MOVIES

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The Labor Day box office brought a familiar picture: sluggish turnout, modest debuts, and a surprise showing from an old classic. In one of the quietest weekends of the year, Zach Cregger’s horror hit Weapons returned to the top spot in North America, while Steven Spielberg’s Jaws proved its bite is still strong 50 years later.

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Paramount has officially set its sights on one of the biggest video game franchises in history. The studio has signed a major film pact with Microsoft-owned Activision to bring Call of Duty to theaters for the very first time.

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Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, one of the most celebrated directors in contemporary cinema, is preparing for his first-ever Oscar campaign with his Cannes Palme d’Or-winning film It Was Just an Accident. Long recognized as a dissident voice and a master of world cinema — with top prizes from Cannes, Berlin, and Venice — Panahi has never been in contention for an Academy Award. The reason is simple: Iran has consistently refused to submit his films for consideration.

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Paramount Pictures and Legendary Entertainment have sealed a new three-year worldwide distribution agreement that will see Paramount handle marketing and theatrical releases for Legendary’s films globally—excluding China, where Legendary East oversees distribution. The deal represents a significant strategic alliance for both companies and positions Paramount as a key partner in Legendary’s next slate of high-profile projects.

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Cameras are rolling on Anxious People, the highly anticipated feature adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel. The project has added Emmy-nominated actor Jason Segel to a cast already led by Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie and BAFTA-winner Aimee Lou Wood. The film is directed by Marc Forster (A Man Called Otto, World War Z) from a script by Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Magee, pairing proven storytelling power with star talent.

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Nathan Fielder’s HBO series The Rehearsal has built its reputation on blurring the line between comedy and social experiment, but its second season may have had an unexpected impact far beyond television: pilot mental health reform.