News

Universal has been vindicated, thanks to the witches of Oz and the tenacity of studio chief and top NBCUniversal executive Donna Langley.

Over the Nov. 22-24 weekend, director Jon M. Chu‘s Wicked opened to an estimated $114 million domestically, the biggest box office launch of all time for a Broadway adaptation in a landslide victory, considering that the previous record holder, Into the Woods, opened to $31 million, not adjusted for inflation.

Moreover, it’s the fourth-biggest domestic opening among any musical behind three marquee Disney titles.

It couldn’t be a more welcome result for Universal, which was left badly bruised when Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper’s Cats adaptation turned into a box office debacle in 2019. The movie opened to just $6.6 million before topping out at $25.2 million domestically and $75.6 million globally. Langley and her team, however, remained steadfast in sticking with making two Wicked movies (Chu’s sequel debuts a year from now).

“With Wicked,...

Wicked director Jon M. Chu will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards, which recognize the year’s best editing achievements in film and TV.

The American Society of Editors made the announcement Monday, along with revealing that longtime Robert Altman and Tyler Perry collaborator Maysie Hoy and Star Wars Oscar winner Paul Hirsch will be bestowed with career achievement honors during the ceremony, set for January 18, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

The Filmmaker of the Year honor goes to an artist who “exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” Ace said. Recent recipients include John Waters, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Kathleen Kennedy and Christopher Nolan.

“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” said Ace president Sabrina Plisco, Ace, noting Chu’s...

Wicked director Jon M. Chu will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award from the American Cinema Editors (Ace), it was announced on Monday.

The award recognizes “an artist who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” according to Ace. Film editors Maysie Hoy and Paul Hirsch will also receive career achievement honors for their “outstanding career contributions to film editing.”

All honors will be presented at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards on Jan. 18 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Nominations will be announced on Dec. 11.

“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” says newly elected Ace president Sabrina Plisco. “From the vibrant energy of In The Heights to the sweeping romance of the groundbreaking Crazy Rich Asians, his films are a testament to the power of cinema to transport, entertain and inspire.

Tubi’s lineup for November 2024 offers a diverse and exciting selection of content across genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone. With Tubi Originals like the heartwarming comedy “The Engagement Dress” (November 10) and the festive yet spicy “Hot Girl Winter” (November 24), holiday cheer takes a fresh twist. The thrillers keep the tension high, including the chilling ghost story “Still Here” (November 9) and the stormy suspense of “The Last Exit” (November 16). For documentary enthusiasts, “Behind The Crime: Self Defense or Slaughter” (November 15) and “Fresh Meat 2: Killing Dahmer” (November 22) dive into intense real-life investigations. Families can look forward to the magical fun of “Family Ornaments” (November 17), while anime fans can enjoy “Bunny Drop” on November 5. Classic action films like “Die Hard”, “Mad Max: Fury Road” (November 9), and “San Andreas” (November 22) return for adrenaline junkies, and horror lovers will appreciate the creepy lineup of “Annabelle: Creation”, “The Thing (1982)”, and more. Whether it’s nostalgic art-house classics,...

Exclusive: Iag has signed actor, director, and producer Tasha Smith for representation in all areas.

Most recently helming two episodes of both Taylor Sheridan’s Mayor of Kingstown and Peacock’s Fresh Prince reboot Bel-Air, Smith is also known for exec producing Starz’s hit series Bmf alongside 50 Cent.

50 isn’t the only Iag client with whom she has a strong connection. She’s also directed and produced with notables including Mary J. Blige, Russell Hornsby, Terrence Howard, Lil Meech and Da’Vinchi, to name a few.

Last seen starring opposite Michelle Buteau on Netflix comedy series Survival of the Thickest, Smith prior to that appeared in Why Did I Get Married? and its sequel Why Did I Get Married, Too?, reprising her role from the films in Tyler Perry’s spin-off series For Better or Worse on OWN, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.

Tyler Perry has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix. The prolific filmmaker behind “Boo!: A Madea Halloween,” “For Colored Girls,” “The Family That Preys” and “Why Did I Get Married?” will write, direct and produce feature films for the streaming giant.

Perry’s upcoming Netflix originals include “Six Triple Eight,” with Kerry Washington heading up an ensemble flick about the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to be stationed overseas during World War II. Perry’s upcoming “Mea Culpa” stars Kelly Rowland as a defense attorney who represents an artist accused of murdering his girlfriend.

Perry has already made several films for Netflix, including “A Jazzman’s Blues,” “A Fall from Grace” and “A Madea Homecoming.”

The latter was the 12th film featuring Perry’s marquee character. The fast-talking, zero-s–t-taking atheist grandmother — played by Perry himself — was first introduced onstage in “I Can Do Bad All By Myself...

It’s the most spookiest time of the year, and you’ll find a smorgasbord of creepy content on the Hulu streaming service in October! Not only has the streamer secured recent theatrical releases like Cobweb and Slotherhouse for you, but Huluween is here again to make sure things go bump in the night.

Huluween highlights this year include the first season of Living for the Dead, which comes from the creators of Netflix’s popular Queer Eye. Join five queer ghost hunters – Alex Le May, Juju Bae, Ken Boggle, Logan Taylor and Roz Hernandez – as they travel to a range of the world’s most haunted locations in an attempt to help the living by healing the dead.

Hulu will also premiere Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House from director Andrew Renzi. The new documentary follows the story of “Navy Veteran turned master of horror” Russ McKamey. His home,...

What better way to celebrate the spooky month of October than with Hulu‘s own event for the holiday? Huluween brings some chilling favorites and new programming to the platform just in time for Halloween. That includes the return of American Horror Stories, with a special four-episode event, the Leprechaun franchise, and the Interview With the Vampire film. Other offerings include Goosebumps (premiere on Disney+ and Hulu), Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?, seasons of reality shows like The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss, and more. Hulu has plenty of titles coming in October 2023. Check out the full list below and all of the titles leaving the platform by October 31. Available This Month on Hulu: October 1 The Amazing Race: Complete Season 22 America’s Next Top Model: Complete Seasons 4-5, 9-10 Ash vs. Evil Dead: Complete Series Crazy Fun Park: Complete Limited Series Stephen King’s...

Los Angeles, May 4 (Ians) Tasha Smith will join Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the latest installment of Sony Pictures’ ‘Bad Boys’ franchise, reports ‘Variety’.

In ‘Bad Boys 4’, Smith will play Theresa, Marcus Burnett’s (Lawrence) loving and devoted wife, a role previously inhabited by Theresa Randle in the first three ‘Bad Boys’ films. Plot details for ‘Bad Boys 4’ have been kept under wraps.

Smith, according to ‘Variety’, is best known for her roles as Carol in the drama series ‘Empire’, Ronnie Boyce in HBO’s Emmy-winning series ‘The Corner’ and Angela in Tyler Perry’s ‘Why Did I Get Married?’. She has also directed episodes of ‘Our Kind of People’, ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ and ‘Bel-Air’.

The ‘Bad Boys’ series has Will Smith and Lawrence playing Miami-Dade detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett. The fourth film also features Paola Nunez, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig and ‘Euphoria’ star Eric Dane.

Tasha Smith will join Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the latest installment of Sony Pictures’ “Bad Boys” franchise.

In “Bad Boys 4,” Smith will play Theresa, Marcus Burnett’s (Lawrence) loving and devoted wife, a role previously inhabited by Theresa Randle in the first three “Bad Boys” films. Plot details for “Bad Boys 4” have been kept under wraps.

Smith is best known for her roles as Carol in the drama series “Empire,” Ronnie Boyce in HBO’s Emmy-winning series “The Corner” and Angela in Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?” She has also directed episodes of “Our Kind of People,” “Mayor of Kingstown” and “Bel-Air.”

Smith is repped by Greene Talent & Fox Rothschild.

The “Bad Boys” series stars Will Smith and Lawrence as Miami-Dade detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett. The fourth film also features Paola Núnez, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig and “Euphoria’s” Eric Dane.

Click here to read the full article.

Tyler Perry is the type of filmmaker whose name can appear as a possessive in front of a movie’s title. There’s Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?, Tyler Perry’s Temptation and, of course, the wildly successful Madea franchise. Across two dozen features, Perry has built a directing career that leaves both studio executives and his audience knowing exactly what they’re getting into. Tyler Perry — the name and the brand — is synonymous with a certain type of movie: unabashedly commercial fare with moral messaging. As Tyler Perry the filmmaker points out during a phone conversation from his office at his eponymous Atlanta studio, A Jazzman’s Blues, his latest effort, is not that movie: “People are not expecting this kind of movie from me in any sense, but I always knew it was there.”

The film, which premieres Sept.

Netflix has a knack for getting a lot of very talented people together in movies that seemingly just wouldn't get made at a traditional studio anymore. Case in point, "The Good Nurse" is a movie that features two Oscar winners in the form of Jessica Chastain ("It Chapter Two") and Eddie Redmayne ("The Theory of Everything") front-and-center in a thriller that is based on true events.

As the title implies, they are nurses working at a hospital but, as it turns out, only one of them is good and the other might actually be very bad. For a movie with such a seemingly innocuous title, the body count certainly stacks up in a hurry here. Let's take a gander, shall we?

The Good Nurse Trailer Is Full Of Murder And Intrigue

Things don't take long to get a little twisted as Chastain's character Amy meets up with Redmayne's Charlie at a coffee shop.

A new original movie reboot inspired by Michael Landon’s iconic ’80s television drama, Highway to Heaven arrives March 1 on DVD from Lionsgate.

A new original movie reboot inspired by Michael Landon’s iconic ’80s television drama, Highway to Heaven arrives March 1 on DVD from Lionsgate. The movie stars Jill Scott, Barry Watson. The Highway to Heaven movie will be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $14.98.

Inspired by Michael Landon’s beloved classic ’80s TV series, Lifetime®‘s original Highway To Heaven movie reboot follows Angela Stewart, played by Grammy® winner Jill Scott (TV’s “First Wives Club”), who is an angel sent back to Earth in order to help people in need. This story finds a junior high student struggling with the tragic loss of his mother as he and his dad drift apart. Angela takes a temporary job as a school counselor working alongside principal...

HBO Max announced that the cast of “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” now includes Sharon Leal, Elena Goode and Lea Salonga as series regulars and Zakiya Young and Carly Pope in recurring roles.

Previously announced cast members of the “Pretty Little Liars” reboot include Chandler Kinney, Bailee Madison, Maia Reficco, Malia Pyles, Zaria, Mallory Bechtel, Alex Aiono and Eric Johnson. The series is set in the present, 20 years after a series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart. Now, a disparate group of teen girls — the new “Little Liars” — find themselves tormented by an unknown “Assailant” and made to pay for the secret sin their parents committed two decades ago, as well as their own.

Leal will play Sidney, Tabby’s (Kinney) single mother who works in real estate to provide for her daughter and Imogen (Madison), another girl in town. Leal’s previous credits include “Dreamgirls,...

Exclusive: Tasha Smith has been tapped to direct the pilot and second episode of Fox’s drama series Our Kind Of People, from writer/executive producer Karin Gist, executive producer Lee Daniels, 20th Television and Fox Entertainment.

The project reunites Smith with Fox, Empire and Star co-creator Daniels, Star executive producer Gist and 20th TV. Smith had a major recurring role on Fox/20th TV’s Empire and directed two episode of the network and studio’s Star in addition to reprising her Empire character in a guest-starring stint.

Written by Gist inspired by Lawrence Otis Graham’s provocative, critically praised book Our Kind of People: Inside America’s Black Upper Class, the drama, which received a straight-to-series order for the 3031-22 season, takes place in the aspirational world of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, a historical stronghold where the rich and powerful black elite have come to play for more than 50 years.

Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., the son of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, and Da’Vinchi are set to star in Starz’s drama series Black Mafia Family, from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and writer/executive producer and Detroit native Randy Huggins. Additionally, Tasha Smith will direct the first episode and multiple others, and Wood Harris will join his brother Steve Harris in a recurring role. Black Mafia Family is produced through Jackson’s G-Unit Film and Television in association with Starz and Lionsgate Television. The series begins filming in Atlanta and Detroit this month.

Flenory Jr., the son of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory will make his acting debut starring as his father and Da’Vinchi will portray Demetrius’ brother Terry “Southwest T” Flenory.

Black Mafia Family is inspired by the true story of...

As this past week was the first week of December, Netflix got things rolling with the usual glut of new titles. It’s easy to miss everything that went up on the streaming giant over the past seven days, so we’ve compiled a handy recap of every single movie and TV show that dropped from Monday, November 30th to Sunday, December 6th. In total, that’s 58 new additions.

The 1st obviously delivered the bulk of the haul, serving up a ton of fresh films to keep you entertained as we begin the festive season. Among the highlights was the original Jurassic Park and one of its sequels and if you missed them at the beginning of the week, you can also catch the likes of romcom 50 First Dates, animated film Monster House and the one and only E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. As for TV shows, all of Stargate was likewise added the same day.

It’s the very first day of December, and as you’re finishing up some holiday shopping, Netflix is already ahead of schedule with a fantastic gift for you – tons of fresh content that you’re not going to want to miss.

This isn’t unusual, of course, as the first day of any month is guaranteed to be the biggest for the world’s most popular streaming service. You can usually expect quite a bit of high-profile stuff, and today is no different with its wide selection of appealing new and returning movies and shows that encompass nearly every genre.

Among other things, some classic series have dropped multiple entries in their lineup, including Jurassic Park and its second sequel, as well as Tom Hanks’ The Da Vinci Code and its follow-up Angels & Demons. Elsewhere, beloved sci-fi show Stargate Sg-1 has landed on the service today, too, bringing...

The year is almost over. The Hargreeves kids have saved the world and Beth Harmon has checkmated her last opponent. But in its new releases for December 2020, Netflix still has some tricks up its sleeve.

For starters, Netflix is ending this most curious year with some promising original films. David Fincher’s long-awaited Mank arrives on Dec. 4 to fill us in on the story of Citizen Kane‘s screenwriter. Then on Dec. 11, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and James Corden do their best musical impression with The Prom. Chadwick Boseman’s final film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom debuts on Dec. 18. Then George Clooney rounds out the month with The Midnight Sky on Dec. 23.

But of course, it’s in the original series realm where Netflix does most of its work. The biggest one comes at month’s end this December. The final season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina premieres on New Year’s Eve.

As a most unusual holiday season begins, it’s going to be harder for streaming services to demand our attention. With its new releases for December 2020, Amazon Prime is trying its best anyway.

This is actually an uncommonly jam-packed and intriguing roster of content for Bezos’s outfit. The list this month is highlighted by the release of The Expanse season 5 on Dec. 16. The beloved sci-fi series made the jump from Syfy to Amazon last year and things went well enough that it’s coming back for more. That returning show is complemented by another new genre series. The Wilds premieres on Dec. 11 and will follows a group of teenage girls lost (or Lost) on a deserted island.

Amazon’s original movies in December are just as intriguing. Riz Ahmed plays a heavy metal drummer losing his hearing in Sound of Metal on Dec. 4. Rachel Brosnahan stars as a mother...

As the year winds down, streaming services appear to be taking a step back, licking their wounds from this strange pandemic production season, and looking to a hopefully brighter future. This is all to say that Hulu‘s list of new releases for December 2020 isn’t quite its most inspiring batch yet…and that’s Ok.

Hulu’s biggest original title this month is undoubtedly The Hardy Boys. This adaptation of the classic boy detective novels is aimed at younger audiences and will premiere on Dec. 4. Then, near the end of the month, Hulu is bringing a new season of a show that is decidedly not for younger audiences. Season 9 of the very funny and very Canadian Letterkenny arrives on Dec. 26.

Hulu also has some recent movies of note coming in December including Amy Seimetz’s diabolical She Dies Tomorrow on Dec. 4 and children’s movie The Secret Garden on Dec.

Somehow, December starts on Tuesday even though it only feels like yesterday that the world was turning as normal and everyone was going about their business as usual before the Coronavirus pandemic came along and changed everything. As is the case every time we enter a new month, though, the various streaming services on offer are adding a whole host of new titles to their libraries and over the next seven days, Netflix has more than 50 movies and TV shows heading our way.

The list contains about everything you’d expect, from some all-time classics to several pretty terrible efforts that still stand a decent chance of cracking the Top 10 most-watched list, while there are even a couple of Adam Sandler films thrown in for good measure along with a handful of high-profile originals, and you can check out the full and exhaustive selection below.

Released November 30

A Love So Beautiful...

We’ve now got just a few days left of November, so it’s time to take a look ahead at everything that’s headed to the major streaming networks in December. As it’s Christmas, Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video have extra special hauls ready to gift to their subscribers this holiday season, with literally hundreds of new movies and TV shows dropping over the course of the month.

All the various sites – excepting Disney Plus – are serving up a ton of newly licensed films on December 1st. Netflix, for instance, is adding such classics as E.T., Little Nicky and the first three Jurassic Parks. Meanwhile, HBO Max is offering up The Shawshank Redemption, Shaun of the Dead and a bunch of Final Destinations, while Hulu and Prime Video, which share a lot of the same movies, are treating users to a host of iconic...

With just a few days of November left, we’ve now got a look at what’s coming to Netflix across December and the following breakdown gives us a strong idea of what to expect from the streaming giant next month. As you can see down below, it promises that a number of exciting original releases are on their way. Many of these are some of the most-anticipated titles of the year as well, meaning Netflix has truly saved the best for last.

On December 1st, we know to expect animated sequel Angela’s Christmas Wish and The Holiday Movies That Made Us, a documentary which looks at the best Christmas films around, while a ton of licensed titles will be added as well. Adam Sandler’s beloved 50 First Dates will be joining the platform, along with Jon Favreau’s excellent Chef, two Jurassic Park movies and more.

On the 2nd,...

Hard as it is to believe with everything going on right now, but Christmas is only about five weeks away, and the streaming market is already looking crowded. Although Netflix can probably expect to continue their dominance over subscribers through the end of 2020, Amazon Prime are releasing some notable titles for the last month of the year, including original films like I’m Your Woman and new episodes of The Expanse.

In terms of the former, it stars Rachel Brosnahan of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in a picture about a woman who has to go on the run after her husband gets into trouble with his business partner. We’ll also be seeing the much-anticipated Sound of Metal, which features Riz Ahmed as a heavy metal drummer who develops hearing loss. This one will receive a limited theatrical release before heading to Amazon on December 4th. And elsewhere, viewers can expect...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as the various streaming services are stocking their libraries with some great new titles this December to keep us going through the festive period. When it comes to Hulu, the Disney-owned platform is adding a few holiday-related movies and TV shows, but is mostly taking the track of stuffing itself full of classic films that the whole family can enjoy.

This includes a bunch of the best James Bond pics ever made, like GoldenEye, The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldfinger and, the one that kicked it all off, Dr. No. That would be a perfect watch to honor Sean Connery, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Other action movies you might want to check out this December, meanwhile, include The Hurt Locker, The Fifth Element, 2003’s Hulk and the two “Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon” flicks, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.

Showtime is saying goodbye to a number of titles in May.

The network has announced a list of movies that are set to disappear throughout next month.

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? will be one of the first titles taken off on May 1, followed by Shakespeare in Love on May 5 and American Graffiti on May 12. Trumbo, starring Bryan Cranston, will leave on May 18, with The Company Men set for a May 23 departure. The King's Speech will say goodbye on May 26.

And May 31 is the last call, for now, for films such as ...

Showtime is saying goodbye to a number of titles in May.

The network has announced a list of movies that are set to disappear throughout next month.

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? will be one of the first titles taken off on May 1, followed by Shakespeare in Love on May 5 and American Graffiti on May 12. Trumbo, starring Bryan Cranston, will leave on May 18, with The Company Men set for a May 23 departure. The King's Speech will say goodbye on May 26.

And May 31 is the last call, for now, for films such as ...

Star’s Meagan Good, Empire’s Grace Byers, Mother’s Milk’s Jerrie Johnson and I Am The Night’s Shoniqua Shandai are to star in Amazon’s half-hour comedy from Girls Trip writer Tracy Oliver.

Girls Trip director Malcolm D. Lee is set to direct the first two episodes of the ten-part series, which comes from Universal Television, and Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions.

In July, Amazon Studios has ordered the female-focused comedy, which was created, written and executive produced by Oliver. The show, formerly known as Harlem, is a single-camera comedy following the lives of four black women – friends from their college days at NYU – as they navigate sex, relationships and chasing their dreams.

Meagan Good plays Camille, a stylish, sunny professor of anthropology course “Sex and Love” at Columbia University. While Camille has extensive knowledge about the dating and mating norms of many cultures, she has...

Exclusive: Grammy winner and actress Jill Scott and comedian Michelle Buteau, are set as two of the three leads in First Wives Club, Paramount Network’s dramedy based on the popular 1996 film from Paramount Pictures. The 10-episode series hails from Girls Trip co-writer Tracy Oliver and Paramount Television.

The First Wives Club series, like the film which starred Diane Keaton, Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn, will be based in New York City. It follows three women, Ari, Bree (Buteau) and Hazel (Scott) who band together after their marriages fall apart, and who find strength in their sisterhood- and of course a little revenge.

Scott’s Hazel is a gorgeous music superstar who has faded from the limelight and lost the confidence she once had. She has a raw talent and a killer voice that’s been silenced by her husband/manager Sean for years.

Tyler Perry has showed off his generous side - the actor/director is paying for 65 children to go to Walt Disney World following allegations they were refused entry to a swimming club.

Bosses at The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania insist a group of black and Hispanic kids at Creative Steps Inc. were turned away because of a safety issue as many of the children could not yet swim.

Controversy grew when a club boss told two local television stations the children had changed "the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club, causing protesters to flock to the facility.

In a statement posted on his website, Perry says: "This made me so angry. This is awful, and for anyone that has grown up in the inner-city, you know that one small act of kindness can change your life. I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them. This is all about the kids."

Camp leaders have praised Perry after the Why Did I Get Married? filmmaker announced he would foot the bill for the kids to take a trip to the theme park next month after he read about the incident.

Creative Steps director Alethea Wright adds, "I am ecstatic for the children," adding the kids can relate to the star because he "comes from humble beginnings".

Grieving Janet Jackson has landed a new movie role.

The singer/actress, who is currently in mourning following the death of her brother Michael on Thursday, will appear in the sequel to 2007 film Why Did I Get Married?.

Jackson will reprise her role as author and psychologist Patricia in the new flick entitled Why Did I Get Married Too?, which is slated for release next year.

The Great Debaters took center stage Thursday night, winning the award for outstanding motion picture at the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards.

Denzel Washington, who starred in and directed the film about a college debate team, was named best actor, while the film's Jurnee Smollett was named best actress. The movie's Denzel Whitaker took home the statue for outstanding supporting actor.

Tyler Perry also proved a big winner. His film Why Did I Get Married? garnered Janet Jackson the award for outstanding supporting actress, while the TBS series House of Payne won outstanding comedy series. Payne's LaVan Davis was honored as outstanding actor in a comedy series, while Lance Gross was crowned outstanding supporting actor for his portrayal of the spoiled son of Curtis and Ella Payne.

Other winners dominating the television category included HBO's Life Support and ABC's Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy.

Queen Latifah and Wendell Pierce were voted outstanding actress and actor in a television movie, miniseries or dramatic special for Support, which also won for outstanding TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special.

America Ferrera won for best actress in a comedy series for Betty, while co-star Vanessa Williams garnered the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series award.

Anatomy won for outstanding drama series, and the show's Chandra Wilson was honored as outstanding supporting actress in a drama series.

Just off her Grammy wins, Alicia Keys swept the musical categories with four awards, winning for outstanding music video, song and album and garnering the outstanding female artist award.

Also winning awards Thursday were Kasi Lemmons for outstanding directing in a motion picture for Focus Features' Talk To Me and Seith Mann for outstanding directing in a dramatic series for his work on NBC's Friday Night Lights, with the episode "Are You Ready For Friday Night?"...

TORONTO -- Despite higher revenue, Canadian producer Lionsgate reported sharply lower third-quarter earnings Monday.

Vancouver-based Lionsgate posted earnings of $1.95 million for the three months ending Dec. 31, compared with a profit of $20.45 million in 2007. Third-quarter revenue came to $290.9 million, up 14% from the year-earlier period.

Total motion picture revenue during the quarter came to $254.1 million, compared with $221.6 million in 2007, with Saw IV and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? performing well for Lionsgate during the latest period.

Lionsgate's home entertainment revenue stood at $105.1 million, down from a year-earlier $113.6 million.

Lionsgate also reported $53.8 million in international revenue on the strength of such titles as Saw IV, Saw III and Good Luck, Chuck.

Lionsgate U.K. contributed $22.4 million during the latest quarter, while TV production revenue came to $36.8 million, with deliveries of episodes of AMC's Mad Men, Showtime's Weeds and ABC Family's Wildfire.

"Our theatrical, television, home entertainment, library, international and digital businesses all achieved continued solid performance in the quarter," Lionsgate co-chairman and CEO Jon Feltheimer said.

Dreamgirls co-star Sharon Leal has landed the female lead in another musically themed feature, the Dimension Films comedy Soul Men.

The film, directed by Malcolm D. Lee, stars Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac as Louis and Floyd, two estranged former backup soul singers for a famed group who reluctantly agree to travel together for a memorial concert at the Apollo Theatre in honor of their recently deceased frontman.

Leal will play Louis' daughter Cleo, who joins him and Floyd on their road trip and eventually becomes a singer for the band.

After Leal's breakthrough role in Dreamgirls, she starred opposite Tyler Perry in his Why Did I Get Married? and Screen Gems' This Christmas.

She is repped at APA, Alchemy Entertainment and attorney Jeff Frankel.

NEW YORK -- Fox Searchlight is ticketed to produce and finance David Talbert's Baggage Claim, about a single flight attendant who jets around the country in search of a husband.

Talbert, a multihyphenate who has earned comparisons to Tyler Perry, will write, direct and produce the movie based on his 2005 novel. Casting is under way for the prestrike project, which Searchlight hopes to shoot ahead of a potential actors strike in the summer.

Baggage centers on the thirtysomething Montana Moore, who, frustrated with being single, embarks on a 30-day, 30,000-mile barnstorm across America to find an appropriate suitor. Along the way she encounters several interested prospects, including a preacher, a politician and a tycoon.

The project marks the latest in a series of movies aimed at black audiences, including such Perry products as Why Did I Get Married? and Madea's Family Reunion and Preston Whitmore's This Christmas, which earned $50 million at the domestic boxoffice during the holiday season.

Denzel Washington's new movie The Great Debaters is leading the nominations for the NAACP Image Awards after landing nods including Best Picture. The film, about a Texas professor who takes his African-American students to debate the great minds at Harvard University in the 1930s, is also up for Best Actor (Washington), Best Director (Washington), Best Actress (Jurnee Smollett) and Best Writing (Robert Eisele). Denzel Whitaker, Forest Whitaker and Nate Parker are all nominated for Best Supporting Actor for their roles in the movie. Elsewhere, in the Best Actor category Washington is up against Don Cheadle (Talk To Me), Terrence Howard (Pride), Will Smith (I Am Legend) and Columbus Short (Stomp The Yard). Best Actress is between Smollett, Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart), Halle Berry (Things We Lost In The Fire), Jill Scott (Why Did I Get Married?) and Taraji P. Henson (Talk To Me). Competing against The Great Debaters in the Best Picture field are American Gangster, I Am Legend, Why Did I Get Married? and Talk To Me. The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People's 39th annual Image Awards takes place February 14 in Los Angeles.

The Weinstein Co.'s The Great Debaters moved to the top of the class for the 39th NAACP Image Awards, nabbing eight nominations, including two for Denzel Washington.

Washington's nominations, announced Tuesday during a news conference at the Beverly Hilton, were for actor in a motion picture and directing in a motion picture, theatrical or TV.

The film, loosely based on the true story of Wiley College debate coach Melvin B. Tolson, who inspires his students to form the school's first debate team, also received nominations in the categories of motion picture, actress in a motion picture (Jurnee Smollett) and writing in a motion picture, theatrical or television (Robert Eisele). The film's Denzel Whitaker, Forest Whitaker and Nate Parker were nominated in the supporting actor category.

Other nominees in the actor in a motion picture category include Columbus Short (Stomp the Yard), Don Cheadle (Talk to Me), Terrence Howard (Pride) and Will Smith (I Am Legend).

Angelina Jolie was nominated for her role as widow Mariane Pearl in A Mighty Heart for actress in a motion picture along with Halle Berry for Things We Lost in the Fire, Jill Scott for Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?...

Tyler Perry will head the Starfleet Academy in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek feature for Paramount.

Perry joins an ensemble that includes Chris Pine, Eric Bana, Winona Ryder and Leonard Nimoy in the film, which chronicles the early days of the Starship Enterprise crew.

Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Zachary Quinto, Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Karl Urban, Chris Hemsworth, Zoe Saldana and Clifton Collins Jr. also are in the cast.

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who wrote the screenplay, are executive producing alongside producers Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk. Filming began in November.

Perry most recently wrote, directed, co-produced and co-starred in Why Did I Get Married? His multihyphenate film credits include Daddy's Little Girls, Madea's Family Reunion and Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

His next project is Meet the Browns, which he also wrote, produced and is directing.

He is repped by WMA and attorney Matthew Johnson.

Janet Jackson has signed with WMA for representation in all areas.

While Jackson is known as a recording artist, she is coming to the agency after a starring role in Tyler Perry's hit Why Did I Get Married? She also is prepping a worldwide tour to promote a new album due in February.

"Janet is one of the most iconic female entertainers of our time," WMA president Dave Wirtschafter said. Jackson will be repped by a team of agents led by Wirtschafter and Charles King that will run across multiple divisions of the agency including film, touring, licensing and merchandising, television, theater, publishing and new technology.

Jackson said she was attracted to the agency because of its long history. Jackson continues to be repped by managers Johnny Wright and Kenneth Crear as well as attorney Don Passman.

Saw IV, Lionsgate's latest in the dependable horror franchise, tapped $31.8 million to open atop the domestic boxoffice for the weekend.

Disney's counterprogramming ploy, the romantic comedy Dan in Real Life, worked well enough for a second-place opening of $11.8 million as the Steve Carell-Juliette Binoche starrer drew heavily among the date crowd.

But industrywide grosses disappointed yet again, with the weekend marking a sixth consecutive down session. The frame's $102.1 million in total grosses represented a 2% downtick from the same weekend a year ago, according to data tracker Nielsen EDI.

The original "Saw" opened during Halloween 2004 with $18.3 million and went on to gross $55.2 million domestically. One year later, Saw II bowed with $31.7 million and eventually took in $87 million. Last year, Saw III debuted with $33.6 million en route to an $80.2 million total.

Sony's The Grudge represents the best horror opener ever with its $39 million performance in October 2004.

Lionsgate has stood out in the lackluster fall marketplace, opening three films at No. 1 in the past eight weeks. The distributor's 3:10 to Yuma and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? topped weekend rankings over the Sept.

Sony's vampire film 30 Days of Night sunk its teeth into moviegoers during the weekend, with the R-rated comic book adaptation grossing an estimated $16 million to open atop the domestic heap.

But the busy frame's other wide openers fell like so many autumn leaves as the seasonal boxoffice continued to wilt. Collectively, industry grosses notched a fifth consecutive downtick compared with year-earlier weekends.

Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck's directing-and-writing project from Miramax, bowed with $6 million in fifth place, while Fox Atomic's The Comebacks, a PG-13 pigskin comedy, grossed $5.9 million to finish sixth overall.

New Line's CIA-themed Rendition, starring Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, rung up just $4.2 million in ninth place. And DreamWorks/Paramount's Things We Lost in the Fire, with Benicio Del Toro and Halle Berry, scratched out $1.6 million in bowing outside the weekend top 10. Finding even less boxoffice spark were Freestyle's Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour, barely registering with $560,000 from 1,121 playdates, and Rocky Mountain's The Ten Commandments, with $474,760 from 830 engagements.

Also debuting in 564 theaters was Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas 3D, Disney's 3-D version of the 1993 animated feature, which grossed $5.1 million in eighth place.

Industrywide grosses totaled an estimated $98 million, 7% less than during the same weekend last year, according to data tracker Nielsen EDI. Yet there was some good news for a couple of holdovers in the frame.

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? from Lionsgate finished No. 2 in its second session, grossing $12.1 million, good for a $38.9 million cume. And Disney's family comedy The Game Plan, starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson, grossed $8.1 million to finish third and move its four-week cume to $69.2 million.

In another positive development, Warner Bros.' George Clooney starrer Michael Clayton dropped just 32% from its first frame in wide release to finish with $7.1 million in fourth place with a $22 million cume. Despite the soft launch for the well-reviewed legal drama, execs remain hopeful that the slow starter will build toward an awards-season peak.

NEW YORK -- Tyler Perry's triumph at the boxoffice last weekend with Why Did I Get Married has heartened the growing number of studios looking to crack the market for black films.

But those studios also could face an unlikely problem: Tyler Perry.

The number of distributors and producers making movies that star and target blacks is climbing at an unprecedented clip. They're reversing a pattern of studio indifference that for years allowed smaller players like Lionsgate, which has seen a boxoffice gross of about $145 million from the three previous Perry films it has distributed, to enjoy a windfall.

"There's probably not one new story to tell that hasn't been told about white people," said Sony Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper, whose label is opening two black-targeted comedies in the next three months: the holiday pic This Christmas and the Ice Cube starrer First Sunday. "But there are so many stories that haven't been told yet about people with brown and black faces."

For all the carping about how Hollywood doesn't give Perry respect -- though of course he often gets respect in articles about how he doesn't get respect -- it's also a fertile time for black movies.

At Our Stories Films, the Weinstein Co.'s co-venture with BET founder Robert Johnson, several projects are in development, while sister unit Dimension is prepping Comeback, a sports dramedy with Ice Cube.

Even specialty divisions are getting in on the act. Fox Searchlight may have had a disappointing result with Chris Rock's I Think I Love My Wife, but it's still casting in New York for a potential Notorious B.I.G. biopic.

A trio of awards-season hopefuls were forced to cede the spotlight during the weekend to Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? the latest populist hit from the Atlanta-based filmmaker. The Lionsgate release, which opened in 2,011 theaters, took the top spot for the weekend with a $21.4 million bow.

The PG-13 domestic dramedy about the trials of marriage -- based on one of the prolific Perry's stage plays and featuring an ensemble cast that includes Janet Jackson -- attracted black moviegoers, though Lionsgate reported that it also boasted crossover business.

The CinemaScore sampling of the opening-weekend audience showed many more females than males in attendance -- 74%-26%, respectively -- and overall, moviegoers applauded it with a grade of A-plus.

Making it even more difficult for the new arrivals to gain a foothold was Disney's family-oriented sports tale The Game Plan, starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson. It fell just 34% in its third weekend compared with the previous Friday-to-Sunday, taking second place for the frame with $11 million. Its domestic purse is now a resounding $59 million.

In a veritable photo finish, Sony's We Own the Night edged ahead of Warners' Michael Clayton to take the third spot overall.

Tyler Perry spanked George Clooney this weekend.

On what was predicted to be an intensely competitive domestic boxoffice weekend, writer-director Perry's Why Did I Get Married? from Lionsgate grossed an estimated $21.5 million to open at No. 1. But Clooney starrer and putative frame favorite Michael Clayton from Warner Bros. bowed with just $11 million to snag a third-place tie with Sony opener We Own the Night, starring Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix.

Finishing in the silver-medal position was Disney's family laugher The Game Plan, toplined by Dwayne The Rock Johnson, which grossed $11.5 million in its third outing.

The leggy Game performance -- which followed two weekend wins for the Andy Fickman-helmed pic -- moved its cume to $59.4 million. Friday's grosses pushed Disney's annual domestic haul past the $1 billion mark for the 11th time.

Universal's historical sequel Elizabeth: The Golden Age, with Cate Blanchett reprising her title role, bowed in sixth place with $6.2 million. And Yari Film Group's baseball drama The Final Season debuted with 1,011 playdates but a gross of $665,000.

Among holdover pics, The Heartbreak Kid, the Farrelly brothers comedy from DreamWorks/Paramount, dropped 47% from its opening weekend to gross an estimated $7.4 million in fifth place, with a 10-day cume of $26 million. Fox's youth fantasy The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising fell 43% in its sophomore session to $2.2 million in 10th place, pushing its cume to $7.1 million.

Universal's Jamie Foxx starrer The Kingdom dropped 53% over its third frame to gross $4.6 million in seventh place and move its cume to $40 million. And Lionsgate's Russell Crowe-toplined 3:10 to Yuma, while finishing outside the top 10 in its sixth frame, lassoed another $1.5 million to leg its cume up to $51.4 million.

Industrywide, an estimated $99 million was rung up this weekend, or 7% more than the same frame last year, according to data tracker Nielsen EDI.

With so many early award-consideration films in the art film swim this year, it's worth noting what may be the season's first belly-flop.