“Rust” director Joel Souza says he regrets writing the movie.
Souza, 51, was injured and cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed while filming a scene for the movie when a prop gun held by Alec Baldwin accidentally discharged.
Baldwin&#8217;s involuntary manslaughter trial was dismissed with prejudice in July 2024 after a judge ruled that prosecutors had deliberately withheld key evidence, preventing any future charges. While Baldwin was cleared, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
The director is currently promoting the film ahead of its United States release on Friday, but appears to have mixed feelings about it.
“You think about the chain of events that started that morning. Bad decision after bad decision was made…talk about the butterfly effect,” Souza told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/apr/28/rust-joel-souza-alec-baldwin-halyna-hutchins-shooting">The Guardian</a> in a newly published interview. “I wish I never wrote the damn movie.”
The “Rust” director also discussed his apprehension with firearms. “I didn’t grow up around [guns] and I don’t like the culture,” he said. “Guns make me recoil. The idea of touching one, picking one up, I find very off-putting.”
However, using guns was necessary for making a Western drama like “Rust.” Souza was planning to abandon the project unfinished. But he says Hutchins’ family insisted on something different.
“The family wanted it completed,” Souza told The Guardian. “I’d been repelled by the thought of going back, but now it started to appeal. And I couldn’t live with the idea of someone else doing it.”
“I was a mess going in and a mess coming out,” he added. “The crew carried me through. My family carried me through. Emotionally, I was all over the map.”
Previously, “Rust” premiered in Poland at the Camerimage International Film Festival in late November. Souza <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alec-baldwins-rust-trailer-drops-nearly-four-years-after-fatal-on-set-shooting?author=Katie+Jerkovich&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Alec+Baldwin%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%98Rust%E2%80%99+Trailer+Drops+Nearly+Four+Years+After+Fatal+On-Set+Shooting">confirmed</a> to Vanity Fair that the scene which included the fatal shooting had been removed “in its entirety.”
“Gone. Not just that, but also a few things leading up to it,” Souza said at the time. “Everything needed to be entirely reconceived there. There were a few things that came before that now wouldn’t make story sense. So we just sort of eliminated it and came up with something entirely different.”
“I’m not going back to that,” he added. “I’m glad you asked. I don’t want anyone who ever does see this to be waiting for that. No one ever pushed to keep anything like that.”

Joel Souza

‘Wish I’d Never Written That Damn Movie:’ ‘Rust’ Director Reflects Ahead Of U.S. Release

'Wish I’d Never Written That Damn Movie:' 'Rust' Director Reflects Ahead Of U.S. Release

Alec Baldwin

Entertainment

Movies

Rust

U.S.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made a change to the rules for Oscars voting that shocked fans who can’t believe it hasn&#8217;t been the standard all along.
Several new <a href="https://press.oscars.org/news/awards-rules-and-campaign-promotional-regulations-approved-98th-oscarsr">guidelines</a> were announced Monday, including a rule saying, “Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars.”
“Absolutely insane this wasn’t already a thing,” one X user replied to the update, echoing what so many others were saying. “Were they just voting on vibes before?” another chimed in.
Commenters also wondered if some films in the past may have been overlooked or snubbed because of it.
“This honestly makes me question the integrity of previous Oscar wins,” another reply <a href="https://x.com/sash_jpg/status/1914423182448005584">said</a>. “Imagine if Dune: Part Two didn’t get an award simply because voters couldn’t be bothered to sit through a two-hour film, and the clip they saw felt too boring or confusing without context. There are so many great films that probably lost out this way.”
Others questioned how the new rule would be enforced.
“How will you prove this? I could go to the theater and sleep through every one or play the screeners to an empty couch. It seems this is more wish fulfillment than actual enforceable policy,” one person <a href="https://x.com/deltamagnet/status/1914413354162250034">wrote</a>.
The Academy announced other updates in addition to the new rule for voting, including a rule saying the use of generative AI and digital tools will &#8220;neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination.”
This comes amid a huge debate over the use of AI in the movie industry, with actors and directors divided on how and when it should be used. There was controversy about the use of AI in “The Brutalist” this past awards season. The historical drama took home three Academy Awards, including Best Actor.
It was discovered that Adrien Brody’s Hungarian accent was tweaked using AI to adjust vowel and consonant sounds using an editor’s voice. The director justified the move, saying it was a tiny fix that didn’t touch the actual performance.

Oscars

Oscars Mandate Voters Must Watch All Films Before Voting, Sparking Mockery Online

Hollywood

The animated, bible-based film “The King of Kings” managed to perform almost as well in its second week as it did during the film’s premiere, bringing in $17.2 million over Easter weekend after a record-breaking $19.1 million debut.
The past weekend&#8217;s earnings represent only a 10% decrease in revenue, which is among the 50 lowest percentage revenue drops for any movie that had a theatrical opening, per <a href="https://screenrant.com/king-of-kings-movie-low-second-week-drop-box-office-milestone/">Screen Rant</a>. This is significantly better than the industry average second-weekend drop, which usually ranges from 50% to 60%.
“The King of Kings” came in third at the box office behind “Sinners” and “A Minecraft Movie.” The film has made just over $45 million, making it the second-highest-grossing movie for Angel Studios, behind 2023’s unexpected hit, “Sound of Freedom.”
In its debut weekend, “The King of Kings” also broke the record set by “The Prince of Egypt” for most money earned by an animated biblical film during its premiere. “The Prince of Egypt” (1998) went on to earn over $100 million domestically.
“The King of Kings” has been a massive hit with critics and audiences, too. It currently has a 65% critic score and 98% audience score on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_king_of_kings">Rotten Tomatoes</a>.
The reviewer from The San Francisco Chronicle noted the film’s “whimsical Dickensian touches.” &#8220;The King of Kings” is based on Charles Dickens&#8217; book, “The Life of Our Lord.” He also called the movie “amusing and possibly enlightening Easter entertainment for younger children.”
Most moviegoers were generous with their praise. One reviewer said it was “a visually captivating animated film that brings the story of Jesus to life through the imaginative lens of Charles Dickens narrating to his son.”
“The film’s heartfelt message of hope, love, and redemption resonates strongly with faith-based audiences. A great film for all !! Tastefully done,” he added.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The King Of Kings | Official Trailer | In theaters April 11 | Angel Studios" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HDhet3EVRac?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>
Another agreed, writing, “This was so captivating! Entertains adults and kids. It is full of truth and light. I’d recommend to everyone!”
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.”

King of Kings

‘King Of Kings’ Holds Strong Over Easter Weekend With Surprisingly Low Revenue Drop

'King Of Kings' Holds Strong Over Easter Weekend With Surprisingly Low Revenue Drop

Angel Studios

Bible

Box Office

A 1977 version of “Star Wars,” which George Lucas refused to put on the big screen, is heading to theaters. 
The original release, then called just “Star Wars,” now referred to as “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope,” was constantly tweaked after its original release by Lucas. The filmmaker referred to these new, slightly altered versions as “Special Editions.” According to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/star-wars-original-cut-edit-screening-george-lucas-1236191847/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>, some of those changes were subtle while others were more significant. 
In June, the British Film Institute’s Film on Film Festival will include a screening of one of the Technicolor prints from the original “Star Wars” run. The Telegraph <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/star-wars-original-print-george-lucas-bfi/">noted</a> that this represents the first time this version of the iconic space drama has been shown on the big screen since December 1978.
“We’re delighted to announce the programme for the second edition of the BFI Film on Film Festival, taking place at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX from 12 to 15 June 2025 and opening with Star Wars (1977), screening publicly for the first time in decades in its original 1977 version,” BFI <a href="https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/bfi-film-film-festival-line-up-star-wars-twin-peaks">wrote</a> in the announcement.
The print is an “original, unfaded dye transfer IB Technicolor British release print of Star Wars (1977), preserved in the BFI National Archive, and ready to transport us to a long time ago, and a galaxy far, far away, back to the moment in 1977 when George Lucas’s vision cast a spell on cinema audiences,” the organization wrote, adding that attendees can also “view material from the original continuity script for Star Wars, which includes rare on-set Polaroids, annotations and deleted scenes.” 
While some copies of the unaltered original do exist and have circulated for home use, Lucas has been adamant about only allowing the Special Edition to be seen in theaters. He discussed the subject during a 2004 <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/lucas-talks-star-wars-trilogy-returns-wbna6011380">interview</a> with The Associated Press.
“The Special Edition, that’s the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it’s on VHS, if anybody wants it. I’m not going to spend the — we’re talking millions of dollars here — the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn’t really exist anymore,” Lucas said at the time.  
“It’s like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I’m sorry you saw a half-completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be. I’m the one who has to take responsibility for it. I’m the one who has to have everybody throw rocks at me all the time, so at least if they’re going to throw rocks at me, they’re going to throw rocks at me for something I love rather than something I think is not very good, or at least something I think is not finished.”
Disney purchased the entire “Star Wars” franchise from Lucasfilm in 2012 for just over $4 billion. The last release, “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker,” made more than $1 billion despite lackluster critical reviews. Next up, Disney will try again with “The Mandalorian &amp; Grogu,” which is expected in May 2026.

Star Wars

Original ‘Star Wars’ Version George Lucas Banned Will Hit Screens For First Time In Decades

Original 'Star Wars' Version George Lucas Banned Will Hit Screens For First Time In Decades

George Lucas

“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” director Chris Columbus said that he’s still tormented by Donald Trump making a cameo in the 1992 film.
Columbus referenced the popular pop culture moment during an <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/trump-chris-columbus-home-alone-2-20274381.php?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqHPtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHp4_XzTikXHclrOagZJsIMZU09Y2OelDzJTE69PBkh9QQsAjNu7rPcnVQMNa_aem_mqGPfh7Gw7f7KjkoaB6gLg">interview</a> with the San Francisco Chronicle, saying Trump’s seven second appearance in the movie has “become this curse.”
“It’s become an albatross for me. I just wish it was gone,” Columbus lamented. “I can’t cut it. If I cut it, I’ll probably be sent out of the country. I’ll be considered sort of not fit to live in the United States, so I’ll have to go back to Italy or something.”
“Home Alone 2” followed up on the popularity of the first film. It showed the McAllister family taking a trip to Florida, only the youngest son, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), winds up by himself in New York City. He’s pursued by the same two burglars from the first film, Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci).
“We screened the film in Chicago, and when that moment came onscreen the audience went crazy,” Columbus added. “They cheered and they cheered and they thought it was hilarious. I think I know a lot about comedy, but I don’t, obviously, because I never thought that was going to be considered hilarious.”
Columbus told Business Insider in 2020 that Trump insisted he be included in the film, but Trump said the opposite is true.
“We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.’ So we agreed to put him in the movie,” the director said during an interview for the film’s 30th anniversary.
President Trump addressed Columbus’ claims three years later in a Truth Social post.
“I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it,” he wrote. “They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired.”
Trump continued, “Now, however, 30 years later, Columbus (what was his real name?) put out a statement that I bullied myself into the movie. Nothing could be further from the truth. That cameo helped make the movie a success … Just another Hollywood guy from the past looking for a quick fix of Trump publicity for himself!”
During the new interview, Columbus stated, “Years later, it’s become this curse. It’s become this thing that I wish it was not there. What’s going through this guy’s mind? He said I was lying. I’m not lying. He said I begged him to be in the movie, but there’s no world I would ever beg a non-actor to be in a movie. But we were desperate to get the Plaza Hotel.”

Macaulay Culkin

‘Home Alone 2’ Director Says Trump Cameo Is His ‘Albatross,’ Wishes ‘It Was Gone’

'Home Alone 2' Director Says Trump Cameo Is His 'Albatross,' Wishes 'It Was Gone'

Donald Trump

Home Alone

MixCollage-14-Apr-2025-05-21-PM-3053

Matt Walsh Breaks Down The Deceptive Propaganda In ‘Adolescence’ Netflix Show

Crime

England

Great Britain

Matt Walsh

Murder

Netflix

Opinion

Stabbing

Teenagers

United Kingdom

Violent Crime

“A Minecraft Movie” is smashing box office expectations for its second week in theaters, earning it the top spot as the highest-grossing movie of 2025 so far. The video game-based film starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black earned $80.6 million in ticket sales over the weekend alone, bringing the worldwide total to more than $550 million.
That’s a stark contrast to Disney&#8217;s live-action remake of “Snow White,” which dropped out of the box office top five this week after being pulled from 1,210 theaters less than one month after its premiere, as Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/04/12/snow-white-drops-out-of-box-office-top-5-after-shedding-1210-venues/">reported</a>. 
While “Minecraft” stayed in the top spot, the newly released “The King of Kings,” an animated story of Jesus’ life, came in second with $19.1 million in 3,200 theaters.
While moviegoers have been enthusiastic about “A Minecraft Movie,” theater employees have been less than thrilled following instances of destructive behavior during certain parts of the film. Videos posted to social media include clips of moviegoers, especially teen boys, filming themselves throwing popcorn and other food and drink items and, in one instance, being kicked out for bringing a live chicken to a showing, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/teen-boys-trashing-theaters-causing-mayhem-at-a-minecraft-movie-showings">reported</a>. 
The bad behavior is usually aligned with the viral “chicken jockey” scene, which features Jack Black’s character Steve yelling “chicken jockey!” when a baby zombie appears on screen riding a chicken like a horse. This precedes Jason Momoa’s character, Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, fighting the zombie.
&#8220;It&#8217;s weird when you&#8217;re having too much fun and the cops get called,&#8221; director Jared Hess <a href="https://ew.com/minecraft-chicken-jockey-director-jared-hess-reacts-exclusive-11712098">told</a> Entertainment Weekly of the incidents. &#8220;I&#8217;ve seen so many funny videos. It&#8217;s great &#8230; I&#8217;m just glad people are making memories with their friends and families.
Meanwhile, “Snow White” is not much closer to recouping the film’s massive $270 million production budget, which does not include months-long worldwide marketing efforts.
In the film’s second weekend, “Snow White” dropped a whopping 66% for a total of $14.3 million, while the crime thriller “A Working Man” nabbed the top spot with $15.3 million.
As multiple controversies saw the film making headlines for all the wrong reasons, “Snow White” premiered with a disappointing $43 million domestic gross, cementing the film as one of the worst-performing live-action remakes Disney ever made.
Several factors likely contributed to the remake’s abysmal results, including controversies over statements made by Rachel Zegler, the film’s leading actress, and issues with the storytelling and use of CGI.

Minecraft

‘Snow White’ Drops Out Of Box Office Top 5 While ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Dominates

'Snow White' Drops Out Of Box Office Top 5 While 'Minecraft Movie' Absolutely Dominates

Snow White

The five main stars in the popular John Hughes film “The Breakfast Club” just reunited for the first time since the film debuted 40 years ago.
Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy were all present during a panel conversation celebrating the 1985 coming-of-age drama at the Chicago Comic &amp; Entertainment Expo on Saturday.
The actors discussed working with Hughes, the film’s legacy, and if they would be open to doing a sequel.
“I feel really, very emotional and moved to have us all together,” Ringwald <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/movies/the-breakfast-club-cast-reunion-first-time-rcna201016">said</a>. She mentioned that while the other cast members have reunited before, “This is the first time that Emilio has joined us. We don’t have to use the cardboard cutout anymore because he’s here.”
Estevez responded, “I skipped all of my high school reunions, so this just was something that finally I felt I needed to do just for myself,&#8221; adding, &#8220;This one felt special. It’s here in Chicago, where we made the film, and obviously the 40th anniversary, and it just felt like it was time.”
The actor also said “The Breakfast Club” is “one of those movies that stands the test of time.”
Sheedy described their time filming as “a joyful experience.” 
“I don’t know if you can tell but we all really do love each other. It was a dream,” she <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/13/entertainment/the-breakfast-club-cast-reunites-at-c2e2-40-years-later/">said</a>. 
The teen drama follows five high school students who have to spend a Saturday in detention together, which inspires them to forge an unlikely friendship. The film earned $51.5 million against a $1 million budget.
During the panel, the stars discussed how much they enjoyed working with the late Hughes, who died from a heart attack in 2009. 
Nelson noted how the director “meant it when he said to us to participate in the process of making this movie. He liked us, I didn’t know how rare it was going to be for a director to like actors.”
“His passing was profound for me, because it’s like the work will always be in a circle leaning one direction,” Nelson explained. “What we needed was the one to counterbalance it, because Hughes explained to us the differences between the young and old. So now is the time for him to show us where we meet in the end, because we’re all older now, but we’re not going to get that, which is sad. But in a way Hughes has been telling us, ‘Think for yourself.’” 
Hall agreed, saying, “No one matches that. No one’s come close,” when it comes to the experience of working with Hughes.
Besides “The Breakfast Club,” Hughes is best known for writing, producing, and directing films, including “Sixteen Candles,” “Weird Science,” “Ferris Bueller&#8217;s Day Off,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” and “Uncle Buck,” and writing “Pretty in Pink” and “Home Alone.”
Estevez said the late director did things differently compared to modern filmmaking. 
“Movies today are concept-driven, they’re not character-driven, and the beauty of John is that he focused on characters first,” the actor noted during the panel. “And when you think about trying to pitch this movie today — it’s about five kids sitting in a library all day in detention — the studio executives would march you right out the door and say where are the monsters? Where’s the car chases? Where are the big effects?”
The cast agreed they wouldn’t be interested in a remake, mostly out of respect for Hughes. “I personally don’t believe in remaking that movie, because I think this movie is very much of its time,” Ringwald said. “It resonates with people today but I believe in making movies that are inspired by other movies, but build on it and represent what’s going on today.”
“You know it’s very white, this movie. You don’t see a lot of different ethnicities; we don’t talk about gender, none of that, and I feel like that really doesn’t represent our world today. So I would like to see movies that are inspired by ‘The Breakfast Club’ but take it in a different direction,” she added.

The Breakfast Place

Stars Of ‘The Breakfast Club’ Reunite For The First Time In 40 Years

Stars Of 'The Breakfast Club' Reunite For The First Time In 40 Years

Video games pose a very real threat to Hollywood’s box office hopes.
Modern games are more interactive and snazzier than their predecessors, digitally enslaving Gen Z in the process. “Netflix and Chill” doesn’t come close.
Studios surveyed the landscape and said, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Or, in this case, leverage their IPs for serious coin.
“A Minecraft Movie” earned a <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/minecraft-movie-box-office-success-blockbuster-1236361148/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whopping $313 million</a> across the globe in its opening weekend, pumping life into 2025’s sad theatrical start.
<div id="attachment_906797" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-906797" class="size-large wp-image-906797" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585-864x576.jpg" alt="LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 30: (L to R) Sebastian Hansen, Jennifer Coolidge, Jack Black and Jason Momoa attend the World Premiere of &quot;A Minecraft Movie&quot; at Cineworld Leicester Square on March 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/WireImage)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/WireImage</div>
The smash comes on the heels of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series, the burgeoning “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise, 2023’s “Super Mario Bros.” animated reboot and 2022’s “Uncharted” with Tom Holland. Let’s not forget 2021’s “Free Guy” with Ryan Reynolds as a lovable NPC (non-player character). The latter wasn’t based on any one video game but sprang from a sensibility gamers understood.
We’ve come a long way from wobbly video game adaptations like “Super Mario Bros.” (1993), “Max Payne” (2008) and “Alone in the Dark” (2005).
What changed? Studios started taking the source material seriously, expending big budgets to recreate the look and feel of the games in question. It helps that CGI advancements make it all possible, visually speaking. The sight of John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins fleeing rubbery dinosaurs in 1993’s “Super Mario Bros.” still makes us wince.
Studios have hired A-listers like Jack Black, Jim Carrey, Mark Wahlberg and Chris Pratt to bring video games to stunning life.
They also didn’t make them woke or forget the core audience in question – boys and young men. Disney spent years transforming the “Star Wars” saga into a feminist-friendly franchise with shows like “The Acolyte.”
How did that work out again?
<div id="attachment_906779" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-906779" class="size-large wp-image-906779" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-1024x576.jpg" alt="Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Sebastian Hansen in ‘A Minecraft Movie’. Photo by Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. IMDB." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. IMDB.</div>
It’s notable that “A Minecraft Movie” features two key female characters and gives them little to do. The film’s creative team checked those Identity Politics boxes but neglected to give the stars any sense of agency.
Still, the film’s cast and crew didn’t leave longtime fans behind. The new video game movies efficiently work elements of the games into the on-screen adventures. Those blocky swords in “A Minecraft Movie” are just one of many familiar sights for hardcore fans.
That, plus a wave of “easter eggs” make gamers feel seen. And they’re telling their friends all about it.
Black’s performance in “Minecraft” shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s like the Energizer Bunny on screen, but with even more energy. He also promoted the film without going full or even the semi-Zegler. He praised the feature as a fun, upbeat adventure that could heal a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jason-momoa-jack-black-minecraft-movie-jennifer-coolidge-1236175713/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fractured nation</a>.
<blockquote>We’ve got to work together, my God. There’s so much violence and war and hatred. And that’s what I love about this movie — there’s a lot of love in it and there’s a lot of creativity. There is some anger and violence too, but in the end it’s about friendship and working together to make [the world] a better place.</blockquote>
Black has been a vocal Obama supporter in the past, even shooting a video to support the Democrat’s Iran policies – which haven’t aged well, to say the least.
He hasn’t been as loud about the political scene in recent years. He even <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blindsided-jack-black-axes-tour-after-bandmate-cheers-trump-assassination-attempt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporarily shelved his Tenacious D band</a> when fellow rocker Kyle Gass wished for President Donald Trump’s assassination on stage.
<div id="attachment_906787" style="width: 859px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-906787" class="size-large wp-image-906787" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384-849x576.jpg" alt="LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 30: Jack Black attends the World Premiere of &quot;A Minecraft Movie&quot; at the Cineworld Leicester Square on March 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures)" width="849" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384-849x576.jpg 849w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384-300x204.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384-768x521.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 849px) 100vw, 849px" />Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures</div>
Carrey similarly <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-industry-news-february-23-2021-1945969" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stopped his barrage of hard-Left, anti-GOP paintings</a> in recent years. Meanwhile, Reynolds and Pratt are known for their upbeat, mostly apolitical personas.
Not every recent video game movie snagged “Minecraft”-sized numbers. Last year’s “Borderlands” debacle got ignored by gamers and torched by film critics.
The smart 2023 drama “Grand Turismo” offered a novel way to bring the driving game to the big screen, but audiences didn’t bite in “Minecraft”-sized numbers ($44 million US).
Still, the recent hits have given Hollywood exactly what it needs – young movie goers eager to share their thoughts on social media. “A Minecraft Movie” became a meme sensation in real time, with users producing “Chicken Jockey” gags on TikTok and elsewhere.
If you have to ask, you either never played the game or don’t have children under the age of 16.
Those memes made “Minecraft” an “event,” much like the 2023 “Barbie” movie. Women gathered their friends together to see the film wearing their best, “Barbie”-like outfits.
Now, teens are devouring “Minecraft” movie memes and celebrating them in theaters en masse. That’s exactly what studios love to see, even if some young fans are getting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/teen-boys-trashing-theaters-causing-mayhem-at-a-minecraft-movie-showings?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=Entertainment&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Teen+Boys+Trashing+Theaters%2C+Causing+Mayhem+At+%E2%80%98A+Minecraft+Movie%E2%80%99+Showings">carried away with their exuberance</a>. Those viral clips, ironically, will only build on the film’s popularity.
<div id="attachment_906791" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-906791" class="size-large wp-image-906791" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332-864x576.jpg" alt="THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON -- Episode 2117 -- Pictured: (l-r) Actor Jack Black and host Jimmy Fallon during the &quot;Minecraft Claw Machine Challenge&quot; on Monday, March 31, 2025 -- (Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images</div>
There’s another factor here, one that plugs in seamlessly to the “Minecraft” ethos. Many modern video games offer a canvas for inspired young minds. “Fortnite,” for example, allows gamers to choose from any number of “skins” and weapons. Players can team with friends across the street – or the globe – to create their own adventures.
They’re not just part of the action, they’re making the games up as they go. “Minecraft” might be the ultimate example of that ethos. The pixel-friendly game demands creativity from start to finish.
Movies aren’t interactive, at least for now. Films like “A Minecraft Movie” tap into that sense of self-directed adventure, the kind that makes video game adaptations into blockbuster hits.
The only downside for Hollywood? Studios will learn the wrong lessons from “A Minecraft Movie” and we’ll suffer through a few more “Borderlands” in the coming years.
* * *
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.

MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-09-PM-2616

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Smashes Box Office … And A Few Theaters

'A Minecraft Movie' Smashes Box Office ... And A Few Theaters

Gaming

Jack Black

Jason Momoa

Movie Theaters

Video Games

As “A Minecraft Movie” continues to dominate at the box office heading into its second week, there are reports of disorderly conduct as teen boys flock to theaters and act out trends circulating on social media.
These videos include moviegoers filming themselves throwing popcorn and other food and drink items and, in one instance, being kicked out for bringing a live chicken to a showing, per <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/minecraft-audiences-trashing-theaters-chaos-1236187217/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
This behavior has led to warnings from theaters about conduct, including threats of involving law enforcement. One New Jersey theater forbade anyone under 18 from attending any showings without an adult present despite the film being rated PG. 
“Large groups of unsupervised boys engaged in completely unacceptable behavior, including vandalism. We also received multiple complaints from other moviegoers who were trying to enjoy the film with their families,” Township Theatre in Washington Township, New Jersey, posted in a social media update. 
“Moving forward: Any minors wishing to see The Minecraft Movie MUST be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Unaccompanied groups of boys will not be admitted,” the statement concluded.
The bad behavior is usually aligned with the viral “chicken jockey” scene, which features Jack Black’s character Steve yelling “chicken jockey!” when a baby zombie appears on screen riding a chicken like a horse. This precedes Jason Momoa’s character, Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, fighting the zombie.
This moment has inspired moviegoers to shout the line while jumping on theater seats, screaming, and throwing popcorn, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/10/entertainment/minecraft-obsessed-teen-boys-are-destroying-movie-theaters/">noted</a>.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Minecraft Movie is Ruining Theaters 😳" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ZzIq9D3OqA?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>
Theater employees have also been posting images of what theaters look like after a movie showing. “These teens trashed every single theater playing this movie and since we have so many showings we had to clean them in less than 30 minutes as we had crowds outside the theater lined up to go inside!” one person <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZzIq9D3OqA">shared</a> in a YouTube video posted earlier this week, noting that some attendees are being kicked out or being forced to clean up their own messes.
“A Minecraft Movie” has grossed more than $185 million domestically and $380 million globally in just six days, outperforming expectations and putting it on pace to surpass “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
Warner Bros. has not issued a statement on the chicken jockey mayhem as of Friday.

Minecraft Movie

Teen Boys Trashing Theaters, Causing Mayhem At ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Showings

Teen Boys Trashing Theaters, Causing Mayhem At 'Minecraft Movie' Showings

teens

The biblical-based film “The King of Kings” was released on Friday, and it’s already expected to break records. The Angel Studios production racked up $14.6 million in ticket pre-sales, per <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/04/king-of-kings-box-office-presales-1236366250/">Deadline</a>, putting it on track to surpass the massively successful DreamWorks film &#8220;The Prince of Egypt&#8221; (1998), which currently holds the title of best opening for a biblical film at $14.5 million. 
The outlet noted that one million tickets were sold in advance, thanks in large part to the studio’s “Kids go Free” campaign, which allows one free kid’s ticket for every adult ticket purchased.
“The King of Kings” debuts in more than 3,200 locations nationwide this weekend. A synopsis <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TaylorTheater/photos/a-father-tells-his-son-the-greatest-story-ever-told-and-what-begins-as-a-bedtime/1195472525696747/?_rdr">says</a>, “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.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The King Of Kings | Official Trailer | In theaters April 11 | Angel Studios" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HDhet3EVRac?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>
“Just like the Prince of Egypt drew families to theaters, our Angel Guild has supported this film through presales and strong word-of-mouth since it entered the Angel ecosystem,” Brandon Purdie, Global Head of Theatrical Distribution &amp; Brand Development at Angel told Deadline. “Charles Dickens had a tradition of sharing this story with his family and we hope that The King of Kings will become a part of the Easter tradition for families around the globe.”
The Daily Wire was on the red carpet at the premiere this week to speak with the film’s creators and stars about working on the faith-based film. 
When asked what it’s like bringing the Bible back to the big screen, director Seong-Ho Jang said (via translator), “I felt the duty as a Christian to spread His word,” the director said, expressing surprise that no major studios were willing to take on the task. 
Jang said he considered it a “miracle” that major stars such as Uma Thurman and Pierce Brosnan signed on for the project. 
Voice actor Jim Cummings, who voices Pharisee Hillel, said he was convinced to do the project when his agent pitched it as “the greatest story ever told.” He also mentioned being an altar boy from way back, which he said made the project even more important to him. Cummings is best known for being the official voice of Winnie the Pooh since 1988. 
“The King of Kings” currently has a 66% critic score and 96% audience rating on review aggregator <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_king_of_kings">Rotten Tomatoes</a>. 
The reviewer from The San Francisco Chronicle noted the film’s “whimsical Dickensian touches,” which relates back to the fact that “The King of Kings” is based on the Charles Dickens book, “The Life of Our Lord.” He also called the movie “amusing and possibly enlightening Easter entertainment for younger children.”
Most moviegoers were effusive with their praise. One reviewer said it was “a visually captivating animated film that brings the story of Jesus to life through the imaginative lens of Charles Dickens narrating to his son.” 
“The film&#8217;s heartfelt message of hope, love, and redemption resonates strongly with faith-based audiences. A great film for all !! Tastefully done,” he added.
Another agreed, writing, “This was so captivating! Entertains adults and kids. It is full of truth and light. I&#8217;d recommend to everyone!”

Animated Biblical Film ‘The King Of Kings’ Poised To Break Box Office Records

Animated Biblical Film 'The King Of Kings' Poised To Break Box Office Records

Animation

President Donald Trump made it clear on Thursday that he was unbothered by China&#8217;s threats to exclude American movies as part of the ongoing tariff and trade war between the United States and the communist nation.
Trump brushed the threat aside when a reporter posed the question, following days of back-and-forth retaliatory tariffs on both sides.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;China retaliated today by reducing the number of American films that can be shown there. What&#39;s your reaction to them now targeting cultural exports?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;I&#39;ve heard of worse things.&quot; 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/zpseCdDXEX">pic.twitter.com/zpseCdDXEX</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1910388089610207360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;China retaliated today by reducing the number of American films that can be shown there. What&#8217;s your reaction to them now targeting cultural exports from the United States?&#8221; one reporter asked.
&#8220;I think I&#8217;ve heard of worse things,&#8221; Trump said with a smile, prompting laughter from around the room.
The China Film Administration announced the new position on Thursday in a statement, saying, &#8220;The wrong action of the U.S. government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favorability towards American films. We will follow the market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.&#8221;
Additional <a href="https://x.com/Variety/status/1910299585295065566" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> indicate that China could be considering even more drastic actions — with the possible implementation of a total ban on American films — if President Trump does not back down on the imposed tariffs.
The president did announce a 90-day hold on tariffs for a number of other nations amid negotiations for fairer trade policies across the board. China was not included in that 90-day hold — and will be subject to dramatically increased tariffs — because Chinese officials had opted for retaliation rather than negotiation when Trump unveiled his &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariff plan.
&#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; judge Kevin O&#8217;Leary has defended Trump&#8217;s position with regard to China, saying that if anything, Trump was taking it a little too easy on the communist country. O&#8217;Leary argued that Trump should slap a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shark-tank-judge-unloads-on-msnbc-host-over-chinese-tariffs-squeeze-chinese-heads-to-the-wall">400% tariff</a> on Chinese imports — and said that it was long past time that someone forced China to abide by the rules of fair trade.

‘I’ve Heard Of Worse Things’: Trump Unbothered By China’s Plan To Cut Hollywood Access

'I've Heard Of Worse Things': Trump Unbothered By China's Plan To Cut Hollywood Access

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