by admin | Jun 9, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
The following contains minor spoilers for Ballerina.
I am an unapologetic fan of all things John Wick. I’ve seen all the movies. I’ve been to the Las Vegas Continental. I love the Keanu Reeves-led franchise, and so the fact that we’re not only going to get more John Wick sequels, but prequels and multiple spinoffs, makes me a happy guy. As such, I was very much looking forward to seeing the first of those spinoffs, the Ana de Armas-led Ballerina.
Overall, I think Ballerina was a solid effort. The action sequences, while not quite up to the same standard as the John Wick films, were still well done, with a few really standout moments. Ana de Armas held her own throughout the film, as so many of us hoped she would. But while Ballerina was a solid action movie, I felt it was lacking as a John Wick film, and not because it didn’t have enough Keanu Reeves.
the rules are what make the World of John Wick special.
Caine, starring Donnie Yen, on the way, as well as an animated John Wick prequel. I hope the new films take a lesson from Ballerina and not follow in these footsteps. Don’t ignore the rules; instead, find creative ways to use them that will make your action and your story more interesting.
The rules of the John Wick universe are far from clear, and they’re more than a little bizarre. The gold coin-based economy makes basically no sense, but I don’t care. The rules are what make John Wick movies different from other action movies, and as we see more sequels and spinoffs, and whatever else in the John Wick universe, I hope we see more movies that find interesting ways to use the rules, and not simply ignore them.
by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Warning: The following contains major spoilers for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning!
The Mission: Impossible franchise is known for its outlandish plots and surreal stunts performed by none other than Tom Cruise. However some of the best scenes in the franchise are in the quieter, more emotional stretches of the films. The Final Reckoning takes the sentimental high road when it comes to its conclusion, which is fitting since it may mark the end of the entire M:I series. Simon Pegg recently commented on how he feels about the eighth movie’s closing scene, and I couldn’t agree with him more.
2025 movie release for a little while now. Amid the tour, Pegg caught up with Collider, and he discussed the way director/co-writer Christopher McQuarrie and the rest of the creative team decided to close out this chapter of the franchise. It was long hinted that The Final Reckoning would be the last in the M:I flick but the final scene seemingly leaves the door open for more adventures. When asked if it was the last scene the Mission: Impossible cast shot, Pegg said:
Hayley Atwell, hands off the super hard drive that contains the Entity to Ethan Hunt. The team all gives knowing looks to each other, as each is recognizing the incredible journey they’ve been through together. After they exchange glances, they go their separate ways, leaving the future of the IMF — and the Mission: Impossible franchise — in question.
There are several moments from the film that have received a lot of attention , like the absolutely unbelievable plane sequence in which Tom Cruise somehow climbs from the outside of one biplane to another. I’m personally still in awe of the submarine dive sequence in this film, which is one of the most heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat moments I’ve seen on the big screen in years. However, it’s not easy to conclude a franchise that has spanned three decades, and the heartwarming final scene deserves all the praise, and feels like a fitting end to one of the best action franchises of all time.
That last moment in Trafalgar Square may not involve explosions, shootouts, or an unbelievable stunt sequence, but it’s exactly what the franchise needs. For the characters themselves, Mission: Impossible has always been about the people who risk everything for each other, time and time again. The emotional weight is present via those final glances and, as a whole, the scene feels like a love letter to longtime fans. So hearing Simon Pegg actually chat about filming the scene gives me chills.
Whether or not we see these characters again, the scene offers closure without finality. I hope we do see these characters again in some form in the future. However, this is still a satisfying and fitting ending, and I’m glad that Simon Pegg felt the same.
See Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in theaters now. It’s one of the most visually stunning, epic movies of the year, so make sure to check it out on the biggest screen possible. Also, stream the rest of the Mission franchise now, as all seven of the films are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.
by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
As fans await the release of the long-awaited family comedy sequel Freakier Friday, another star-studded fan-fave from the early 2000s, Meet the Parents, is once again spreading its franchise wings with a new entry. It’s been 25 years since the flagship film hit theaters, and 15 years since its lackluster second sequel Little Fockers hit #1 at the box office, and co-stars Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro revealed why they’re reuniting for even more cross-generational awkwardness.
During the Tribeca Festival’s 25th anniversary screening and Q&A for Meet the Parents (via Deadline), several cast members reunited with O.G. director Jay Roach to watch what remains one of Ben Stiller’s best movies with an audience for the first time in years. When the discussion turned to the future of Gary Focker’s family, Roach championed screenwriter John Hamburg (who will direct the fourth film) for finding a “great new predicament” to center the new movie around.
discussed Severance spinoff ideas before going back to the Fockers drawing board again.
The currently untitled sequel will be hitting the 2026 movie schedule on November 25, 2026, just in time to make the holiday season a Focker-filled delight.
by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
In a one-on-one fight between Stitch from Dean Fleischer Camp’s Lilo & Stitch and Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro in Len Wiseman’s Ballerina, I’m not actually 100 percent sure who would win. The latter is obviously a trained killer, but the former is a crafty and super durable alien. It’s a question that’s open for debate… but we do have a firm answer to how things play out in a box office showdown: Stitch wins.
The first full weekend of June is coming to a close, and as the dust settles, it is once again Lilo & Stitch that is sitting atop the domestic weekend box office – though Ballerina put up some modest numbers following a strong response from critics. Check out the full Top 10 in the chart below and join me after for analysis.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
|
TITLE
|
WEEKEND GROSS
|
DOMESTIC GROSS
|
LW
|
THTRS
|
|
1. Lilo & Stitch
|
$32,500,000
|
$335,796,345
|
1
|
4,185
|
|
2. Ballerina*
|
$25,000,000
|
$25,000,000
|
N/A
|
3,409
|
|
3. Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning
|
$15,000,047
|
$149,217,047
|
2
|
3,496
|
|
4. Karate Kid: Legends
|
$8,700,000
|
$35,441,000
|
3
|
3,859
|
|
5. Final Destination: Bloodlines
|
$6,500,000
|
$123,565,000
|
4
|
2,867
|
|
6. The Phoenician Scheme
|
$6,250,000
|
$6,982,000
|
14
|
1,678
|
|
7. Bring Her Back
|
$3,526,295
|
$14,112,796
|
5
|
2,425
|
|
8. Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye*
|
$3,096,000
|
$3,096,000
|
N/A
|
1,085
|
|
9. Sinners
|
$2,910,000
|
$272,631,000
|
6
|
1,518
|
|
10. Thunderbolts*
|
$2,500,000
|
$186,492,793
|
7
|
1,955
|
Lilo & Stitch Wins The Domestic Box Office For The Third Weekend In A Row
arriving in cinemas just prior to the Memorial Day holiday, but it is drawing big crowds, and that remains true following its third weekend in release. Ticket sales dropped another 47 percent compared to what was reported at this time last week, but according to The Numbers, the kid-friendly feature has added another $32.5 million to its domestic total.
Marc Webb’s Snow White. That live-action Disney remake completed its global theatrical run making just $205.5 million and it cost more than twice what Lilo & Stitch did in terms of production budget.
At its present pace, Lilo & Stitch is going to be one of the most successful live-action Disney remakes yet. Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin, for example, only grossed $232.6 million when it hit its 17th day in release, and Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid was at $229.2. The new 2025 movie isn’t on the level of Jon Favreau’s The Lion King, which had $431.2 million in the bank after its third weekend, but the numbers are significant.
As has been the case from the beginning of its big screen run, the film is still doing even better overseas than it is at home. In foreign markets, the feature has made $436.8 million, which brings the film’s worldwide box office total to date to $772.6 million.
Globally, Lilo & Stitch is sitting pretty has the third highest grossing film of 2025. It’s going to be difficult for any title to make more than Yu Yang’s Ne Zha 2, which has made $2 billion in China, but it will be an interesting race to see if it can eventually surpass A Minecraft Movie, which sits at $948.6 million earned worldwide.
Ballerina Settles For Second Place With So-So Numbers By John Wick Standards
In case there is any confusion as to why Lionsgate announced three new John Wick-related features earlier this year, it’s because the franchise has become a power player at the box office. The first movie made just $14.4 million when it was released in October 2014, but word of mouth made everybody pay attention. After that title completed its worldwide run making $87.7 million, director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves reunited for John Wick: Chapter 2, and not only did it double the domestic opening weekend of the first film (earning $30.4 million), but it made $171.5 million worldwide.
In 2023, Stahelski’s John Wick: Chapter 4 made $447.3 million, which raised hopes that Ballerina could be an outsized hit… but it’s not off to a terrific start thus far. The movie got a solid response from critics (particularly within the context of it spending years generating concern amid reports of extensive reshoots), but audiences have thus far shown only mild interest. Per Deadline, the total production cost of the action film was between $80-90 million, and it only made $25 million domestically in its first three days.
It’s a slow start, but it will be interesting to see what kind of legs it grows under it in the weeks to come – especially since it doesn’t have any new releases specifically targeting its key demographics next weekend. In addition to professionals responding positively to Ballerina, those who filled out CinemaScore surveys really liked what they saw as well, as indicated via the “A-” grade. That mates the grade received by both John Wick Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (John Wick: Chapter 4 got an “A” and John Wick got a “B”).
Looking ahead to what’s coming in a few days, next weekend should be a fascinating showdown at the box office. While Ballerina won’t have to deal with a new action movie trying to steal its thunder, Lilo & Stitch might see a significant portion of its audience distracted by another new live-action remake of a modern animated feature – specifically Dean DeBlois’ How To Train Your Dragon (and I’ll further point out how funny it is that DeBlois directed the original animated Lilo & Stitch movie for Disney).
How will things play out at the top? How will the titles in the rest of the Top 10 move around – particularly with the expansion of Mike Flanagan’s The Life Of Chuck and the arrival of Celine Song’s Materialists as well? Be sure to head back here to CinemaBlend next Sunday for our latest box office report to find out.
by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Jonathan Bailey’s work has garnered a lot of attention as of late. In the past two years, he’s been in more projects than I can count on one hand, skipping around between the dramatic acting in Fellow Travelers, to the Regency Era series Bridgerton, to the wondrous, musical world of Wicked. Shockingly, the director of his upcoming release, Jurassic World Rebirth, was still unaware of Bailey’s acting chops before casting him. Thankfully, his girlfriend quickly (and bluntly) educated him on the British actor’s impressive repertoire.
I’ll admit, I definitely was a bit skeptical when I heard about a fourth Jurassic World film hitting the 2025 movie schedule. However, director Gareth Edwards previously said he plans on getting back to the OG movie’s roots, which is exciting. And, upon seeing the stacked cast via of Rebirth’s harrowing teaser trailer, I think many people will be making a trip to the theater in July. I also feel as though some fans would’ve had a similar reaction to the Bridgerton star’s casting as Edwards’ girlfriend, which the filmmaker shared with GQ:
Shonda Rhimes-produced Netflix drama that really showcased his skills as a leading man. Season 2, which focused on Anthony’s forbidden enemies-to-lovers storyline with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), is by far the best season, in my eyes. (I will die on that hill, mostly because of Bailey and Ashley’s intoxicating chemistry.)
Given Bailey’s work in Wicked and Fellow Travelers, it’s clear this can play a perfect love interest, and I think he probably could have decent chemistry with a tree. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s extremely attractive, especially in those adorable glasses seen in Jurassic World Rebirth.
The project-hopping Jonathan Bailey plays the role of paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis in Rebirth. Loomis, along with covert operatives, embark on a mission to a dinosaur-filled island in order to locate multiple species that could serve as the key to producing a much-needed drug. As you’d expect though, the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Loomis and co. find themselves in serious danger.
Considering how he’s hyped up Jurassic World Rebirth’s similarities to Steven Spielberg’s original 1993 flick, Bailey seems excited for the legacy sequel. I’m confident that he’ll be both wit and humanity to the role of Dr. Loomis. While Bailey’s more than supplanted himself as a heartthrob, this latest film may help him solidify his status as an action hero. Fans can see his work when this latest Jurassic movie opens in theaters on July 2. I know I’ll need to be seated in the theater to check this one out.
by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Since the end of 2024, Blake Lively has been tied up in a legal situation linked to her film It Ends with Us. Lively and Justin Baldoni – who directed and co-starred in the film – have specifically filed lawsuits against each other, with both stars laying out pointed allegations. That legal situation still remains in flux months after it began and, at this point, it’s unclear as to when or how it might be resolved. In the meantime, Lively is now involved in another suit that isn’t tied to the aforementioned drama film.
What Does Blake Lively’s Latest Lawsuit Entail?
When it comes to this latest situation, Blake Lively isn’t at the receiving end of any legal action. The 37-year-old star along with Family Hive LLC – which owns Lively’s Blake Brown brand – have filed suit against a fellow businesswoman named Kimberlie Hamner. Per Daily Mail.com, 27-year-old Hamner operates out of Utah and currently owns the trademark for Beauty by Blake after having filed for it back in September 2024 for the sake of her own cosmetic oil line. However, Lively and co. take issue with the trademark holding.
Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against Justin Baldoni, his production company (Wayfarer Studios) and more. Lively accused Baldoni of committing sexual harassment on the set of It Ends with Us and accused him of and his team of launching a smear campaign against her. Baldoni vehemently denied the accusations and filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, which broke the details of Lively’s initial claims and filing.
The Age of Adaline actress eventually filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni on the grounds of the same allegations she leveled against him in her complaint. Baldoni eventually filed a suit of his own as well, accusing his co-star, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and more for alleged defamation, extortion. As part of his suit, Baldoni is reportedly seeking $400 million in damages. Since the legal battle began, various reports have been swirling around both stars, with some making claims about the atmosphere on the IEWU set and others making assertions about how Lively and Baldoni are handling their legal skirmish.
Most recently, Blake Lively hit a setback in the case, as a judge tossed out her claims of emotional distress. Ahead of that, Lively and her team attempted to drop those allegations from her suit so that the claim could be refiled on a separate occasion. The judge reportedly made the decision after Justin Baldoni’s team sought to have Lively and co. release medical records to back up their assertions.
The Beauty by Blake/Blake Brown trademark situation doesn’t appear to be as contentious as the It Ends with Us drama at this point. For now, Lively, Family Hive LLC and co. (and the general public) will have to wait and see how Kimberlie Hamner chooses to respond to the suit.
