News

Teyana Taylor had a breakout year as an actress last year, starring in “The Book of Clarence,” “White Men Can’t Jump,” and most notably her Film Independent Spirit Award-nominated performance in the brilliant “A Thousand and One.” But the R&b star is now making the leap to feature film director.

Taylor is set to make her feature directorial debut on a film called “Get Lite” that is now in development at Paramount Pictures, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire. She’s cast Storm Reid in the lead role.

Reid is also producing the film through her production banner A Seed & Wings Productions, and she’ll be producing alongside “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris via his Khalabo Ink Society. Taylor is executive producing.

“Get Lite” is the story of a studious New York City teenager who has his world upended when he falls for a charismatic beatmaker...

All titles below begin streaming for free on January 1 unless otherwise noted:

Originals

Action

Prepare To Die

– 1/13-

A young man trains in the ways of martial arts to seek vengeance on the corrupt landowner who murdered his family.

Documentary

Vice News Presents: Epstein Didn’T Kill Himself

-1/17-

How the mysteries surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s life and death gave rise to a conspiracy theory that will never die.

Gone Before His Time: Kobe Bryant

-1/26-

Recount the achievements – some personal, some professional, and many halted – of an NBA legend before his untimely death.

TMZ No Bs: Hollywood’S Dumbest Moments

-1/31-

Join TMZ as they examine baffling & cringe worthy celebrity moments – Hollywood stars aren’t always the sharpest tools in the shed.

Horror

Where The Devil Roams

-1/5-

A family of murderous sideshow performers traverse the harsh conditions of Depression-era America in a bloody deal with the Devil.

“Intentional” is a word that comes up quite a bit when talking to Teyana Taylor about “A Thousand and One,” the feature debut by writer-director A.V. Rockwell in which the Harlem-native plays Inez, a woman who kidnaps her son from the foster care system in an attempt for them both to have a fresh start in a rapidly changing New York City.

The opportunity to star in the Focus Features release came at a major turning point in Taylor’s career, when she had just had her second child, was battling postpartum depression, and “was in a space where I felt like the people that I love most were not showing up for me, especially the people that’s supposed to make sure I have what I need,” Taylor said to IndieWire over Zoom.

Coming off the release of her third R&b LP “The Album” in 2020, not feeling any...

Streaming services are now trying to ration their upcoming original content due to the ongoing actors strike and the only recently-resolved writers’ strike, so we’re going to see a thinning-down of new releases across the board over the next six months at least. Hulu will be adding a lot of library TV shows and movies in November, but there are only a few new major original projects hitting the streamer this month.

Hulu’s spotlight streaming series in November is Black Cake, which is based on the bestselling book by Charmaine Wilkerson. Part family drama, part murder mystery, the show features a globetrotting story that will cover decades of events after a bereaved family find a flash drive that contains some shocking secrets about the hidden history of their late matriarch.

Also dropping on Hulu this month is the original film Quiz Lady, starring Sandra Oh, Awkwafina, Jason Schwartzman,...

Hulu has released it’s full list of what will be added to it’s library throughout the month of November 2023!

The streaming service revealed all of the TV shows and movies that are coming to it’s platform, including quite a few fan favorite movies and some holiday features as the holiday season kicks off.

Get more info inside…

Among the movies being added include The Holiday, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy, Pacific Rim, Shallow Hal, Twister, Men in Black, Armageddon and many more.

On the television side, Hulu will be adding the new original series Black Cake and Drive with Swizz Beatz, season two of Arthdal Chronicles, LA Law, Wahlburgers season five, and Spellbound season 1B.

There will also be many Christmas movies from Hallmark and A&e being added!

Keep reading below to see the complete list of what’s being added to Hulu in November 2023…

November 1

Arthdal Chronicles...

All titles below begin streaming for free on October 1 unless otherwise noted:

Originals

Documentary

TMZ Presents:

Tragically Viral

– 10/11-

What happens when the quest for clicks goes too far? TMZ examines the dark & sometimes deadly side of social media in Tragically Viral.

Scariest Monsters In The World

-10/18-

Join us as we embark on this international countdown of the scariest monsters in the world – who will be on your list as the most creepy?

TMZ No Bs: Rich, Famous & Terrified Stars

-10/25-

TMZ examines some of the most downright terrifying experiences celebs have faced that prove being a celebrity isn’t all glitz & glamor.

Horror

Dante’S Hotel

-10/13-

When an unknown assailant preys on a haunted hotel’s patrons, an event planner teams up with a mysterious tenant who’s dark past is the key to freeing the cursed hotel

The Devil Comes To Kansas City

-...

Eighteen years ago, Tyler Perry brought his DIY play to the big screen. Released in 2005, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” chronicles one beleaguered woman’s journey to healing and self-discovery after being betrayed by her philandering husband. The film features all the classical elements of Perry productions. It’s set in a predominantly Black area of the South, there are theatrical church scenes and plenty of the over-the-top histrionics extracted straight from his plays. But more importantly, there was Madea.

Played by Perry himself, the matriarch emerged as a rambunctious, pistol-packing matriarch who’s as comfortable espousing quirky wisdom as she is ferocious clapbacks. Upon its release, the flick got mixed reviews from critics — but it grossed $50.7 million at the box office, just about 10-times more than its budget. Since then, Perry’s released nine additional Madea films, with the eight that came out in theaters grossing $570 million at the box office,...

Coming June 8 to Peacock is “Based on a True Story,” a true-crime comedy thriller about a couple (Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina) who decide that getting involved in a murder will somehow save their marriage. All eight episodes will be released at once. This comical look at true crime is sure to entertain audiences, whether they are fans of the genre or not.

Check out the trailer for “Based on a True Story”:

On June 2, Peacock will premiere the new film “Shooting Stars.” The sports movie tells the story of LeBron James and how his high-school team at Akron’s St. Vincent/St. Mary High School became the No. 1 basketball team in the country. Also, how the friendships forged on the court have remained in place throughout the decades that followed.

Watch the “Shooting Stars” trailer:

Four of the five “Bourne” films are set to arrive on the service...

Zuri Craig, who once was a finalist on the reality show America’s Got Talent as part of the Craig Lewis band, has died. He was 44 and no cause was given by his family, who confirmed he died on Friday and issued a tribute post on his website.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the transition of our beloved son, brother and friend, Zuri Craig. We thank you in advance for your prayers. Please honor our privacy at this unimaginable time of mourning.” They note he died on Friday — a cause of death has yet to be released, but more info seems to be forthcoming.

Craig was a hit on AGT back in 2015, when he and his singing partner, Jeffrey Lewis, delivered powerful versions of songs by James Brown and Mary J. Blige. They finished fifth overall in that year’s competition.

Craig also worked on Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family,...

If you’ve been putting off watching the terrifically adventurous Brendan Fraser-led “The Mummy” again, now’s the time to prioritize it. The 1999 film is one of a bevy of movies leaving HBO Max in June, the full list of which you can read below.

Also leaving HBO and HBO Max this month is a bevy of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies, “Rounders,” “She’s All That” and “Real Steel.”

If you’re looking to prioritize some selections, “Presumed Innocent” is one of Harrison Ford’s most underrated films (featuring one of his best performances) and the Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman comedy “Identity Thief” is good for some solid laughs.

Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max below.

Also Read:

Here’s What’s New on HBO and HBO Max in June 2022

June 9:

12 Strong, 2018

June 30:

2 Guns, 2013

20 Feet From Stardom, 2013 (HBO)

All Dogs Go To Heaven,...

As much fun as it is to watch the celebrities perform on “The Masked Singer,” we get even more enjoyment from figuring out who they are. That is especially true if we can crack the mystery of who is hiding inside a costume before the four judges.

Season 7 of “The Masked Singer” was the most competitive yet. The producers packed the line-up with 16 stars performing inside 16 costumes (a pair were paired up as Hydra). The lone woman in Group A is disguised as Firefly and she has made it to the final on May 18.

Firefly definitely had the best voice of that bunch after she recovered from her coughing fit on the premiere and nailed her cover of the funk classic “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan. She shone again on the second show with her version of “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson. And she secured...

Exclusive: Lance Reddick (John Wick franchise), Teyana Taylor (Coming 2 America) and Laura Harrier (Hollywood) are the latest additions to 20th Century Studios’ White Men Can’t Jump reboot. They’re set to star alongside previously announced cast members Jack Harlow and Sinqua Walls.

The film will offer a new take on Ron Shelton’s 1992 sports comedy, starring Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes and Rosie Perez, which saw Black and white basketball hustlers join forces to double their chances of winning money on the street courts and in a basketball tournament. Harlow is stepping into the role originated by Harrelson, with Walls taking on Snipes’, and Reddick playing Benji Allen, the father of Walls’ character Kamal. Benji is living with Ms and has been Kamal’s coach and support system since a very young age. Details with regard to the characters that Taylor and Harrier are playing have not been disclosed.

White...

LeBron James might be out of the NBA playoffs, but he’s still angling to be a big part of the summer entertainment season. That’s because HBO Max’s list of new releases for July 2021 is highlighted by a very special sequel.

Space Jam: A New Legacy premieres on July 16. will find LeBron teaming up with the Looney Tunes in a Warner Bros. IP-extravaganza. Can ‘Bron and the Looney Tunes beat the Goon Squad before Warner Bros.’ server steals LeBron “Bronny” Jr.’s soul (or something)? Let’s hope so. The two other major WB releases this month, No Sudden Move and Tom and Jerry in New York, both come to HBO Max on July 1.

HBO Max is also bringing some fun TV shows to its stream this month. The long-awaited Gossip Girl revival premieres on July 8. That will be followed by Mike White’s satirical limited series The White Lotus...

Summer is officially here and with it comes a surfeit of new movies and television shows available on HBO Max. Next month, the WarnerMedia streaming service will debut the long-awaited sequel to “Space Jam” with Lebron James taking the baton from Michael Jordan and the latest heist movie from Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh. But while those titles arrive, others depart, including “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” and “In the Heights.”

Ahead, highlights of the month ahead on HBO Max, plus the full list of July programming.

“No Sudden Move” (July 1): Directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, David Harbour, Kieran Culkin, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, and “Uncut Gems” breakout Julia Fox, among others, the heist thriller is set in 1950s Detroit and “enters on a group of small-time criminals who are hired to steal what they think is a simple document. When their plan goes horribly wrong,...

Allow her to reintroduce herself: Mabel, a series exploring the untold origins of Tyler Perry‘s Madea character, is being developed at Showtime, our sister site Deadline reports.

“Every great story has to start somewhere and every legend has a beginning,” reads the series’ official logline. “Long before she was the force of nature known as Madea she was a smart, fierce, irresistible, dangerous, crazy 20-something black woman named…Mabel Simmons. When she moved to Atlanta in 1972 she set the city – and the world – on fire!”

More from TVLineThe Oval's Kron Moore Reveals the Scene That Caused Her to Have...

Fresh off the long-awaited arrival of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (a.k.a. the fabled Snyder Cut), HBO Max has no need to appease fandom culture in April 2021. But the streaming service is gonna do it anyway!

The most notable new release for HBO Max this month is the HBO series The Nevers. This show, created by Joss Whedon, is set in a 19th century steampunk London and finds a sizable portion of the population (predominantly women) having been “Touched” by mysterious paranormal powers. There’s an interesting bit of irony at play here, as HBO Max is following up the Snyder Cut with a show created by his original Justice League replacement. Or at least there could have been an interesting bit of irony here, if Whedon had not bowed out from the show and been enthusiastically left out of the marketing material by HBO.

Read more Movies...

And just like that – here comes spring. Amazon Prime‘s list of new releases for April 2021 isn’t as cheery as one would expect from the sunny season. But perhaps that’s by design – you should be outside anyway!

Amazon’s most prominent original series for April 2021 is undoubtedly Them from multi-hyphenate Lena Waithe. This horror anthology’s first season, subtitled “Covenant”, will center on a Black family in the 1950s who move from North Carolina to a white neighborhood in Los Angeles. It premieres on April 9. Given its name and premise, Them is drawing some (largely joke-y) comparisons to Jordan Peele’s Us on social media. But hey, the world could always use some more Us.

Read more TV Does the Latest Lord of the Rings Amazon Series Cast Exit Signal Trouble? By Joseph Baxter TV New On Amazon Prime Video UK March 2021: Invincible, Coming 2 America and More!

Every so often, we get sequels that move a story forward, that enrich beloved characters and the world they inhabit, or that upends and deconstructs the first movie entirely. But most of the time, we get safe, stodgy, repetitive follow-ups like “Coming 2 America,” which goes out of its way to make sure that every joke from the first movie comes out to take another bow.

If there’s any gag from 1988’s “Coming to America” that director Craig Brewer can’t reprise or restage, he will literally roll the clip from the first movie so we can take it in all over again. This feels less like a movie and more like one of those reunion specials where the cast of a beloved old TV show returns to play their characters again, recreating their pratfalls and repeating their catchphrases.

Viewers who weren’t amused by “Coming to America” certainly...

Natalie Desselle Reid, an actress known for her roles in films like 'B.A.P.S' and 'Madea's Big Happy Family' and the TV series 'Eve' has died. She was 53.

Natalie passed away battling colon cancer, according to a statement posted on her Instagram.

"It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning from colon cancer. She was a bright light in this world. A queen. An extraordinary mother and wife.

Her diverse career touched so many and she will be loved forever. Naturally, we are grieving and processing this profound loss and we thank you in advance for respecting our privacy at this extremely difficult time. "

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Natalie Desselle Reid (@nataliedessellereid)

Desselle-Reid has starred in many films, most recently in Madea's Big Happy Family,

Desselle-Reid is best known for playing a waitress Mickey in B.

Tributes from across Hollywood have poured in for late actress Natalie Desselle Reid, who lost a battle to colon cancer on Monday at the age of 53. She was known for starring opposite Halle Berry in the 1997 comedy “B*A*P*S,” and for her prominent roles in Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Big Happy Family” and the TV series “Eve.”

Berry herself was among the mourners on Monday, sharing a Gif of her and Reid hugging in “B*A*P*S” and writing that she was “completely heartbroken” and in “total shock.” A few days earlier, on Dec. 3, Berry had posted a throwback video from the film.

I’m in total shock… completely heartbroken. gonna need a minute. #Rip @NatalieDesselle pic.twitter.com/Amt2k2ZYM7

— Halle Berry (@halleberry) December 7, 2020

Reid’s former “Eve” co-star Jason Winston George also wrote a touching message: “For 3 of the most fun years of my life I worked side by side with #NatalieDesselleReid on #Eve.

Actor Natalie Desselle-Reid, known for her roles in “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” “Eve” and “B*A*P*S*,” died Monday at the age of 53.

Desselle-Reid’s manager, Dolores Robinson, confirmed the news on Twitter.

“Natalie Desselle the beautiful talented actress passed away this morning,” Robinson wrote. “Natalie was a bright light. She was an amazing actress and comedienne but also an awesome mother & wife.”

Natalie Desselle the beautiful talented actress passed away this morning.

Natalie was a bright light. She was an amazing actress and comedienne but also an awesome mother & wife.

Sending prayers to her family.

I had the pleasure of managing her career.

— DoloresRobinson (@DoloresRobinson) December 7, 2020

The family of Desselle-Reid shared that the actor had been privately battling colon cancer, according to TMZ.

“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning,” reads an official statement. “She was a bright light in this world.

Actress Natalie Deselle-Reid, best known to TV audiences as Janie Egins on the Upn sitcom Eve, has died. She was 53.

The news was confirmed Monday morning on Deselle-Reid’s Instagram account. “It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning,” read the caption. “She was a bright light in this world. A queen. An extraordinary mother and wife. Her diverse career touched so many and she will be loved forever. Naturally, we are grieving and processing this profound loss and we thank you in advance for respecting our privacy at this extremely difficult time.

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.

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,...

HBO Max is out with its list of everything new coming to the streaming service in October and everything leaving at the end of the month.

The list includes HBO Originals like the limited series “The Undoing” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, out Oct. 25, and David Byrne’s “American Utopia” special event about Byrne’s Broadway show that electrified audiences, out Oct. 17.

There is also Nathan Fielder’s comedic docuseries “How To With John Wilson,” out Oct. 23, and the first season finale of “Lovecraft Country” on Oct. 18.

Among the things leaving at the end of the month are “Amelie,” “Ocean’s 11,” “V For Vendetta,” “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.”

Read the full list here:

Oct. 1

A World of Calm, Documentary Series Premiere

Akeelah And The Bee, 2006 (HBO)

All-Star Superman, 2011

American Dynasties: The Kennedys, 2018

American Reunion, 2012 (HBO)

Analyze That,...

October is here and you know what that means: time for the streaming services to put their spookiest foot forward. Amazon is doing its part for its new releases in October 2020 by rolling out some horror originals and library titles.

This is the month that the much-hyped Blumhouse horror anthology series Welcome to the Blumhouse arrives. “Episodes” of that, Black Box and The Lie launch on Oct. 6 and Evil Eye and Nocturne arrive on Oct. 13. Another horror-adjacent release of note is Truth Seekers, a comedy-horror series from Nick Frost and Simon Pegg.

That’s about it for notable originals. Thankfully October 1 brings the usual burst of fascinating library movie titles. A Knights Tale, Spaceballs, and The Departed all debut on the first of the month. Terminator: Dark Fate arrives on Oct. 9. The superb final season of Mr. Robot will be available on Oct. 6. Start playing Pixies “Where is My Mind?...

As we head into the last week of September, let’s look ahead at what’s coming to Amazon Prime in October. It’s the usual mix of great newly-licensed titles arriving at the top of the month and a range of original movies and TV shows dropping throughout the upcoming weeks. But, what with it being spooky season, this time Prime’s October haul is specifically geared towards giving you some scares during Halloween.

For starters, horror fans will not want to miss the launch of Blumhouse’s “Welcome to the Blumhouse” series with four original films going up across October. The first duo, Black Box and The Lie, land on Prime on October 6th. Then, a week later on the 13th, both Evil Eye and Nocturne debut. Anything with Blumhouse behind it is usually worth checking out, so make sure not to miss those.

October 1st delivers a couple of vampire movies,...

HBO Max is serving up a lot of great new movies this October. Fittingly for the spooky season, the Warner Bros. streaming service is adding a fair few classic horrors to its library next month, but there’s really something for everyone going up – from comedies to romances to sci-fi to superhero films.

Speaking of that last genre, DC lovers will be pleased to note that 2013’s Man of Steel, the movie that kicked off the Dceu, is among the titles arriving on October 1st. Besides that, there’s a bunch of animated DC pics dropping the same day, including Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and All-Star Superman. 2005’s Constantine featuring Keanu Reeves, meanwhile, also debuts on the service from the 1st.

That’s not the only film starring the beloved actor headed to the platform, though, as probably the highlight of October’s haul is the addition of the...

Sony's Inferno experienced an opening weekend meltdown as the third film in the Robert Langdon series fell $10 million shy of expectations. As a result, and thanks to a strong second weekend hold, Tyler Perry's Boo! A Madea Halloween scored a second weekend atop the box office, dropping just 41% from its opening weekend. Meanwhile, Disney and Marvel's Doctor Strange stormed the international box office. The latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe opened in approximately half the overseas markets where it brought in an estimated $86 million ahead of its domestic release next weekend. With an estimated $16.67 million Boo! A Madea Halloween took the #1 spot at the weekend box office domestically for a second week in a row. The film's cume has now grown to $52 million as it fell just 41% in its second weekend, a spectacular performance following the film's $28.5 million opening last weekend. As noted in our weekend preview, Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection...

Saturday Am Update: Sony's Inferno is looking at a weekend opening well below expectations after taking in an estimated $5.6 million on Friday from 3,576 domestic locations. It was enough for a first place finish on Friday and it looks as if it will take the #1 spot for the weekend somewhere around $16 million, but Lionsgate's Boo! A Madea Halloween is proving formidable. The Tyler Perry holiday comedy brought in an estimated $4.59 million on Friday and is expected to bring in a strong $15 million for the three-day, a drop right around 47%. Meanwhile, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is looking at a much steeper drop than projected. The film brought in an estimated $2.9 million on Friday and is looking at a second weekend around $9.7 million, a 58% drop. Fip's limited release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is looking strong already with an estimated $765,000 on Friday, heading toward a weekend that could top $2.5 million and a top ten finish.

To no surprise, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug took the #1 spot at the box office with $73.6 million, but I can't say I expected it to come in $11 million below the opening weekend of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Clearly the first film failed to impress audiences and I can't help but wonder how much of a grain of salt I should take the "A-" CinemaScore for Smaug considering the opening day audience is likely to be made up of the built-in fanbase. In fact, is it telling that the CinemaScore wasn't higherc Smaug skewed 60% male with 49% of the audience catching it in 3D. After a $31.2 million opening on Friday it was down to $17.9 million. Worldwide, Smaug managed $204.9M down $17 million from the first film. Suffice to say, the film is still clearly a big money earner, but the bloom may be off the rose. In second was Frozen with $22.1 million,...

One question we've wondered here on S&A is why all the titles of Tyler Perry's films have his name in them, as in Tyler Perry's Temptation (which just opened), Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family, and even a film he didn't write nor direct - Tina Gordon Chism's We The Peeples will be released as Tyler Perry Presents Peeples. We've always assumed that it's a branding thing, which I can understand. But as Tambay asked in a post a couple of weeks ago: I wonder if he'll ever drop the "Tyler Perry's" that begins almost all of his titles. It might actually work in his favor. I'd like to watch a Tyler Perry film without knowing beforehand that it's a Tyler Perry film, because my reactions...

Thursday Update: G.I. Joe: Retaliation earned an estimated $10.5 million from 3,719 locations on Thursday. That figure includes $2.2 million from Wednesday night and midnight showings. While it's better than A Good Day to Die Hard's $8.2 million Thursday debut last month, it's less thna half of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra's $22.2 million Friday opening in August 2009. Through Sunday, Retaliation is now guaranteed to gross over $40 million, though $50 million could be tough. Forecast: Billed as "the first blockbuster of the year," G.I. Joe: Retaliation should deliver one of the highest Easter openings ever this weekend. Meanwhile, DreamWorks Animation hit The Croods will likely take second place ahead of other newcomers The Host and Tyler Perry's Temptation. Opening at 3,719 locations*and with $2.2 million in the bank already from Wednesday night showings*G.I. Joe: Retaliation is the follow-up to 2009 hit G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. After Paramount/Hasbro scored with the first...

Atlanta, Oct. 19, 2012 -- Bounce TV (www.bouncetv.com), the fastest growing African American network in television, will premiere its newest original series, Off The Chain, on Monday, Oct. 22 at 9:00 p.m. (Et) with two episodes back-to-back. The new half-hour stand-up comedy series will feature performances by some of the country's most talented African American comics. Rodney Perry (Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family, Mo'Nique Show) hosts Off The Chain. Perry was the co-host of The Mo'Nique Show on Bet as well as a host of TV One's Who's Got Jokes. He has been the opening act for such top comedians as George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey...

I guess Joe Torry's out as host... Atlanta, Aug. 16, 2012 -- Bounce TV (www.bouncetv.com), the fastest growing African American network in television, will premiere the second season of its original comedy series Uptown Comic this fall with actor and comedian Rodney Perry (Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family, Mo'Nique Show) as host, it was announced today by Bounce TV Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Katz. Uptown Comic is a half-hour series featuring stand-up performances by some of the hottest up-and-coming comics in the country. The show's second season will begin production in Atlanta this month. "Uptown Comic was an instant hit with Bounce TV...

The lure of original movies won out at the box office on Friday, with Ted and Magic Mike drawing huge crowds to movie theaters. Brave held on decently as well, and Madea's Witness Protection performed in line with past Madea movies. As a result, four movies earned over $10 million on Friday, which appears to be the first time that's ever happened. Ted took first place with an estimated $20.2 million, which is the highest opening day ever for an original R-rated comedy ahead of the first Hangover's $16.7 million. It's also ranks third all-time for R-rated comedies behind The Hangover Part II ($31.6 million) and Sex and the City ($26.8 million). Universal is projecting an opening weekend around $51 million, though plenty of comparisons put it a bit higher (up to $55 million). Considering the strong word-of-mouth the movie seems to be generating, along with the utter lack of comedy competition for the next month, Ted...

Box Office: Magic Mike movie and Ted performed beyond expectations at the North American box office on Friday. Starring Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Alex Pettyfer, Olivia Munn, Matthew McConaughey, and Adam Rodriguez, Magic Mike is expected to be the no. 2 movie at the box office this weekend. The no. 1 hit is Mark Wahlberg's Ted, which may reach as high as $50m by Sunday evening. In addition to Wahlberg, Ted also features Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane, who also directed. At no. 3 on Friday was Tyler Perry's Madea Witness Protection, which may outperform Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family. At no. 8 was People Like Us, a new entry directed by Alex Kurtzman and starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D'Addario, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark Duplass, and Philip Baker Hall. Note that Rupert Sanders / Kristen Stewart / Charlize Theron / Chris Hemsworth / Sam Claflin's Snow White and the Huntsman, Tom Cruise...

Viewers who are unfamiliar with the Madea movies may be tempted to lump them all together, but not all of these films are created equal. Behold the slippery slope that has brought us from the best one so far, last year's "Madea's Big Happy Family," to the very worst, "Madea's Witness Protection." Despite his love of possessory credits, Tyler Perry is not what one might call the most disciplined filmmaker working today. But even by his standards, this is a slipshod, lazy and seemingly thrown-together piece of work. It wastes the talents...

<< Continued from "'Mike,' 'Ted' Try to Unseat Merida"Madea's Witness Protection marks Tyler Perry's 12th directorial effort in the past six years, and his fourth movie to feature his most popular character, Madea, in the title. The prolific writer-director-star's two best debuts came from two of his Madea movies: Madea's Family Reunion opened to $30 million in 2006, while Madea Goes to Jail holds the Perry record with $41 million in 2009. Unfortunately, Madea's Big Happy Family only opened to $25.1 million last year, and other recent Perry movies have also underperformed a bit. Still, a movie's potential often comes down to the strength of its premise, and Witness Protection has a clearer one than nearly any of Perry's past efforts. It's also broadened its potential audience with American Pie stalwart Eugene Levy, and Lionsgate has been marketing the movie not only to Perry fans but also to comedy fans in general (for example,...

The last two weekends of June 2012 are also the most crowded so far this Summer: there are a total of seven nationwide releases on the schedule, which is as many as there were throughout the entire month of May. Disney/Pixar's Brave is the only certain hit, though Ted should also be a strong contender, while Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter continues to look like it's going to have a tough time attracting attention. For a look at the first three weeks of June, check out part one of our June Preview here. June 22 - Merida vs. Abraham Lincoln vs. Steve CarellThe fourth weekend of June is only the second weekend this Summer to feature three new nationwide releases, and included in there is one of the most anticipated of the season. Brave is Pixar's first original movie since 2009's Up, and it's also their attempt at getting back on track...

During our Summer Movie Box-Office Draft, I considered taking Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection as a film that could bolster my overall total. However, Madea's Big Happy Family faltered at the box-office compared to the two that came before it. Our draft was based on taking a film's overall worldwide gross minus two-and-a-half times the budget. Let's take a look at previous installments. In 2006 Madea's Family Reunion was made on a reported budget of $6 million. It made $63.3 million worldwide, which would end up netting $48.3 million. Good money. In 2009 Madea Goes to Jail was made for $17.5 million and made $90.5 million, which nets $46.75 million. A small dip, but still solid returns. Then last year, Madea's Big Happy Family was made for a reported $25 million and ended up making $53.3 million for a net loss of $9.2 million. Not good. Then I looked at his most recent film, Good Deeds, which was made for...

If you've never seen one of Tyler Perry's movies, you might be surprised to know that just because his famous character Madea in the title doesn't mean she's actually the main character. In most of the Madea films-- Madea's Big Happy Family, Madea Goes To Jail-- her antics play a supporting role to the melodrama at the center of the story, in which a woman learns to leave her abusive spouse, a father learns the true meaning of family, or an extended family learns to rely on each other-- or some variation on that theme. But Madea is also Perry's most popular creation, so when it comes to marketing these movies, it's all Madea, all the time-- even if that has barely anything to do with the movie itself. So while you watch the below trailer for Madea's Witness Protection, bear in mind that Madea isn't even the...

Back Stage is holding a "Fresh Faces" audition event on Monday, March 26 to find the best actors, singers, and dancers of tomorrow. At the auditions, performers will have the opportunity to act, sing, or dance for a panel of prestigious industry experts, who will consider the performers for possible future projects and representation. Expected panelists include: Kim Williams (film and TV casting director whose credits include Tyler Perry's "Madea's Big Happy Family" and "Diary of a Mad Black Woman"); Charlie Walk (TV producer and president & CEO of Cwe Media); Doug Scott (executive director of Branded Content and Entertainment at Ogilvy & Mather); Barry Habib (producer of "Rock of Ages" and multiple movies); and Tony-nominated actor-singer Constantine Maroulis ("Rock of Ages"). To add to the excitement, a major cable network will be present to capture some of the audition action.These auditions are for male and female triple-threat performers, actors,...

Well, it's been a while since the release of theTyler Perry movie, Madea's Big Happy Family. So it seems about right that a new movie is hitting the big screen soon and sure enough, in two weeks, Perry's latest film, Good Deeds will be released.  And Perry fans can look forward to summer, when his stage play The Marriage Counselor hits the big screen on July 27. Want a pair of tickets to the premiere of The Marriage Counselor? All you have to do is tell us what your favorite Tyler Perry movie is in the comment section below [one comment per person, please!] until Mon., 2/27/12. The premiere will take place during the last week of July in Los Angeles, location to be determined.    We'll randomly select the winner, and get in contact regarding eligibility and...

Read More

Read Comments...

Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids

Leonardo DiCaprio, Jean Dujardin, George Clooney, Johnny Depp?: Golden Globes 2012 Best Actor Drama/Comedy Contenders

The Best Actress – Drama list seems complete, though there are several possible runners-up: Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs, Viola Davis for The Help, Tilda Swinton for We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn. That matches our SAG predictions last night — and the SAG nominations themselves earlier this morning. Those are also the likely Best Actress Oscar contenders.

The possible upsets are Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Emma Stone for The Help, and Sandra Bullock for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Kirsten Dunst is a runner-up runner-up for Lars von Trier's Melancholia. Due to her lesser star wattage, an even less likely contender is Elizabeth Olsen for Martha Marcy May Marlene. Like Crazy's...

With Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol hitting theaters this weekend, it seemed like a logical time to take a look back at the year in sequels. And the results aren't pretty, at least at the domestic box office.First, it's important to clarify the methodology being used. In order to normalize the data a bit, prequels, reboots, indirect continuations of franchises (Muppets and Winnie the Pooh, for example), and sequels to movies older than 20 years are being excluded from the study. For Happy Feet Two and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, domestic final grosses are being estimated at $75 million and $290 million, respectively, based on historical comparisons. However, with scattered and incomplete foreign runs, these two movies are being left off any international computations; in addition, movies that do not have significant foreign grosses (Madea, Harold & Kumar) are also being left off.