MOVIES

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Scarlett Johansson's long-standing reign at the top of the global box office has officially come to an end, with Zoe Saldaña emerging as the highest-grossing movie star of all time.

As of January 12, Saldaña overtook Johansson following the blockbuster performance of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest chapter in James Cameron's sci-fi franchise. The film crossed $1.23 billion globally, pushing Saldaña's cumulative box office total to approximately $16.8 billion, according to industry tracker The Numbers.

Saldaña, 47, has built her record-breaking total across 18 major releases, anchored largely by her role as Neytiri in the Avatar films. She is uniquely positioned in cinema history as the only actor to appear in the three highest-grossing movies of all time:

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Matt Damon has revealed new details about the intense and unconventional experience of filming Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey, a project that has already made film history. The movie being the first ever to be shot entirely using Imax film cameras, is a technical gamble that pushed both cast and crew into uncharted territory.

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Hamnet has been named Best Picture at AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, marking a major win at the twenty fifth edition of the annual ceremony. The event took place Saturday night at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and celebrated films from 2025 that resonated strongly with audiences aged fifty and older. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the evening brought together acclaimed filmmakers and performers whose work reflects storytelling that connects across generations.

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Lionsgate is officially moving forward with a sequel to its holiday box office hit The Housemaid, targeting a 2026 production start as the studio looks to build on the film's strong commercial momentum.

The follow-up, titled The Housemaid's Secret, is based on the second novel in Freida McFadden's bestselling thriller trilogy and has been quietly in development for several months. Sydney Sweeney is expected to return in the lead role of Millie Calloway and is also eyeing an executive producer credit on the project. Michele Morrone is likewise expected to reprise his role as Enzo, the enigmatic groundskeeper.

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Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series turns its attention to Frankenstein, the long awaited passion project from writer and director Guillermo del Toro, which recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The film marks the realization of a dream del Toro has carried since childhood, adapting Mary Shelley’s 1818 gothic novel with a deeply personal and emotional approach. Produced for Netflix, the epic drama stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as The Creature, and Mia Goth as Elizabeth.

Following its strong reception in Venice, Frankenstein has quickly emerged as a major awards season contender. The film earned 11 nominations and four wins at the Critics Choice Awards, including a win for Elordi. It also received five Golden Globe nominations, among them Best Picture and Best Director, as well as a SAG AFTRA Actor Awards nomination for its ensemble cast. Both Isaac and Elordi are recognized with Globe nominations, while Elordi also picked up an Actor Awards nomination. Across the crafts guilds, the film has continued to gain momentum, securing 11 mentions among the categories included in the Oscar shortlists.

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Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambitious drama One Battle After Another has been named Best Picture of 2025 by the National Society of Film Critics, solidifying its position as one of the most acclaimed films of the year and a strong contender in the wider awards season. The honor was announced following the Society’s 60th annual awards voting meeting, held on Saturday January 3, with critics gathering in Los Angeles and New York and others participating virtually from across the United States.

In addition to taking the top prize, One Battle After Another emerged as the most decorated film of the night. Anderson received the award for Best Director, while the film’s ensemble was also recognized. Teyana Taylor won Best Supporting Actress for her performance, and Benicio del Toro earned Best Supporting Actor. Together, these wins underscored the film’s broad appeal across directing, acting, and overall cinematic achievement.

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Disney is officially moving ahead with its long anticipated live action adaptation of Tangled, with Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim cast in the lead roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. After months of uncertainty surrounding the project, the announcement signals renewed confidence in bringing one of Disney’s most beloved modern animated films to life.

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Leonardo DiCaprio is openly reflecting on the uncertain future of movie theaters and what the rapid evolution of the film industry could mean for cinema as a shared cultural experience. In a recent interview with The Times of London, the Oscar winning actor expressed concern about whether audiences still have the desire to leave their homes to watch films on the big screen. He questioned if traditional theaters might one day become niche spaces similar to jazz bars, valued by a smaller and more dedicated audience rather than the mainstream public.