Blog

‘The Last of Us,’ Season 2 premieres this weekend. Explore the stunning Canadian filming locations behind the hit HBO series

Joel, Ellie and the zombie fungus are back for another season of “The Last of Us.”The story, based on the popular Play Station video game franchise, follows Joel and Ellie, who must rely on each other to survive in a post-pandemic world filled with atrocious fungus-infected beings. They must travel across a severely ravaged U.S., to find a cure for the outbreak.When “The Last of Us,” Season 2 starts
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

The second season of HBO’s Emmy-award winning original drama series is set to debut on Sunday, April 13 at 9 p.m., ET on HBO.In Season 2, five years after the events of the first season, “Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other in a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind,” according to an HBO news release.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Season 2 features “Game of Thrones” alumni and “The Last of Us” returning cast members Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, along with a slew of new characters.Watch “The Last of Us,” Season 2 trailer

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

The trailer for the new season was unveiled on March 7 at the SXSW Conference. It amassed a total of 158-million global views across different platforms in the first three days and made it HBO’s most-watched original trailer, according to the network.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store for the show’s much anticipated premiere this Sunday.
[embedded content]

#TheLastOfUs Official Trailer 

Where was “The Last of Us” filmed?The game’s postapocalyptic world was shot entirely in Canada at various locations across Alberta. Most of the scenes were filmed in Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore, Fort Macleod and High River, among others.Alberta’s major cities, Calgary and Edmonton, were favourite filming locations for the cast and crew of the show.In one famous scene, the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton can be seen towering over a wrecked postapocalyptic highway. The landmark served as a stand-in for the Massachusetts State House.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

In downtown Calgary, the area behind the Calgary Stampede grounds doubled as Boston’s quarantine zone. Various other spots in the city served as a stand-in for U.S. cities and locations in the show. The scene with the blocked highway tunnel in Kansas City, for instance, was filmed at the entrance of the airport tunnel in Calgary.
[embedded content]

YouTuber Davey Gray visits “The Last of Us” filming locations in Alberta.

A scene with Joel and Ellie walking through Kansas shows the Globe Cinema along Avenue Southwest. The University of Eastern Colorado in the show is actually the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology campus in Calgary.During their journey across what’s left of the U.S., Joel and Ellie land in a settlement for pandemic survivors located in Jackson, Wy. The charming rustic town was constructed in Canmore and located more than an hour away from Calgary and about 20 minutes from Banff.Travel Alberta maps “The Last of Us” film locationsFans of the show can visit all the other filming locations marked in this map by Travel Alberta. The themed Alberta itinerary features popular filming spots used for Season 1 and Season 2. 

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

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.

MORE FOR YOUGoogle’s Android Update—Bad News For Samsung And Pixel Users‘NYT Mini’ Clues And Answers For Thursday, April 10Trump Approval Rating Tracker: Three Post-Tariff Surveys Show Decline

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.
Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Bluesky
Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

5 Years Ago, The Least Likely Movie Imaginable Changed Hollywood Forever

Static Media

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.
Advertisement

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.
Advertisement

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.
Advertisement

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.
Advertisement

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.
Advertisement

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.
Advertisement

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.”

Related Stories

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.