A recent article in The New York Times puzzles over the bad news at the Hollywood box office. An occasional hit like “Wicked: For the Good” may keep the industry afloat, but for the most part, no one’s going to the theater.
“25 Movies, Many Stars, 0 Hits: Hollywood Falls to New Lows,” says the Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/business/media/box-office-collapse-hollywood.html?searchResultPosition=6">headline</a>. And the subhead: “It has been a brutal three months for dramas and comedies.”
The article goes on to blame the pandemic, the internet, streaming, and so on. My witty friend Stephen Green over at PJMedia made a better <a href="https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2025/11/17/dear-hollywood-have-you-tried-not-sucking-n4946090">suggestion</a>: “Dear Hollywood. Have you tried not sucking?”
Stephen’s right, of course. But The New York Times can’t see the problem, because The New York Times embodies the problem.
An example.
Another friend of mine, the very talented rebel writer-director Cyrus Nowrasteh, recently directed the film “Sarah’s Oil,” which he co-wrote with his also talented wife, Betsy. Based on a true story, the film tells the tale of a black girl in Jim Crow Oklahoma fighting against bigotry to find and keep the oil on her land. The picture is well-made, touching, and inspiring.
Given a smallish release, the film surprised the industry by doing excellent business. It has an 83% fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a stunning 98% rating from actual human beings.
But here’s an excerpt from one of its few bad reviews in — you guessed it — the New York Times. Natalia Winkelman writes:
<blockquote>Sarah’s Oil is a movie that will surprise nobody. Viewers might even make out a regressive strain reinforcing the feel-good mood: Let alone the incidental worship of fossil fuel… the movie’s emotional core is a Black girl’s belief in her white protector.</blockquote>
Horrors!
Could there be a more small-minded, small-souled reaction to a poignant story of a child’s triumph over prejudice? Miss Winkelman could just as easily have written: “No opinions allowed in the arts but my opinions! No ideas but those approved by the cultural establishment!”
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But those ideas are not just anti-art, they’re anti-human. No women who act like feminine women. No men who act like manly men. No stories that explore themes of freedom, individualism, traditional marriage, motherhood, fatherhood or faith.
As a result, you get films like “Nosferatu,” a gorgeous and talented remake that falls apart because it can’t include the God who makes vampire stories make sense; “Frankenstein,” a gorgeous and talented remake that falls apart because it can’t stick to Mary Shelley’s superior plot and its theme of rebellion against God and womanhood; “Running Man,” a gorgeous and talented remake that falls apart because it can’t point to what’s ailing society because imagine what Miss Winkelman would say about that!
No new stories. Just good old stories ruined by bad new ideas. The human spirit yearns to hear tales of freedom and male-female love and faith. The querulous clerisy only wants to wallow in their own dyspeptic imaginations.
You want good movies? Break these losers’ monopoly on the arts.
* * *
This article was originally posted on “<a href="https://thenewjerusalem.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New Jerusalem</a>” on Substack.
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fifth installment, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-That-Cameron-Winter-Mysteries/dp/1613166869/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EGZUC370LG46&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y_NI0mDOKeowShheDQTVx5NH-fAeimJoCD56_T0Acpl8C0mup7uJf-nGGSRLEItaaekoDnvS2vWLMa4Zd2UBXQ8Y-g-P502jOWz-Y8IX3ZQsdlO7WMLrg1xIhNoKmjCorSWUR4C2l_RbiZ7apJ1MfPzGOrrEf7AdAXX6xwnJRVP_XqUfWuMuVthTWscaU3P4vgmS86-96n-721enHfX12CFQWTajqFbVnrsDkexfUf4.6_gTH6h1Bb9Pn375QdF_VAVZSayDvjQBBKGXE-MTiFo&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=klavan&amp;qid=1754049918&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C80&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">After That, The Dark,</a> is NOW AVAILABLE. Follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/andrewklavan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@andrewklavan</a>
The views expressed in this satirical piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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Hollywood

Why Hollywood Sucks

Andrew Klavan

Box Office

Entertainment

Film Reviews

Movies

The New York Times

Ratings are down. Cultural prestige? Sinking as we speak. Yet the Best Picture race is one even casual movie fans tend to track. It’s the night’s biggest honor, and having a Best Picture logo next to a film title still holds some sway in the culture.
That’s even though most people didn’t see, or can’t remember, the last few Best Picture winners.
And, each awards season, experts track which film has the best chance to win that Oscar trophy. It’s the ultimate horse race, with box office results, critical reviews, and cultural resonance influencing the outcome.
Is this year’s race over already, weeks before some Oscar-bait films have even reached theaters? It sure looks that way.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” stars Leonardo DiCaprio and has already won multiple honors, and the awards season has barely begun. The film swept the National Board of Review’s 2025 honors, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor (DiCaprio).
That’s in addition to best picture wins with the Atlanta Film Critics Circle, the Gotham Awards, and the New York Film Critics Circle. The film also scored big with Sight and Sound’s 2025 Best Films Of The Year List, topping its 2025 chart.
More will follow, no doubt.
<div id="attachment_1010711" style="width: 471px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1010711" class="size-large wp-image-1010711" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-461x576.jpg" alt="Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures - copyright Warner Bros. Pictures" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-461x576.jpg 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA.jpg 1638w" sizes=" (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" />Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures &#8211; copyright Warner Bros. Pictures</div>
“One Battle After Another” stars DiCaprio as a bumbling protester who hangs up his revolutionary jacket to raise his mixed-race daughter (Chase Infiniti). His radical past comes back to haunt them when a racist, out-of-control Colonel (Sean Penn) tracks his daughter down for nefarious purposes.
It doesn’t take Peter Falk’s iconic Columbo to sleuth out why “One Battle After Another” is generating so much critical adoration. Yes, Anderson is a top-tier filmmaker, and some of the sequences in the film prove exhilarating.
The film’s political point of view is pure catnip to a community wedded to progressive ideals. The story’s heroes are anti-government radicals who will do whatever it takes to free illegal immigrants taken into U.S. custody.
If that means holding U.S. officials at gunpoint, setting off fireworks, or bombing buildings, so be it. The U.S. forces shown throughout the film are almost uniformly cruel, callous, or just plain evil. A subplot involving a White Nationalist group feels too extreme even for your average MS NOW anchor.
It wasn’t for movie critics, apparently. They’ve endlessly praised the film to the tune of a 94% “fresh” rating at RottenTomatoes.com. The general public liked it, albeit less, via an 85% “fresh” score.
Some scribes have tried to <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/no-one-battle-after-another-is-not-a-left-wing-film-1236556461/">downplay the film’s far-Left politics</a>, a funnier take than any late-night monologue.
<div id="attachment_1010715" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1010715" class="size-large wp-image-1010715" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-864x576.jpg" alt="Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures - copyright Warner Bros. Pictures" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures &#8211; copyright Warner Bros. Pictures</div>
It helps that no other 2025 release has “Best Picture” written all over it. Director Chloe Zhao’s “Hamnet” is getting early raves, but the film has barely registered at the box office ($1.7 million to date) and offers a maudlin subject. The film imagines what William Shakespeare and his wife endured after the loss of their son.
The Boss biopic “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere” flopped in theaters and didn’t get enough critical love.
Art remains subjective, but Hollywood politics are another matter. Not only does “One Battle After Another” reflect the industry’s hard-Left embrace of open borders, it’s a thumb in the eye to both ICE and President Donald Trump.
The latter will be irresistible to Academy voters. And, chances are, the film’s key stars will lean into that sentiment during awards season.
The various arts honors do more than help predict which films and actors will emerge triumphant on Oscar night. They let the early winners test out their acceptance speeches, another unwritten part of their Oscar campaigns.
Uncork a few fiery “thank you… and” speeches, hitting all the “approved” targets along the way, and a star’s Oscar chances perk up.
Now, imagine what DiCaprio would say at the Oscar podium while collecting his second Best Actor statue for “One Battle After Another.” He used his 2017 podium time to promote his Climate Change agenda.
<div id="attachment_1010725" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1010725" class="size-large wp-image-1010725" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450-798x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood &amp; Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)" width="798" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450-798x576.jpg 798w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450-300x217.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450-768x554.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Kevin Winter/Getty Images</div>
There’s less than zero chance he won’t blast President Trump’s attempt to enforce immigration laws in any 2026 speech. And he won’t be alone.
Recent Oscar ceremonies have dialed back, to a degree, on the hard-Left polemics. Even far-Left host Jimmy Kimmel hasn’t leaned into his progressive bona fides in recent years.
That will change in 2026 after a full year of President Trump’s return to the White House. Is there a better film to reflect that “resistance” than “One Battle After Another”? That’s rhetorical.
We still have a few more weeks before the year ends. Films like “Marty Supreme,” starring perennial Oscar-bait Timothee Chalamet, hit theaters on Christmas Day. Still, anyone who grasps Oscar culture knows a heavy favorite when he or she sees one.
There is one dark path forward that could derail “One Battle After Another.” The film’s gauzy framing of violence against immigration enforcement took an ugly turn when real attacks on ICE agents broke out close to the film’s release.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/second-illegal-immigrant-detainee-dies-after-dallas-ice-shooting">September attack on a Dallas-based ICE facility</a> didn’t kill any U.S. agents, but it did leave two illegal immigrants dead. The media complex didn’t connect the attack to “One Battle After Another,” but if similar events follow, the connection may be unavoidable.
Hollywood may want to shrug off any ties between the film and actual carnage, but it might be enough of a problem to coax Oscar voters to select another, less incendiary film.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
* * *
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Oscars Leo

Is the Best Picture Race Already Over?

Academy Awards

actors

Leonardo DiCaprio

Oscars

Woke Culture

Streaming giant Netflix <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-to-acquire-warner-bros">announced</a> on Friday that it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO, in a massive deal valued at $82.7 billion.
Netflix said Warner Bros.&#8217; current method of operating, “including theatrical releases for films,” will continue in an apparent effort to quell fears from critics of the acquisition.
“I know some of you’re surprised that we’re making this acquisition, and I certainly understand why. Over the years, we have been known to be builders, not buyers,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said during an investor call Friday morning.
“We already have incredible shows and movies and a great business model, and it’s working for talent, it’s working for consumers and it’s working for shareholders. This is a rare opportunity,” he said. “It’s going to help us achieve our mission to entertain the world and to bring people together through great stories.”
Sarandos said in the official statement that the mission of Netflix “has always been to entertain the world.” 
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies—from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends—with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we&#8217;ll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” the entertainment exec added. 
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Co-CEO of Netflix Greg Peters expressed similar thoughts, saying, “This acquisition will improve our offering and accelerate our business for decades to come…with our global reach and proven business model, we can introduce a broader audience to the worlds they create—giving our members more options, attracting more fans to our best-in-class streaming service, strengthening the entire entertainment industry and creating more value for shareholders.”
The acquisition is expected to close once Warner Bros. completes its planned spinoff from Discovery Global, meaning the deal would potentially finalize in the third quarter of 2026. Netflix <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-warner-bros-deal-hollywood-1236443081/">will pay</a> a $5.8 billion reverse break-up fee if the deal doesn’t go through, while Warner Bros. agreed to pay $2.8 billion if it opts to back out.
“Today’s announcement combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love to watch the most,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. “For more than a century, Warner Bros. has thrilled audiences, captured the world’s attention, and shaped our culture. By coming together with Netflix, we will ensure people everywhere will continue to enjoy the world’s most resonant stories for generations to come.”

Netflix

Netflix To Acquire Warner Bros. In Massive Billion Dollar Deal

Netflix Will Acquire Warner Bros. In Deal Mega $82.7 Billion Deal

Business

Warner Bros

Prince Harry is getting backlash for his appearance on Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” on Wednesday night, even getting booed by the audience for making a quip about President Trump.
The estranged British royal family member participated in an awkward skit. “I genuinely thought this was the audition for the Gingerbread Prince saves Christmas in Nebraska,” Meghan Markle’s husband said while coming out onto the stage.
Harry joked he wanted to go into acting because he knew Americans were “obsessed” with Christmas movies and royalty. Colbert pretended to disagree, prompting Prince Harry to say, “Really? I heard you elected a king.” 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Will Prince Harry Ever Get To Be A Hallmark Christmas Movie Prince?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/plsvrxGZnyA?start=179&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Even Colbert’s audience reacted to the joke with booing and other noises of dissent. 
“That’s a fair point, he’s got a point,” the late show host told the crowd.
“And often making such a big deal about my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather George III,” Harry added, referencing the king of Great Britain during the American Revolution.
While Trump’s name was only referenced once, the Duke of Sussex alluded to him again during his appearance while saying all the things he&#8217;d do to become a Hallmark movie prince. 
“I’ll record a self-tape, I’ll fly myself to an audition, settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House. All the things you people on TV do,” Harry said, referencing the $16 million settlement Paramount paid Trump over the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris ahead of last year’s election.
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“Harry, I didn’t do any of those things,” Colbert said.
“Maybe that’s why you’re canceled,” the British royal replied.
Colbert and Prince Harry ended their cringe skit by embracing awkwardly as fake snow fell on them. 
Some Americans have called on Trump to add Prince Harry to his list of people to deport, but the president addressed the matter earlier this year, joking about the British royal’s marriage.
“I don’t want to [deport Prince Harry],” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-hes-not-targeting-prince-harry-for-deportation-enough-problems-with-his-wife?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Says+He%E2%80%99s+Not+Targeting+Prince+Harry+For+Deportation%3A+%E2%80%98Enough+Problems+With+His+Wife%E2%80%99">told</a> The New York Post in February. “I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
Although Trump has not targeted Prince Harry for deportation, he has been vocal about his feelings for the self-exiled royal. In February 2024, Trump accused former President Joe Biden’s administration of “protecting Harry” and said he couldn’t promise the same.
“He betrayed the queen. That’s unforgivable,” President Trump told the U.K.’s Daily Express in an interview at the time. 
The royal couple has also voiced negative feelings about Trump over the years. During the 2016 presidential race, Markle called the president “divisive” and “misogynistic,” prompting Trump to call her statements about him “nasty.”
In 2020, Trump said he wasn’t “a fan” of Markle.
“I’m not a fan of hers and I would say this, and she probably has heard that, but I wish a lot of luck to Harry … because he’s going to need it,&#8221; Trump said.

Colbert and Prince Harry

Prince Harry Booed After Trump Quip During Awkward Appearance On Colbert

Prince Harry Booed After Mocking Trump During Colbert Appearance

Donald Trump

Prince Harry

Stephen Colbert

Television

Red downward arrow in front of house. Illustration of the concept of falling prices of real estate properties.

The Quality Of Literally Everything Is Declining. I’m Investigating To Find Out Why

Corporations

cost of living

Culture

Food

Housing

Inflation

Matt Walsh

Opinion

Actress Halle Berry is not pleased with California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
The 59-year-old Academy Award winner tore into Newsom while speaking at The New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday, saying she had “zero f**** left to give” at this stage of life and would therefore speak candidly about her opinion.
Berry, who founded the menopause care company Respin Health, was upset that Newsom vetoed a bill focused on menopause and accused the governor of failing women of a certain age.
“Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one, but two years in a row,” the “Monster’s Ball” star told the crowd. “But that’s okay, because he’s not going to be governor forever, and with the way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us in midlife, he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="“The Age of Change: My Next Fight” with Halle Berry" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/603NmGNkfqY?start=800&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“In 2025 there is a lot to still be talked about and discovered and uncovered, especially if you are a woman who is navigating midlife and thoughtfully considering your longevity, because in 2025, I, Halle Berry, and women of my age are simply devalued in this country,” she said at another point in her speech.
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“Our culture thinks that at 59 years old, I am past my prime, and that women my age start to become invisible in Hollywood, in the workplace, on social media. Women are pressured to stay forever 35. We’re complimented if we seem to be aging backwards or defying gravity, as if that’s even possible, and if we somehow manage to look younger than our years, it’s suggested that’s the gold standard that our worth should be measured by.”
The Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women&#8217;s Health Act that Berry was referring to is a bipartisan bill aimed to boost research, grants, and education for menopause. It would authorize $275 million over five years to increase menopause education for both medical professionals and the public.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry Bashes Gavin Newsom, Says He ‘Should Not Be Our Next President’

Halle Berry Bashes Gavin Newsom, Says He 'Should Not Be Our Next President'

Celebrities

Gavin Newsom

Politics

Women

The highly anticipated series “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” promises to deliver a version of Merlin unlike any seen before. Actor Tom Sharp, who takes on the iconic role in the adaptation of Stephen R. Lawhead’s bestselling series, says the character will surprise even longtime fans.
“Well, you know, it’s Merlin. So he’s an iconic character that’s probably known in most cultures around the world,” Sharp told The Daily Wire. 
Calling it his “biggest role to date and biggest production to date,” he emphasized that this Merlin is more than the mysterious, on the fringes secondary character that most Arthurian legend retellings make him out to be. 
“This is set before King Arthur, but instead of just a magical advisor … he’s also seen as a young warrior, which would be different for people to see. And it’s a grittier, more grounded tone … He’s hands on. He’s at the forefront,” Sharp explains.
The production draws heavily from Lawhead’s original story, which is a combination of Celtic mythology, Christian themes, and historical drama. The novels center on the rise of Britain from a land of chaos into a civilization awakened by faith. As previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dailywire-announces-release-date-for-the-pendragon-cycle?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DailyWire%2B+Announces+Release+Date+For+%E2%80%98The+Pendragon+Cycle%E2%80%99">reported</a>, this series aims to preserve those themes, honoring Lawhead’s vision while building an immersive, cinematic world.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9P9t-qTJPU4?si=hAlKkma9hqIkoYzo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Sharp confirmed that staying true to the original was a priority behind the scenes. “We stuck as closely as possible to the books and as faithfully to the source material as possible when making this show,” he assured longtime fans. 
One pivotal moment from the source material is considered a turning point in Merlin’s life and received special focus during production. Sharp described it as a “tentpole scene” that carries significant emotional weight. “If this scene falls down, the whole show falls down,” he said, noting that “fans of the books … they’ll know what I’m talking about.” He couldn’t reveal much else except to say that the scene appears in episode six.
Authenticity was also a major theme while filming “Pendragon,” the lead actor revealed. Rather than relying on CGI, the series was filmed in stunning locations across Hungary and Italy. Sharp explained how this made things easier for him and the rest of the cast. 
“Shooting on location beats CGI and green screen every day of the week,” he said. “It’s more immersive for the audience … For actors, it’s less acting required. You’re reacting off real things.”
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He continued, “If you see me running with a wolf or someone’s on fire or I’m charging into battle on a horse, swinging a sword, it’s all real.” Even the bulls in episode one, Sharp noted, were living, breathing animals.
While Merlin is often portrayed as a wise yet inaccessible mystical being, Sharp said he approached the character through the lens of humanity. “One of the challenges of playing him was how do I make him relatable because he’s so mysterious,” he said. “As an actor, I focused purely on his humanity and how the audience can connect to him.” 
Sharp also emphasized Merlin’s moral restraint. “He could easily rule in a tyrannical position, but he chooses not to… Someone with all that power, not wanting to be the ruler, is a great quality.”
The actor also mentioned the character’s other distinctly human qualities. “He’s also heavily, deeply flawed as well with a lot of tragedy and pain in his life from the beginning and throughout. And obviously, when you&#8217;re immortal, you&#8217;re quite a lonely person… [there is] a distance between him and other characters,” he said.
Sharp shared one lighthearted behind-the-scenes moment involving his first scene with actress Brett Cooper, who plays Ganieda. The pair met in full costume, with her clad in the gown of a regal princess and him presenting as a mud-covered Merlin as they both encountered a giant wild boar.
“This is not your traditional romantic setting,” he joked.
Ultimately, Sharp is excited for fans to see the series and called it a “dream come true” to play the character of Merlin. When asked about his favorite scene, he referenced the first season’s last episode. &#8220;The very final scene of the show in episode seven is my favorite personally,” Sharp said, noting that “the fans and any newcomers to the story will understand why.”
“That scene gave me a very surreal out of body experience. It was amazing and very euphoric on set. I kept talking about it for days afterwards … that memory will stay with me for life.”
“<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle">The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin</a>,” premieres January 22, 2026, with early episodes releasing Christmas Day for DailyWire+ All Access members.

Merlin

Inside ‘The Pendragon Cycle’: Tom Sharp Delivers A Version Of The Merlin Never Seen Before

Inside ‘The Pendragon Cycle’: Tom Sharp Reveals The Merlin Fans Haven’t Seen

DailyWire+

The Daily Wire

The Pendragon Cycle

We’ve never had a pop culture force in the White House quite like President Donald Trump.
Yes, even the Gipper himself, President Ronald Reagan, didn’t grasp star power the same as Trump. Granted, Reagan’s Hollywood days gave him a unique take on culture and the arts and earned him the moniker, “<a href="https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/permanent-exhibits/evolution-great-communicator">The Great Communicator</a>.”
President Trump understands that realm, too, along with our new social media age.
Now, Trump is using his leverage to make movies great again. Or, at least, one franchise in particular.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pushes-for-rush-hour-comeback-and-hollywood-delivers-report">Reports say</a> Trump had a hand in the “Rush Hour” franchise revival at Paramount. The saga’s director, Brett Ratner — canceled during the MeToo movement for unproven sexual assault allegations — is also directing the upcoming Melania Trump documentary, &#8220;Melania&#8221; (January, 2026).
Those ties likely helped make a fourth “Rush Hour” film happen.
<div id="attachment_1008703" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1008703" class="size-large wp-image-1008703" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248407527-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 25: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the 78th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation in the Rose Garden of the White House on November 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump will pardon Gobble and alternate turkey Waddle, who were both raised in North Carolina and will live out the rest of their lives under the care of the Prestage Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248407527-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248407527-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248407527-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248407527.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Heather Diehl/Getty Images</div>
In an era when Hollywood studios cast a wary glance at right-leaning audiences, President Trump is using his bully pulpit to shape pop culture.
That gives him a golden opportunity to do more than revive a stalled franchise.
So, which other film projects are deserving of a presidential nudge?
It’s cinematically sacrilegious to remake “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” but what about a sequel starring a middle-aged Ferris? The sequel could find Matthew Broderick’s character saddled with a mortgage, two ungrateful kids, and a marriage to Sloan that has long lost its spark.
Yet, for one glorious day, the older Ferris finds his inner teen, goes on a grand adventure, and realizes the beauty lurking within adulthood. The only issue could be if the John Hughes estate would allow it – the late Hughes wrote and directed the 1986 classic. It’s still worth a try, if merely for the Reagan-era nostalgia.
<div id="attachment_1008711" style="width: 383px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1008711" class="size-large wp-image-1008711" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Ferris-Bueller-poster-373x576.jpg" alt="Paramount Pictures. 1986. " width="373" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Ferris-Bueller-poster-373x576.jpg 373w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Ferris-Bueller-poster-194x300.jpg 194w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Ferris-Bueller-poster.jpg 520w" sizes=" (max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px" />Paramount Pictures. 1986.</div>
The 1994 comedy “PCU” was both ahead of its time and, sadly, a box office misfire with <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0110759/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">under $5 million</a> from stateside theaters. The comedy skewered the growing “politically correct” movement in American universities, one that presaged a full-blown woke revolution 20 years later.
The comedy still landed some stingers, especially given the academia targets on display. Why not remake the film from today’s college prism? Could the material cover everything from absurd college courses on “<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/02/taylor-swift-101-college-classes-about-singer/71976599007/">Swiftology</a>” to darker riffs on college antisemitism?
If a direct remake doesn’t make sense, what about a sequel to “Old School?” That frat-style comedy found grown men starting their own Greek-style fraternity. Maybe an “Old School” spin where characters try the same shtick today but run into a furious woke mob rebuffing their efforts to party like it’s 1999?
Comedy has struggled since woke took over Hollywood. Even Variety magazine <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/variety-accidentally-confirms-woke-killed-movie-comedies/">inadvertently admitted as much</a>. Signs suggest its stranglehold on the culture is waning. That gives Team Trump a chance to bring back bawdy, R-rated comedies to a film landscape in dire need of a laugh.
And while blockbuster films often struggle to make a profit due to their gargantuan budgets, screen comedies are infinitely cheaper to produce.
Trump is reviving Ratner’s career with the “Rush Hour” project. He also could reach out to “The Hangover” director Todd Phillips while he’s at it. Phillips famously said he stopped making comedies (he also directed “Old School” and “Road Trip”) <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joaquin-phoenix-cover-story">due to woke’s censorious nature.</a>
Coax Phillips back into the comedy business and see what happens next.
We may not need-need a fourth “Rush Hour” film, but its existence is a thumb in the eye to the woke mind virus sufferers. The saga’s willingness to poke fun at cultural stereotypes typified a better time.
<div id="attachment_1006399" style="width: 997px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1006399" class="size-large wp-image-1006399" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Rush-Hour-987x576.jpg" alt="Rush Hour" width="987" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Rush-Hour-987x576.jpg 987w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Rush-Hour-300x175.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Rush-Hour-768x448.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Rush-Hour.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px" />Hulton Archive via Getty Images</div>
If wisecracks about Asians and black people truly were offensive, stars Chan and Tucker might have said something mid-production, no? Earlier this year, USA Network got offended on behalf of those communities. The cable channel <a href="https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/7/4/rush-hour-trigger-warning">inserted a trigger warning</a> before the first “Rush Hour” feature:
<blockquote>We all love our buddy comedies, but this movie was created in a different time. FYI certain depictions, language and humor may seem outdated and at times offensive. </blockquote>
Do you understand <a href="https://tenor.com/search/do-you-understand-the-words-coming-out-of-my-mouth-gifs">the words</a> coming out of our mouths?
Which brings us to Phillips’ “Hangover” saga. Once again, the third installment showed the formula was wearing thin. Some franchises should call it a day, no matter how profitable they may be. That third “Hangover,” the weakest of the trilogy, made $362 million globally.
<div id="attachment_1009127" style="width: 399px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1009127" class="size-large wp-image-1009127" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Hangover-the-389x576.jpg" alt="Warner Bros. Legendary Pictures. Green Hat Films." width="389" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Hangover-the-389x576.jpg 389w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Hangover-the-202x300.jpg 202w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Hangover-the-768x1138.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Hangover-the-1037x1536.jpg 1037w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Hangover-the.jpg 1382w" sizes=" (max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px" />Warner Bros. Legendary Pictures. Green Hat Films.</div>
A revival would do more than give its studio a boost. It would signal the woke era’s official collapse. After all, the film followed four straight white males who drank too much, ogled women, found themselves in deep trouble on multiple fronts, but ended up living happily ever after.
No lectures. No Girl Boss characters dressing them down. No forced diversity measures – co-star Ken Jeong stole scenes on his own, thank you. Just R-rated high jinks, the kind that used to power endless dumb but hilarious comedies.
And, yes, the usual media suspects would tsk-tsk these projects, telling us how problematic they are and why no one should laugh at them. And most Americans would give those articles a shrug, at best.
Some might even laugh out loud while reading them.
No one person can lift Hollywood out of its current, sorry state. At the very least, President Trump could Make Hollywood Funny Again.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
* * *
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Trump movies

‘Rush Hour 4’ Is A Go. What Else Can President Trump Greenlight?

Comedy

Film

White House

Singer Sabrina Carpenter is not happy that her song “Juno” is being used by the Trump administration in a video highlighting illegal immigrants being deported. 
“This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,” the pop star wrote on X.
The video in question, which was posted by the official White House X account yesterday, includes clips of ICE agents detaining various people. “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye,” the post caption says, referencing the lyrics to the song.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.
— Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) <a href="https://twitter.com/SabrinaAnnLynn/status/1995876972405420114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
Not long after Carpenter&#8217;s meltdown, the White House clapped back, doubling down on the original sentiment. “Here&#8217;s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won&#8217;t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country,” the reply <a href="https://ew.com/white-house-responds-sabrina-carpenter-calling-out-juno-video-11860422">said</a>.  &#8220;Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?&#8221; the response went on, referring to another one of the singer&#8217;s hit songs.
The Trump administration has been using popular songs and lyrics for social media and other promos, and only some of the celebrities have taken public issue with it. For example, Taylor Swift stayed quiet in November when the White House used her hit song “The Fate of Ophelia” as the track for a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@whitehouse/video/7568317055292738830?embed_source=121374463%2C121468991%2C121439635%2C121749182%2C121433650%2C121404359%2C121497414%2C121477481%2C121351166%2C121811500%2C121960941%2C121860360%2C121487028%2C121679410%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%2C121885509%3Bnull%3Bembed_masking&amp;refer=embed&amp;referer_url=variety.com%2F2025%2Fmusic%2Fnews%2Fwhite-house-taylor-swift-fate-of-ophelia-pro-trump-tiktok-video-1236569528%2F&amp;referer_video_id=7568317055292738830">montage</a> about Trump’s achievements.
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Kenny Loggins, on the other hand, threw an absolute fit in October when the Trump administration promoted material by using his 1986 single “Danger Zone,” calling it “unauthorized use” and insisting it be “removed immediately.”
Carpenter is well-known for pushing a progressive agenda to her fans. She made her values clear in September during a trans-themed performance at the VMAs featuring drag stars holding picket signs. Fans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sabrina-carpenter-dragged-for-trans-rights-themed-vmas-performance?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Sabrina+Carpenter+Dragged+For+%E2%80%98Trans+Rights%E2%80%99+Themed+VMAs+Performance">came down hard</a> on Carpenter for the timing of the performance as it was just after a trans-identified shooter opened fire on a Catholic school in Minnesota, killing two children and injuring thirty other individuals.
Last November, the pop singer was criticized for filming a provocative music video inside a Catholic church, which many critics said was disrespectful and blasphemous.
The Trump administration has taken a strong stance on immigration, with ICE agents doing sweeps of major cities to arrest and deport illegal aliens. This has led to extreme pushback from Democrats and commentary from outspoken leftist celebrities.

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter Is Big Mad That ICE Used Her Song In Deportation Video, White House Claps Back

Sabrina Carpenter Is Big Mad That ICE Used Her Song In Deportation Video

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Music

U.S.

Rosie O’Donnell, who admitted to leaving the country because President Donald Trump was re-elected, recently shared that her 12-year-old child has had some strong reactions to the move.
The comedian discussed the situation with former CNN host Jim Acosta. O’Donnell had previously blamed her leaving on wanting to maintain a good environment for her 12-year-old son, Clay, who is autistic and previously identified as nonbinary.
“My daughter is now saying, ‘D*mn him, d*mn Trump,’ and smashing her hand on the table,” O’Donnell said, referring to Clay as a girl.
“And I said, ‘Wow, honey, what are you thinking?’ And she said, ‘He made us move in order for our own safety! And it’s now he’s destroying the country!&#8217;”
“She lives here, she hears what I’m saying to you. Not that I go around speaking like this every day if it is not an interview. But I think to myself, ‘You don’t want to give this to her.&#8217;”
&#8220;Whatever this thing is, of me thinking that I somehow have to stand in defiance of [Trump],” she continued. “I don’t, somebody can tap me out. I did 22 years, I don’t really need to do anymore.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="BOMBSHELL &quot;How Can You Sit There?&quot; - Rosie O&#039;Donnell ERUPTS Over Trump Calling Reporter &quot;Piggy&quot;" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GLzV86yFZag?start=1146&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
In March, O’Donnell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rosie-odonnell-discusses-move-to-ireland-with-nonbinary-child-will-return-when-it-is-safe?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rosie+O%E2%80%99Donnell+Discusses+Move+To+Ireland+With+%E2%80%98Nonbinary%E2%80%99+Child%2C+Will+Return+%E2%80%98When+It+Is+Safe%E2%80%99">discussed</a> moving to Ireland with Clay, saying she’d return “when it’s safe.”
At the time, the celebrity mentioned how “proud and impressed” she was of Clay adjusting to their move. O’Donnell said, “It’s not easy to move to another country, and we really felt as a family this was the safest and best thing for us to do.”
“It looks like sadly we were correct for what’s happening in the United States is overwhelmingly depressing, unconstitutional, illegal, criminal, and so, so very sad,” she added. “Let’s hope that the world and the nation rallies against the current administration and their horrific ideas for what will make America great again. And it’s not racism. And it’s not homophobia. And it’s equality for all. That’s what we’re promised as American citizens.”

Rosie O’Donnell

Rosie O’Donnell Shares Disturbing Story Of Her 12-Year-Old Child’s Trump Obsession

Rosie O'Donnell Shares Disturbing Story Of Her 12-Year-Old Child's Trump Obsession

Rosie O'Donnell

Trump Derangement Syndrome

World

After a string of high-profile failures, Disney finally scored a win with the animated sequel “Zootopia 2” over Thanksgiving weekend.
The movie broke records for the House of Mouse. It raked in over $559 million globally since its premiere on Wednesday, earning the highest international earnings ever for an animated film, and the highest international earnings for a sequel. “Zootopia 2” also earned the fourth-highest earnings among all films, according to <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/11/zootopia-2-box-office-records-1236631348/">Deadline</a>. 
The animated sequel boasted a $156 million estimated gross total domestically over the five-day holiday, putting it second in line behind “Moana 2,” which earned $225 million domestically in 2024. 
“Disney has made it an event that comes virtually every year over the Thanksgiving holiday,” Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, said of the results, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/30/business/zootopia-sequel-thanksgiving-box-office">CNN</a>. “Families just embraced (‘Zootopia 2’) in such a profound way.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Zootopia 2 | Final Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5AwtptT8X8k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The analyst noted that the second-highest earner, “Wicked: For Good,” also performed strongly for its second week.
“They did not really detract at all from each other … This performance was born out of having a perfectly curated, perfectly strategized release of these two movies,” Dergarabedian added.
The original “Zootopia” was released in 2016. The story follows a bunny cop, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), who must work with sarcastic con artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to solve a mystery in a city full of talking animals. In the follow-up, Nick is Judy’s partner as they take on another case.
While Disney has been pushing the envelope with leftist themes and LGBT storylines, it’s worth noting that “Zootopia 2” didn’t necessarily follow that script. While some viewers pointed out how the plot of both movies could be seen as taking a progressive stance on topics such as racism and colonialism, there are no same-sex kissing scenes or LGBT-identifying characters. 
The film currently has a 91% critic score and 96% audience score on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zootopia_2">Rotten Tomatoes</a>. 
“‘Zootopia 2’ is pure delight, every bit as exciting and heartwarming and imaginative as the Oscar-winning original and maybe even funnier,” said film critic Nell Minow of RogerEbert.com.

Zootopia 2

Disney Rebounds With ‘Zootopia 2,’ Breaking Box Office Records

Disney Rebounds With 'Zootopia 2' Bringing In $156M At Box Office

Animation

Disney

Director James Cameron says he’s firmly against using AI-generated actors, calling the results “horrifying.”
In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the filmmaker addressed speculation that he might turn to AI for future installments of the popular &#8220;Avatar&#8221; franchise and made clear he has no interest in doing so.
“For years, there was this sense that, ‘Oh, they’re doing something strange with computers and they’re replacing actors,’ when in fact, once you really drill down and you see what we’re doing, it’s a celebration of the actor-director moment,” Cameron said.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Extended interview: James Cameron" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o0uKh4VT6s8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“Now, go to the other end of the spectrum, and you’ve got generative AI, where they can make up a character,” he went on. “They can make up an actor. They can make up a performance from scratch with a text prompt. It’s like, no. That’s horrifying to me. That’s the opposite. That’s exactly what we’re not doing.”
When asked why he’s against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hollywood-actors-union-slams-ai-synthetic-performer-pitched-as-the-next-scarlett-johansson">AI-generated actors like Tilly Norwood</a>, the “Titanic” director replied, “I don’t want a computer doing what I pride myself on being able to do with actors. I don’t want to replace actors, I love working with actors.”
Cameron said he was excited about how emerging technology could help the fledgling genres of sci-fi and fantasy films, which are costly to make, without entirely replacing live actors.
He also mentioned some of the pitfalls of AI. 
“What generative AI can’t do is create something new that’s never been seen. If you think about it, the models… it’s a magic trick, what they can do is quite astonishing. But the models are trained on everything that’s ever been done before that; it can’t be trained on that which has never been done,” Cameron said. 
“So you will innately see, essentially, all of human art and human experience put into a blender, and you’ll get something that is kind of an average of that. So what you can’t have is that individual screenwriter’s unique lived experience and their quirks. You won’t find the idiosyncrasies of a particular actor.”
The director predicted that live performances will become more “sacred” in the future.

James Cameron

James Cameron Rejects AI Virtual Actors: ‘Horrifying’

James Cameron Calls The Concept Of Generative AI Actors 'Horrifying'

Artificial Intelligence

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