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Tom Hardy Wreaks ‘Havoc’ With Forest Whitaker & Timothy Olyphant In Netflix Action Movie Trailer

When a drug heist swerves lethally out of control, a jaded cop fights his way through a corrupt city’s criminal underworld. (YouTube/Netflix) Netflix has unveiled the official full-length trailer for Havoc, a high-octane action movie starring Tom Hardy, Forest Whitaker and Timothy Olyphant that’s directed by Gareth Evans, who previously helmed The Raid. The trailer,…

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Audiences Are Officially Out Of Control As Theaters Issue Warnings

It’s all well and good when kids are clapping and cheering and yelling out memes during certain moments in A Minecraft Movie. But now things are getting to the point where lines are being crossed and this is a lot more than kids just enjoying something aimed at them somewhat loudly in a theater.

Things have gotten out of hand with (mainly) teens doing things like using enormous bags of popcorn like confetti, slinging it all around theaters during specific moments (often the “chicken jockey” scene). If you think that sounds bad, watch it in action:

This has resulted in everything from warning signs at theaters telling people not to throw popcorn or drinks (which the poor theater stuff will have to clean up) or even (unconfirmed) reports of police being called to screenings. Sometimes the theaters are such a mess that the screening afterward has to be cancelled due to the extensive cleaning needed, which of course, is lost ticket sales and potential mass refunds.

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Again, there is a difference between clapping and cheering and memeing during a movie like this, which, though annoying for “regular” viewers, seems like the kind of theatrical “event” we have rarely seen. So there should be some leeway there.

Screaming through an entire movie or trashing a theater so badly it’s essentially vandalism is far less cool. It’s believed that a lot of this is inspired by TikTok trends where teens are trying to top the videos they see with even more insanity.

Does Warner Bros. care? They haven’t issued a statement on all this craziness, as they are no doubt more than satisfied with the end result, over $300 million in initial box office receipts, the most ever for a video game adaptation, and the movie is well on its way to a billion dollars with a sequel no doubt in tow. And for a second film, there are plenty more untapped meme moments that may create similar crazy situations.
It’s hard to even compare this to another theatrical experience. Some have mentioned Avengers Endgame with big audience cheers when Captain America gets Thor’s hammer and things like that, but this is not really even close, several orders of magnitude above that. Again, vocal excitement for a movie like this may be understandable or even fun. But there’s a time when that practically extends into property damage and disturbing the peace, and some screenings are stepping over it.
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5 Years Ago, The Least Likely Movie Imaginable Changed Hollywood Forever

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If you’re a parent with a kid of a certain age, there’s a damn good chance you’ve seen at least one of the “Trolls” movies. They are wildly popular and now ranks as one of the more successful toy-to-screen adaptations in modern Hollywood history. The first “Trolls” film was released in 2016 during Hollywood’s 2010s franchise boom. It was a solid hit that gave rise to a sequel, which arrived in the form of 2020’s “Trolls World Tour.” On the surface, that movie seemed to be an unassuming, harmless animated follow-up to a hit film aimed at kids. In reality, it helped change Hollywood forever.
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Let’s rewind the clocks a bit. It’s March 2020 and movie theaters all around the world have been forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The box office is on life support, with drive-ins making an unexpected comeback. Hollywood studios are fearful of an uncertain future and are busy looking for answers. It’s at this point that Universal Pictures decided to make the unprecedented move to release a brand new, big-budget film that was intended for theaters at home for people to watch for a premium fee. Hence, the birth of Premium Video On Demand, aka PVOD.
Notable 2020 films such as “Bloodshot” and “Birds of Prey,” among others, were released on VOD early after having their theatrical runs cut short by the pandemic. This was an understandable measure in a time of critics. However, “Trolls World Tour” had yet to hit the big screen, so Universal’s change in strategy was something else altogether. It proved to be a decision that permanently altered the way we watch movies, for better or worse — and, once again, it all rested on the shoulders of an animated sequel about singing Trolls dolls.
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Let’s rewind the clock even further back for a moment. The notion of renting movies at home and VOD as we know it was nothing new in early 2020, but it had largely been reserved for smaller movies or films that had already gone through their theatrical life cycle. Be that as it may, as DVD sales began to decline, studios wanted to make up that revenue somewhere.

Trolls World Tour became a first-of-its-kind smash hit

Universal Pictures

As The Wall Street Journal reported in 2010, Time Warner Cable Inc. made a pitch to Hollywood at large where people could watch a movie at home 30 days after its theatrical release for $20 or $30. It didn’t go over well. Going over even less well was Universal’s release of its comedy “Tower Heist” on VOD for an eye-popping $60 back in 2011 just three weeks after it hit theaters. Cinemark boycotted the movie, so Universal backed down rather quickly.
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In other words, studios were flirting with this idea for a full decade before the pandemic. All the while, movie theater owners were arguing against the notion, suggesting it would eat into their profits. The pandemic simply created a scenario that took away the bargaining chip that theaters had, with Universal pulling the trigger on the PVOD experiment, releasing “Trolls World Tour” on April 10, 2020, for $20 at home. It was, by all accounts, a resounding success.
In just three weeks of release on VOD, “Trolls World Tour” made around $100 million in revenue for Universal. Yes, the movie was also playing in theaters, but that did little good when the vast majority of theaters around the world were closed. For context, the first “Trolls” made $342 million worldwide during its entire theatrical run, with theaters keeping about half of the money from ticket sales. With VOD, studios keep a larger share of the revenue. For studios, the benefit was crystal clear. For theaters, it was a nail in the coffin of sorts. It was an allegedly temporary measure that became a permanent one. That decision forever altered the general public’s viewing habits in the process, making it far more easy to just stay home even after the threat of the pandemic had eased.
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Theater chains were none too pleased with Universal’s decision. AMC, the biggest chain in the world, banned all Universal movies in April 2020 in response. The ban obviously didn’t stick, but it goes to show just how upset those who rely on box office to keep their business alive were. The film’s actors weren’t exactly happy either, as they later demanded bonuses that they would have received had the sequel crossed certain box office milestones. It’s perhaps telling that 2023’s “Trolls Band Together” did get a theatrical release, with the VOD release coming just a month after its big screen debut.

Trolls World Tour helped reshape the movie industry, for better and worse

Universal Pictures

In the years that followed, studios embraced PVOD heartily, with streaming also becoming a far more dominant force during the pandemic. While very few movies of this size go straight to VOD now, the theatrical window has collapsed, with many titles available just 17 days after they first hit theaters. AMC and other chains are currently all but begging Hollywood to extend the theatrical window to 45 days (which still would have been relatively short before the pandemic). Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but studios have little motivation to give in.
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Unlike box office, studios rarely share VOD numbers. However, the New York Times reported that Universal had made more than $1 billion from PVOD titles in just three years. Universal has continued to argue that VOD is good for business and is “supplemental” to box office. Other studios have followed suit, reserving long, exclusive theatrical runs for the biggest of big movies only.
All of this has trained people to stay home, with the “wait to stream” mentality taking root. Many viewers get downright indignant when they can’t stream a movie now, even if it’s only been in theaters for a short time. All the while, the global box office hasn’t come close to reaching pre-pandemic levels again. Theaters still face a somewhat uncertain future, five years removed from all of this.
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At the same time, VOD has helped provide studios with a secondary revenue source that didn’t exist previously. With DVD not what it once was, this can act as a safety net. Then again, movies like “Top Gun: Maverick” or “Avatar: The Way of Water” still crush it on VOD even after long theatrical runs. The argument between studios and theaters on this persists.
We’re certainly not going to settle any industry-wide debates here today. It’s just remarkable in reflection that “Trolls World Tour,” a movie that /Film called “Loud, garish,” and “not quite as Bad as the first one,” was at the forefront of such a sea change. Anything that came as a result is not this movie’s fault, to be certain, but it earned its place in cinema history all the same.

Horror blaze ravages iconic movie pub which starred in hit 90s British film in devastating arson attack

A HORROR blaze has ravaged an iconic movie pub that starred in a hit 90s British film.Shiregreen Working Mens Club in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, opened its doors just over 100 years ago and was a popular attraction for local people.Smoke pouring from the famous club after the fireShiregreen Working Mens Club in Sheffield was set ablazeCredit: Glen MinikinBut the famous pub – which featured in The Full Monty – was set ablaze on Tuesday night.Thick black smoke poured from the roof of the building as several fire engines scrambled to the scene to fight the blaze.Stunned residents watched on as the fire raged on Tuesday evening.South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said that their crews spent more than three hours there battling the blaze.Read More in UK NewsThankfully there were no casualties reported and fire crews left the scene at around 10.30pm.But cops believe that the fire was started “deliberately” and an investigation is underway.South Yorkshire Police is investigating the incident and said in a statement: “At 7.45pm yesterday (8 April) South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue made us aware of a fire at a property on Shiregreen Lane, in Sheffield.“It is believed the fire was started deliberately. An investigation has been launched and enquiries are ongoing.”Most read in The SunThe pub featured in The Fully Monty after six unemployed steel workers came up with the plan to form a local striptease group in an attempt to transform their fortunes.Moment fire rips through busy market stall as onlookers watch in horrorThe Bafta award-winning movie was a huge hit when it was first released in 1997.It starred actors such as Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Paul Barber, Tom Wilkinson and Hugo Speer.And the historic movie scene filmed at the social club became one of the most iconic scenes in British film history.Shiregreen Working Mens Club closed its doors for good in 2019 after struggling financially and plans were made to demolish the building.Fans of the original 1997 film were thrilled when The Full Monty came back as a series in 2023.Taking place 25 years after the original British smash hit, the series followed the same band of brothers as they navigated the post-industrial city of Sheffield.The reunion saw the comedy drama’s original cast, including Mark Addy and Lesley Sharp, navigating the changing times in their suburb.On paper it was much like the movie.Read More on The SunBut this time, the group of steelworkers-turned- strippers mostly kept their clothes on as they tackled the political issues of a crumbling healthcare system, education, unemployment and crime.The new format also introduced a new narrator into the action.It featured in the hit show The Full MontyCredit: Alamy

China to Reduce Imports of Hollywood Films as Trade War Escalates

It’s official: China is set to reduce the number of Hollywood films it imports in response to an escalating tariff war with the U.S. and will look to increase film imports from other countries.
The China Film Administration (CFA), the body that handles film releases and quotas in the country, released a statement on Thursday in response to a reporter’s question about whether the Trump administration’s increasing tariffs on China would impact imports of American films. A spokesperson for the CFA said that the U.S. government had made the wrong move to “abuse tariffs on China” and that the situation “will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favorability towards American films.”

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The statement added, “We will follow market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported. China is the world’s second-largest film market. We have always adhered to a high level of opening up to the outside world and will introduce more excellent films from the world to meet market demand.”

The move to reduce American film imports comes as Trump increased tariffs on China to 125 percent on Wednesday. China hit back on Thursday with tariffs of 84 percent on American goods.

On Tuesday, reports from China suggested that the country was mulling a ban or a reduction on the number of Hollywood films. Speculation had increased after two widely followed Chinese public figures — one an editor for a state media outlet, the other the son of a former party chief — released identical outlines on Tuesday of countermeasures Chinese authorities were said to be considering in response to Trump’s tariffs, and their outlines included a ban or reduction of imported American films.

Under the most recent trade agreements, China committed to releasing 34 foreign films per year under revenue-share terms, with overseas studios permitted to a 25 percent share of ticket sales.

The news of the reduction appeared to catch many in the Chinese film industry, particularly local exhibitors, by surprise. According to sources, China’s Film Bureau had just approved on Monday Disney and Marvel’s Thunderbolts for a theatrical release on April 30 (it’s now unclear whether that release will go forward). Exhibitors in contact with the bureau told The Hollywood Reporter that they were optimistically awaiting positive news about other upcoming U.S. releases, including Apple’s Brad Pitt starring racing movie F1.

China’s theatrical box office has staged a strong recovery this year from a severe downturn in 2024, when total ticket revenue declined 23 percent. The turnaround in 2025 has been profoundly top-heavy, though. As of Monday, theatrical revenue for the year was up 42 percent compared to the same period in 2024, but virtually all of the gains had come from just one film: Beijing Enlight’s animated sequel Ne Zha 2, which has earned a record-smashing $2.1 billion since its release during Chinese New Year in late January.

The popularity of Hollywood films has eroded drastically in the past several years, but top U.S. tentpoles can still occasionally bring in substantial revenue. In 2022, Avatar: The Way of Water made $246 million at the China box office. Warner Brothers and Legendary Entertainment’s A Minecraft Movie opened to $14.7 million last weekend, and local theater chains were banking on a summer slate of tentpoles like James Gunn’s Superman and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning to help fill seats and keep the market recovery going.

Even with Hollywood’s diminished state in China, the film business is one sector where the U.S. maintains a sizable trade surplus with its geopolitical rival, as Chinese films, despite their enormous earnings in the home market, have made little headway with mainstream North American moviegoers.

Chhaava OTT release date: When & where to finally stream Vicky Kaushal’s film

Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava’s streaming date and platform are finally confirmed! That’s right, we finally know when and where the third highest-grossing Hindi film ever would start streaming on OTT. The OTT platform itself has issued a clarification, and we have the final streaming date. Here’s all you want to know…

Movie
Chhaava

OTT platform
Netflix

OTT release date
April 11, 2025

Language
Hindi

Cast
Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna

When and where to watch Chaava on OTTChhaava will be out on Friday, April 11. The twist is that it would be out at midnight, i.e. after 12 am.
Chhaava will be available for streaming on Netflix. The OTT platform has confirmed the news of its digital release, and it comes a day after the film is out of theatres. Loved Chhaava? Then experience more historic dramas on OTTplay PremiumIf you are in love with the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, just imagine how much you would love stories about his brave father, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. A subscription to OTTplay Premium opens up a world full of stories that tell the brave tale of the Marathas. Did you know who Maratha commander Baji Prabhu Deshpande, a close aide of Shivaji Maharaj was? You can learn more about him with Har Har Mahadev. Or you could explore Shivaji Maharaj’s story itself with Fatteshikast.In case you are a fan of Vicky Kaushal and want to explore another brave story featuring him, then Sam Bahadur needs to be on your list. The actor’s 2019 hit URI: The Surgical Strike can also be on your watchlist with just an OTTplay Premium subscription. So, what are you waiting for?Chhaava, the third highest-grossing Hindi filmShah Rukh Khan in a still from JawanBefore going off theatres, Chhaava managed to become the third highest-grossing Hindi film. The movie beat Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan at the Box Office, and now, it might just be out to set new OTT records. For the uninitiated, Jawan had broken records after 3.7 million viewers streamed the film, eventually leading to the makers surprising fans with an extended version of the film. Whether Chhaava can manage the same feat remains to be seen.

Jack locks OTT platform: Where to stream Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s film online

Jack is Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s new film that hit the screens on April 10, 2025. High on the success of DJ Tillu and Tillu Square, Siddhu is back with yet another fun avatar in this film, which has been directed by Bhaskar. BVSN Prasad, who made some super hit films in the past, has produced Jack on a decent budget.Jack locks OTT platformWell, the film was released to disappointing word of mouth, and many are already talking about the OTT release of the film on day one of the release itself. As per the latest update, Netflix has bagged the digital rights to the film for a fancy price. The news is that Netflix has shelled out a big amount to bag the deal, and this has landed the makers in a safe zone.Jack is an action comedy where Siddhu Jonnalagadda plays a spy, and his dream is to become a RAW agent. How he gets a chance to handle a mission and how he lands in a big mess is the basic story of the film. Director Bhaskar, who has made Bommarillu, a cult classic in Telugu cinema, has wasted a solid opportunity and dully narrated the film.Jack movie reviewVaishnavi Chaitanya plays female lead in JackSiddhu is the only solace of the film, which also has Vaishnavi Chaitanya as the female lead.
Jack, the action drama, also features the seasoned Prakash Raj in a key role. The music has been composed by Sam CS, and his work is decent.Jack has been in the making for over one and a half years now. The makers promoted the film on a massive scale, and the film has seen decent occupancy on day one. On the other hand, Jack will face solid competition from Ajith’s Good Bad Ugly, which also hit the screens on April 10, 2025, and has opened to a decent talk in Telugu states.Coming back to Jack, Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s film has failed to live up to all the hype, and the OTT release is all set to happen in the last week of April 2025. For now, Netflix has bagged the digital rights to the film for a fancy price. Stay tuned for more updates.