The 66-year-old ended up receiving four tickets during the heated exchange. Ice-T of Body Count performs live on stage during a concert at the Zitadelle Spandau on June 11, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Footage of a 2024 traffic stop between Ice-T — born Tracy Marrow — and a New Jersey police officer surfaced earlier this week. The contentious exchange reportedly went down in May in Hudson County when bodycam footage showed the “Cop Killer” artist was stopped mere feet away from the Department of Motor Vehicles as he was allegedly on his way to register the car he was driving with the state. “That’s why I’m trying to get this car set up. Yesterday, I went to the DMV, and they said their system was down. I got seven cars, I’m trying to get them all straight,” an agitated Ice told the cop. “You don’t gotta be that serious about this. I mean you can, but you don’t have to.” The officer didn’t appreciate Ice-T’s tone and threatened to take his keys and have the vehicle towed. “Can I park the car and walk to the DMV? You’re not finna to tow my f—ing vehicle,” the Law & Order: SVU star said. “Let me park my car right here. If I’m not under arrest then I’m getting out of the car.” Ice-T then got out of the car and stood eye-to-eye with the officer. “Give me my paperwork you f—ing a–hole,” he demanded. “Give me my f—ing paperwork. Get this on camera. I’m a foot away from the DMV. You’re an a–hole.” A sergeant officer was called in to diffuse the situation. Eventually, the officers decided to give Ice-T four tickets related to his license expiration, registration, missing license plates and lack of inspection. However, the car would not be towed and he could keep the keys and get the vehicle’s records updated. “Next time, just show some respect,” the officer stated. Ice-T fired back before going their separate ways: “I don’t have to.” Watch the bodycam footage below. Billboard has reached out to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and reps for Ice-T.

After entering Piso 21 in 2019, Lorduy is leaving the group. Watch the heartfelt video message below. Piso 21 Lorduy (real name: David Lorduy Hernández) announced he’s leaving Piso 21 after entering the Colombian group in 2019. Both the artist and the group shared the news on their respective social media accounts in two separate videos on Friday (Jan. 3). “After five years of hits and a friendship that transcended the stage, today we wish Lorduy a happy trip,” expressed Piso 21, now composed of Dim, Pablo, and El Profe, on Instagram. “We’ve always believed in you, today more than ever.” Meanwhile, Lorduy—who joined the group after founding member Llane left after a 12-year run—posted a heartfelt video message. “I only have words of gratitude. Thank you Piso 21. Thank you for fulfilling so many of my dreams,” he said. “In these five years I was able to experience how life can change in a second. Dim, Pablo, Profe, thank you my boys for teaching me what love for family is. Dim’s words at each concert… one more reason to give the best of oneself and rock the stage. I take with me the prayers of El Profe, and not to mention Pablo’s nobility. He was always the one who kept the group calm. I am eternally grateful to you. Here a chapter closes and new paths open.” The Colombian singer promised lots of new music as he embarks on his solo career. With Piso 21, Lorduy achieved many Billboard chart entries including a No. 1 hit on Latin Pop Airplay with “La Misión” in collaboration with Wisin last year. He also recorded four studio albums with the group: El Amor en Los Tiempos del Perreo (2021), 777 (2022), Los Muchachos (2023), and 2.1 (2024). Piso 21 will continue as a group with the three original members Dim, Pablo, and El Profe. https://www.instagram.com/lorduypiso21/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=90803a2d-3305-4e73-aeed-70c20f524d34 https://www.instagram.com/piso21/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=a96dbd79-ec18-4e21-bc97-1dfa28fab71f

The singer-actress also opened up about her first kisses on and off screen. Selena Gomez attends the Hollywood Reporter's annual Women in Entertainment Gala presented by Lifetime at The Beverly Hills Hotel on Dec. 4, 2024 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Long before Benny Blanco entered her life, Selena Gomez had her eyes on a handful of stars. While speaking to W for the publication’s best performances issue published Friday (Jan. 3), the 32-year-old singer-actress shared that she “probably had too many crushes” when she was younger. “Jesse McCartney — when ‘Beautiful Soul’ came out — that was just life-changing for me,” Gomez said, giving one example. “I loved Chad Michael Murray from One Tree Hill,” she continued. “I also just had crushes more in real life than on actors or musicians.” Speaking of crushes, the Rare Beauty founder also opened up about her first kisses — on screen and off. Gomez has previously said that her very first smooch was technically with Dylan Sprouse during a guest stint on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, about which she told W: “It was really funny because both of us were so young. We were figuring out how to kiss. I had never done it, and I was so scared.” But of her first kiss without cameras present, Gomez recalled, “My real-life one would probably be with a boy named Juan, and I was 14.” The “Lose You to Love Me” singer’s W cover comes in honor of her performance in Jacques Audiard’s musical drama Emilia Pérez, for which she recently nabbed a Golden Globes nod for best supporting actress. Her costar in the film, Zoe Saldaña, as well as Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Zendaya, Paul Mescal and more also posed for the publication’s best performances package. When Gomez did her interview for the issue, she wasn’t yet engaged to a certain pop-music hitmaker. Now, Blanco is poised to be the Wizards of Waverly Place alum’s forever celebrity crush after he popped the question in December. The pair had, however, celebrated Halloween 2024 together before Gomez spoke to W, with the Spring Breakers star dressing up as Alice from Alice in Wonderland while her then-boyfriend went all out for a Mad Hatter tribute. “He used prosthetics!” Gomez gushed to the publication. “Until this year, I hadn’t dressed up for Halloween since I was a kid,” she added. “We were invited to a party, so I had a reason to dress up … I think it’s safe to say we won best costume at the party.” See Gomez on the cover of W below. https://www.instagram.com/wmag/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=96a0738a-8325-4460-b5ba-2ab75316eaf7

The song is the band's first leader with vocalist Adam Gontier in over a decade. THREE DAYS GRACE Three Days Grace notches its 18th No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart – and its first featuring vocals from original frontman Adam Gontier since “Misery Loves My Company” in 2013 – as “Mayday” lifts two spots to the top of the Jan. 11-dated tally. The band moves to within one spot of the all-time No. 1 record on Mainstream Rock Airplay, which began in 1981, behind only Shinedown’s 19 leaders. Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay: 19, Shinedown 18, Three Days Grace 15, Five Finger Death Punch 14, Foo Fighters 14, Metallica 13, Godsmack 13, Van Halen 12, Disturbed 11, Linkin Park Of Three Days Grace’s 18 Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s, 11 have been with Gontier, the group’s original lead singer, beginning with “Just Like You” in 2004. Following his departure in 2013, succeeding frontman Matt Walst racked up six rulers as the band’s sole vocalist, starting in 2014 with “Painkiller.” “Mayday” is the first single since Gontier rejoined the band, with the singers trading vocals. Meanwhile, “Mayday” rules in its sixth week on Mainstream Rock Airplay, completing Three Days Grace’s swiftest rise to No. 1 since “Chalk Outline” wrapped a four-week sprint in 2012. Concurrently, “Mayday” ascends 37-36 on Alternative Airplay, marking the band’s highest charted entry since “The High Road,” which peaked at No. 24 in 2013. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, “Mayday” leaps 6-2 with 3.9 million audience impressions, up 6%, in the week ending Jan. 2, according to Luminate. That’s the band’s highest spot in the standings since “The Good Life” was No. 1 for six weeks in 2010. On the most recently published multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs list (dated Jan. 4, reflecting data tracked Dec. 20-26, 2024), “Mayday” ranked at No. 4, after debuting at its No. 2 best on the Dec. 7-dated survey. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 871,000 official U.S. streams. “Mayday” is currently a standalone single, with Three Days Grace recording its eighth studio album and first since 2022’s Explosions. The new set will mark Gontier’s first with the band since 2012’s Transit of Venus. All Billboard charts dated Jan. 11 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Jan. 7.

The Argentine singer-songwriter will perform Jan. 18, the Secretary of Culture of Mexico City confirmed. Fito Páez performs during the first day of Vive Latino 2024 festival at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on March 16, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. Fito Páez has set a new date for his free concert in Mexico City’s Zócalo, which was originally postponed due to having an accident in September that resulted in fractured ribs. The Argentine singer-songwriter will now perform Jan. 18, Ana Francis López, the Secretary of Culture of the Mexican capital, confirmed on Friday (Jan. 3) during a press conference. His presentation at the so-called Primer Cuadro de la Ciudad de México will precede his shows scheduled at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, on Jan. 21-22, and his concert in Guadalajara, Jalisco, on Jan. 26. This series of concerts, including the one in the Zócalo, are part of his El Amor Después del Amor 2025 Tour, with which the award-winning Argentine musician celebrates 32 years of his seventh and most emblematic album. “With 28 albums, three novels, two films as screenwriter and director, 11 Latin Grammy awards and a Grammy, Fito Paéz is more than a musician: he is a storyteller, an icon who has marked generations with his art,” Mexico City’s ministry of culture wrote in a post on social media. In September, Páez revealed on his social media channels that he had suffered an accident that resulted in the fracture of five ribs, and that his concerts scheduled for that month in Mexico and Colombia would be rescheduled. Mexico City’s Zócalo — where international artists such as Roger Waters, Paul McCartney and Rosalía have performed — is the country’s main public square and the second largest in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing. So far, the group with the largest attendance at this venue has been the Argentine band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, which in June 2023 gathered 300,000 people, according to official figures, taking the record away from the Mexican band Grupo Firme, which in September 2022 gathered 280,000 people. Check out the announcement from Mexico City’s Secretary of Culture below:

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The staff of CinemaBlend had a great time watching movies in 2024. As you would expect/hope from an entertainment website, CinemaBlend has a staff full of devoted cinephiles, and not only do all of us try and see as many movies as we can in any given year, we also keep track of all the films that we have watched. A screening log spreadsheet is maintained from January through December, and one of the things we like to do with the data acquired is assess what our team consensus finds to be the best of the best. This process produced an eclectic ranking in 2023, with titles including the powerful drama of Past Lives, the horrors of Talk To Me and the weirdness of Poor Things (alongside critically acclaimed hits like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse), and 2024 has produced a similar smorgasbord. Twenty-nine CinemaBlend staffers contributed to the screening log, grading new releases on a scale of one (awful) to five (perfect), and only films viewed by five or more people were kept in consideration for the ranking. With view count and vote distribution serving as tiebreakers in certain instances, below is our site’s ranking of the 25 best movies of 2024! Nicholas Hoult in Nosferatu #25. Nosferatu Average Score: 3.95/5 A lot of great filmmakers today have dedicated themselves to the horror genre– but few have been more celebrated and few have demonstrated more talent than Robert Eggers. He has continued to build on that legacy with Nosferatu. The movie is successfully both revolting and horny, and the cinematography and use of natural lighting is transportive by itself. Perhaps best of all, Bill Skarsgård executes another phenomenal transformation as the blood-sucking living corpse Count Orlok. " Nosferatu is one of the most artistically stunning films of 2024. Every frame looks like a painting, the score for the film is haunting and fills the room, and the cast is impeccable. Lily-Rose Depp gives life to a multi-layered role, and Bill Skarsgård further cements his place as a horror genre king thanks to his mind-blowing transformation into Count Orlock. His voice alone made me feel uneasy in my seat. With a tremendous supporting cast, it’s no surprise that this picture's masterful acting keeps the viewer’s attention. You feel the longing, aching, repulsion, and fear as the story unfolds, making Nosferatu a must-see theatrical experience. " Tiffney Ma, Social Media Editor Ultraman hugging the monster #24. Ultraman: Rising Average Score: 4/5 Not all of the excellent animated movies of 2024 (and there were a number of excellent ones) premiered on the big screen. Netflix delivered Shannon Tindle’s Ultraman Rising to living rooms around the world in June, and it’s a wonder. The animated feature delivers a terrific journey for the protagonist, who goes from selfish all-star athlete to a true hero (and super dad). " In the current entertainment landscape, there are plenty of superhero movies, with most of them hailing from the likes of Marvel and DC. Amid all of that comes Ultraman: Rising, which offers up a fresh tale wrapped up in a familiar box. Spinning off from the beloved Japanese sci-fi franchise, Shannon Tindle’s film centers around Kenji Sato as he attempts to balance his roles as a professional baseball player and the titular hero. Ken’s world is really shaken up, though, when he finds himself in the position of watching over a baby Kaiju. Tindle’s beautifully animated, deftly written and effectively voice-acted feature is certainly a superhero story, but it’s also a tale about the complexities of parenthood and the notion of legacies. You may be tempted to believe this is simply a story about good versus evil, but it’s so much more than that." Erik Swann, Weekend Editor Naomi Scott's run in with the entity in "Smile 2." #23. Smile 2 Average Score: 4/5 Sequels come loaded with expectations, but few follow-up titles in 2024 managed to exceed them to a greater degree than Parker Finn’s Smile 2. The film not only nimbly avoids all of the classic traps of a part two, but goes even bigger with its intense scares, and Finn shows that he can do a lot more than just the excellent jump scares in the first Smile. Naomi Scott is brilliant, both embodying pop superstar Skye Riley and as a spinning-out victim of a sadistic supernatural force, and the ending is a candidate for most terrifying of the year. " Parker Finn surprised horror fans with a film that could have been a gimmicky mess but turned out to be an effectively chilling and refreshingly potent meditation on trauma in Smile. The filmmaker continues to astonish with a bigger, scarier, and even more thought-provoking sequel. Naomi Scott gives her best performance yet as Skye Riley -- a pop star with a tragic past whose road to recovery is worsened by a malevolent, manipulative, shapeshifting demon that makes its presence known to her with a cruelly evil grin. Her struggle to rid her life and, hopefully, the world of this entity (along with her own psychological wounds) makes Smile 2 a relentlessly shocking, cleverly subversive, and stunningly profound ride from start to finish. " Jason Wiese, Content Producer Aaron Pierre in Rebel Ridge #22. Rebel Ridge Average Score: 4/5 Rebel Ridge is a less hardcore film than what fans are used to seeing from writer/director Jeremy Saulnier (Green Room, Blue Ruin), but it is an expert execution of a small-town hero story featuring a dynamic and unique protagonist in Marine Corps Martial Arts Program graduate Terry Richmond. Aaron Pierre is a revelation in the lead role and a thrill to watch go toe-to-toe against a corrupt police department exploiting real and unfair laws. " Rebel Ridge answers a question I didn’t know anyone was asking: What if Rambo was a calm, collected, whipsmart veteran who was just as dangerous and determined for justice as the classic action-movie icon? Director Jeremy Saulnier brings the intrigue, violence, and fast-paced storytelling fans of his previous works know him for, but it’s the film’s star Aaron Pierre who brings the demure yet imposing presence of Terry Richmond to life, and you can’t overstate just how great Pierre is in this role. It’s a tight, action-packed flick with a satisfying end, and though its plot comes to a clean conclusion. I’ll take 100 more of them, please, and thank you. " Gabe Kovacs, Video Producer & Podcast Lead Anxiety with Envy, Anger, Fear, Sadness and Disgust in Inside Out 2 #21. Inside Out 2 Average Score: 4.04545/5 The original Inside Out ranks among the best Pixar movies, and while that’s a high bar for a sequel to hit, Kelly Marcel’s Inside Out 2 is a success. The story is relatable, with young protagonist Riley going through the throttling experience of puberty while attending a summer hockey camp, and that base narrative kick starts a wonderful main plot that sees the familiar emotions from the first film contend with the arrival of newcomers – the most prominent being Maya Hawke’s Anxiety. It’s not as good as the original, but it’s a worthy follow-up. " If 2015’s Inside Out evoked all the feels that a young girl’s mind could handle at that point in her life, Pixar’s followup arrived with a slightly older Riley and even more emotions – quite literally. The sequel sees young-teen Riley, grappling with new emotions (Ennui, Embarrassment, Envy and Anxiety) as she faces more changes and challenges in her life. Growing up is hard, as many of us can attest, but the film’s depiction of the havoc anxiety (well-meaning though she may be) can wreak on the mind of a kid hits close to home for me and many others. Pixar had a lot to live up to after the outstanding, emotional and entertaining first film, and Inside Out 2 undoubtedly delivers. " Kelly West, Assistant Managing Editor John Williams discussing Schindler's List in Music by John Williams #20. Music By John Williams Average Score: 4.05/5 From Star Wars to Jaws to Jurassic Park and beyond, anyone even vaguely familiar with movies is aware of the magic of composer John Williams, but what’s particularly excellent about Laurent Bouzereau’s documentary Music By John Williams is that it not only explores his work beyond cinema (including various themes and with different symphonies), but also gives us an understanding of the man and his life, family and friendships beyond his legendary work. " This winning documentary doesn’t reinvent the wheel, push any boundaries, or break any molds. Instead, filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau receives the enviable task of simply sitting down and listening to the maestro, John Williams, recount stories about composing some of the greatest film scores of our generation. Where does one even begin when digging into the magical legacy of WIlliams? Your jaw drops as you scan his resume, from Star Wars and Jurassic Park to Harry Potter and Indiana Jones. But it’s the personal anecdotes shared by a gracious Williams – as well as the tributes delivered by endless Hollywood greats – that make Music By John Williams one of the year’s most enjoyable cinematic experiences. " Sean O’Connell, Managing Editor Mark Eydelshteyn holding a vape pen in his left hand and Makey Madison sitting in his lap. #19. Anora Average Score: 4.07143/5 Some of the worst stereotypes about sex workers have been embedded in our culture because of decades of cinema history, and that makes Sean Baker’s Anora a fascinating sort of anomaly, as Mikey Madison’s Ani is realized as a multidimensional individual… and one who gets caught up in some wild family politics. It’s part romantic drama, part mystery comedy, and it’s a wild and emotional ride. " In its basic components, Anora isn’t anything new. A more mature Cinderella story following a sex worker (Mikey Madison) and her love affair with a rich young Russian (Mark Eydelshteyn); that’s not where writer/director Sean Baker innovates. As we follow Ani’s wild ride through a particularly season in New York City, characters and events zig when you think they’re going to zag. Humor organically sneaks in without belittling the characters, all the while the story avoids gratuitous violence or sex. Much like Ani herself, Anora shines through the hidden depths that are plumbed, and the emotions we never expected to confront in this lived in world of romance-fueled chaos. " Mike Reyes, Senior Movie Contributor Xenomorph in Alien: Romulus #18. Alien: Romulus Average Score: 4.09091/5 There are a lot of misses in the long history of the Alien franchise, but Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus was a rare and welcomed win in 2024. The young ensemble is terrific – with David Jonsson’s android Andy being the standout – but what makes the movie particularly stand out is the way in which it finds a way to balance a lot of the best material from previous franchise chapters while maintaining the absolute horrors of Facehuggers and full-grown Xenomorphs. " Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus is one of the scariest and most intense movies I’ve experienced on the big screen in years. Going back to the iconic sci-fi franchise’s horror roots, this visually stunning and emotionally gripping story of rebirth, survival, and family had me wiping tears from my eyes (but only after prying my fingers from my armrest). If this is the start of a new chapter in Alien movie history, then I cannot wait to see what Álvarez and company do with a second chapter. But if this was just a one-and-done story, I’m really glad I was able to experience this incredible and unforgettable sci-fi story. " Philip Sledge, Content Producer June Squibb in scooter chase sequence in Thelma #17. Thelma Average Score: 4.13636/5 It took 95 years for June Squibb to land the lead role in a film, but one could argue that the wait was well worth it, as she proves an absolute treasure in Josh Margolin’s Thelma. The eponymous protagonist finds herself in a position to prove herself as being not nearly as fragile as everyone in her life views her to be after she loses $10,000 to a con artist, and she goes on a terrific comedic adventure with a collection of fun twists and turns. " There’s something special about going into a movie fairly blind, and there was something particularly special about doing it with Thelma, as its relentless, plucky and perpetually overwhelmed title character spends much of the film’s runtime at least partially clueless about what’s going on. I won’t spoil you on where any of it goes. Instead, I’ll just say watching the always delightful June Squibb and Richard Roundtree in his last role try to navigate the predicament they find themselves in while dealing with scooter problems, pop-up ads and scammers is delightful. I’m so happy I found this movie, and if you have too, then 'I think I know you!' " Jessica Rawden, Managing Editor Kirsten Dunst in Civil War #16. Civil War Average Score: 4.19565/5 Arriving at a very heated time in American politics, Alex Garland’s Civil War invited a lot of expectations prior to its release, with audiences pondering its left wing or right wing leanings… but the film doesn’t actually bother with that. What the film is really about is showcasing the horrors of war and the incredible importance that journalists have in society, and in both respects, the film is phenomenal. " Civil War came early in the year, but I spent the greater part of 2024 telling everyone I know about how dumbfounded I was by the thriller. Going in, all I knew that the A24 movie was the latest from the mind behind Ex Machina. While I think it's easy to pass off Civil War as a dystopian war movie with a political agenda, it's really a love letter to journalism and a nail-bitingly immersive drama with two compelling characters at the center of it. Kirsten Dunst gives an all-time great performance as a hardened legend in her field, foiled by Cailee Spaeny's rookie character. Few movies change the way I look at the world, but Civil War feels like you experienced something monumental. " Sarah El-Mahmoud, Staff Writer Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson all dramatically sit on a couch together in A Different Man. #15. A Different Man Average Score: 4.2/5 Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man is a genius character study. What would happen if you were so unhappy that you abandoned your own life… but then found a person inhabiting your old life and living better than you ever have? That’s the uncanny conceit at the heart of the film, and it’s both darkly hilarious and a thrilling descent into madness. Sebastian Stan does some of the best work of his career thus far, but one could say that he is fittingly outshined by Adam Pearson as the charismatic and charming Oswald. " A film that takes 'art imitating life' to wickedly unnatural conclusions, Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man truly lives up to its titular descriptor. Sebastian Stan is enjoyably unlikeable as Edward, an aspiring actor suffering from neurofibromatosis whose life is forever changed thanks to an experimental surgery. Temporarily content as an attractive and successful real estate agent, Edward’s performative side soon returns after discovering a play was written about his former life, fronted by a charismatic chap named Oswald (Adam Pearson) who also has neurofibromatosis. This twisted and unpredictable morality tale is like Charlie Kaufman’s Twin Peaks, and its themes of happiness and regret stay lodged in the brain long after the credits have rolled. Schimberg created a gem, but Pearson owns the pic with scene-stealing humor and charm." Nick Venable, Assistant Managing Editor #14. Saturday Night " Jason Reitman’s frenetically paced Saturday Night is a movie I keep coming back to in my brain, and not simply because it pays homage to some comedic greats or hits longtime fans of the sketch comedy series in the feels. Sure, seeing John Belushi break out of 30 Rock to go ice skating is thrilling, but Jason Reitman’s movie is largely successful because it shows the chaos of a fledgling TV format in the ‘70s and putting young, disruptice folk in charge of young, challenging talent who all want different things from the sketch comedy series. It's genius to track the 90 minutes before the airing of the first episode in near real-time, and it's exciting to see some actors playing out sketches we’ve seen in a completely different context for 50 years. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. " Jessica Rawden, Managing Editor Saturday Night cast Average Score: 4.26923/5 Its release perfectly timed to the airing of Saturday Night Live’s 50th season/anniversary, Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night is an amazing tribute to what multiple generations have now acknowledged as a pop culture staple. There is a wonderful meld of comedy and drama as Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) runs around the NBC building trying to bring his special vision of a sketch show to life, and the fact that it unfolds nearly in real time is both a cinematic treat and a cool boon to the escalating tension as show time nears. Adrien Brody in The Brutalist #13. The Brutalist Average Score: 4.3/5 “Epic” is a word that gets tossed around a lot these days, but the true meaning of the word is meant to describe works like Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist – a film with awe-inspiring scale. The journey of Adrien Brody’s László Tóth is a classic immigrant tale, as he is forced to leave his family in war torn Europe so that he may try and forge a new life in the United States. The movie has earned notoriety for its intimidating 215 minute runtime (including a 15 minute intermission), but it’s successful enough telling an engaging story that the length becomes an afterthought. " There Will Be Blood is one of my top five movies of all time, and I never thought I’d get another big screen experience like that ever again. Well, that all changed when I saw The Brutalist, Brady Corbet’s epic about László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Jewish Hungarian immigrant who comes to America after the end of World War II to carve out a life for himself in America. The sprawling story, which spans nearly 40 years over the course of the film’s 215-minute runtime, is full of wonder and detachment, ecstasy and agony, and the enduring human spirit in the face of indifference and evil. Shot using VistaVision, this is something I’m glad I saw in theaters this year. " Philip Sledge, Content Producer Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve in Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story #12. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Average Score: 4.35/5 Christopher Reeve left an indelible mark on cinema history with his portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman in the 1970s/1980s Superman films, but Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui’s Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is an emotional examination of his awesome heroics as a human being. His story of recovery following the horse riding accident that left him a paraplegic is endlessly inspiring, and it’s a journey that is told with deep care and love in the independently produced documentary. " Christopher Reeve is still considered to be one of the best actors to have played Superman, but there was more to the man than just his performance as one of pop culture’s greats superheroes – which is what Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story explores. The documentary goes an incredible job of both covering Reeve’s acting career and his work as an activist following the horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed for the final years of his life. While heartbreaking at times, this film is more so inspiring and effectively shows how Reeve served as a beacon of hope for many, just like the character he famously portrayed. " Adam Holmes, Senior Content Producer Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in We Live in Time #11. We Live In Time Average Score: 4.36364/5 John Crowley’s We Live In Time is a fantastic cinematic achievement, in that what it accomplishes it not easy. The non-linear story ducks and weaves back and forth through time, chronicling the romance of Andrew Garfield’s Tobias Durand and Florence Pugh’s Almut Brühl, but it never loses the audience as the setting shifts, and it instead comes together like a puzzle that you best appreciate when the full picture comes together. It has affecting drama and delightful comedy, but what makes it special is the brilliant chemistry between the leads. " When I heard there was going to be a movie starring two of my favorite actors, Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, I had a feeling it would be my cup of tea, but wow, I wasn't expecting to be so floored and swept away by We Live In Time. John Crowley's film is far from a by-the-numbers rom-dram. It feels like a love letter to being a partner to someone itself, and how it can be wildly exciting, completely hilarious, achingly heartbreaking and with warts of compromise. From it's powerful plotline about the ticking time clock of life, to its final moments, this one is going to stick with me for awhile. " Sarah El-Mahmoud, Staff Writer Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in Will & Harper. #T-9. Will & Harper Average Score: 4.357/5 During a time when transgender people are being regularly targeted and harassed, Will & Harper tells a superb story about both the acceptance of one’s true self and the phenomenal power and impact of friendship. There is tension as Harper Steele introduces herself to the world and heartbreak as she recounts her emotional struggle to understand her gender, but there are also great laughs from two brilliant comedic minds and the hope that we might all have a buddy as wonderful as Will Ferrell. " Framed as a buddy road trip movie, Will Ferrell and veteran SNL writer Harper Steele — who came out as transgender during the pandemic — set out on a trek across the U.S. in Will & Harper to see if it’s still safe for Steele to partake in her love of shitty dive bars and truck stops. At times laugh-out-loud funny, the documentary is strongest when everyone drops the act. Ferrell leads by example in support of his longtime friend as they encounter the kindness of strangers, open-mindedness in unexpected places and, unfortunately, reminders of just how hateful people can be of something they fear or don’t understand. Harper makes herself extremely vulnerable to help bridge that gap in one of the year’s most important watches. " Heidi Venable, Content Producer His Three Daughters #T-9. His Three Daughters Average Score: 4.375/5 Azazel Jacobs’ His Three Daughters promises a heavy emotional experience with its story of three sisters who reunite as their father dies from a terminal illness, but it’s never heavy handed or maudlin. The characters played by stars Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen are rich in nuance, and their sibling dynamic is both unique and universal. It has the scope of a stage play, as the action doesn’t venture much outside the walls of a New York City apartment, but the film makes it a natural, homey place that can feel both inviting and claustrophobic. " Few films released this past year are as emotionally affecting as His Three Daughters. Writer/director Azazel Jacobs’ latest feature centers around a trio of estranged sisters who convene at their father’s apartment as he approaches the final days of his life amid hospice care. During the siblings’ stay, old wounds are re-opened, and the women hash out their issues in a way they surely never thought possible. This is an intimate piece of work from Jacobs, whose script dives deep into strained familial relationships and serves as a sharp meditation on grief. And, of course, the film is anchored by incredible performances from co-leads Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen and Natasha Lyonne. In short, it’s a raw, yet warm, movie that’ll surely strike a chord with viewers and sit with them long after the credits roll. " Erik Swann, Weekend Editor Timothee Chalamet in A Complete Unknown #8. A Complete Unknown Average Score: 4.375/5 James Mangold made one of the most celebrated music biopics of the 21st century with 2005’s Walk The Line, and he has made a bold return to that genre with a story about one of the most enigmatic pop culture figures of all time. A Complete Unknown continues Timothée Chalamet’s trend of proving himself as one of the most talented young actors on the big screen today, and the Bob Dylan-centric film will hopefully introduce the legendary folk singer to a whole new generation. " If you go into A Complete Unknown looking for answers, you’ll be disappointed. James Mangold’s biopic about a young Bob Dylan’s rise to folk superstardom doesn’t try to explain where music’s most enigmatic lyricist comes from or why he’s long confounded fans, friends and love interests with his behavior. Instead, it just lets us hang out with him. It gives us pivotal moments, both personal and professional, during his meteoric ascendancy, and thanks to career best work from Timothee Chalamet and some dynamite supporting performances, it’s riveting enough just to be there, listen to the music and watch the hard rain fall. " Mack Rawden, Editor-In-Chief Ralph Fiennes in Conclave #7. Conclave Average Score: 4.38235/5 Edward Berger’s Conclave is an exceptionally well-constructed thriller on top of being one of the most beautiful films of 2024 (that special shade of red!). Just when you think you have an idea of the direction in which the papal election is going to go, it zigs and zags and drops bombshells that totally upend the proceedings. It’s gripping and delicious, and between the work of Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, Isabella Rossellini, Lucian Msamati, and Carlos Diehz, there’s an argument to be made it sports the best ensemble cast of the year. " Having actually been raised in the Catholic Church, the plot of Conclave – director Edward Berger’s adaptation of Robert Harris’ 2016 novel – certainly piqued my interest. However, I never anticipated just how thoroughly riveting watching the election of the new Pope could be. The key to the high-stakes drama’s engrossing power is not just in its blood-boiling commentary on faith and manipulation but, especially, in its astonishing performances by the likes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rosselini. While the twist ending of Conclave did not satisfy me like I hoped it might, the shocking, spellbinding road to the conclusion answered my prayers. " Jason Wiese, SEO Content Writer The Wild Robot, Roz and Fink #6. The Wild Robot Average Score: 4.46429/5 We will remember as 2024 as a standout year for cinematic animation, and there were a great number of titles in the medium appreciated by the CinemaBlend staff this year, but we reserved most of love for The Wild Robot. The film is absolutely gorgeous, as the delicate design makes the adventure look like a moving painting, but what’s truly genius about Chris Sanders’ movie is its dark, razor sharp comedic sensibilities and how they blend with a gorgeous story about a special animal family and the building of a wild community. " 2024 was a great year for animation with blockbuster hits like Inside Out 2 and underrated gems like Transformers One, but without question, the best animated movie of 2024 was The Wild Robot. The story about a robot lost on an island of wilderness is actually a story about parenthood. It’s about the mistakes we make and the lessons we learn. It’s a heartwarming story about chosen families and about taking responsibility. Director Chris Sanders has crafted something truly special here. The animation is simply stunning, some of the best we’ve seen from Dreamworks to date. It’s also arguably their most mature movie. Kids looking for a bright and colorful story will find it while adults will embrace a deeper meaning. " Dirk Libbey, Content Writer Colman Domingo in Sing Sing #5. Sing Sing Average Score: 4.5/5 The debate about prisons being institutions of punishment versus rehabilitation is an important one, and director Greg Kwedar examines it in his critically acclaimed drama Sing Sing. The story follows a man imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit who finds a way to survive life at Sing Sing Correctional Facility by participating in the Rehabilitation Through The Arts program. " Sing Sing is a beautiful story about the power of art and empathy. The film follows a group of men at the Sing Sing prison who are part of a theater troupe, and it brilliantly captures how life-changing support, friendship and art can be. Notably, Colman Domingo and Paul Raci are the only known actor in the ensemble, as the rest of the performers were all part of the Sing Sing program while they were incarcerated. So, along with this movie being a wonderful depiction of this real-life troupe, it’s also a highlight reel of the incredible talent these men got to cultivate during a difficult time. " Riley Utley, Weekend Editor Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba holding up her hands in Wicked: Part One #4. Wicked Average Score: 4.52632/5 After years and years of development, Wicked finally got the film adaptation that fans have long been begging for, and those who have enjoyed the musical on stage and listened to the soundtrack on a loop have been going gaga. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande respectively get to showcase their awesome vocal talents as Elphaba and Galinda in the alternative take on The Wizard Of Oz story, and audiences everywhere are now primed for the climactic second half of the story, Wicked: For Good, which arrives in November next year. " For fans of the Wicked stage musical, 2024 was truly a year to rejoicify, as the long-anticipated movie adaptation – well, Part 1 of it – finally arrived. Jon M. Chu’s movie adaptation flew into theaters (possibly via broom or bubble), and brought Oz back to life on the big screen in stunning fashion. Whether you’ve seen the stage production, listened to the soundtrack or went into the movie totally new to it, there’s so much to love about this musical. The film succeeds in making the most of its talented cast (particularly Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande), the outstanding songs of its soundtrack, and the truly magical place that is Oz. And quite frankly, it left me feeling very emotional and totally ready for Part 2. " Kelly West, Assistant Managing Editor Paul and Gurney Halleck in Dune: Part Two #3. Dune: Part Two Average Score: 4.65909/5 Denis Villeneuve blew our minds in 2021 adapting the first half of Frank Herbert’s science-fiction classic Dune, but the sequel is actually even better. Both the stunning, otherworldly design and the complex political machinations in the story are fascinating, and the characters are rich, dynamic, perfect interpretations of the heroes and villains from the novel. Anticipation for Dune: Messiah is at an extreme high – but no matter how that turns out, we will forever be grateful that Dune: Part Two gave us the experience of riding on the back of a sandworm. " Even hyped up on the first half of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation, I feared another IT: Chapter Two style stumble when trying to stick the landing. Those fears were unfounded, as Dune: Part Two exceeded my love for its predecessor, delivering an epic event we haven’t seen in theaters since the Middle-earth Saga. Timothee Chalamet’s Paul Atreides is a complicated anti-hero, and fleshed out as such in beautiful detail. The young man we thought we knew reluctantly becomes the tyrant we know he’ll become, and that journey is so satisfying to witness, I’m still sad that Denis Villeneuve is calling it quits after Dune: Messiah. With these two films as proof, I have an unshakable faith in that next chapter. " Mike Reyes, Senior Movie Contributor September 5 #2. September 5 Average Score: 4.7/5 At a time when the line between news and entertainment has been blurred like never before, Tim Fehlbaum’ September 5 arrives as a monumental gut punch that is hard to shake. The dedication to period accuracy is remarkable, and you admire the hustle of the ABC Sports broadcasting team pivoting to cover something as serious as a hostage crisis – but the high stakes of the situation is never lost in the journalistic enthusiasm, and it boils to a climax that hits like a sledgehammer. " Journalism movies hold a soft spot in my heart. Give me two hours of reporters burrowing into a complicated story, and I’ll be glued to my seat. But director Tim Fehlbaum’s spellbinding September 5 most impressed me because it represents a turning point when television journalists were creating the rules regarding breaking news coverage, and doing it under the most intense scrutiny possible. Set at the Munich Olympics during a hostage crisis, September 5 follows network producers as they decide on the fly how to report a developing story to a nervous global audience. It’s a harrowing tightrope walk through the interpretation of facts, and one that shows we still have so much to learn about how news is told, and how it is received. " Sean O’Connell, Managing Editor Margaret Qualley does a split in front of a Demi Moore poster in The Substance #1. The Substance Average Score: 4.7/5 Of the 10 people on the CinemaBlend staff who have seen Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, six gave it a perfect five out of five, and that should give you a clue as to how loved the film is around these parts. The body horror is outrageous and disgusting, lending to a climax that is truly unforgettable, but even beyond the excellent nastiness, it’s a stellar and sharp satire about society’s beauty standards and treatment of women (not to mention the extreme self-loathing it inspires). " I'm a big horror fan, but there are plenty of times where the film world doesn't seem to appreciate these projects as much as me. Luckily, The Substance as an exception, as Coralie Fargeat's satirical body horror flick got buzz as soon as it premiered at Cannes. The movie pivots between horror and comedy throughout its runtime, with some truly stellar performances coming from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. And while the body horror is initially unsettling, The Substance's final act is an over top gore fest that essentially takes the piss out of the genre itself. And somehow, despite all the blood and guts, the most disgusting sequence of the entire film features Dennis Quaid eating a giant bowl of shrimp. " Corey Chichizola, Movies Editor

This would be a big tweak. Hollywood has spent nearly 20 years trying to get a new Masters of the Universe movie off the ground, and thankfully for fans of the long-running sci-fi/fantasy franchise, the project made its biggest strides yet in 2024. A few months after the news came in of Travis Knight helming the reboot, The Idea of You’s Nicholas Galitzine was tapped to play the new live-action Prince Adam/He-Man, and we’ve been peppered with more casting announcements since then. Specific plot details, on the other hand, are being kept secret, though Galitzine has shared that the Masters of the Universe reboot will be “quite different” than the original He-Man TV show, and a new rumor may point to how this will be handled. What Nicholas Galitzine Said About Masters Of The Universe In an interview with THR, Galitzine was asked if he’s binge-watched any of the old He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon, which ran from 1983 to 1985, as well as how the new movie will compare to the series that started airing just a year after the Mattel toy launched. The actor answered: " Look, what I will say is our version is quite different from the original animation, which we all agree was camp within its own right and worked so well for the time. But there’s been a couple of iterations, obviously since there was the Revelation version of Master of the Universe, and the comics themselves. And we’re very much treating our script as as Bible, you know. But it’s kind of amazing to hear what this show meant to a lot of people. It was really formative for a lot of people, so it’s exciting to do something that will have a nostalgia element as well as hopefully attract a bunch of new fans. " As Nicholas Galitzine, Masters of the Universe: Revelation and its follow-up Revolution, which can both be streamed with a Netflix subscription, are among the more recent adaptations of this mythology, with others including the new He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series that’s also on Netflix and more geared towards younger audiences, as well as the comics. Judging from Galitzine’s statement, it sounds like while the new Masters of the Universe movie will follow the basic framework of this property, it will also put some new spins on the material to make it stand out from previous versions. But exactly how much will the reboot color outside the lines, so to speak? What The New Masters Of The Universe Rumor Is Claiming According to scooper Daniel Richtman (via ComicBookMovie), Masters of the Universe will introduce Galitzine’s Adam as a regular guy who’s working a “boring office job” in the “real world,” i.e. Earth, and “the whole He-Man and Masters of the Universe story are tales he heard as a little kid.” While this information should be taken with a massive grain of salt for now, it does line up with the synopsis that’s been making the rounds: " 10-year-old Prince Adam who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword—the only link to his home on Eternia. After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe! " Assuming all this is true, it won’t be the first time that a Masters of the Universe movie has incorporated Earth into the story. The 1987 film saw our planet being targeted by Skeletor, He-Man’s arch-nemesis, and two teenagers and a detective being drawn into the conflict. In this case though, the reboot would establish a direct tie between Adam and Earth, a major departure from the source material. However, it does seem like there’s a contradiction between the new rumor and the synopsis. Does Adam actually remember that he hails from Eternia, or did he somehow lose his memories of that other world or even get sent to Earth at such an earlier age that he’d have no clear memories to retain, hence the stories? Hopefully the coming months will bring official clarification on what we can expect narratively from the Masters of the Universe reboot, which opens in theaters on June 5, 2026. Nicholas Galitzine’s He-Man will be joined by Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops and Hafthor Bjornsson as Goat Man.

"There's red flags all around!" As a book lover, I’m always paying attention to what upcoming book adaptations are on the horizon, and quite a few 2025 movies are based on popular novels. Another Bridget Jones book is being turned into a movie, and Stephen King’s The Running Man is being made with Glen Powell, but now I’m particularly getting invested in The Housemaid adaptation. Now, I haven’t read The Housemaid, but it’s been announced that Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney are leading the adaptation alongside It Ends With Us’s Brandon Sklenor and 365 Days’ Michele Morrone. The movie is being helmed by Paul Feig of Bridesmaids and A Simple Favor fame – both movies I adore. Now the people behind the movie’s production posted this hilarious video on their socials to celebrate the beginning of filming: https://www.instagram.com/housemaidmovie/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=8f97933e-ef5f-4a54-93f9-1b5329939509 The core cast of The Housemaid, alongside its director made a social media video that teases the plot of the story, and when I tell you I went immediately to my library app to see if it was available after seeing this. I thought it might be a stitch of a reaction video of the book itself, and I was totally right. Here’s the original video from TikTok’s @bookclubwannabe: Sydney Sweeney Celebrated New Years With An Epic Photo Dump That Included Her In A Bikini On A Jet Ski OK, I was not expecting this book to sound so spicy with plot! Now that I’ve looked into it further, Freida McFadden’s novel is a psychological thriller about a young woman named Millie (whom Sydney Sweeney will play) who's recently been released from prison and earns a position as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple, the Winchesters (played by Amanda Seyfried and Sklenar). Apparently things go sideways when Millie starts noticing some very bizarre behavior from Nina, including being offered a room in the attic, which only locks from the outside. Suffice to say, this sounds like one wild ride of a book, and between the announcement video and the original TikTok that tracked one reader’s response to all the happenings of the novel, I’ll absolutely be seated for this movie. Some of the plotlines of the novel are hinted at in the video, with the soundbites suggesting Nina is “actually clinically insane,” to “it’s the delulu for me” or Sweeney mouthing how the Winchester’s put their housemaid “in a cot with an itchy blanket.” The cast is clearly having a blast with the whole thing, and I’m sure anyone who read the book is happy to see them all with the novel in their hands on the set of the movie. Just a couple of weeks ago, Variety reported that The Housemaid would officially be released by Lionsgate on Christmas Day in 2025 alongside the Timothée Chalamet sports drama Marty Supreme. The marketing for The Housemaid already ate and left no crumbs, and production has only just begun.

Here's how Cameron Diaz found her husband. Cameron Diaz is set to be in one of the first 2025 movies, Back In Action, bringing her out of her retirement from acting. While Diaz has been away from the profession, she has had a successful marriage with Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden. The couple welcomed their second child in 2024 after having a daughter together in 2019. But, how did their love story begin? It actually all starts with Benji’s brother, Joel Madden and an airplane. Cameron Diaz Met Joel Madden Before Falling In Love With His Brother When Cameron Diaz guested on Artist Friendly With Joel Madden, she and her brother-in-law recalled the sweet way their meeting led to her marriage to her now-husband. As they recalled, they became connected through Joel Madden’s wife, Nicole Richie, who the Good Charlotte lead singer has been with since 2006. While Richie and Gwyneth Paltrow went to take an exercise class Diaz wasn’t into, she ended up chatting with Joel Madden for two hours. The pair quickly hit it off, as they recalled the following: Joel Madden: “And then, I told you all there – you don’t remember maybe – I said ‘Benj and you would be great together.” Cameron Diaz: “And then Gwyneth later said, ‘You know, he has a twin brother.’ And I was like ‘Yeah?’ [Shrugs] Great?’ I was like ‘Is it because he’s already taken that I’d just like…’?’” While Diaz brushed off the suggestion at the time, the actress crossed paths with Joel Madden again about a year and a half later on a plane. Here’s what happened next... But, Joel Madden Wasn't Confident He Could Get Diaz Cut to 2014 when Cameron Diaz was flying back from Australia while promoting The Other Woman. She ran into Joel Madden on her flight, and they hung out again. In Madden’s words: "I got off that flight, it was a great hang. It was the best. We hung out for like three hours on that 13-hour flight… But then when I got home, I was like ‘Here’s the deal dude, she’s great, she’s fucking amazing. I knew, you guys are going to be great friends and you’ll be lucky to know each other as friends because you’re both amazing, but it's never going to happen." It sounds like after running into Diaz again, Joel Madden was once again invested in his brother and The Holiday actress being a good match. However, he just didn’t believe it would work out. So, he went home and told his brother about it but suggested it was “never going to happen.” How Benji Madden And Cameron Diaz Became Husband And Wife Sometimes dissuading someone can actually help their chances. Just look at Romeo and Juliet (for a minute there, at least). Or, for a more successful story, look at this tale about Diaz and her now-husband, Benji Madden. To that point, the Charlie's Angles actress said this in response to the comments Joel Madden made to his brother: " You know what he did with that? He took that as a fucking challenge is what he did. Turn that shit up… and then, I think seven months later we were engaged. " Hey, if you put your mind to it, anything can be achieved, and Benji Madden and Cameron Diaz were the right fit for each other after all. Joel Madden continued this fun story with these words: " But maybe, that’s what you both needed. You needed someone with that literal fearlessness and determination, that ‘I don’t give a fuck about what you say he thinks, I have a feeling and I’m going to get after that and see if I’m right.’ And you are exactly what he needed to aspire to. " How sweet is this story? Cameron Diaz might be done with rom-coms, but it sounds like she lived one! And she still is, as she now shares two lovely kids with her husband. Now, while we hold out hope for more stories about Diaz and Benji's love story, you can check out the actress in the trailer for Back In Action ahead of its release for those with a Netflix subscription on January 17.

I'm not crying, you're crying. Movie musicals have a long history in the film world, with a number of musicals winning Best Picture over the years. Rather than an offbeat musical, the latest addition to the subgenre is Jon M. Chu's Wicked, which broke records at the box office. Fans are waiting a full year for the second movie to arrive, as more information about the original keeps trickling out. Case in point: Chu revealed an "emotionally beautiful moment" he had during a screening of the film. And as a fan, my heart is so full. What we know about Wicked: For Good is limited, but the movie is going to adapt the second act of the Broadway musical for the big screen. Splitting the story into two movies allowed for no musical numbers to be cut, and Chu teased that Wicked 2 will finally give some underrated songs their due. The director recently tweeted out a fond memory he had while seeing the film in theaters, saying: " Closing my eyes while a theater full of people sing 'I’m Not That Girl' with Elphaba on screen may be the most emotionally beautiful moment of this whole Wicked experience. Movies are beautiful. A Sing-Along Movie is unlike anything (as a filmmaker) I have ever been through. 🥹 wow. wow. wow[.] " As a big fan of the musical (and the movie adaptation) this does make my heart feel very full. "I'm Not That Girl" is perhaps the most emotionally vulnerable we see Elphaba in Wicked (aside from her dance with Glinda), and it allowed Erivo to have stillness and show off the bottom of her vocal range. It's nice to hear that audiences connected so deeply to composer Stephen Schwartz's beloved song. And I'm definitely one of them. "I'm Not That Girl" happens around halfway through Wicked, when things in Oz start going south. After Doctor Dillamond is taken away, students at Shiz are shown a lion cub who will be trained to never speak. Elphaba and Fiyero escape with the cub, and set him free in the woods. That's when Cynthia Erivo's character sings about her unrequited love for Fiyero, who is already in a relationship with her best friend Galinda. And it's one of the most emotionally impactful Wicked songs. The stakes during the second half of the Wicked stage musical are even higher than Act I, so one can only imagine how invested audiences will be when For Good hits theaters in November. And as such, I assume that Jon M. Chu will get to have a similar experience seeing how folks in theaters respond to the story unfold. The first Wicked movie is available on digital now, and For Good will hit theaters on November 21st. For now, check out the 2025 movie release dates.

Production on Dune: Part 2 was no cakewalk! The Dune films are undeniably fantastic to experience. The incredible cinematography, unmatched production design, and unbelievable performances all work together to make Dune the sci-fi franchise of the decade. But just because these movies are so fun to watch, doesn’t mean they are always super fun to make. Zendaya recently opened up about how hard Dune: Part 2’s production was on her body, and explains one particular moment that truly tested her physically. In a recent interview with W Magazine, the movie star opened up about some of the on set experience’s she’s had, and what each of Zendaya’s best movies required from her as an actress. When it came to Dune, it required quite a lot, as the long shooting days and extreme weather on set resulted in her body responding in concerning ways. She learned about the importance of hydration the hard way, especially when working in stifling heat. She recounted: " We were in Jordan. It was very hot, and I remember thinking, 'Oh, man, the bathrooms are so far away,' because we had to hike to the locations. If you have to pee, you need at least 10 minutes to get out of the costumes. I was like, Damn, I don't want to drink too much water. I had such a fear of peeing myself or shitting myself, honestly, in the suit on set. One day, I didn't drink enough and I had a heatstroke. I felt so barfy. I remember calling my mom on the bathroom floor, saying, 'I feel terrible.' She was like, 'Did you drink water today?' I said no. I thought I was being smart, but you can't do that. So, lesson learned. " I have to say I understand her thought process. Some of these costumes, especially those within a sci-fi or action adventure film, are incredibly complicated and restrictive. Time is money on set, and you never want to be the person that’s holding everybody up, even if you are number one on the call sheet. Not wanting to inconvenience the crew with long, frequent bathroom breaks when everyone is hot and exhausted is understandable. Also, no one wants to have an accident on set. However, not drinking water is never the answer. A hospital visit is way more inconvenient and scary than a bathroom break. This was probably a lesson she should’ve learned on the first Dune film, but Zendaya wasn’t actually on set as much for the original installment. She has much more of a presence in the sequel film, which meant a lot more days with Timothée Chalamet in the desert. Also, production on Dune: Part 2 was no joke, with production taking place in Italy, Jordan, and Abu Dhabi for five months, much longer than a traditional movie production. The whole thing paid off, but hopefully Zendaya learned the importance of hydration early on in the shoot, and was feeling better for the rest of filming. The whole thing wasn’t totally miserable. In the midst of difficult shooting conditions, behind-the-scenes videos show Zendaya having a great time with the rest of the Dune: Part 2 cast, and the Euphoria star even shared a gorgeous sunset photo of the desert on Instagram to let fans know she was hard at work. Hopefully now that this heatstroke incident is out of the way, she’s more prepared for when she has to return to the desert again for the much anticipated Dune: Messiah. You can check out Zendaya’s performance in Dune: Part 2, which is currently streaming with a Max subscription, along with the first Dune. Fans of the actress can also see her in her latest film, Challengers, which is also streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription.

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