China Film Administration said in a statement on Thursday. “We will follow the market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.”The move mirrors the potential countermeasure suggested by two influential Chinese bloggers earlier in the week, warning that “China has plenty of tools for retaliation”.Both Liu Hong, a senior editor at Xinhuanet, the website of the state-run Xinhua news agency, as well as Ren Yi, the grandson of former Guangdong party chief Ren Zhongyi, posted an identical proposal involving a heavy reduction on the import of US movies and further investigation of the intellectual property benefits of American companies operating in China.China is the world’s second largest film market after the US, although in recent years domestic offerings have outshone Hollywood imports. However, Thursday’s measure comes as a significant blow to western studios, with Bloomberg reporting shares of Walt Disney Co, Paramount Global, and Warner Bros Discovery Inc all suffering an immediate decline.Last week, the newly released A Minecraft Movie from Warner Bros topped the Chinese box office with ticket sales of $14.5m – around 10% of the global total. In 2024, the highest-grossing US film released in China was Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which took $132m in that territory, towards a global total of $572m.The first US film was approved for Chinese release 31 years ago, with the number peaking at more than 60 in 2018. Since then it has declined, according to data from the Chinese ticketing service Maoyan Entertainment, thanks to escalating tensions and the increased popularity of homegrown movies.Animated fantasy film Ne Zha 2, about a child battling monsters from Chinese mythology, was released in late January and has now taken $1.8bn in China, and $20m in the US.Its huge domestic success made it the highest-grossing film both of 2025 so far and in a single box office territory, as well as the highest-grossing animated film in history and the first animated film in history to cross $2bn globally.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionHowever, many believed than the slate of upcoming Hollywood blockbusters would swell China’s year-end coffers further, with Variety projecting a $7.6bn 2025 total, up significantly from 2024’s $5.8bn.Films including Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Superman, Jurassic World Rebirth and Avatar: Fire and Ash, would have been conceived and edited with a Chinese release in mind.

Robert Downey Jr’s ‘worst’ film fans think is ‘secretly great’ is now streaming for free

In an audacious take on his own cinematic history, Robert Downey Jr has labelled one of his own movies as potentially his worst ever performance, yet some die-hard fans insist it deserves a chance.This isn’t about the box office bomb Dolittle or his much-maligned Shaggy Dog from the noughties.We’re talking about the forgotten sequel to a beloved ’90s thriller, an early venture for the actor who would go on to dazzle us as Iron Man. The film in question?1998’s U.S. Marshals, the follow-up to the acclaimed The Fugitive which sees Tommy Lee Jones returning as the relentless Sam Gerard.With the hunt on for a fugitive murderer, Mark Sheridan (played by Wesley Snipes), Gerard gets assistance from Downey Jr as Diplomatic Security Agent John Royce, when their target makes a daring escape following a plane crash.Fans can now relive the excitement as U.S. Marshals hits ITVX, available to stream without any cost.However, despite its intriguing premise, the movie hasn’t fared well, scraping just a 30 percent approval rating with critics on Rotten Tomatoes and even drawing criticism from its star.In the comprehensive biography The Fall and Rise of the Comeback Kid by Ben Falk, Downey Jr had choice words about the project, slamming it as “possibly the worst action movie of all time”.Reflecting further, he added a biting commentary: “You’ve had a traumatic year… what do you think would be really healing for you? How about like 12 weeks of running around as Johnny Handgun?”I think that if you talk to a spirit guide, they would say, ‘That’ll kill you’…”I thought maybe there was something I was missing, and what I really needed to do was to be in one of those films that I love taking my kid to. It would end up being really depressing.”Downey Jr even boldly claimed he would “rather wake up in jail for a TB test than have to wake up another morning knowing I’m going to the set of U.S. Marshals.”Despite Downey Jr’s harsh critique, the film has garnered a cult following over the years, with some fans insisting it’s an underrated gem worth revisiting nearly three decades on.One satisfied viewer took to Google reviews to share their thoughts: “This was a great movie. Though it’s not better than The Fugitive it did not disappoint for a sequel in my opinion.”People simply do not give this movie enough credit. It had an amazing cast. Loved Robert Downey Jr and Wesley Snipes, they both did a superb job.”Another fan declared: “I don’t care what people say about this movie. I liked it better than the first movie.”Meanwhile, a defender on Letterboxd offered a balanced view: “I mean, obviously U.S. Marshals isn’t as good as The Fugitive – but then again few things are.”The fixation on that fact from so many critics overlooks the fact that as a standalone thriller, Stuart Baird’s film is very good indeed.”It does not rely on hark-backs to the original and tries to avoid recycling the same plot points. Wesley Snipes has a very different character to work with than Harrison Ford and it’s arguable that he’s not really that sympathetic at all.”Another enthusiastic fan penned: “A really underrated and quite unique sequel to a classic that results in being an absolutely great work of pure action entertainment that truly never lets it foot off the gas.”Director Stuart Baird does a wonderful job at crafting hugely exciting set piece after hugely exciting set piece with a wonderfully no nonsense cinematic style that you can’t help but get extremely swept up in and engaged by.”The question then arises – is this film an undiscovered masterpiece or a low point in Downey Jr’s career?There’s only one way to find out – dive into the action on your favourite streaming platform.U.S. Marshals is available to stream on ITVX.

The White Lotus fans unearth ‘underrated’ film which season 3 actor stars in

The gripping third season of The White Lotus has drawn to a close, leaving fans eager for more from the stellar ensemble cast.Mike White’s biting dark comedy-drama has carved out a niche in popular culture with its unapologetic exploration of power dynamics, privilege, and the intricate web of human relationships.Set amid the opulent surroundings of the fictitious White Lotus luxury resort, the riveting antics of its affluent guests and hotel staff make for compelling viewing.The series is renowned for its unforgettable characters, and this season was no exception. Standout performances included Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea, Walton Goggins as Rick, Carrie Coon as Laurie, and Parker Posey as Victoria, among others.Sam Rockwell left a lasting impression with a dynamic performance in the fifth episode, making a surprise cameo as Frank, a friend of Walton Goggins’ tormented character Rick.After delivering an intriguingly odd monologue that had fans pondering its significance, Frank was last seen meditating in a Buddhist temple in the season finale, while his friend Rick lay dying following a dramatic shootout.Fans yearning for more of Sam Rockwell can turn to the 2002 film that first catapulted him into the limelight, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.Directed by George Clooney, this biographical spy film narrates the tale of Chuck Barris, a gameshow host who alleges to be working for the CIA.The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including A-listers Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts, not to mention Clooney. The hit YouTube channel WatchMojo recently spotlighted it in a video titled ‘Top 20 Most Underrated Movies of the 2000s’.Securing 12th place, the narrator summarised: “It really is a wonder why this movie never caught on… The actors are all fantastic – most notably, the perpetually underrated Sam Rockwell as Barris.”Enthusiastic cinephiles swarmed the comments to voice their verdicts. One viewer declared: “Moral of the story: Sam Rockwell is incredibly underrated”.Another concurred with the list ranking: “Totally agree with #12, it was really good”, while another shared: “Moral of the story just watch anything Sam Rockwell does ever.”Another commented: “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is an absolute masterpiece. Like the famous Chaplin look-alike contest where Charlie came in 2nd, Sam Rockwell was more Chuck Barris than Chuck Barris himself.”A fellow film lover stated: “I think underrated movies need more attention”. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind wasn’t Sam Rockwell’s sole feature on the list.Highlighting Rockwell’s prominence, one admirer noted: “Impressive that Sam Rockwell is in the number 2 on this WatchMojo list; as well as the star of Moon and portraying Chuck Barris [the gameshow] host in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (one of the movies I may need to see for a 2nd time).”And another added: “Sam Rockwell is in like half of these”.

JUST IN: European Union Bends the Knee to Trump on Tariffs While China Throws Another Tantrum and Restricts Hollywood Movies

The United States received a double-dose of good news early Thursday morning that could mean fairer trade deals in the future and punish woke Hollywood at the same time.
As The Daily Mail reported, the European Union announced that they would suspend retaliatory tariffs on America for 90 days. This comes a day after President Trump elected to suspend tariffs on more than 75 countries for the identical number of days.
It’s not clear at this point whether countries in the European Union were among the nations who got break.
“We want to give negotiations a chance… if negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

Von der Leyen also reiterated that she wants America to accept a zero-for-zero trade offer on industrial goods. As TGP reported, the bloc believes will help address some of Trump’s concerns.
But it’s not likely to satisfy Trump. Moreover, von der Leyen did not mention accepting American agricultural products, which the snobby EU views as poisonous and inferior to theirs.
In an equally welcome development from some Americans’ standpoint, the communist Chinese elected to punish their Hollywood ‘allies’ by immediately restrict imports of Hollywood films in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s most recent escalation of U.S. tariffs on imported Chinese goods.

“The wrong action of the U.S. government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favorability towards American films,” the China Film Administration said in statement on Thursday. “We will follow the market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.”
The National Film Administration confirmed the news.
“We will follow market rules, respect the audience’s choices, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported,” the NFA said on its website.

Jim Hoft previously revealed China was reportedly threatening to ban the import of U.S. films in a desperate tantrum in response to President Donald Trump’s bold moves against America’s most powerful enemy.
Upon hearing the possible news, conservatives took to social media to celebrate, with many believing that this could lead to Hollywood producers actually making more movies showing America in a positive light.
Others gloated at the possibility of seeing an industry which has pandered to China and censored films to access the Chinese market for years get its possible comeuppance.

Forgotten sequel to iconic thriller movie buffs think is ‘better than the first’ is now streaming for free

Robert Downey Jr has expressed his lack of fondness for one of his earlier films, yet it still retains a group of staunch supporters who deem it a must-see. Skipping over his more recent venture Dolittle and the much-criticised Shaggy Dog from the 2000s, we turn our attention to a lesser-known continuation of one of…

Nigerian cinema in the spotlight as ‘My Father’s Shadow’ to premiere in Cannes Film Festival first

By Thomas Page, CNN

(CNN) — Nigeria is going to Cannes. In what is understood to be a first in the film festival’s near-80 year history, a movie from Africa’s most populous nation has been chosen as part of the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection.

“My Father’s Shadow,” written and directed by Akinola Davies Jr. and co-written by his brother Wale Davies, stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (“Slow Horses,” “Gangs of London”). The film is set in Lagos in the aftermath of the 1993 presidential election and follows Dìrísù’s father and two sons Remi and Akin, as they attempt an odyssey across the city amid the election’s turbulent fallout.

Davies Jr.’s semi-autobiographical debut feature, produced by Element Pictures in association with Fatherland Productions and Crybaby, already has strong support in the form of distributor MUBI, which snatched up the rights to the film in North America and other territories long before the news of its Cannes debut was announced – lending additional hype to an already buzzy title.

The movie will screen in the Un Certain Regard strand – a competition for debut and ascendant filmmakers. Fatherland says it will be the first Nigerian film to do so.

Reacting to the announcement, Davies Jr.’ told CNN in a statement, “This is a testament to everyone dedicated to telling authentic Nigerian stories: from crews, to the countless technicians who power our film industry.

“It honors all those – past, present, and future – who laid the foundation for Nigerian cinema. I’m excited to be an ambassador for arthouse film in Nigeria, and even more excited for our cast and crew, whose talent and hard work truly deserve this spotlight.”

Co-producer and founder of Fatherland Productions CEO Funmbi Ogunbanwo told CNN, “It’s an incredible feeling to see our fully Nigerian story – rooted in Wale and Akin’s experience of losing their father at a young age – come to life on a world stage.

“We wove in Yoruba, Pidgin, familiar street names from Lagos and Ibadan, capturing the essence of our home. I feel both excitement and a weight of responsibility, representing independent Nigerian filmmakers who create against the odds. We hope people who watch this film will discover who we are as a people, understand where we come from, and see that this is only the start of how far our stories can go.”

Africa at Cannes 2025

The Cannes Film Festival announced it had screened 2,909 feature films to curate its 2025 lineup. Of those selected, “My Father’s Shadow” won’t be the sole representative from Africa this year.

Also in Un Certain Regard is “Aisha Can’t Fly Away” by Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa, about a Somali woman working in Cairo, and “Promised Sky” by French Tunisian Erige Sehiri. Meanwhile, Swedish director Tarik Saleh, who has Egyptian heritage, is in competition for the Palme d’Or with “Eagles of the Republic” telling the story of an adored Egyptian actor who falls into disgrace.

The US-set “The History of Sound,” starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, is directed by South African Oliver Hermanus.

African cinema, particularly from Francophone nations, has a long history at Cannes, the world’s most prestigious film festival. Directing giants including the late Djibril Diop Mambéty of Senegal, the late Souleymane Cissé of Mali and Chadian Mahamat-Saleh Haroun all made the festival a home from home.

Recently, a new guard of young filmmakers has emerged – notably, with more women – including Welsh Zambian Rungano Nyoni, French Senegalese Mati Diop (niece of Djibril), Senegalese director Ramata-Toulaye Sy and Tunisian Kaouther Ben Hania.

But despite having the continent’s largest and most prolific filmmaking industry, Nigeria has had little representation at the festival.

Nigerian productions have appeared in festival sidebars like the International Critics Week (where “Ezra” by Newton I. Aduaka screened in 2007). But a search of the festival’s online archives shows no evidence a Nigerian movie has ever been a part of Cannes’ Official Selection – comprising the competition for the Palme d’Or, Un Certain Regard, Cannes Premieres, Special Screenings, Midnight Screenings and Cannes Classics.

Thierry Frémaux, general delegate of the festival, said at the press conference announcing the 2025 lineup on April 10 that the festival would be checking to confirm if indeed “My Father’s Shadow” marks a historic first Nigerian feature.

Nigeria’s big moves

Nigeria will have a big presence at Cannes this year. At the festival’s international village, Nigeria is back with its own national pavilion. There, the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy will launch Screen Nigeria as part of the “Destination 2030; Nigeria Everywhere” campaign – a broad plan to create 2 million jobs in creative and tourism industries, and contribute $100 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by 2030.

The goal is to showcase the nation’s talent and promote international collaboration and attract foreign investment.

With the likes of “My Father’s Shadow” and other recent festival titles like “Mami Wata,” the first Nigerian film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023, there are signs that Nigeria’s film industry is diversifying.

The 78th Cannes Film Festival runs from May 13-24. The premiere date for “My Father’s Shadow,” and its theatrical release date, are yet to be announced.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Cristiano Ronaldo to ‘combine world of sport, storytelling’ as he launches film studio

Cristiano Ronaldo join hands with ‘Kingsman’ franchise director for new venture Professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has launched an all-new project along with English director Matthew Vaughn. The former Manchester United player has partnered with the Kingsman film franchise creator to launch a film studio named, UR MARV. Reportedly, the two are super thrilled for this…