Author: SD

On this week’s episode of The Screen Podcast, the team delves into the future of horror films, from YouTubers to the rising talents from the UK and Ireland.   Watch above or listen below To download or subscribe to future episodes, search for ’The Screen Podcast’, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast and YouTube. Host Wendy Mitchell is joined by Screen’s reviews editor Nikki Baughan to discuss what the success of YouTuber horror films Backrooms and Obsession this summer says about the future of the genre. “I don’t think they’re the saviours of horror,” Baughan says of the directors, Curry Barker and Kane Parsons. “I…

Sony Pictures will handle international theatrical distribution on Netflix Animation Studios’ Charlie vs. The Chocolate Factory in November 2027. The feature will open globally on November 5 2027 and get a 47-day exclusive theatrical window before it debuts on the platform on December 22 2027. It is understood there will be box-office reporting although it was unclear at time of writing who will publish the numbers. Netflix and Sony recently announced their first international distribution arrangement on Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, which marks the first time there will be box-office reporting on a Netflix film. The fantasy tentpole from the director of…

At the Locarno Film Festival this week, Italian-born Marco Perego of producer and financier Leaf Entertainment outlined his strategy for backing international arthouse filmmakers. His in-conversation talk as part of Locarno Pro came in the year in which he has supported films including Cristian Mungiu’s Palme d’Or winner Fjord, Andrey Zvyagintsev’s  Cannes Grand Prix winner Minotaur, and James Gray’s Cannes competition title Paper Tiger.  He also backed Kantemir Balagov’s Directors’ Fortnight title, Butterfly Jam. Without revealing precise figures, Perego said he is “deploying a lot of capital” in investing in and supporting films by auteur directors. A former football player turned conceptual artist, the Italian-born…

UK-Ireland top five, August 7-9  Rank  Film (origin)  Distributor  August 7-9  Total  Week 1  Spider-Man: Brand New Day (US)  Sony  £12m  £65.1m  2 2   The Odyssey (US)  Universal  £5.3m   £61.5m  4 3   Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (US)  Paramount  £1.1m  £1.7m  1 4   Toy Story 5 (US)  Disney  £728,337  £54m  8 5   Minions & Monsters (US)  Universal  £538,922  £16.1m  6 GBP to USD conversion rate: 1.35 Sony’s Spider-Man Brand New Day and Universal’s The Odyssey continued to dominate the box office in the UK and Ireland as both titles passed £60m.…

Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day maintained its number one ranking with an estimated $145m second weekend that propelled Sony’s tentpole to $655.1m for the highest 10-day gross in North American box office history. The smash dropped 60% from last weekend’s spectacular debut and ranks tenth in the all-time box office pantheon, behind Titanic on $674.4m. 2012 release and is expected to cross $800m by the end of its run, with 2021 predecessor’s third place on $814.9m well within its sights. Scoring the third-highest second weekend, Brand New Day has overtaken Avengers: Endgame’s 10-day mark of $621.3m established in May…

A huge shroud containing the names of 60,000 people killed in Gaza was unfurled tonight (August 8) at the Locarno Film Festival in a peaceful demonstration outside the Piazza Grande. The protest took place shortly before a sold-out Piazza Grande screening of Olivia Wilde’s The Invite, which is being attended by over 8,000 people. The protest, which was organised by three Swiss groups, saw a white shroud printed with the names of victims of the war in Gaza being rolled out over several hundred metres and lifted in the air by dozens of attendees.  Organisers said the shroud gives “a…

UK-Ireland box office revenue jumped 35% year-on-year in July due to the performance of summer blockbusters The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. According to figures provided by Rentrak, the £178m earned last month is up on the £132m generated in July 2025. The year-to-date has passed £783m, running 18% ahead of 2025 and 34% ahead of 2024, and making it likely that 2026 will be the strongest box office year since the Covid pandemic. UK-Ireland July 2026 top 10  Rank Film (origin) Distributor Release date 3/7/26-6/8/26 Total 1  The Odyssey (US)  Universal 17/7/26   £56.2m  £56.2m 2   Spider-Man: Brand New…

EXCLUSIVE: Lucky Number has secured international sales rights to Greek filmmaker Jacqueline Lentzou’s second feature A Day In The Life Of Jo: Chapter Phaedra ahead of the film’s world premiere at Venice Film Festival in the Orizzonti strand. The coming-of-age drama with metaphysical themes follows titular teenager Jo as she goes about an ostensibly ordinary day – missing the school bus, rebelling against her mother and hanging out with her friends – unaware that it is the last day of her life. The film was shot in Greece and is produced by Greece’s Avion Films and Atalante Productions, Germany’s Kelek…

In his first full quarter as Disney CEO, Josh D’Amaro floated the idea of a free ad-supported Disney+ tier as executives and analysts discussed solid Q3 earnings. D’Amaro, who took over the reins from Bob Iger in March, said the idea was to broaden the company’s reach to price-sensitive customers, increase advertising revenue, and eventually grow subscribers. “Nothing specific to announce today, but definitely something that we’re considering,” the executive said on Wednesday. Streaming was a key driver for the period ending June 27. Disney+ and Hulu revenues climbed 11% year-on-year to $5.5bn revenue, and profits more than doubed to…

Columbia Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day has crossed $1bn at the worldwide box office in six days, becoming the second-fastest film ever to reach the milestone. Only Avengers: Endgame has accomplished the feat in less time – five days back in April 2019. As of Tuesday morning Brand New Day stood at $1.052bn, comprising $407m in North America, where the tentpole crossed $400m in four days, and according to Sony Pictures sources recorded an industry-high Monday. Internationally Brand New Day has reached $645.8m and has opened top of the charts in all 66 markets across 82 territories. China leads the…