Disney and Pixar&#8217;s latest offering is lagging well behind box office expectations — and the animation studio isn&#8217;t taking it sitting down.
“Elio” has earned just $35 million worldwide since its June 20 release, a record-low for Pixar. The film — which addresses themes like childhood and social isolation through the story of &#8220;Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession&#8221; — only brought in $21 million in ticket sales during its first three days in theaters.
In response to the disappointing numbers, Pixar shared a snarky post on its official Instagram account.
In the video, a woman addresses the reaction to &#8220;Elio,&#8221; which isn’t a remake or sequel, saying “Stop complaining that Disney doesn’t make original stories if you don’t show up to movie theaters and support them in the first place.”
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“Who… who said that?” a woman in her car says by way of reaction. “Oh my gosh, I thought I was the only one in my car. But anyway, there’s a new original story,” she continued, holding up a photo of the movie poster.
“Look at that, from Disney-Pixar, called Elio,” she <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLaQFO-yad-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went on</a>. “You should go ahead and support it, it comes out this Friday so yeah, you should go to the movie theater, thank you.”
Commenters on the Instagram post noted the lack of marketing for the film, which they indicated may have contributed to the lackluster results.
“Maybe actually market the movie then???” one comment read.
“Some marketing would&#8217;ve helped… but yes it deserves way better; it&#8217;s such a good movie!!” another commenter echoed.
“I think what drove people away from this one was reusing that same animation style. So many people are wanting something different and we’ve now gotten it quite a few times with movies and shorts,” another person wrote.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond excited to see this new movie! I think it’s just time to switch up the animation again. Also there was barely any marketing for the movie,” a third said.
“Elio” is the latest in a long line of Disney flops, but there have also been several success stories, including the live action remake of “Lilo &amp; Stitch,” which earned over $945 million worldwide.

Elio

Pixar Blames Fans For ‘Elio’ Flopping, Says ‘Stop Complaining’ About Lack Of Original Content

Pixar Blames Fans For 'Elio' Flopping, Says 'Stop Complaining' About Lack Of Original Content

Animation

Disney

Entertainment

Hollywood

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Pixar

U.S.

Hollywood warned us.
If Americans choose Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris it’ll be the end of democracy.
Never mind that Trump previously served as president and the nation didn’t collapse under his “dictatorial” regime. Nor that Harris’s ascension came without a single primary vote.
Now, the stars are cosplaying their worst nightmares since reality refuses to cooperate.
George Clooney joined this ignominious group while promoting “Good Night, and Good Luck,” the Broadway adaptation of his 2005 film. First, he guided Broadway superstar Patti LuPone away from the ledge during <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1624911021494095">their Variety conversation</a>.
<blockquote>George Clooney: &#8220;We&#8217;re going to get through [the Trump era].&#8221; 
Patti LuPone: &#8220;Do you think so?&#8221; 
Clooney: &#8220;I&#8217;m an optimist.&#8221; 
LuPone: &#8220;See, I&#8217;m a glass half empty girl.&#8221;</blockquote>
<div id="attachment_937321" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-937321" class="size-large wp-image-937321" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2208397530-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: George Clooney attends &quot;Good Night, And Good Luck&quot; Broadway Opening Night at Winter Garden Theatre on April 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2208397530-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2208397530-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2208397530-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2208397530.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images</div>
The “ER” alum still fears that <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/george-clooney-claims-its-frightening-time-news-business-because-trump">President Trump might target him</a> for saying such things, but he refuses to stand down.
&#8220;Sure. Everybody worries about it … But, you know, if you spend your life worrying about things, then you won&#8217;t do things. You know, we have, like everybody, a family, and we have a life, and we try to, you know, live and do things as the best example for our kids. And I want to be able to look at my kids in the eye and say where we stood and what we did at certain times in history. And I have no problem with that.&#8221;
Just like Clooney did when he saw a cognitively diminished President Joe Biden last June and waited weeks to share the news (after the leader’s poll numbers drooped).
Film and Broadway star Nathan Lane ginned up controversy for his new Hulu series “Mid-Century Modern” by claiming it could be canceled by the president at a moment’s notice. The sitcom follows three older gay men living their best lives.
<div id="attachment_937323" style="width: 804px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-937323" class="size-large wp-image-937323" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2206933073-794x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: (L-R) Nathan Lee Graham, Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer attend the Los Angeles premiere of Hulu's new series &quot;Mid-Century Modern&quot; at DGA Theater Complex on March 25, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)" width="794" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2206933073-794x576.jpg 794w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2206933073-300x218.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2206933073-768x557.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2206933073.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px" />Amy Sussman/Getty Images</div>
The show has garnered modestly positive reviews but little cultural attention. Lane accidentally acknowledged that by suggesting the series <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/nathan-lane-says-trump-would-take-mid-century-modern-offair-1235132646/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;fbclid=IwQ0xDSwK6kBFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHqpTbg5C9jhC3XYyoZzwCup6rcsOuRclrkX9hbgqiBn3trrSCVlw5dweIpZ8_aem_Uo-DMaYAu5p9Ai286gjhTA">could end tomorrow</a> if a certain Hitler 2.0 learns about it.
“Is it going to change any minds? I don’t know about that. Trump, if he knew we were on the air, would probably try to shut it down, come after Hulu. But, I think it’s a great thing to have right now, in the midst of books being banned and, ‘Don’t say this and don’t say gay and don’t do that.’ I think it’s a perfect time for a show like this.”
Lane expertly wove Fear Mongering 101 with Fake News in that short paragraph. Impressive. Can someone tell him that Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, is a gay man? So is longtime Trump ally Richard Grenell, now tasked with leading The Kennedy Center.
Rising comic star Nikki Glaser also weighed in with her own version of Orange Man Bad. The stand-up fears that her anti-Trump comments could cost her a return trip to the U.S. She recently performed in Canada and tweaked her apolitical routine to include Trump barbs. That left her shaken, <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/24/entertainment/nikki-glaser-worried-that-she-could-not-be-let-back-into-the-country-for-trump-jokes/">she told Time Magazine.</a>
“Oh my God. What if what I said gets recorded and sent out? Maybe I could not be let back into the country.”
As the first comic to ever poke fun at Trump, those fears are very justified.
<div id="attachment_937325" style="width: 854px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-937325" class="size-large wp-image-937325" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2211645119-844x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Nikki Glaser speaks onstage during the 2025 TIME100 Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 23, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME)" width="844" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2211645119-844x576.jpg 844w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2211645119-300x205.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2211645119-768x524.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2211645119.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 844px) 100vw, 844px" />Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME</div>
Musicians are weighing in with similar fears. Take hypocritical rocker Neil Young. He shared a similar worry about his international touring schedule. The ‘60s legend warned that he might not be allowed back in the U.S. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/02/neil-young-fears-us-ban-donald-trump-criticism">for attacking Trump</a>.
“When I go to play music in Europe, if I talk about Donald J Trump, I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminum blanket,” Young wrote. “That is happening all the time now. Countries have new advice for those returning to America.”
The irony of him worried about free speech after trying to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/just-in-spotify-to-pull-neil-young-music-after-ultimatum-letter-demanding-rogan-be-removed">silence Spotify superstar Joe Rogan</a> for his pandemic views remains lost on him.
One singer had a microscopic point about <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/11159066/canadian-musicians-touring-usa-donald-trump/">re-entering the U.S</a>.
Canadian country singer Robert Adam claims to be non-binary and scrapped plans to tour America due to Trump’s passport decree. Transgender people must declare their biological sex in the documents, something Adam refused to do.
Actor Billy Porter played the Hitler Card in a new interview tied to Trump. Porter described his current project, the 2015 play “This Bitter Earth” as both an extension of the classic show “Cabaret” and a response to Nazi Germany.
Sadly, he said we&#8217;re living in <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2025/06/18/the-hunger-games-star-billy-porter-america-is-nazi-germany-right-now-and-the-jews-are-black-people/">America’s version of the Third Reich</a> under Trump.
“[Cabaret] was written as a response to Nazi Germany, and it lived in that space for 60 years as a history piece, looking back on something that we have had moved through … and now we’re doing it and America is Nazi Germany. It’s not going to be Nazi Germany. It’s not becoming Nazi Germany. It’s not in fear of becoming [Nazi Germany]. It is Nazi Germany right now, and the Jews are Black people.”
We know that all of the above is a toxic stew of virtue signaling and fear mongering. President Trump’s critics are legion, especially within the Hollywood ranks. Stephen Colbert alone has spent nearly a decade savaging him in his “Late Show” monologues, much of it with Fake News gags tied to the Russian collusion hoax.
There’s no ICE-style army waiting outside his New York theater waiting to bring him in. The same holds true across the pop culture landscape.
Sure, Trump might send out a scorching Truth Social post mocking Kimmel, Colbert or even “Saturday Night Live.” It’s beneath the dignity of his office, but it always ends there.
Always.
The aforementioned stars didn’t say a peep about the Biden administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zuckerberg-biden-harris-repeatedly-pressured-us-to-censor-free-speech">silencing dissent</a> on pandemic restrictions, the <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/fbi-spent-a-year-preparing-platforms-to-censor-biden-story-withheld-info-on-laptops-authenticity/">Deep State suppressing Hunter Biden laptop saga</a> or other First Amendment concerns. They didn’t decry “sensitivity readers” <a href="https://reason.com/2023/03/27/agatha-christie-woke-books-roald-dahl-ian-fleming/">erasing words</a> from books by Ian Fleming, Agatha Christie or Roald Dahl.
It’s why their fears of Dictator Trump should be treated with the same reverence as a made-for-streaming movie that the platform drops with zero fanfare.
* * *
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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Dictator On Demand: How Hollywood Keeps Streaming The Trump Panic

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Kids who came of age in the early aughts know that ohana means family. And family means nobody is left behind.
Disney’s 2002 animated film “Lilo &amp; Stitch” tells the story of a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo, who lives with her older sister, Nani, after their parents passed away. As Nani struggles to keep Lilo out of the foster system, they adopt what they think is a dog, but it is actually a mischievous, loving alien named Stitch. Together, they defy those trying to tear them apart, proving that &#8220;ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.&#8221;
The movie was a smash, which in Disney terms means it was a prime target for a live-action remake. And unlike Disney’s disastrous attempt to revive “Snow White,” the new “Lilo &amp; Stitch” has been a smash, raking in over $600 million to date.
But that doesn’t mean “Lilo &amp; Stitch” is free from drama. The remake has Nani giving Lilo up to a neighbor so she can chase a college scholarship in San Diego, radically rejecting traditional family values in favor of personal ambition. What was once a story about resilience, dedication, and familial loyalty becomes just another justification for the pursuit of self-fulfillment.
It’s an odd choice, particularly considering that no one seemed to have a problem with the original. And unlike “Snow White,” the “Lilo and Stitch” remake has garnered criticisms from both sides of the aisle: conservatives say the new ending is yet another instance of Disney trampling on family values, while <a href="https://x.com/CocoaFox023/status/1925888279271928310" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leftists say</a> the film is “sanitizing the critique of American colonialism [through] organisations like CPS.”
So, why would Disney rejigger a classic in a way guaranteed to make everyone mad? One former Disney employee told The Daily Wire it likely has to do with a change in how the studio approaches moviemaking.
She said that when she began at the company, “the best business model at these big entertainment companies, especially with the children, teen, and family programming was to value the consumer and the majority of the time that means valuing their children and their families.”
But then, around 2020, she felt an “abrupt shift.”
“It didn&#8217;t really matter what the audience was telling us they wanted to see,” she explained. “It felt like the networks and producers were making agenda-driven decisions.”
The former Disney staffer added that while most of the audience consisted of “flyover state” moviegoers, the decision makers decided that they wanted to “educate” the audience and direct them on “the standard of how to act.”
“So I can see a creative meeting at Disney go something like: ‘How do we update ‘Lilo &amp; Stitch&#8217; to feel like it fits our world today?’ And the general sentiment would be that it&#8217;s not modern for a woman to forgo her dreams and stay home to take care of a loved one. In order to help her family, she needs to help herself.”
A quick glance at social media shows that this was a miscalculation.
“Remember in #LiloandStitch where Nani cared for Lilo very much and used every strength of her being to protect her and did anything keep her happy? Yeah in the live action remake she just leaves for college and the neighbors take Lilo in,” one commenter wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Remember in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiloandStitch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiloandStitch</a> where Nani cared for Lilo very much and used every strength of her being to protect her and did anything keep her happy? 
Yeah in the live action remake she just leaves for college and the neighbors take Lilo in <a href="https://t.co/J8ibGbgnLB">pic.twitter.com/J8ibGbgnLB</a>
&mdash; ChelseatheCartoonGal (@CartoonGal1) <a href="https://twitter.com/CartoonGal1/status/1925789653694636316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Another person agreed, <a href="https://x.com/HalfTangible/status/1926091179101127057" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing</a>, “Read the synopsis of the live action Lilo &amp; Stitch movie and bruh at least on paper it’s like they took the theme of the original and went ‘ok but what if we did the opposite of that.’”
One viral X <a href="https://x.com/fawfulfan/status/1928057098887135314">comment</a> with 13 million views from Matthew Chapman, a reporter for Raw Story, called out Disney for making the change.
(Warning: spoilers ahead.)
Chapman railed about how Disney “mutilated” the original message of the movie in a series of X posts. “If you liked the original, the ending of this movie completely destroys it. I am doing a public service by spoiling it for you,” he wrote.
“So, if you remember, the original movie, without ever talking about this directly, dropped VERY clever, subtle visual hints about just how much of Nani&#8217;s life she had to throw away to take care of her sister after their parents died. All the surfing trophies in her room etc,” his post read.
“Well, the remake is much more explicit and sets up this B-plot about Nani wanting to go to U.C. San Diego and become a marine biologist. And at the end, she just&#8230;gives custody of Lilo to David&#8217;s grandma and goes to college.”
“What the hell was this whole movie about then? What was the point of the sisters desperately trying to get social services to let them stay together?” he rages. “There were retroactively no stakes in this movie. No conflict. Who cares?”
“I&#8217;ve touched on this before, but my LEAST favorite modern Disney trope is when they end the movie by letting a main character just ‘go off and be free,’ and then sweep under the rug how many people and responsibilities they are leaving behind by doing that.”
“The original movie is about a broken family trying to heal, and put their love and support for each other over anything else. Apparently not anymore, now it&#8217;s about Nani just lifting the burden of Lilo off her shoulders and finding a way to put herself first,” Chapman wrote.
It’s not just conservatives questioning the new ending. Even leftist publications like The Daily Beast <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/lilo-stitch-fans-livid-over-live-action-movies-new-ending/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reacted</a> negatively to the change. The writer called the bond between the sisters the “emotional core” of the story and highlighted all the negative reactions to Nani’s abrupt departure.
For many viewers, this rewrite isn’t just disingenuous; it’s culturally corrosive. It’s not a matter of just trading one touching tale for another — it’s a surrendering of virtues such as self‑denial, responsibility, and the importance of family.

Moviegoers attend showings of “Mission: Impossible” and “Lilo & Stitch” this Memorial Day weekend’s biggest films at AMC Century City

Disney Remade ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Without ‘Ohana.’ Here’s Why Everyone’s Mad.

Family Values

Foster Care

Hawaii

Actress Zoe Saldaña claims the golden Oscar statue she won for Best Supporting Actress in the musical drama “Emilia Pérez” is “gender fluid.”
“We have it in my office and my Oscar is gender fluid,” the 46-year-old celeb told <a href="https://people.com/zoe-saldana-emilia-perez-oscar-is-trans-exclusive-11752455">People</a> during a red carpet premiere for her new movie, “Elio.”
Saldaña added that the statue is “trans” and “goes by they/them” pronouns.
“Emilia Pérez” racked up 13 Academy Award nominations this year, but wound up only winning two. The film was a frontrunner early on, but was plagued by controversy, including some controversial tweets that resurfaced from the film&#8217;s Best Actress nominee, Karla Gascon, who is a man who identifies as a woman.
Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Rita Mora Castro, a lawyer who helps a Mexican drug cartel kingpin undergo so-called “gender-affirming” surgery. 
During her BAFTA acceptance speech, Saldaña called the film a “creative challenge of a lifetime” and said it “defies categorization.”
Saldaña is not the first to declare that her Oscar statue has a gender – or lack thereof. 
In 2023, Jamie Lee Curtis announced that she was referring to her Best Supporting Actress Oscars trophy as “they/them” in honor of her 27-year-old child, who identifies as transgender. Curtis won that year for “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
“I’m in support of my daughter Ruby. I’m having them be a they/them,” Curtis said while getting emotional, per Variety. “I’m going to just call them ‘them.’ They/them, and they are doing great, they’re settling in, and I just, in my life, I never saw it in a million years that I’d have this couple days, and I’m very moved by the whole thing.”
Ruby Guest is one of two children Curtis has with her husband, Christopher Guest.

Zoe Saldana

‘Emilia Perez’ Actress Insists Her Oscar Statue Is Trans, Uses They-Them Pronouns

'Emilia Perez' Actress Insists Her Oscars Statue Is Trans, Uses They-Them Pronouns

Oscars

Transgender

Actress Dakota Johnson does not take any responsibility for the massive failure of the 2024 action film “Madame Web,” instead blaming “people who don’t have a creative bone in their body.”
The 35-year-old made the remarks while speaking with the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-06-04/dakota-johnson-celine-song-rom-com-materialists">Los Angeles Times</a> to promote her latest film, “Materialists.” 
“It wasn’t my fault,” Johnson said of the film. “There’s this thing that happens now where a lot of creative decisions are made by committee. Or made by people who don’t have a creative bone in their body. And it’s really hard to make art that way. Or to make something entertaining that way. And I think unfortunately with ‘Madame Web,’ it started out as something and turned into something else. And I was just sort of along for the ride at that point. But that happens. Bigger-budget movies fail all the time.”
The actress went on to claim that she’s unaffected by the poor reception.
“I don’t have a Band-Aid over it. There’s no part of me that’s like, ‘Oh, I’ll never do that again’ to anything. I’ve done even tiny movies that didn’t do well. Who cares?”
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“Madame Web,” a Marvel film released by Sony Pictures about an NYC paramedic who starts exhibiting signs of clairvoyance, was a box office disappointment. It earned just $26.2 million over its six-day opening from Valentine’s Day to Presidents&#8217; Day, making it the lowest opening for any Spider-Man Universe film, including the universally reviled vampire-themed “Morbius” (2022), which made $39 million during its opening.
The movie currently has an 11% critic rating and a 53% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Films are made by a filmmaker and a team of artists around them,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dakota-johnson-says-shes-not-surprised-that-madame-web-flopped-probably-will-never-do-anything-like-it-again">said</a> in 2024 while discussing the movie’s lackluster performance. 
“You cannot make art based on numbers and algorithms,” she added. “My feeling has been for a long time that audiences are extremely smart, and executives have started to believe that they’re not. Audiences will always be able to sniff out bullsh**. Even if films start to be made with AI, humans aren’t going to f***ing want to see those.”

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson On ‘Madame Web’ Disaster: ‘Wasn’t My Fault’

Dakota Johnson On 'Madame Web' Disaster: 'Wasn't My Fault'

Tom Cruise may be in his 60s, but the action star was still able to set a Guinness World Record while filming a stunt for “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning.”
The organization announced this week that Cruise had been awarded the title for &#8220;most burning parachute jumps by an individual,&#8221; citing the 16 times the A-lister &#8220;leapt out of a helicopter&#8230;while strapped to a parachute pre-soaked in fuel and lit ablaze.&#8221;
The flaming parachute could only burn for seconds before Cruise, known for performing his own stunts, had to cut it away and deploy a backup, as <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-cruise-guinness-world-record-mission-impossible-flaming-parachute-stunt/#:~:text=Tom%20Cruise%20has%20become%20a,said%20in%20a%20news%20release.">CBS News</a> reported. The actor would also hold a 50-pound camera for some of the jumps.
&#8220;Tom doesn&#8217;t just play action heroes — he is an action hero!&#8221; Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said of the stunt. &#8220;A large part of his success can be chalked up to his absolute focus on authenticity and pushing the boundaries of what a leading man can do. It&#8217;s an honor to be able to recognize his utter fearlessness with this new Guinness World Records title.&#8221;
Cruise posted a clip of some of the jumps on social media. “If this is twisted while it’s burning, I’m going to be spinning and burning. I have to kick out of the twist and then ignite in 10 seconds,” Cruise can be heard saying before jumping. “We’re going to be real smart. I’m not saying be risky. We don’t take risks, obviously.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Light the fuse. <a href="https://t.co/X1i1w70VOX">pic.twitter.com/X1i1w70VOX</a>
&mdash; Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCruise/status/1930682304894239114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” had a strong Memorial Day Weekend debut and has grossed $390 million at the worldwide box office. This gave the movie business a much-needed boost after a sluggish start to the year.
“This weekend was one for the history books!” Cruise wrote in a note he shared with followers after the debut. “Congratulations and thank you to every filmmaker, every artist, every crew member and every single person who works at the studios.”
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“To every theater and every employee who helps bring these stories to audiences, thank you,” the message continued.  “To everyone that works at Paramount Pictures and Skydance, thank you for your many years of partnership and unwavering support. And most of all, THANK YOU to audiences everywhere for whom we all serve and for whom we all LOVE to entertain. Sincerely, Tom.”
Cruise had previously discussed doing “physically punishing” stunts during filming. One involved him breathing in his own carbon monoxide during an underwater submarine scene.
“You have to overcome all of that while you’re doing it, and be present,” he said during a February interview with Empire, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-cruise-opens-up-about-physically-punishing-stunt-for-upcoming-film">reported</a>.
Cruise also discussed an action sequence on the outside of a biplane, saying he passed out multiple times while filming it.
“When you stick your face out [of an airplane], going over 120 to 130 miles an hour, you’re not getting oxygen,” the Hollywood star said. “So I had to train myself how to breathe. There were times I would pass out physically; I was unable to get back into the cockpit.”

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Sets Random Guinness World Record With ‘Mission: Impossible’ Stunt

Tom Cruise Earns Guinness World Record While Filming 'Mission: Impossible 8' 

Mission Impossible

Anyone who relished 1978’s “Superman: The Movie” winced over the saga’s fourth installment, 1987’s “The Quest for Peace.”
That didn’t erase the mark Christopher Reeve left on the Man of Steel and pop culture writ large. Iconic. Then and now.
<div id="attachment_930427" style="width: 471px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930427" class="size-large wp-image-930427" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319-461x576.jpg" alt="Superman, played by American actor Christopher Reeve (1952 - 2004), holds a green crystal at the Fortress of Solitude, in a promotional still from 'Superman', directed by Richard Donner, 1978. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319-461x576.jpg 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319.jpg 819w" sizes="(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" />Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images</div>
So, after Marvel’s “Iron Man” blew the doors off the box office in 2008 and ignited Hollywood’s new superhero craze, it made sense to bring the DC Comics hero back to theaters.
He’s arguably the most recognizable hero in the men in tights genre, dating back to the late 1930s. So why can’t the industry get Superman right?
Here’s hoping director James Gunn does just that with the latest “Superman.” The summer’s most anticipated release casts relative newcomer David Corenswet (“Twisters”) as the Krypton native. Early <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhUht6vAsMY">trailers</a> suggest a lighter tone and emphasis on humor as much as rock ‘em, sock ‘em action.
<div id="attachment_930429" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930429" class="size-large wp-image-930429" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-1024x576.jpg" alt="David Corenswet. &quot;Superman&quot; 2025. Photo by Courtesy of Warner Bros. Copyright: Warner Bros." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Photo by Courtesy of Warner Bros. Copyright: Warner Bros.</div>
Why is it so hard to make the Man of Steel as popular as the Hulk or Thor on movie screens? 
We’ve had endless small-screen Supermen, from George Reeves’ ‘50s era here to Dean Cain in the rom-com-ish ‘90s series “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.”
The first major attempt at Superman came two years before Robert Downey, Jr. kick-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 2006 film “Superman Returns” deployed a Reeve doppelganger (Brandon Routh) but underwhelmed at the box office.
Something was missing, and not just the “American Way.” The film ditched the hero’s signature phrase, “Truth, Justice and the American Way” to placate foreign audiences or the industry’s Left-leaning sensibilities.
By the time Warner Bros. hired Henry Cavill to play Clark Kent the superhero craze was in full swing, but this wasn’t your father’s Superman. Cavill’s “Man of Steel” (2013) was conflicted, a far cry from Reeve’s Boy Scout persona. Even the legendary suit’s colors were muted, a darker shade to reflect his inner turmoil.
<div id="attachment_930431" style="width: 812px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930431" class="size-large wp-image-930431" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650-802x576.jpg" alt="SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 25: (EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA OUT) British actor Henry Cavill poses during a photo shoot on June 25, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Cavill is in Australia to promote his new superman film 'Man of Steel'. (Photo by Chris Pavlich/Newspix/Getty Images)" width="802" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650-802x576.jpg 802w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650-300x215.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650-768x551.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px" />Chris Pavlich/Newspix/Getty Images</div>
The film made millions, but it didn’t rock the culture like Reeve did in the late 1970s nor did it generate a direct sequel. Cavill starred in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) and “Justice League” (2017).
Cavill made a Superman cameo in the 2022 disappointment “Black Adam” before learning he was out of the DCEU (DC Extended Universe).
It’s not surprising that Hollywood has struggled to make Superman “Superman.” Antiheroes are all the rage in Tinsel Town, from Tony Soprano to the misfit warriors of “Thunderbolts*” and two “Suicide Squad” films.
It’s hard to make a Boy Scout-like hero pop off the screen in our cynical age. The writing must be rich and detailed, showcasing layers that make the “aw, shucks” heroism matter. Antiheroes offer far more shades of gray and opportunities to grab our attention. That’s what Walter White did for five mesmerizing seasons of “Breaking Bad.”
“Say my name!”
Goody two-shoes characters aren’t hip in the eyes of many screenwriters. White hat heroes need not apply. How many recent films have glorified hit men, paid assassins who serve as judge, jury and executioner? The “John Wick” saga is the tip of that morally dubious iceberg.
So where does that leave this summer’s Superman reboot?
It’s Gunn’s baby, through and through. The veteran writer/director is in charge of the DCEU’s reboot, and this is his coming-out party after working with the MCU on the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy.
<div id="attachment_930433" style="width: 879px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930433" class="size-large wp-image-930433" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001-869x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: James Gunn speaks at the DC Studios Creature Commandos panel during New York Comic Con 2024 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 19, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop)" width="869" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001-869x576.jpg 869w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001-768x509.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 869px) 100vw, 869px" />Craig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop</div>
Gunn brings a quirky sense of humor to his work, but he’s hardly a traditionalist. He also has a dark side. He previously got canceled in 2018 for resurfaced <a href="https://deadline.com/2018/07/james-gunn-fired-guardians-of-the-galaxy-disney-offensive-tweets-1202430392/">pedophilia and rape jokes</a> on Twitter. Disney later had a change of heart and hired him to helm the third film in the “Guardians” saga.
<a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/james-gunn-donald-trump-dick-joke-twitter-james-mangold-1201908489/">Gunn also blasted then-President Trump</a>, a common pose in his field.
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, no fan of Gunn’s work, has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbefouUAF2w">low expectations</a> for the new reboot after reviewing the trailer. “Two thumbs down.”
A recent revelation suggests Hollywood didn’t learn from its past mistakes. Official “Superman” movie merchandise drops the “American Way” phrase once more in favor of “<a href="https://cosmicbook.news/james-gunn-superman-ditches-the-american-way">the human way.”</a>
Yet the director <a href="https://thescreenbrief.com/james-gunn-interview-superman-teaser-press-launch/">spoke to the character’s innate goodness</a> in a late 2024 interview that suggests a Reeve-like take on the material. 
“We can expect a Superman who is about the compassion of the human spirit, a Superman who is about kindness, love and compassion, while also being a very strong character. He is the best of humanity, even though he is an alien from outer space.”
Maybe Gunn will rise to the cultural occasion. We could use a unifying hero like Superman at this point in American culture. We’re at each other’s throats over political differences, egged on by social media platforms that feast on conflict.
<div id="attachment_930443" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930443" class="size-large wp-image-930443" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) Peter Safran, Co-Chairman &amp; CEO, DC Studios, David Corenswet and James Gunn, Co-Chairman &amp; CEO, DC Studios attend &quot;Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story&quot; New York Premiere at Museum of Modern Art on September 18, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images</div>
Superman isn’t Right or Left, although his Midwest upbringing suggests he’d call the former camp home. Still, Reeve’s Superman never became a culture war talking point. His chaste pursuit of Margot Kidder’s Lois Land was PG-rated perfection. He’s true to his word and lives to save cats stuck in trees.
That’s all for the good.
Gunn teased Superman’s core strength as a character in the aforementioned interview, another tease that he might be channeling the Reeve model.
“[He’s ]this symbol of really old-fashioned values and hope, and it’s an idea that’s been a bit battered over the years.”
Gunn is no conservative, but he may realize “Superman” needs heartland values to connect with the character’s past … and the franchise’s future. That’s assuming he still has one.
* * *
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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Auction Of Superman Suit In Melbourne – Preview

Why Can’t Hollywood Get Superman Right?

Comics

DC Studios

Marvel

Superman

Warner Bros

The Kennedy Center kicked off June by continuing on their mission of offering family friendly content for visitors of all ages. The Washington, D.C.-based entertainment venue debuted the Angel Studios hit film, “The King of Kings,” on June 1.
“This animated film is the perfect family experience, and we are thrilled to bring a special viewing to the Kennedy Center,&#8221; Ambassador Richard Grenell, President of The John F. Kennedy Center, said in a <a href="https://www.angel.com/press/release/the-kennedy-center-to-host-free-screening-of-the-animated-film-the-king-of">press release</a>. “When I saw the advertising campaign for ‘The King of Kings,’ I immediately knew we needed to have it come to the Kennedy Center. Coincidentally, I was asked to be on a panel with the CEO of Angel Studios, so I cornered him. This is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future.”
Jordan Harmon, President of Angel distribution company, added, “The success of the film proves that when you give the audience the power to choose, they’ll elevate stories that matter and that will amplify light to families around the globe. The Kennedy Center has the pulse on art and entertainment that is impacting our culture, and to see this film celebrated there is a victory for faith, family, and the future of storytelling.”
Both shows were completely sold out and the on-site prayer wall was totally full, a rep from the Center confirmed with The Daily Wire. The theater included people of all ages and from all backgrounds applauding the animated film about the life of Jesus.
As of May 22, “The King of Kings” has grossed a total of $66.9 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful bible-based films in history.
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A synopsis of the film says, “A father tells his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice. The King of Kings invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child.”
Film critics and theatergoers were both effusive with their praise of the film. It currently has a 97% audience score on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_king_of_kings">Rotten Tomatoes</a>.
Trump made headlines earlier this year when he promised to reform the Kennedy Center, which began when he replaced its board and was elected chairman. Trump also tapped Special Envoy Richard Grenell to serve as the Center’s president.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”

The King of Kings

The Kennedy Center Kicks Off June With Sold Out Showings Of ‘The King Of Kings’

The Kennedy Center Kicks Off June With Sold Out Showings Of 'The King Of Kings'

The Kennedy Center

Washington D.C.

Tom Cruise had an enthusiastic reaction to his latest film, “Mission: Impossible &#8211; The Final Reckoning,” helping to make Memorial Day weekend 2025 break records at the box office.
The success of “Mission: Impossible 8,” which raked in $341 million worldwide, and Disney’s latest live-action remake, “Lilo &amp; Stitch,” which earned $200 million, gave the movie business a much-needed boost after a sluggish start to the year. 
“This weekend was one for the history books!” Cruise wrote in a note he shared with followers on his social media platforms. “Congratulations and thank you to every filmmaker, every artist, every crew member and every single person who works at the studios.&#8221;
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<a href="https://t.co/zkf0sr7zuI">pic.twitter.com/zkf0sr7zuI</a>
&mdash; Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCruise/status/1927346598029217940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“To every theater and every employee who helps bring these stories to audiences, thank you,” the message continued.  “To everyone that works at Paramount Pictures and Skydance, thank you for your many years of partnership and unwavering support.”
“And most of all, THANK YOU to audiences everywhere for whom we all serve and for whom we all LOVE to entertain. Sincerely, Tom.”
“Mission: Impossible &#8211; The Final Reckoning” earned $63 million domestically, a record for the long-running “Mission: Impossible&#8221; franchise, over the three-day weekend alone, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/tom-cruise-reacts-mission-impossible-8-box-office-record-1236410669/">Variety</a>. The film brought in an estimated $77 million at the domestic box office during the four-day holiday.
“A record opening on the eighth iteration is remarkable. It speaks to the longevity of the franchise,” Paramount’s distribution chief Chris Aronson said. “The spectacle of what Tom and McQ [director Christopher McQuarrie] put on screen is one-of-a-kind in today’s marketplace.”
The success comes after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-reviews-are-in-for-tom-cruise-and-mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning">early reviewers</a> gave high praise to the action film. 
“[‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’] is whip-smart and razor-sharp, this tense eighth entry in one of the most exhilarating franchises of all time is another winner. With sphincter-tightening set pieces, blockbusters do not get much better than this. Cruise &amp; [director Christopher] McQuarrie nail it!” one reviewer wrote. 
The “Mission: Impossible” franchise, which began in 1996 and is based on the 1960s television series, has evolved into a high-energy action filmography featuring Tom Cruise’s death-defying stunts and intricate espionage plots. The films have grossed more than $4 billion worldwide, with the most successful being “Fallout” (2018).

Tom Cruise Shares Thank-You Note After ‘Mission: Impossible 8’ Record Opening

Tom Cruise Reacts To 'Mission: Impossible 8' Helping Set Memorial Day Box Office Record

Box Office

Memorial Day

Some film critics were able to check out Tom Cruise’s new film, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” ahead of its Memorial Day weekend release date of May 23, and so far, the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive.
“[‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’] rips! Loved it. An exhilarating adrenaline rush for the head &amp; heart &amp; immersive, awe-inducing stuntacular of the highest order. McQ, [Tom Cruise] &amp; CO have crafted the gold standard – a brilliant, bold actioner for the ages. See it BIG &amp; LOUD,” one film critic <a href="https://x.com/Lulamaybelle/status/1922155008658723170">shared</a> on X. 
Another reviewer shared similar sentiments, <a href="https://x.com/ShowbizSimon/status/1922155294500556946">writing</a>, “[‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’] is whip-smart and razor-sharp, this tense eighth entry in one of the most exhilarating franchises of all time is another winner. With sphincter-tightening set pieces, blockbusters do not get much better than this. Cruise &amp; McQuarrie nail it!”
“[&#8216;Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning&#8217;] is the ACTION MOVIE OF THE SUMMER! [Tom Cruise] DEFIES ALL ODDS with JAW-DROPPING action built only for @IMAX. Every stunt, every set piece, every second is designed to blow your mind, A PULSE-POUNDING THRILL RIDE, and Cruise remains the king of spectacle,” a third reviewer <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mission-impossible-final-reckoning-first-reactions-1236214813/">echoed</a>.
Another said this film, “ties up loose ends of the franchise while also coming full circle on storylines I never imagined would be revisited. The wonderfully insane stunts are to be expected, but the film really hinges on the tension throughout. It’s a great time!”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning | Official Trailer (2025 Movie) - Tom Cruise" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fsQgc9pCyDU?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>
“MI8” will debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14 ahead of its theatrical release. 
This latest effort is a follow-up to “Dead Reckoning Part One,” which was considered a box office disappointment despite making $566 million globally due to the high costs of production and marketing. Per <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mission-impossible-final-reckoning-first-reactions-1236214813/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>, “MI8” cost more than $400 million to make and was plagued by production delays, meaning it has even more ground to make up.
The &#8220;Mission: Impossible&#8221; franchise, which began in 1996 and is based on the 1960s television series, has evolved into a high-energy action filmography featuring Tom Cruise’s death-defying stunts and intricate espionage plots. The films have <a href="https://www.therichest.com/mission-impossible-movies/">grossed</a> more than $4 billion worldwide, with the most successful being “Fallout” (2018).
While &#8220;Mission: Impossible &#8211; The Final Reckoning&#8221; is titled in a way that suggests it might be the end of the franchise, the film&#8217;s director, Christopher McQuarrie, has not confirmed or denied the suggestion. Tom Cruise did confirm that

The Reviews Are In For Tom Cruise And ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’

Critics Say 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' Is An 'Exhilarating Adrenaline Rush'

Cannes

World

One of President Donald Trump’s better qualities flies far under the radar. He doesn’t hold a grudge. That’s especially true when there’s a greater good in play.
Then-candidate Trump sparred aggressively with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly during the 2016 campaign. Late last year, Kelly endorsed Trump, speaking at a MAGA rally days before the Nov. 5 election.
The president once dubbed a presidential rival “Little” Marco Rubio. That politician is currently Trump’s trusted Secretary of State.
Now, Trump wants to make amends with Hollywood, an industry that loathes him with the heat of a thousand suns. This act of forgiveness dwarfs them all, but Trump sees movies as a vital part of the nation’s soft power as well as a critical industry.
<div id="attachment_877383" style="width: 873px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-877383" class="size-large wp-image-877383" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-863x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 06: Donald Trump star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California on Dec. 6, 2016." width="863" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-863x576.jpg 863w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-2048x1368.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 863px) 100vw, 863px" />shalunts. Getty Images.</div>
It’s why Hollywood should swallow hard and play nice with President Trump. Or, at the very least, lend him its collective ear.
Trump’s shocking outreach began with, what else, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-movie-industry-is-dying-puts-plan-in-place-to-save-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a social media post</a>. He promised 100% tariffs on movies made outside of the U.S.
<blockquote>I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,” he added. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!&#8221;</blockquote>
All heck broke loose in La La Land, with entertainment news outlets spinning furiously against the vague proposal.
Call it Trump’s opening volley, part of the president’s knack for starting with big claims and negotiating from there. It’s similar to Trump’s earlier announcement that movie superstars Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight would form a group of “Ambassadors” to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-appoints-a-list-stars-as-ambassadors-to-hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revive the flailing film industry.</a>
<blockquote>It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!</blockquote>
Except the news seemed to have caught the trio by surprise and, only recently, did one of the actors, Voight, step forward with <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/jon-voight-trump-hollywood-tariff-1236390109/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concrete plans</a> on making Hollywood great again.
<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/07/nx-s1-5389865/trump-movie-tariffs-jon-voight-tax-incentives-hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NPR described Voight’s vision</a> as “federal tax incentives, co-production treaties with other countries and subsidies for theater owners and film and TV production companies.”
<div id="attachment_861225" style="width: 987px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-861225" class="size-large wp-image-861225" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-977x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Actor Jon Voight speaks at Donald Trump's victory rally on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in on January 20. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)" width="977" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-977x576.jpg 977w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-300x177.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-768x453.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px" />Scott Olson/Getty Images</div>
The “Midnight Cowboy” star acknowledged the rift between Trump and Hollywood, adding that it shouldn&#8217;t distract from the big picture.
“I think he’s been treated unfairly. I think I have too. But what’s the difference? Who cares?” Voight asks. “I mean, there’s been a battle, but now it’s time to put that aside. And I must say, in all of the interactions we’ve had [on addressing runaway production], politics has never come up. Never.”
Hollywood, Inc. would be foolish not to listen.
Yes, the box office came roaring back in recent weeks, courtesy of hits like “Sinners” and “A Minecraft Movie.” That doesn’t camouflage the sizable issues confronting movie studios, from the death of the modern movie star to escalating film budgets.
Case in point? The upcoming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” has a <a href="https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/3/25/mission-impossible-8-has-a-400m-budget" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$400 million budget</a>, meaning it will have to dramatically out-perform the best films in the series to make a profit.
Hollywood’s problems would make a depressing feature.
Film and TV productions have been fleeing Los Angeles for some time. Streaming platforms have proven to be far less profitable than hoped, with Netflix emerging as the strongest money maker for now.
The DVD/Blu-ray gravy train slowed some time ago, removing a safety net for films that didn’t catch fire at theaters.
Dueling 2023 strikes hurt the industry more than anticipated, and the threat of A.I. to the creative community looms in the not-so-distant future. Social media, YouTube and other distractions now dominate the culture, making young consumers <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/deloitte-gen-z-creator-content-streaming-price-1236171227/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less invested in Hollywood product</a>.
Meanwhile, California Democrats are <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-05-06/newsom-called-for-a-federal-tax-incentive-to-save-hollywood-but-will-that-actually-happen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scrambling to prevent productions</a> from leaving the City of Angels for more receptive states and countries. That’s left countless Calif.-based crew members desperate for work. <a href="https://variety.com/2025/biz/news/new-york-film-subsidy-jersey-1236392167/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York just followed suit</a>.
Hollywood players hate Trump so much some wish they could erase his presence from pop culture of yore. “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/home-alone-2-director-trump-cameo-removed-1236369779/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">director said just that about Trump’s seconds-long cameo</a> in his 1992 film.
<div id="attachment_908099" style="width: 832px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908099" class="size-large wp-image-908099" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-822x576.jpg" alt="Macaulay Culkin" width="822" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-822x576.jpg 822w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-768x538.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 822px) 100vw, 822px" />Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images</div>
Others have alternately <a href="https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/louis-c-k-donald-trump-insane-bigot-dangerous-1201723679/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dubbed him Hitler</a> or <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/celebrities-wished-trump-dead/">wished him dead</a>. That sentiment may be hard to overcome.
The perfect storm of problems facing Hollywood may be too much for any presidential plan to solve. Gen Z’s drift away from movie watching can’t be assuaged by new policies. Stars still insist on <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/fantastic-four-rachel-zegler-problem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insulting potential customers</a>, from “Snow White’s” Rachel Zegler to the cast of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
The two sides need to put aside their differences for the greater good. A healthy film market impacts more than just studio executives, theater owners and various crew members.
Hollywood movies send a message to the world. Films like “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006) showcase the power of the American capitalist system. Others promote values like individual liberty (2012’s “Still Mine”) and triumphs over adversity (2016’s “Hidden Figures”).
It’s why China invests so heavily in its movie industry. The Communist nation wants to put the nation’s best foot forward on the big screen, removing sequences from foreign films that cast the country in a negative light.
President Trump may not make Hollywood great again. He could help the industry thrive against all odds.
* * *
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 Wants To Make Hollywood Great Again — Will The Industry Listen?

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Whoopi Goldberg launched into a tirade against President Donald Trump on Tuesday, complaining that his recently-announced tariff on films made outside the United States amounted to an attempt to control the kind of movies that could be made.
Goldberg and her cohosts mocked Trump&#8217;s latest tariff announcement — a 100% tariff on movies made outside the United States — and kicked off the conversation by saying that Trump should deal with the egg prices (which have come down considerably since they peaked in March) before he worries about Hollywood.
&#8220;Okay, look,&#8221; Goldberg began. &#8220;You can&#8217;t do that because what that equates to is you&#8217;re going to tell me how to write the story I want to write if it happens in Europe, you&#8217;re telling me that if my book comes out and I want to write it, you&#8217;re telling me how to write it. You&#8217;re telling me you&#8217;re going to charge me for that.&#8221;
&#8220;What – you know, I — could you, look, ughhhhhh. Could you please lower the price of eggs before you start this?!&#8221; she continued.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Faux conservative Alyssa Farah Griffin mocks the idea of making some movie in America &#8220;Will it be Emily in Paris, Texas?&#8221; 
Sara Haines notes that Trump&#8217;s tariff threat has already caused California to want to increase incentives to film there. 
Whoopi continued to rage: &#8220;[I]f you… <a href="https://t.co/UGP6c2jMUE">pic.twitter.com/UGP6c2jMUE</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickFondacaro/status/1919777666154045620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin noted that some states were already competing to bring in filmmakers, noting that Georgia had effectively become &#8220;the Hollywood of the southeast because they make it cheaper to make movies there.&#8221; She then pivoted to mock the idea anyway, asking whether &#8220;Emily in Paris&#8221; would be remade as &#8220;Emily in Paris, Texas&#8221; — &#8220;or like &#8216;White Lotus: Mar-a-Lago Edition.&#8217; Movies will be very limited if you can only shoot here.&#8221;
Sara Haines noted that Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) had already moved to increase incentives for filmmakers to practice their craft in California, arguing that Trump&#8217;s plan could potentially bring about a positive outcome.
Goldberg pushed back, arguing that it would ultimately hurt movies if the tariff remained in place. &#8220;You can&#8217;t shoot &#8216;Gladiator&#8217; without going to Rome!&#8221;

WHOOPI GOLDBERG

‘You Can’t Do That!’: Whoopi Trashes Trump Over Hollywood Tariff, Claims He’s Controlling Movie Plots

'You Can't Do That!' Whoopi Trashes Trump Over Hollywood Tariff, Claims He's Controlling Movie Plots

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