Tag: cliffhanger

  • 2026 Theatrical and Streaming Summer Movies Preview

    Moviefone's 2026 summer movie preview.
    Moviefone’s 2026 summer movie preview.

    Summer is almost here and with it comes a new crop of movies streaming and opening in theaters!

    From the highly anticipated sequels like ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2‘ and ‘Mortal Kombat II‘, to the live-action remake of ‘Moana‘, animated sequels ‘Toy Story 5‘ and ‘Minions & Monsters‘, super hero movies ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘ and ‘Supergirl‘, films from iconic directors like Steven Spielberg‘s ‘Disclosure Day‘ and Christopher Nolan‘s ‘The Odyssey‘, a new ‘Masters of the Universe‘, and the first ‘Star Wars‘ movie to hit theaters since 2019, ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu‘, summer 2026 promises a little bit of something for everyone.

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    Moviefone has compiled a list of the most anticipated movies opening in theaters and/or streaming in May, June, July and August 2026, which not only includes major studio releases but also smaller independent films that you won’t want to miss.

    Let’s begin!

    Related Article: Moviefone’s 2026 Movie Preview: Theatrical and Streaming Releases


    May:

    The Devil Wears Prada 2‘ (5/1)

    (L to R) Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and Andie Sachs (Anne Hathaway) in 20th Century Studios' 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'. Photo by Macall Polay. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and Andie Sachs (Anne Hathaway) in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’. Photo by Macall Polay. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) navigates her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing. She faces off against Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), her one-time assistant, now a high-powered executive for a luxury group, with advertising dollars that Priestly desperately needs.

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    Hokum‘ (5/1)

    Adam Scott in 'Hokum'. Photo: Neon.
    Adam Scott in ‘Hokum’. Photo: Neon.

    A horror novelist (Adam Scott) visits a remote Irish inn to spread his parents’ ashes, unaware the place is rumoured to be haunted by a witch.

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    Animal Farm‘ (5/1)

    A scene from 'Animal Farm'. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.
    A scene from ‘Animal Farm’. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.

    A satirical allegory of revolution and power that traces how a movement for equality is systematically corrupted. As the pigs consolidate control, truth is erased, dissent is crushed and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship.

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    Deep Water‘ (5/1)

    (L to R) Priya Jain, Molly Belle Wright and Aaron Eckhart in 'Deep Water'. Photo: Jen Raoult.
    (L to R) Priya Jain, Molly Belle Wright and Aaron Eckhart in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.

    A group of international passengers on a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai is forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. The terrified group is forced to work together and overcome their differences if they hope to escape their sinking plane and the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.

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    Mortal Kombat II‘ (5/8)

    (Right) Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in 'Mortal Kombat 2'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (Right) Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in ‘Mortal Kombat 2’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    The fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

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    The Sheep Detectives‘ (5/8)

    (L to R) Julia-Louis Dreyfus as the voice of Lily, the sheep, and Hugh Jackman as George Hardy in 'The Sheep Detectives', from Amazon MGM Studios. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. Copyright: © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Julia-Louis Dreyfus as the voice of Lily, the sheep, and Hugh Jackman as George Hardy in ‘The Sheep Detectives’, from Amazon MGM Studios. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. Copyright: © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    The film follows George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a shepherd who loves his sheep and raises them only for their wool. Every night he reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand, never suspecting that not only can they understand but they argue for hours afterwards about whodunnit. When George is found dead under mysterious circumstances, the sheep realize at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it. The local cop Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun), on the other hand, has never solved a serious crime in his life, so the sheep conclude they will have to solve it themselves, even if it means leaving their meadow for the first time and facing the fact that the human world isn’t as simple as it appears in books.

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    Remarkably Bright Creatures‘ (5/8)

    (L to R) Sally Field and Lewis Pullman in 'Remarkably Bright Creatures'. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Sally Field and Lewis Pullman in ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’. Photo: Netflix.

    A lonely elderly widow named Tova (Sally Field) forms an unlikely friendship with a curmudgeonly cephalopod octopus named Marcellus (voice of Alfred Molina), but unbeknownst to her, Marcellus is on a mission to solve a mystery that will heal the widow’s heart and lead her to a life-changing discovery.

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    Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D’)’ (5/8)

    Billie Eliish in 'Billie Eliish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)'. Photo: Henry Hwu and Paramount Pictures.
    Billie Eliish in ‘Billie Eliish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)’. Photo: Henry Hwu and Paramount Pictures.

    Captured during Billie Eilish‘s sold-out world tour, a concert experience from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation, presented in immersive 3D.

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    Obsession‘ (5/15)

    Michael Johnston stars as Bear in 'Obsession', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    Michael Johnston stars as Bear in ‘Obsession’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

    After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

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    Is God Is‘ (5/15)

    (L to R) Kara Young stars as Racine and Mallori Johnson as Anaia in 'Is God Is', from Amazon MGM Studios. Photo credit: Patti Perret. © 2026 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Kara Young stars as Racine and Mallori Johnson as Anaia in ‘Is God Is’, from Amazon MGM Studios. Photo credit: Patti Perret. © 2026 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    In Is God Is, two sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) embark on an epic quest for revenge, confronting a charged family history that will push them to extraordinary lengths. The film is Aleshea Harris’ directorial debut and is based on Harris’ adaptation of her award-winning play of the same name.

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    The Wizard of the Kremlin‘ (5/15)

    (L to R) Jude Law and Paul Dano in 'The Wizard of the Kremlin'. Photo: Gaumont.
    (L to R) Jude Law and Paul Dano in ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’. Photo: Gaumont.

    Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), charts his path. First an artist, then a reality TV producer, he becomes the spin doctor to a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin (Jude Law). At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies, belief and manipulation. Only the magnetic Ksenia is beyond his control, tempting him away from this dangerous game. Years later, after retreating into silence and shrouded in mystery, Baranov finally opens up, revealing the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.

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    Driver’s Ed‘ (5/15)

    The cast of 'Driver's Ed'. Photo: Vertical.
    The cast of ‘Driver’s Ed’. Photo: Vertical.

    A group of teens steal their school’s driver’s ed car to go on a road trip to help a high school senior track down his college-freshman girlfriend and win her back.

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    LifeHack‘ (5/15)

    'LifeHack' opens in theaters on May 15th.
    ‘LifeHack’ opens in theaters on May 15th.

    Four teenage slackers attempt a multi-million-dollar Bitcoin heist from their bedrooms, only to spiral into the darkest corners of the internet-and a danger beyond their computer screens.

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    Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War‘ (5/20)

    (L to R) Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller), James Greer (Wendell Pierce) , and Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) in 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War'. Photo Credit: Jonny Cournoyer / Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller), James Greer (Wendell Pierce) , and Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) in ‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War’. Photo Credit: Jonny Cournoyer / Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    When an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy, Ryan (John Krasinski) is forced back into the world of espionage to confront a rogue black-ops unit.

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    Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu‘ (5/22)

    (L to R) Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu in Lucasfilm's THE Mandalorian and Grogu'. Photo by Nicola Goode. © 2025 Lucasfilm Ltd™. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu in Lucasfilm’s THE Mandalorian and Grogu’. Photo by Nicola Goode. © 2025 Lucasfilm Ltd™. All Rights Reserved.

    The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.

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    ‘I Love Boosters‘ (5/22)

    A scene from 'I Love Boosters'. Photo: Neon.
    A scene from ‘I Love Boosters’. Photo: Neon.

    A crew of professional shoplifters known as The Velvet Gang take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven.

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    Ladies First‘ (5/22)

    (L to R) Sacha Baron Cohen as Damien Sachs and Rosamund Pike as Alex Fox in 'Ladies First'. Cr. Rob Youngson/Netflix © 2026.
    (L to R) Sacha Baron Cohen as Damien Sachs and Rosamund Pike as Alex Fox in ‘Ladies First’. Cr. Rob Youngson/Netflix © 2026.

    An arrogant but charismatic ladies’ man (Sacha Baron Cohen) finds his life of money, power and casual flings upended when he wakes up in a parallel world dominated by women.

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    Saccharine‘ (5/22)

    Midori Francis in 'Saccharine'. Photo: Shudder.
    Midori Francis in ‘Saccharine’. Photo: Shudder.

    After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana (Midori Francis) finds herself haunted by the ghost of the person she’s eating.

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    The Breadwinner‘ (5/29)

    Nate Bargatze stars in 'The Breadwinner'. Photo: Frank Masi. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Nate Bargatze stars in ‘The Breadwinner’. Photo: Frank Masi. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Nate’s (Nate Bargatze) supermom wife, Katie (Mandy Moore), lands a deal on ‘Shark Tank‘. Subsequently, the lifelong breadwinner of the family becomes a stay-at-home dad and quickly realizes he’s in way over his head.

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    Tuner‘ (5/29)

    (L to R) Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall in 'Turner'. Photo: Alan Markfield; Courtesy of Black Bear.
    (L to R) Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall in ‘Turner’. Photo: Alan Markfield; Courtesy of Black Bear.

    A talented piano tuner’s (Leo Woodall) life is turned upside down when he discovers that his meticulous skills for tuning pianos can equally be applied to cracking safes.

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    Backrooms‘ (5/29)

    Chiwetel Ejiofor in 'Backrooms'. Credit: Courtesy of A24.
    Chiwetel Ejiofor in ‘Backrooms’. Credit: Courtesy of A24.

    A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom.

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    Pressure‘ (5/29)

    (L to R) Brendan Fraser as "General Dwight D. Eisenhower" and Andrew Scott as "Captain James Stagg" in director Anthony Maras' 'Pressure', a Focus Features release. Credit: Alex Bailey/Focus Features/STUDIOCANAL © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Brendan Fraser as “General Dwight D. Eisenhower” and Andrew Scott as “Captain James Stagg” in director Anthony Maras’ ‘Pressure’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Alex Bailey/Focus Features/STUDIOCANAL © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, ‘Pressure’ follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) and Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) as they face an impossible choice—launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

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    Propeller One-Way Night Coach‘ (5/29)

    (L to R) Clark Shotwell and Kelly Eviston-Quinnett in 'Propeller One-Way Night Coach', premiering May 29, 2026 on Apple TV.
    (L to R) Clark Shotwell and Kelly Eviston-Quinnett in ‘Propeller One-Way Night Coach’, premiering May 29, 2026 on Apple TV.

    In the golden age of aviation, a young airplane enthusiast, Jeff (Clark Shotwell), and his mother (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett) set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood, which transforms a simple flight into the trip of a lifetime. Between airline meals, charming flight attendants, unexpected stopovers, larger-than-life passengers and a thrilling glimpse at first class, the journey unfolds in moments both magical and unexpected, charting the course for the boy’s future.

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    Speed Demon‘ (5/31)

    (L to R) William H. Macy as “Father Novak” and Katie Cassidy as “Sister Lu” in the horror film, 'Speed Demon', a Maverick Film & Complex Corp release. Photo courtesy of Maverick Film & Complex Corp.
    (L to R) William H. Macy as “Father Novak” and Katie Cassidy as “Sister Lu” in the horror film, ‘Speed Demon’, a Maverick Film & Complex Corp release. Photo courtesy of Maverick Film & Complex Corp.

    Aboard a high-speed train, a Nun (Katie Cassidy) who lost her faith must perform her first Exorcism on a possessed passenger hellbent on crashing the runaway train.

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    June:

    Masters of the Universe‘ (6/5)

    Nicholas Galitzine stars in 'Masters of the Universe'. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
    Nicholas Galitzine stars in ‘Masters of the Universe’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.

    Almost two decades after crashing down to Earth, Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is whisked back across space to defend his home planet of Eternia against the evil forces of Skeletor (Jared Leto). 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.

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    Scary Movie‘ (2026) (6/5)

    Marlon Wayans plays Shorty in 'Scary Movie' from Paramount Pictures.
    Marlon Wayans plays Shorty in ‘Scary Movie’ from Paramount Pictures.

    Twenty-six years after outrunning a suspiciously familiar masked killer, the Core Four are back in the killer’s crosshairs and no horror movie IP is safe.

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    Power Ballad‘ (6/5)

    (L to R) Paul Rudd as Rick and Nick Jonas as Danny in 'Power Ballad'. Photo Credit: David Cleary.
    (L to R) Paul Rudd as Rick and Nick Jonas as Danny in ‘Power Ballad’. Photo Credit: David Cleary.

    When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves – even if it means risking everything he cares about.

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    Carolina Caroline‘ (6/5)

    (L to R) Kyle Gallner and Samara Weaving in 'Carolina Caroline'. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.
    (L to R) Kyle Gallner and Samara Weaving in ‘Carolina Caroline’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.

    A young woman (Samara Weaving) skips her small town — in search of her estranged mother (Kyra Sedgwick) — alongside a charismatic con man (Kyle Gallner) on the run from the law. The duo leave a wave of crime and passion behind them as they hustle their way through the Southeast.

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    The Birthday Party‘ (6/5)

    (L to R) Emma Suárez as “Olivia” and Willem Dafoe as “Marcos Timoleon” in the drama, 'The Birthday Party, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Emma Suárez as “Olivia” and Willem Dafoe as “Marcos Timoleon” in the drama, ‘The Birthday Party, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    The late 1970s, somewhere in the Mediterranean: Marcos Timoleon (Willem Dafoe), a tycoon, is throwing a lavish, extravagant birthday party for Sofia (Vic Carmen Sonne) on his exclusive private island. The party is a perfect excuse for various people in his life to approach him with their own agendas.

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    Office Romance‘ (6/5)

    (L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Jackie Cruz and Brett Goldstein as Daniel Blanchflower in 'Office Romance'. Photo: Netflix © 2026.
    (L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Jackie Cruz and Brett Goldstein as Daniel Blanchflower in ‘Office Romance’. Photo: Netflix © 2026.

    Jackie (Jennifer Lopez), President and CEO of Air Cruz, runs a tight ship in her business, including a rigid anti-fraternization policy for all her employees. When a new sexy lawyer (Brett Goldstein) begins working for her, that policy becomes very tested.

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    Disclosure Day‘ (6/12)

    Emily Blunt in 'Disclosure Day', directed by Steven Spielberg. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    Emily Blunt in ‘Disclosure Day’, directed by Steven Spielberg. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    If you found out we weren’t alone in the universe, would that frighten you?

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    Stop! That! Train!‘ (6/12)

    (Center) RuPaul Charles in 'Stop! That! Train!'. Photo: Bleecker Street.
    (Center) RuPaul Charles in ‘Stop! That! Train!’. Photo: Bleecker Street.

    Two train stewardess BFFs switch from a dull railway to the luxurious Glamazonian Express. During a massive storm, they must work with snooty first-class crew and President Gagwell (RuPaul) to prevent disaster in LA.

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    Toy Story 5‘ (6/19)

    (L to R) Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen) and Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) in Disney and Pixar's TOY STORY 5. Photo courtesy of Disney/Pixar. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen) and Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) in Disney and Pixar’s TOY STORY 5. Photo courtesy of Disney/Pixar. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the rest of the gang’s jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.

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    Girls Like Girls‘ (6/19)

    (L to R) Myra Molloy stars as Sonya and Maya Da Costa as Coley in director Hayley Kiyoko’s 'Girls Like Girls', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    (L to R) Myra Molloy stars as Sonya and Maya Da Costa as Coley in director Hayley Kiyoko’s ‘Girls Like Girls’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    Coley (Maya da Costa), 17, from rural Oregon, navigates intimacy after her mother’s passing. Meeting Sonya (Myra Molloy) sparks new feelings, but self-doubt hinders their connection. Sonya, unfamiliar with dating girls, is uncertain. They learn to embrace emotions.

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    Finnegan’s Foursome‘ (6/19)

    (L to R) Brian Muller as “Frankie Finnegan,” Erica Hernández as “Marie Finnegan,” Edward Burns as “Freddy Finnegan,” and Brian d'Arcy James as “Teddy Finnegan” in the comedy, drama film, 'Finnegan's Foursome', a Republic Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) Brian Muller as “Frankie Finnegan,” Erica Hernández as “Marie Finnegan,” Edward Burns as “Freddy Finnegan,” and Brian d’Arcy James as “Teddy Finnegan” in the comedy, drama film, ‘Finnegan’s Foursome’, a Republic Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    Two middle aged brothers (Edward Burns and Brian d’Arcy James) and their respective adult children (Erica Hernandez and Brian Muller) travel to Ireland to play the Finnegan Family’s annual golf outing, where they distribute the ashes of the family patriarch

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    The Death of Robin Hood‘ (6/19)

    Hugh Jackman in 'The Death of Robin Hood'. Photo: A24.
    Hugh Jackman in ‘The Death of Robin Hood’. Photo: A24.

    Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood (Hugh Jackman) finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman (Jodie Comer), he is offered a chance at salvation.

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    Find Your Friends‘ (6/22)

    Bella Thorne in 'Find Your Friends'. Photo: Shudder.
    Bella Thorne in ‘Find Your Friends’. Photo: Shudder.

    Amber (Helena Howard) and her four best girlfriends take a trip to escape the L.A. bubble and cut loose in Joshua Tree for the weekend. But upon arrival, they quickly realize the locals don’t want them there.

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    Supergirl‘ (6/26)

    Milly Alcock as Supergirl in DC Studios’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Supergirl', a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Milly Alcock as Supergirl in DC Studios’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Supergirl’, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While celebrating her 21st birthday, Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) travels across the galaxy with her dog Krypto, during which she meets the young Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) and goes on a “murderous quest for revenge”.

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    Couture‘ (6/26)

    (L to R) Angelina Jolie and Louis Garrel in 'Couture'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Angelina Jolie and Louis Garrel in ‘Couture’. Photo: Vertical.

    In the frenzy of Fashion Week, three women cross paths in Paris, grappling with the world’s tragedies and the questions of their lives: Maxine (Angelina Jolie), an American film director in her forties, discovers she has cancer; Ada (Anyier Anei), a young South Sudanese model, escapes a predetermined destiny to be thrust into a deceptive universe and French makeup artist Angèle (Ella Rumpf), a small hand working in the shadows of the catwalks, dreams of escaping her life.

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    Little Brother‘ (6/26)

    (L to R) John Cena and Eric André in 'Little Brother'. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) John Cena and Eric André in ‘Little Brother’. Photo: Netflix.

    A famous real estate agent’s carefully curated world is upended when his eccentric “little brother” unexpectedly reappears. Starring John Cena and Eric André.

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    July:

    Minions & Monsters‘ (7/1)

    (L to R): Ed, Henry and Goomi in Illumination’s 'Minions & Monsters'. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R): Ed, Henry and Goomi in Illumination’s ‘Minions & Monsters’. Photo: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.

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    Young Washington‘ (7/3)

    William Franklyn-Miller in 'Young Washington'. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.
    William Franklyn-Miller in ‘Young Washington’. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.

    Against the frontier of colonial America, the untold origin story of a 22-year-old George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller) unfolds—long before the Revolution, long before the Constitution—when a single mistake nearly cost him everything. After triggering the start of the French and Indian War, Washington must reckon with personal failure, devastating loss, and the weight of responsibility. What emerges from the ashes isn’t just a military leader—but a man forged by humility, courage, and conviction.

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    Moana‘ (7/10)

    Catherina Laga'aia as Moana in Disney's live-action 'Moana'. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Catherina Laga’aia as Moana in Disney’s live-action ‘Moana’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui (Dwayne Johnson) reaches the island of an impetuous Chieftain, his willful daughter (Catherine Laga‘aia) answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the demigod to set things right.

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    The Odyssey‘ (7/17)

    Matt Damon is Odysseus in 'The Odyssey', written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    Matt Damon is Odysseus in ‘The Odyssey’, written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe.

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    The Dink‘ (7/24)

    (L to R) Mary Steenburgen and Jake Johnson in 'The Dink,' premiering July 24, 2026 on Apple TV.
    (L to R) Mary Steenburgen and Jake Johnson in ‘The Dink,’ premiering July 24, 2026 on Apple TV.

    Desperate to save a struggling country club and earn his father’s respect, a washed-up tennis pro (Jake Johnson) is compelled to break a sacred vow and do the unthinkable: play pickleball.

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    Motor City‘ (7/24)

    Alan Ritchson stars in 'Motor City'. Photo: Independent Film Company.
    Alan Ritchson stars in ‘Motor City’. Photo: Independent Film Company.

    In 1970s Detroit, John Miller (Alan Ritchson) falls in love with the girlfriend of a local gangster. To get revenge, the gangster sets up a frame-up to send the innocent man to prison. With his life ruined, Miller plots revenge against the man who took his girlfriend away from him.

    0zzEpQN87WfTPH8BMGxUz

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘ (7/31)

    (L to R) Spider-Man and Boomerang in Columbia Pictures 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'. Copyright: ©2026 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Photo By Sony Pictures.
    (L to R) Spider-Man and Boomerang in Columbia Pictures ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. Copyright: ©2026 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Photo By Sony Pictures.

    The fourth installment in the Spider-Man franchise and part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

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    August:

    PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie‘ (8/4)

    Carter Young as “Marshall” in 'Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie' from Paramount PIctures and Spinmaster.
    Carter Young as “Marshall” in ‘Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie’ from Paramount PIctures and Spinmaster.

    The PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs after their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm. They meet Rex (Hayden Chamberlen), a pup who has been stranded on the island for years and has become an expert in all things dino-related. When the Patrol’s archrival, Mayor Humdinger, begins recklessly mining in hopes of exploiting the island for its natural resources, he inadvertently causes a huge, dormant volcano to erupt. The pups are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues bigger than anything they’ve done before, as they must stop Humdinger before everything on the island goes extinct.

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    Ice Cream Man‘ (8/7)

    Ari Millen in 'Ice Cream Man'. Photo: Valerie Flores/The Horror Section.
    Ari Millen in ‘Ice Cream Man’. Photo: Valerie Flores/The Horror Section.

    ‘Ice Cream Man’ follows an idyllic summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man (Ari Millen) serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results.

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    One Night Only‘ (8/7)

    (L to R) Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner in 'One Night Only'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    (L to R) Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner in ‘One Night Only’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Two strangers (Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner) scramble to find someone to sleep with on the one night of the year when premarital sex is legal.

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    The End of Oak Street‘ (8/14)

    (L to R) Ewan McGregor as Greg Platt, Christian Convery as Brian Platt, Maisy Stella as Audrey Platt and Anne Hathaway as Denise Platt in in 'The End of Oak Street', a Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Ewan McGregor as Greg Platt, Christian Convery as Brian Platt, Maisy Stella as Audrey Platt and Anne Hathaway as Denise Platt in in ‘The End of Oak Street’, a Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.

    After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, a family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.

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    Insidious: Out of the Further‘ (8/21)

    'Insidious: Out of the Further'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    ‘Insidious: Out of the Further’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    A trio of stalkers infiltrate a quiet suburb and force a new family into the astral plane, where they uncover a terrifying truth: the Further is bleeding into the real world.

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    Mutiny‘ (8/21)

    Jason Statham as Cole Reed in 'Mutiny'. Photo: Dan Smith/Lionsgate.
    Jason Statham as Cole Reed in ‘Mutiny’. Photo: Dan Smith/Lionsgate.

    After witnessing his billionaire boss’ murder and being framed for the crime, Cole Reed (Jason Statham) boards a cargo ship on a one-man crusade to avenge his boss’ death only to discover an international conspiracy.

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    Spa Weekend‘ (8/21)

    (L to R) Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris in 'Spa Weekend'. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
    (L to R) Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris in ‘Spa Weekend’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.

    The film follows three best friends, Jane, Coco and Sophie, as they embark on some much-needed pampering during a luxury spa break in Palm Springs. But when their trainwreck friend, Mel, turns up, the relaxation quickly descends into chaos with hilarious consequences. Starring Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris.

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    Idiots‘ (8/28)

    Dave Franco in 'Idiots'. Photo: Independent Film Company .
    Dave Franco in ‘Idiots’. Photo: Independent Film Company .

    When two unqualified bozos (Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr.) are hired to transfer a rich teen to rehab, their straightforward gig quickly spirals into dangerous mayhem.

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    Finding Emily‘ (8/28)

    (L to R) Spike Fearn stars as Owen and Angourie Rice as Emily in director Alicia MacDonald’s 'Finding Emily', a Focus Features release. Credit: Matt Squire / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.
    (L to R) Spike Fearn stars as Owen and Angourie Rice as Emily in director Alicia MacDonald’s ‘Finding Emily’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Matt Squire / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    When a lovesick musician (Spike Fearn) is given the wrong number for his dream girl, he teams up with a driven psychology student to find her (Angourie Rice). Together, they spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.

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    Cliffhanger‘ (8/28)

    Lily James in 'Cliffhanger'. Photo: Rocket Science.
    Lily James in ‘Cliffhanger’. Photo: Rocket Science.

    During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper (Pierce Brosnan) and his daughter Sydney (Nell Tiger Free) are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s other daughter Naomi (Lily James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival.

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    The Dog Stars‘ (8/28)

    (L to R) Jacob Elordi as Hig and Josh Brolin as Bangley in 20th Century Studios' 'The Dog Stars'. Photo by Fabio Lovino. © 2026 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Jacob Elordi as Hig and Josh Brolin as Bangley in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Dog Stars’. Photo by Fabio Lovino. © 2026 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    After the world’s population has been ravaged by a pandemic, a man (Jacob Elordi) lives a lonesome existence in a Colorado airplane hangar with his dog and a dour gunman (Josh Brolin) he has befriended. When a mysterious transmission comes through on the radio while he’s flying his old Cessna, it sparks a hunt for the provenance of the sound.

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    Colony‘ (8/28)

    Jun Ji-hyun as “Se Jeong” in the Horror film, 'Colony', a Well Go USA release. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.
    Jun Ji-hyun as “Se Jeong” in the Horror film, ‘Colony’, a Well Go USA release. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.

    Professor Se-jeong (Gianna Jun) is thrust into a bloody nightmare when a rapidly mutating virus is released during a biotech conference causing authorities to seal the facility. Trapped inside with no escape, Se-jeong along with a small group of survivors must fight to stay alive while the infected undergo horrific transformations.

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    Coyote vs. Acme‘ (8/28)

    (L to R) Wile E. Coyote and Will Forte in 'Coyote vs. Acme.' Photo: Warner Bros. Discovery.
    (L to R) Wile E. Coyote and Will Forte in ‘Coyote vs. Acme.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Discovery.

    After Acme products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation.

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  • Lily James and Pierce Brosnan to Star in ‘Cliffhanger’ Reboot

    Lily James in 'Cliffhanger'. Photo: Rocket Science.
    Lily James in ‘Cliffhanger’. Photo: Rocket Science.

    Preview:

    • Lily James and Pierce Brosnan is starring in a new version of ‘Cliffhanger.’
    • Sylvester Stallone is no longer aboard.
    • Jaume Collet-Serra is taking over directing.

    Back in May of last year, it appeared that the long-gestating reboot of ‘Cliffhanger’ was ready to be born instead as a sequel to the 1993 original, with star Sylvester Stallone pulling on his climbing gear for a return as Gabe Walker.

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    Yet as these things always seem to do, the project has since evolved back into more of a reboot, with Stallone dropping out (hopefully not down a giant cliff) and the storyline switching to characters played by Lily James and Pierce Brosnan.

    And there have also been some changes behind the camera, too.

    What’s the story of this new ‘Cliffhanger’?

    Lily James on the set of 'Cliffhanger'. Photo: Rocket Science.
    Lily James on the set of ‘Cliffhanger’. Photo: Rocket Science.

    The first change beyond the stars for the movie is in the script, which is based on a story by Ana Lily Amirpour (who was involved with the film back in another incarnation in 2019). Variety has heard it described as a father-daughter take on ‘Die Hard.’

    Brosnan will play seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper, who operates a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with daughter Sydney.

    During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s other daughter Naomi (James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival.

    Related Article: Sylvester Stallone is Ready to Cling to Mountains Again for a New ‘Cliffhanger’

    Who else is in the new ‘Cliffhanger’?

    Nell Tiger Free Talks 'The First Omen'.
    Nell Tiger Free Talks ‘The First Omen’.

    The cast for the new movie also includes ‘The First Omen’s Nell Tiger Free, ‘PassagesFranz Rogowski, Shubham Saraf of ‘Shantaram,’ ‘Franklin’ actor Assaad Bouab, ‘Poor Things’ performer Suzy Bemba and Bruno Gouery from ‘Emily in Paris.’

    Who is working on the new ‘Cliffhanger’ movie?

    (L to R) Director Jaume Collet-Serra and Dwayne Johnson on the set of New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Director Jaume Collet-Serra and Dwayne Johnson on the set of New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While Ric Roman Waugh was aboard to direct the film when Sly was still aboard, the reins have now passed to ‘Non-Stop’s Jaume Collet-Serra, with the producing team of Rocket Science still aboard after all these different iterations.

    Collet-Serra is busy rolling cameras on the movie now in Austria and offered up this statement:

    “Shooting our movie on location in the Dolomites using large format cameras was imperative for us to show the scope and scale of the story we’re telling. We’re going to bring the audience a truly thrilling and visceral, premium theatrical experience. Lily in particular has gone above and beyond for the role, putting in real training and learning to climb. Her dedication has allowed us to capture some incredible shots we couldn’t have achieved otherwise, and the whole crew is blown away by her commitment.”

    When will the new ‘Cliffhanger’ dangle into theaters?

    Rocket Science will be offering domestic distribution rights to the movie, with CAA Media selling international.

    Which is a longwinded way of saying that there is no studio aboard yet, so we’ll have to wait for any release date details. But the fact remains that the movie shooting at all is a big step forward.

    (L to R) Lily James and Richard Madden in 'Cinderella'. Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
    (L to R) Lily James and Richard Madden in ‘Cinderella’. Photo: Walt Disney Studios.

    List of Lily James Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Lily James Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ Interview: Director Renny Harlin

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    Opening in theaters on May 17th is the third film in ‘The Strangers’ franchise entitled ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1‘, which will act as the beginning of a new trilogy with all three films being directed by Renny Harlin (‘Die Hard 2,’ ‘Cliffhanger’).

    The new movie stars Madelaine Petsch (‘Riverdale’), Froy Gutierrez (‘Teen Wolf’), Rachel Shenton (‘The Silent Child‘), Gabriel Basso (‘Super 8’), Ema Horvath (‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’), and Richard Brake (‘The Last Stop in Yuma County‘).

    Director Renny Harlin Talks 'The Strangers: Chapter 1'.
    Director Renny Harlin Talks ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’.

    Related Article: Where to Watch ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ 

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with veteran director Renny Harlin about his work on ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’, reinventing the franchise, his plans for the upcoming films, building suspense, creating rules for ‘The Strangers’ world, and his casting process.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Harlin, Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez.

    Froy Gutierrez, Madelaine Petsch and director Renny Carlin on the set of 'The Strangers: Chapter 1'.
    (L to R) Froy Gutierrez, Madelaine Petsch and director Renny Carlin on the set of ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’. Photo Credit: John Armour.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about taking on this horror franchise and what you wanted to do to reinvent it and put your own personal stamp on it?

    Renny Harlin: I am a big fan of the original ‘Strangers’, and I wouldn’t have done a remake or a sequel to it. But when I was presented with this challenge and opportunity of taking the premise of the original movie, which is a very realistic home invasion story, and then expanding on that for three movies, in essence, a four-and-a-half-hour odyssey of horror, I felt like you don’t get this opportunity ever to really go deep into the psychology of the victims and also the killers themselves. It was challenging, but it was incredibly rewarding to be able to do this.

    'The Strangers: Chapter 1'.
    ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’. Photo Credit: John Armour.

    MF: Did you create rules for yourself for this world? Do you understand who the strangers are and why they’re doing what they’re doing?

    RH: Very interesting point. What was special about the original film was that there were no answers. It was a random act of senseless violence, which unfortunately happens in this world of ours. We wanted to keep that theme alive throughout the three movies, so we answer some things that people have been wondering since they saw the original, such as who Tamara is, for example. But then we leave a bunch of things unanswered. We do dig deep into the psychology of these killers and study what makes a sociopath tick, but we don’t wrap it up and put a bow on top of it. We want to keep it open like the original film was.

    'The Strangers: Chapter 1'.
    ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’. Photo Credit: John Armour.

    MF: Can you talk about the challenges of building suspense with a movie like this?

    RH: The key principle was very clear, and you asked about if I made rules. The number one rule was reality. It’s so easy, especially I think a filmmaker like me who has done action movies, is to think bigger is better. But in this movie, smaller was better, and I always had to check with myself that I was keeping things real. This is nothing supernatural, this is not fantastical. This is about you and me in this extraordinary situation and challenge, and that was the most important thing to always keep in mind. Telling the story, directing the actors, finding the angles for the camera and so on, just the tension, the fear and the sense of dread comes from the fact that it’s so relatable that we all could end up in this horrifying situation.

    (L to R) Froy Gutierrez as “Ryan” and Madelaine Petsch as “Maya” in 'The Strangers' Trilogy, a Lionsgate release.
    (L to R) Froy Gutierrez as “Ryan” and Madelaine Petsch as “Maya” in ‘The Strangers’ Trilogy, a Lionsgate release. Photo Credit: John Armour for Lionsgate.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about your casting process and what were you looking for when casting the characters of Maya and Ryan?

    RH: Liv Tyler starred in the original film, and she did a fantastic job. She was beautiful, she was vulnerable, and she was interesting, so those were big boots to fill. We saw tons and tons of actors and realized this can’t be just any attractive, good actor. When we met Madeleine, which was through a Zoom call first, we were just really impressed by her intelligence, by her passion, by her insightfulness, and her charm. She very soon became our number one choice and ended up really becoming a partner in this endeavor in terms of working on the script with us and really understanding the full scale of the three movies, and having the physicality to be able to go through what she needs to go through in the subsequent films. Then with Froy, we wanted to find somebody who would have the chemistry with her, and again, he’s a great actor and just a sweet guy. There was just this certain innocence that we wanted to have in him so that it would be so painful to see him have to go through this stuff. I think most of the audience doesn’t consider them being these tough people who could deal with knife-wielding and ax-wielding killers, so I think that he’s also very relatable in this role.

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    What is the plot of ‘’The Strangers: Chapter 1’?

    Maya (Madelaine Petsch) drives across the country with her longtime boyfriend, Ryan (Froy Gutierrez ), as the pair begin a new life together in the Pacific Northwest. Along the way, their car breaks down in Venus, Oregon and they are forced to spend the night in an isolated Airbnb home. Through the night they are terrorized by three murderous masked strangers.

    Who is in the cast of ‘’The Strangers: Chapter 1’?

    • Madelaine Petsch as Maya
    • Froy Gutierrez as Ryan
    • Rachel Shenton as Debbie
    • Gabriel Basso as Gregory
    • Ema Horvath as Shelly
    • Ella Bruccoleri as Jasmine
    • Richard Brake as Sheriff Rotter
    'The Strangers: Chapter 1'.
    ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’. Photo Credit: John Armour.

    Other Movies in ‘The Strangers’ Franchise:

    Other Renny Harlin Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Renny Harlin Movies on Amazon

     

  • Best Sylvester Stallone Movies

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Sylvester Stallone is an actor, writer, director, producer, movie star, living legend and Hollywood icon.

    Stallone first made a name for himself by writing and starring in 1976’s Oscar-winning ‘Rocky,” which shot him to super fame and he was cemented as a movie star after appearing in ‘First Blood‘ as John Rambo. Both films have spawned numerous sequels and spinoffs, including ‘Creed,’ for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

    Over the past 40 years Stallone has become one of Hollywood’s most reliable movie stars and has gone on to appear in such popular films as ‘Cobra,’ ‘Tango & Cash,’ ‘Cliffhanger,’ ‘Demolition Man,’ ‘Cop Land,’ and ‘The Expendables‘ franchise, the forth of which, ‘Expend4bles‘ opens in theaters on September 22nd.

    In honor of Stallone’s new movie, which he has said will be his last appearance in the series, Moviefone is counting down the 35 best movies of Sylvester Stallone’s career, including his latest.

    Let’s begin!


    35. ‘Rambo: Last Blood‘ (2019)

    Sylvester Stallone in 'Rambo: Last Blood.'
    Sylvester Stallone in ‘Rambo: Last Blood.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

    After fighting his demons for decades, John Rambo (Stallone) now lives in peace on his family ranch in Arizona, but his rest is interrupted when Gabriela (Yvette Monreal), the granddaughter of his housekeeper María (Adriana Barraza), disappears after crossing the border into Mexico to meet her biological father. Rambo, who has become a true father figure for Gabriela over the years, undertakes a desperate and dangerous journey to find her.

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    34. ‘Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over‘ (2003)

    Carmen’s (Alexa Vega) caught in a virtual reality game designed by the Kids’ new nemesis, the Toymaker (Stallone). It’s up to Juni (Daryl Sabara) to save his sister, and ultimately the world.

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    33. ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ (1985)

    John Rambo (Stallone) is released from prison by the government for a top-secret covert mission to the last place on Earth he’d want to return – the jungles of Vietnam.

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    32. ‘Bullet to the Head‘ (2013)

    After watching their respective partners die, a cop (Sung Kang) and a hitman (Stallone) form an alliance in order to bring down their common enemy.

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    31. ‘Rambo‘ (2008)

    When governments fail to act on behalf of captive missionaries, ex-Green Beret John James Rambo (Stallone) sets aside his peaceful existence along the Salween River in a war-torn region of Thailand to take action. Although he’s still haunted by violent memories of his time as a U.S. soldier during the Vietnam War, Rambo can hardly turn his back on the aid workers who so desperately need his help.

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    30. ‘Samaritan‘ (2022)

    Javon "Wanna" Walton as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in 'Samaritan,' directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    (L to R) Javon “Wanna” Walton as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Thirteen-year-old Sam Cleary (Javon “Wanna” Walton) suspects that his mysterious and reclusive neighbor Mr. Smith (Stallone) is actually a legend hiding in plain sight. Twenty years ago, Granite City’s super-powered vigilante, Samaritan, was reported dead after a fiery warehouse battle with his rival, Nemesis. Most believe Samaritan perished in the fire, but some in the city, like Sam, have hope that he is still alive. With crime on the rise and the city on the brink of chaos, Sam makes it his mission to coax his neighbor out of hiding to save the city from ruin.

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    29. ‘Grudge Match‘ (2013)

    A pair of aging boxing rivals (Stallone and Robert De Niro) are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout — 30 years after their last match.

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    28. ‘Rocky Balboa‘ (2006)

    His Wife (Talia Shire) is dead and his Son (Milo Ventimiglia) hates him but this old man still has fight in him! When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ Rocky Balboa (Stallone), reigning heavyweight titleholder Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver) retaliates by challenging Rocky to a nationally televised, 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son and friends, Rocky agrees to come out of retirement and face an opponent who’s faster, stronger, and thirty years his junior.

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    27. ‘The Expendables‘ (2010)

    Barney Ross (Stallone) leads a band of highly skilled mercenaries including knife enthusiast Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), a martial arts expert Yin Yang (Jet Li), heavy weapons specialist Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), demolitionist Toll Road (Randy Couture), and a loose-cannon sniper Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren). When the group is commissioned by the mysterious Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) to assassinate the dictator of a small South American island, Barney and Lee visit the remote locale to scout out their opposition and discover the true nature of the conflict engulfing the city.

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    26. ‘The Specialist‘ (1994)

    May Munro (Sharon Stone) is a woman obsessed with getting revenge on the people who murdered her parents when she was still a girl. She hires Ray Quick (Stallone), a retired explosives expert to kill her parent’s killers. When Ned Trent (James Woods), embittered ex-partner of Quick’s is assigned to protect one of Quick’s potential victims, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.

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    25. ‘Creed II‘ (2018)

    Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in 'Creed II.'
    (L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed II.’

    Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight against an opponent with ties to his family’s past, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is up against the challenge of his life.

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    24. ‘Rambo III‘ (1988)

    Combat has taken its toll on Rambo (Stallone), but he’s finally begun to find inner peace in a monastery. When Rambo’s friend and mentor Col. Trautman (Richard Crenna) asks for his help on a top secret mission to Afghanistan, Rambo declines but must reconsider when Trautman is captured.

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    23. ‘The Expendables 3‘ (2014)

    Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Jason Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables — but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables’ most personal battle yet.

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    22. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3‘ (2023)

    Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

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    21. ‘Assassins‘ (1995)

    Assassin Robert Rath (Stallone) arrives at a funeral to kill a prominent mobster, only to witness a rival hired gun (Antonio Banderas) complete the job for him — with grisly results. Horrified by the murder of innocent bystanders, Rath decides to take one last job and then return to civilian life. But finding his way out of the world of contract killing grows ever more dangerous as Rath falls for his female target (Julianne Moore) and becomes a marked man himself.

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    20. ‘Expend4bles‘ (2023)

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'Expend4bles.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘Expend4bles.’

    Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Statham, Lundgren, Couture, and Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

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    19. ‘Escape Plan‘ (2013)

    Ray Breslin (Stallone) is the world’s foremost authority on structural security. After analyzing every high security prison and learning a vast array of survival skills so he can design escape-proof prisons, his skills are put to the test. He’s framed and incarcerated in a master prison he designed himself. He needs to escape and find the person (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who put him behind bars.

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    18. ‘Get Carter‘ (2000)

    Jack Carter (Stallone), a mob enforcer living in Las Vegas, travels back to his hometown of Seattle for his brother’s funeral. During this visit, Carter realizes that the death of his brother was not accidental, but a murder. With this knowledge, Carter sets out to kill all those responsible.

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    17. ‘The Lords of Flatbush‘ (1974)

    Set in 1958, the coming of age story follows four lower middle-class Brooklyn teenagers (Stallone, Henry Winkler, Perry King and Paul Mace) known as The Lords of Flatbush. The Lords chase girls, steal cars, shoot pool, get into street fights, and hang out at a local malt shop.

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    16. ‘Nighthawks‘ (1981)

    An international terrorist has New York in a grip of panic and it’s up to Det. Sgt. Deke DaSilva (Stallone) to take him down.

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    15. ‘The Suicide Squad‘ (2021)

    Sylvester Stallone voices King Shark in 'The Suicide Squad.'
    Sylvester Stallone voices King Shark in ‘The Suicide Squad.’ Photo: Warner Bros./DC Comics.

    Welcome to Belle Reve, the prison where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out, even join the super-secret Task Force X. Today’s assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), King Shark (Stallone), and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie).

    Now arm them heavily and drop them on the enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) on the ground to make them behave, and Amanda Waller’s (Viola Davis) government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement.

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    14. ‘Escape to Victory‘ (1981)

    A group of POWs (Stallone, Michael Caine and Pelé) in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.

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    13. ‘Cobra‘ (1986)

    A tough-on-crime street cop (Stallone) must protect the only surviving witness to a strange murderous cult with far reaching plans.

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    12. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘ (2017)

    The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) true parentage.

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    11. ‘Rocky III‘ (1982)

    Now the world champion, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is living in luxury and only fighting opponents who pose no threat to him in the ring, until Clubber Lang (Mr. T) challenges him to a bout. After taking a pounding from Lang, the humbled champ turns to former bitter rival Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) for a rematch with Lang.

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    10. ‘Cliffhanger‘ (1993)

    Sylvester Stallone in 'Cliffhanger.'
    Sylvester Stallone in ‘Cliffhanger.’

    A year after losing his friend in a tragic 4,000-foot fall, former ranger Gabe Walker (Stallone) and his partner, Hal (Michael Rooker), are called to return to the same peak to rescue a group of stranded climbers, only to learn the climbers are actually thieving hijackers who are looking for boxes full of money.

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    9. ‘Demolition Man‘ (1993)

    Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes), a violent criminal cryogenically frozen in 1996, escapes during a parole hearing in 2032 in the utopia of San Angeles. Police are incapable of dealing with his violent ways and turn to his captor (Stallone), who had also been cryogenically frozen after being wrongfully accused of killing 30 innocent people while apprehending Phoenix.

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    8. ‘Rocky II‘ (1979)

    After Rocky (Stallone) goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian (Talia Shire) but can’t put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. Soon enough, the “Master of Disaster” and the “Italian Stallion” are set on a collision course for a climactic battle that is brutal and unforgettable.

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    7. ‘Tango & Cash‘ (1989)

    Ray Tango (Stallone) and Gabriel Cash (Kurt Russell) are narcotics detectives who, while both being extremely successful, can’t stand each other. Crime Lord Yves Perret (Jack Palance), furious at the loss of income that Tango and Cash have caused him, frames the two for murder. Caught with the murder weapon on the scene of the crime, the two have no alibi. Thrown into prison with most of the criminals they helped convict, it appears that they are going to have to trust each other if they are to clear their names and catch the evil Perret.

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    6. ‘The Expendables 2‘ (2012)

    Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men (Liam Hemsworth) is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.

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    5. ‘Rocky IV‘ (1985)

    Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren in 1985's 'Rocky IV.'
    (L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren in 1985’s ‘Rocky IV.’

    Rocky Balboa proudly holds the world heavyweight boxing championship, but a new challenger has stepped forward: Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a six-foot-four, 261-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union.

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    4. ‘First Blood‘ (1982)

    When former Green Beret John Rambo (Stallone) is harassed by local law enforcement and arrested for vagrancy, the Vietnam vet snaps, runs for the hills and rat-a-tat-tats his way into the action-movie hall of fame. Hounded by a relentless sheriff (Brian Dennehy), Rambo employs heavy-handed guerilla tactics to shake the cops off his tail.

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    3. ‘Creed‘ (2015)

    The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa (Stallone) serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).

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    2. ‘Cop Land‘ (1997)

    Freddy Heflin (Stallone) is the sheriff of a place everyone calls “Cop Land” — a small and seemingly peaceful town populated by the big city police officers he’s long admired. Yet something ugly is taking place behind the town’s peaceful facade. And when Freddy uncovers a massive, deadly conspiracy among these local residents, he is forced to take action and make a dangerous choice between protecting his idols and upholding the law.

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    1. ‘Rocky‘ (1976)

    Sylvester Stallone in 1977's 'Rocky.'
    Sylvester Stallone in 1977’s ‘Rocky.’ Photo: United Artists.

    When world heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) wants to give an unknown fighter a shot at the title as a publicity stunt, his handlers choose palooka Rocky Balboa (Stallone), an uneducated collector for a Philadelphia loan shark. Rocky teams up with trainer Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) to make the most of this once in a lifetime break.

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  • Sylvester Stallone Back for ‘Cliffhanger’ Sequel

    Sylvester Stallone in 'Cliffhanger.'
    Sylvester Stallone in ‘Cliffhanger.’

    Producer Neal Moritz has been looking to do something with 1993 action thriller ‘Cliffhanger’ for years now. He announced way back in 2009 that he was looking to reboot the concept (enthused by the success of J.J. Abrams’ first ‘Star Trek’ movie.

    It has gone through different variations since then including the original plan to swap Sylvester Stallone’s sole hero for several younger climbers tackling peaks around the world, and a mysterious development from writer Joe Gazzam. Nothing, however, has come to fruition.

    Now, though, it looks like it could finally be on, as Sylvester Stallone is back to star, with ‘Hunters’ Mark Bianculli cracking the script and ‘Angel has Fallen’s Ric Roman Waugh in the director’s chair (or climbing harness?)

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    What was the story of the original ‘Cliffhanger’?

    Renny Harlin’s original movie proved that the ‘Die Hard’ formula needn’t necessarily be restricted to claustrophobic indoor settings, plonking mountain-rescue boy Stallone on the side of a snowy peak. Sly’s Gabe Walker was reluctantly trying to foil John Lithgow’s plan to recover $100m stolen from the US treasury and deposited in the Rockies after a mid-air transfer went somewhat awry. There were deaths by gun, gravity, drowning and stalactite. And it wasn’t all snow: there were caves too.

    Janine Turner and Sylvester Stallone in 'Cliffhanger.'
    (L to R) Janine Turner and Sylvester Stallone in ‘Cliffhanger.’

    Related Article: Sylvester Stallone Talks New Superhero Movie ‘Samaritan’

    Where will we find Gabe Walker this time?

    No one is saying what the actual plot of the new movie will be, save for Sly’s return. You just know, though, that the stakes (and probably the mountains) will be higher, and, we’d guess, there will be more on Walker’s team.

    But can it live up to the original’s iconic scene of Gabe letting someone slip through his fingers. Climbing’s a dangerous sport, so you’ve got to figure there’ll be a body count.

    Waugh said this about working on the new movie:

    “Growing up with the biggest action films of the 80s and 90s, working on many of them myself, ‘Cliffhanger’ was by far one of my favorite spectacles. To be at the helm of the next chapter, scaling the Italian Alps with the legend himself, Sylvester Stallone, is a dream come true. It’s going to be a great challenge and blast taking this franchise to new heights, a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”

    Moritz was also enthusiastic:

    “I’ll never forget the thrill I felt watching Sylvester Stallone in ‘Cliffhanger’. I am incredibly excited to be working with him and Ric Waugh to continue the story of Gabe Walker and introduce this iconic story to a new generation of filmgoers around the world.”

    Sly will produce this one and casting is now under way to find the actors to fill the roles around the leading man.

    Janine Turner and Sylvester Stallone in 'Cliffhanger.'
    (L to R) Janine Turner and Sylvester Stallone in ‘Cliffhanger.’

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Cliffhanger:’

    Buy Sylvester Stallone Movies On Amazon

  • ‘Cliffhanger’ Reboot in the Works With Female-Led Cast

    ‘Cliffhanger’ Reboot in the Works With Female-Led Cast

    TriStar Pictures

    A “Cliffhanger” reboot is climbing into theaters.

    A reboot of the 1993 action thriller is in the works, with a female-led cast and a female director in Ana Lily Amirpour (“A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night”). “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa is talks for a key cameo.

    The original movie starred Sylvester Stallone as a mountain climber and rescue ranger haunted by the death of a friend. He finds himself fighting criminals in a heist-gone-wrong in the Rocky Mountains.

    Rocket Science announced it acquired the rights to the film and is partnering with producer Neil Moritz’s Original Film (“Fast and the Furious”) to make the reboot. They are launching international sales at the Cannes Film Festival.

    “We are setting out to create a thrill-ride on the mountain which taps into the primal side of an action movie, where you see what a person is capable of doing to survive in the most extreme situations, pushed to the limits,”Amirpour said in a statement.

    “Add to that some high-stakes espionage and a badass female mountain climber as the lead and it becomes a truly epic reinvention of what made the original ‘Cliffhanger’ movie so fun and so thrilling.”

    Here’s a look at the first artwork for the film:

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Cliffhanger’ on its 25th Anniversary

    While not quite as famous as “Rocky” or “First Blood,” “Cliffhanger” is nonetheless a must-watch for any Sylvester Stallone fanatic.

    And hard as it may be to believe, the film was released 25 years ago this week. Celebrate this death-defying action movie by checking out some fun facts you may not know about “Cliffhanger.”

    1. Star Sylvester Stallone is afraid of heights, and he has said that he took on the role specifically to help himself confront that fear.2. The aerial helicopter transfer scene broke the Guinness World Record for the most expensive aerial stunt ever filmed. Stuntman Simon Crane alone was paid $1 million for his participation, as the scene required the filmmakers to forgo the use of safety equipment.

    3. While the movie is set in the Colorado Rockies, it was actually filmed in Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo-Dolomites mountains.4. Stallone paid $100,000 out of pocket in order to reshoot the rabbit hunting scene, as test audiences had a severely negative reaction to (shocker to no one) seeing the rabbit get killed.
    5. Test audiences also reacted poorly to a scene where Gabe makes an impossible 40-foot cliff-to-cliff leap. The original scene appears in the theatrical trailer, but it was re-shaped in post to look more plausible in the finished version.6. Christopher Walken was originally cast as the villain Qualen. John Lithgow was cast only after Walken dropped out before production began.

    7. Director Renny Harlin revealed that his first choice to play Qualen was actually singer David Bowie.

    8. Originally, the bat cave scene featured live bats, but they had to be removed and digitally added during post-production because neither Stallone nor co-star Janine Turner were willing to film near the animals.
    9. The film is dedicated to Wolfgang Gullich, who served as Stallone’s stunt double and died in a car accident shortly after production ended.

    10. In 1994, development began on a sequel called “Cliffhanger 2: The Dam,” which would have pitted Stallone’s character against a group of terrorists at the Hoover Dam.

    11. As recently as 2015, Stallone has voiced an interest in returning for a sequel, though no plans have materialized so far.

  • 1993’s ‘Cliffhanger’ Is a Blood-Spattered Thrill Ride: Podcast

    cliffhangerRenny Harlin‘s “Cliffhanger” has something for everyone: Sylvester Stallone, mountain climbing, Italy pretending to be the Rocky Mountains, stoner base jumpers, an iconic cold-open death scene, horses, “wolves,” terrible accents, avalanches, and blood … so much blood.

    This week, “Second Run” took a second look at the 1993 action-thriller “Cliffhanger” and decided that the title is far more literal than it is descriptive of the movie’s suspenseful nature — mostly because it’s not suspenseful at all. But thrilling? Oh yes, it is thrilling! Topics discussed include confusingly elaborate (but exciting!) fight choreography, predictable dialogue, avuncular character deaths, and the woefully miscast John Lithgow.

    Tune in next time, when we dive deep into the 1999 dark comedy “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” starring Kirstie Alley, Ellen Barkin, Denise Richards, Alison Janney, Kirsten Dunst, and … wait for it … Amy Adams.

    Listen to Second Run: A Movie Lover’s Podcast Episode 27: ‘Cliffhanger’ (1993)Total runtime: 52:55

    Subscribe to the “Second Run” podcast:

    Have thoughts/feelings/feedback about the podcast? Have a movie you really, really want us to watch and talk about? Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the hashtag #SECONDRUN.

    Second Run: A Movie Lover’s Podcast by Moviefone celebrates Hollywood’s guiltiest pleasures by taking a fresh look at critically ignored movies and giving them a second chance at life. Join Moviefone editors Tim Hayne, Rachel Horner, Phil Pirrello, and Tony Maccio as they extol the virtues and expose the failings (with love!) of our most nostalgic movies.

  • ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 6 Finale Recap: Negan at the Bat

    the walking dead, walking dead, season 6, season finale, season 6 finale, TWD, 616, recapI didn’t think it would be possible for “The Walking Dead” to one-up itself on the stupidity front after the disastrous Glenn death fakeout last fall. And then came the season six finale, here to proudly prove me wrong.

    As has been teased all season, this week finally featured the introduction of Negan, a villain that fans of the “Walking Dead” comics know well – and apparently love, for some reason, even though he steals from and murders lots of people? Sure. Unfortunately, I have never read those comics, and thus came upon my limited knowledge of Negan thanks to some unfortunate internet spoilers and the few clues that were sprinkled throughout this season. Was I excited for his arrival? No. Was I surprised by anything he did or said tonight? No. Did I find him “charming,” a word that’s been inexplicably tossed around to describe him? Nope. Not even close.

    I suppose this is where my ignorance of the source material puts me at a disadvantage, but I’d argue that that’s more the fault of the show than it is mine. The series has distinguished itself from the comics since its inception, dramatically altering the trajectories of several major characters, and condensing and cutting people and events to fit the showrunners’ vision. I had believed up until now that my unfamiliarity with the comics didn’t matter, that I could enjoy the show on its own merits and as its own entity without that background knowledge. But after this snoozefest of a season finale, and what I found to be a wholly stupid introduction of an allegedly awesome character, I think it’s safe to say that my needs as an independent viewer matter less than those of the existing readership.

    Outside of the television critics I follow on Twitter (here’s a sample reaction that sums up the critical consensus), I realize that mine will probably be an unpopular opinion. From what I’ve gathered so far based on the (limited) online reaction I’ve seen from fans, Negan was a hit, despite the fact that we never did get to see exactly who he hit. Problems with that specific cliffhanger aside (and make no mistake, it was a laughably awful and unnecessary one – as if diehard “Walking Dead” viewers needed incentive to tune in for another season), reaction has been kind to Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s performance. He lost me, however, as soon as he uttered the phrase “pee-pee pants city.”

    Yes, the so-called greatest villain in “Walking Dead” history used those exact words to attempt to strike fear into our survivors’ (and viewers’) hearts, and all I could think was, “Are you sure you’re a grown man?” That line comes straight from the comics, so, okay, points for accuracy, I guess? But again, as I said above, the show has deviated from those works before. I think it would have been wise to do so here.

    Because no matter who wound up on the other end of that bat – and again, to remind you, producers decided to call cut before revealing anything, a monumentally stupid decision to cap a season teeming with them – I just can’t bring myself to find the Saviors’ behavior threatening at all. The shot of them standing in a circle, dozens strong, surrounding our survivors and menacingly wielding weapons, was initially chilling; then Big Forehead Guy opened his mouth, and I lost all interest. You can tell these characters are based on those found on the pages of a comic, because they’re so two-dimensionall they’re cartoonish to the point of being hilarious, and most definitely not in a good way. I’m not sure why or how Negan choosing his first victim via the “eeny meeny miny moe” system was supposed to be threatening (perhaps on an ironic level?), but that cringe-inducing juxtaposition failed spectacularly on every level.

    But, okay, I told myself. We’re finally going to find out who winds up on the other end of that bat, right? That devastating reveal is going to make all of this worth it. Silly me. I actually believed, in my heart of hearts, that after a season of fakeouts and foreshadowing and frustration, that surely there would at least be some resolution to this specific plot point. And then, naturally, we faded to black. Again.

    So that’s where we leave this season, with a bloated mess of an episode with no momentum (thanks, endless commercial breaks!), no real stakes (oh, there’s an outside threat trying to take down our core group? Shocking!), and no real answers (but hey, tune in next week to “Fear The Walking Dead”!). The only thing about that cliffhanger that was surprising was that its employment was surprising at all, but then again, there was really no other way for this mess of a season to end. The writers have enjoyed jerking viewers around for the past 15 episodes; what’s another six months?

    Other thoughts:

    – So yeah, trying to figure out that cliffhanger is impossible, because it could literally be anyone. But let’s try anyway, shall we?

    * If you’ll allow me a quick SPOILER from the comics (and if you’d prefer to remain in the dark, please proceed to the next bullet point), I’d guess that we can write off Glenn – the person who gets Lucille’d on the page – as the target, after the aforementioned dumpster dive fakeout. (Then again, the showrunners may try to claim that that whole debacle was a big bit of foreshadowing, so what do I know?)

    * Killing Maggie would just be cruel, since she’s pregnant and also suffering from some sort of serious medical emergency (the details of which we may never know, since the group’s efforts to get her to the Hilltop OBGYN were thwarted at every turn).

    * Daryl would be a logical pick, since he could stand in for Glenn as one of the original Atlanta survivors to take the fall. But we all know that fans would riot if he goes, and Daryl has some unfinished business with Dwight, too, that would be greatly undermined if he were the victim here. (Plus, Norman Reedus has already shot his motorcycle adventure series – coming soon to AMC, in case you missed that specific commercial break – so it’s not like he would need to leave for that.)

    * If anyone may get killed off to accommodate the actor’s other projects, it’s Michonne, since Danai Gurira has been extremely busy lately with a burgeoning stage and film career. (And Michonne’s death would drive Rick mad, propelling his quest for revenge.)

    * If we’re going with what the show has deliberately set up, then either Abe or Eugene would be next in line, since both have had some big character moments this season, thus pegging them for doom. Abe declared his love for Sasha, and tonight told her he wanted to have kids with her. And Eugene has been slowly asserting himself as a capable survivor, learning how to fight off zombies and coming up with the plan to manufacture more bullets. He and Abe have also repaired their rocky relationship, sharing a sweet embrace as Eugene bravely volunteered to drive off in the RV as a distraction to draw away the Saviors. They’re both marked men as far as I’m concerned, so naturally, I’ll be proven totally wrong.

    * Given Rick’s recent penchant for spouting one-liners that wouldn’t be out of place in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” (and his romance with Michonne), he’d seem like an easy target, too. But I just don’t think the showrunners have the stones to kill off their main character – at least not yet, anyway. Give it time. That’ll probably be the season seven finale cliffhanger.

    – Morgan continues his search for Carol, and almost immediately finds her, huddled on the stoop of an abandoned library and badly wounded. Morgan patches her up, and wants to take her back to Alexandria for some antibiotics; Carol refuses, repeating her mantra about not wanting to be around people she cares about, because then she’d have to kill for them. She then pulls a gun on Morgan to make him back off, which makes tons of sense based on her just-delivered anti-killing monologue. Morgan, standing in for exasperated viewers, points out that she’s already killed after she swore not to, so, c’mon already, just come home. But no, Carol refuses and bolts.

    – Carol eventually finds herself staring down the barrel of Black Boot Guy’s gun. He metes out his bullets, shooting her several times slowly and relishing in her agony as she writhes in pain. But it’s Morgan to the rescue again, wielding a gun of his own and pleading with the Savior to let her go. Just as Black Boot Guy aims to kill Carol, Morgan finally rediscovers his backbone and shoots the hell out of him, emptying his weapon into the Savior. I’m sure season seven will dwell far too long on The Ramifications of This Life-Changing Decision, but it was satisfying to see Morgan finally snap out of his annoying zen trance.

    – As Morgan stands over Carol’s bleeding body, Mysterious Armored Guy – the one who was looking for his horse last week – approaches, and he’s got a friend, also clad in armor and riding a horse. (They’re his knights in shining armor, in case you didn’t get that metaphor.) Morgan tells them he needs help, and the man immediately reaches out and shakes Morgan’s hand, pledging his support. It’s refreshing to see the introduction of a non-nefarious stranger, and the fact that this is such an odd occurrence speaks volumes about how bleak this show has become.

    – I’m not sure why the Saviors were convinced that the guy they chased down at the beginning of the episode was from Alexandria, and I also don’t understand why Negan didn’t mention it when he had Rick on his knees. It just seems like an odd mistake for the group to make, and then to completely ignore it later in the episode (surely Negan could have thrown in a reference to “your friend who we dangled off the bridge” in his never-ending monologue?) also seemed off. But then again, the showrunners needed to fill 93 minutes’ worth of airtime; why not waste some of it on a pointless mix-up?

    – Yet another quibble I have with the Saviors: That freaking whistling. I get that it’s a signal, but when they already had Rick’s group surrounded, what on earth was the point of letting it echo for so long? As I said last week, it felt very much like a “Hunger Games” rip-off. The ridiculousness of that similarity did not diminish tonight.

    – And another thing: So. Many. Roadblocks. I know I joked that these people were the kings of this particular surprise tactic, but seriously. The endless roadblocks, followed immediately by an ill-timed commercial break, became kind of hilarious after a while.

    – I will concede, however, that there was one bit of villainy that I did actually find appropriately evil: The moment when Rick and co. realized that the zombies that were chained across the road were dressed like their friends, with one of them sporting Michonne’s leather vest (and a couple of her dreads), and another pierced with some of Daryl’s arrows. That’s a pretty twisted bit of taunting, so well-played on that front, Saviors.

    – Rick leaves Father Gabriel in charge in Alexandria, fulfilling my prophecy from a couple weeks ago. He’s there with Spencer, who asks Rick if maybe they should just try to strike a deal with the Saviors, should the villains come knocking. Rick gives Spencer his best “bitch, please” face, though he’s a lot more diplomatic in his verbal response to that ridiculous suggestion, quickly shooting him down.

    – I’ve avoided it as long as I could, but I guess I should address more of the specifics of what went down with Negan. We discover that he’s taken Eugene prisoner, and Negan then forces Rick, Carl, Abe, Sasha, Aaron, and Maggie (who he made get off her stretcher – kind of a d—k move, even for this guy) onto their knees. He proceeds to trot out Daryl, Michonne, Glenn, and Rosita, and places them into a row with everyone else. Then, the endless monologue begins, where he explains the Saviors’ raison d’être (take half of everything other communities have, and if they can’t supply it, force them to steal it on the Saviors’ behalf; kill at least one community member right at the beginning, to prove their menacing mettle). He dubs the Alexandrians’ strike on the Savior compound “not cool,” declaring, “You don’t mess with the new world order.” “You thought you were safe,” he sneers, directing his comments to Rick. “But the world’s not. … Sucks, don’t it – the moment you realize you don’t know s—t.” Negan repeats the stupid whistling trick, finishes his endless “eeny meeny” rhyme (god, that went on forever), and chooses his victim. We hear the crack of Lucille-on-skull, see blood splash onto the camera lens, and then everything goes dark.

    – That final shot may wind up being the very last one I watch on this show. I realize it’s clichéd to threaten to quit a TV series after an unfortunate episode, but my antipathy has been brewing all season – and tonight’s events may have pushed me over the edge. I don’t know if I can bring myself to watch an entire season of Negan’s preening, to breathlessly wait for the next brutal baseball bat beating, to watch characters like Carol completely abandon their personalities, and wallow in the despair that the Saviors promise. “The Walking Dead” has made it abundantly clear that it can do without viewers like me; maybe I should finally take the hint.

    Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC