For decades, Steven Soderbergh was the king of the hill when it came to the “one for them, one for me” model. We’re talking following up one of the highest-grossing movies of its year, Ocean’s Eleven, with the $2 million Full Frontal, along with balancing the Ocean’s trilogy with indies, classic Hollywood homages and four-plus-hour biopics on Argentine revolutionaries. More than 35 years into his career, Soderbergh has been the champion of mid-budget fare. But when it doesn’t succeed as intended, what’s the reaction?

Speaking with The Independent, Steven Soderbergh said it’s a bit of a disappointment that movies like his most recent, Black Bag — which had a budget around $50-$60 million — don’t have big turnouts at the theatre. “This is the kind of film I made my career on. And if a mid-level budget, star-driven movie can’t seem to get people over the age of 25 years old to come out to theatres – if that’s truly a dead zone – then that’s not a good thing for movies. What’s gonna happen to the person behind me who wants to make this kind of film?…I know for a fact, having talked to somebody who works at another studio, that the Monday after Black Bag opened, the conversation in the morning meeting was: ‘What does this mean when you can’t get a movie like this to perform?’ And that’s frustrating.”

While Steven Soderbergh has been assured by the studio that Black Bag will ultimately turn a profit, he’s still concerned that mid-budget movies are DOA overall at the box office. He would then cite his insane 2000 double-header of Erin Brockovich and Traffic as a prime example of how much things have changed. “Erin Brockovich wouldn’t get made today; Traffic wouldn’t get made. Unless you get Timothée Chalamet who, god bless him, seems to be interested in doing different kinds of movies. But that window is getting smaller and smaller for filmmakers to climb through.”

Part of this is in contrast to something Steven Soderbergh pointed out last year, where he said that people would head to the movie theater if directors continued to make quality movies. And while we love Soderbergh and will always support his style and passion for film, there’s really little correlation between quality and box office numbers. Heck, we loved Black Bag and look how that has fared.

What do you make of Steven Soderbergh’s comments about the state of the industry? Are movies like Erin Brockovich and Traffic doomed?

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Magic mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Jason Statham, evidently, as his latest action flick, A Working Man, has topped the weekend box office, poisoning the apple of Snow White, which continued its disappointing run by dropping to the number two spot.

A Working Man once again proved that Jason Statham’s fanbase is a continuously loyal one, as the movie – which reunites him with The Beekeeper director David Ayer – earned $15.2 million in its debut weekend, a chisel in its $40 million budget. For a movie that banks on Statham himself (and not an established franchise like Fast and the Furious), that’s pretty good, landing in The Beekeeper territory.

Now onto Snow White, which opened last week with just $47 million. The live-action (well, mostly) remake of the Disney classic was bound to fall but we didn’t expect it to do so in such embarrassing fashion, as it slipped nearly 70%. While that still put it as the weekend’s runner-up, it only took in another $14.2 million. For a movie that has a budget pegged upwards of $270 million, this is easily one of the biggest red marks for Disney. Hopefully this will make them reconsider their desire to remake their animated classics (although a lot are still on the calendar)…or at least convince Hollywood to stop casting Gal Gadot.

The rest of the box office was far less dramatic, although a curious choice came in at #3: The Chosen: The Last Supper ($11.5 million), which is actually part of an Amazon MGM Studios deal that sees the fifth season of the faith-based series getting a theatrical release before hitting Amazon. It’s an interesting strategy that is evidently paying off, pulling solid numbers for a movie that has a niche audience.

Blumhouse’s The Woman in the Yard snuck through the gate with $9.4 million. That single-digital number isn’t all that far from the movie’s $12 million budget, although the studio’s non-franchise fare usually at least opens in the doubles. Failing to sparkle was Death of a Unicorn, which poked its way into the top 5 with $5.8 million. You’d think that a movie starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega would have fared far better at the box office but with mid reviews, an R rating and nothing really to grab an audience outside of the cast, it just didn’t have the magic to land.

One delight that made the top 10 was Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke, now out courtesy of a 4K transfer. No doubt IMAX screens helped boost it to $3.5 million, but I’d also like to think those who were disgusted by OpenAI’s Studio Ghibli-inspired feature headed to the theater as a move of support. And considering its initial domestic run back in 1999 only saw it in 129 theaters, we’re calling this a win all around. Right behind it was Captain America: Brave New World, which, with another $2.75 million to its name, still stands as the highest-grossing movie of 2025 so far.

Meanwhile, Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag is trying to nudge towards $20 million domestically with its $2.15 million this weekend. Soderbergh isn’t normally a splash at the box office but his movies are almost always worth seeing so good on him for hanging in the top 10 (even if Black Bag won’t recoup its budget, not even earning back half of it on the domestic front). The number nine and 10 spots would go to Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 and the Jack Quaid action flick Novocaine, which is a lot of fun and well worth checking out. Mickey 17 took in $2 with a, while Novocaine earned $1.45 million in its third week. That might seem numb, but considering it has already recouped its budget, any extra bucks are welcome.

As it happens, Chris Bumbray’s box office predictions for this week’s totals underestimated Jason Statham’s ability to put in work. Our editor-in-chief, Chris Bumbray, thought Snow White would retain its top spot, but David Ayer and Jason Statham’s A Working Man hammered its way to the top of the list with a $15.2M debut over Snow White‘s $14.2M. Ah, well. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, right?

Next week will no doubt find a new champ at the box office, as A Minecraft Movie is looking to be a real blockbuster, proving to do well with advanced ticket sales ahead of its release. Other new titles include Lionsgate’s Pedro Pascal-starring Freaky Tales, horror-comedy Hell of a Summer (which is Finn Wolfhard’s co-directorial debut), The Luckiest Man in America (about the infamous Press Your Luck scandal) and Eric Laure (Michael Shannon’s own directorial debut). Mid-week, Screamboat – the latest horror movie taking advantage of copyright lapses – will also open.

What did you catch at the movies this weekend?

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2025’s box office woes just seem to be getting worse and worse. According to Deadline, as it stands now, the week’s number one movie – which is still a toss-up between Novocaine and Mickey 17 – isn’t likely to cross the double-digit mark. So far, Novocaine seems to have the edge, but it’s too close to call, with both movies looking on track to gross $8 million. While that’s an underwhelming number for Novocaine (a notch less than we predicted earlier this week), considering the low budget, it’s not a terrible result. However, the B CinemaScore is middling. 

However, even if the week-to-week fall for Mickey 17 is less than 60%, the movie is shaping up to be a major bomb for Warner Bros. The movie is unlikely to cross the $40 million mark domestically, which is a horrible result for a film that cost north of $118 million. Focus Features’s Black Bag isn’t performing well either, with the star-studded spy-flick only on track for a $6 million opening. That’s not too far off from what Conclave made in its first weekend, but it was playing on 1000 fewer screens and had a lot of Oscar buzz propelling it throughout the fall movie season.

Other new releases, like Ketchup’s The Day the Earth Blew Up or A24’s Opus, aren’t making much of a dent. The Looney Tunes movie (which was bought from WB) is on track for a $2.15 million opening (on over 2000 screens) while Opus, following its middling reception at Sundance, is only on track for a $1.5 million opening, despite the presence of The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri in the lead role. A24’s cult of fans seems to be giving this one a pass so far. The CinemaScore is a pretty bad C+.

We’ll be back tomorrow with a full round-up!

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Steven Soderbergh is undoubtedly an inspired and original filmmaker. From his critically acclaimed debut feature Sex, Lies, and Videotape to the recent Presence, he always approaches his work with style and generally a strong script without catering to the norm. Black Bag is a spy thriller. There is a little mystery, but more than anything, it offers a unique way to explore the genre. The cast is exceptional. It includes Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke, Marisa Abela, Rege-Jean Page, Naomie Harris, and Pierce Brosnan. It’s a sharp feature that examines a little treachery with top-notch performances. Soderbergh continues to impress with his two very different, recent releases.

As you can imagine, it’s quite the feeling to sit across a Zoom screen with folks like Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. Having admired both of their work from the beginning, talking about this sharp thriller was extra special. First up, I spoke with Fassbender, Marisa Abela, and Rege-Jean Page. The trio gave high praise to the director and screenwriter David Koepp. I was especially impressed by Ms. Abela’s work opposite Mr. Page, the two opened up about creating their on-screen story.

Then came Ms. Blanchett, Tom Burke, and Naomie Harris. For Cate, I asked her about taking on a familiar genre, yet one that is far more intimate than what we’ve come to expect from spy flicks. Both Tom and Naomie discussed bringing the characters to life, and yes, there was much praise for Steven Soderbergh. All six of these incredible talents gave terrific insight into the filmmaker. And yes, they all are excellent in the film. Don’t let the lengthy dinner scenes scare you; Black Bag is a fantastic thriller that moves effortlessly until its final frame.

Black Bag opens in theatres this Friday. It’s well worth a trip to the movies.

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Before Daniel Craig was cast as the new James Bond in Casino Royale, Michael Fassbender was one of many young actors who auditioned for the role. However, Fassbender explained on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he spent his audition promoting another actor instead: Daniel Craig.

“I met with Barbara Broccoli just you know through passing and I actually went in to an audition phase before Daniel [Craig] was cast, but I don’t think I was ever in the mix,” Fassbender said. “But I remember going into that room and meeting with her and [Michael G.] Wilson and I think I was like, ‘Daniel Craig is…’ I don’t know why I was promoting him. I should have been promoting myself.“

Fassbender continued, “This is what I was saying. I was terrible at auditions. Obviously Daniel did a fantastic job and went on to be, I think, the most successful Bond in history. But that was it really, there was never a conversation after that.“

Given that Fassbender has already inadvertently but successfully pitched one actor for the role of James Bond, who does he think should play 007 now that the role is up for grabs? “Regé [Jean Page] who’s in this movie,” Fassbender said. “I think after people see his performance in this, he could be a frontrunner.“

The movie Fassbender speaks of is Black Bag, an upcoming spy thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp. The film follows legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife, Kathryn. When she’s suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test—loyalty to his marriage or his country. In addition to Fassbender, the movie stars Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan. Our own Chris Bumbray was a fan. “Running a taut ninety minutes, Soderbergh’s crafted a twisty spy romp,” Bumbray wrote. “If you liked his Ocean’s Trilogy, you’ll likely get a big kick out his spy flick. Fassbender’s Woodhouse is such an interesting antihero that perhaps a return to his take on spycraft might not be out of the question were this Focus Features release to do well.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

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PLOT: A British spy (Michael Fassbender), working for an MI5-like organization, is tasked with tracking down a traitor who has allegedly sold a device that could trigger a nuclear meltdown to a Russian dissident. Things are complicated when one of his chief suspects turns out to be his beloved wife (Cate Blanchett). 

REVIEW: If you read Steven Soderbergh’s annual “Seen; Read” lists, you’ll note that among his diverse tastes in film, he has a particular fondness for spy movies – with the George Lazenby James Bond movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, long noted as one of his favourites. He’s been toying with doing a spy movie for years, with him and George Clooney having famously almost made their own version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Now, Soderbergh finally gets his chance, his movie owes less to the cinematic world of 007 than his own, stylish Oceans’ Eleven, mixed with a healthy dose of sixties spy thrillers in the vein of The Ipcress File. 

Black Bag takes an interesting approach in that it centers around a plot that could have been lifted from a Bond movie, where thousands of lives hang in the balance, but pulls it off with very little on-screen carnage. Fassbender’s George Woodhouse is a more cerebral spy in the mould of a John Le Carre character, sporting an impeccable wardrobe and Harry Palmer-esque glasses. His mastery of the spy game comes from his uncanny ability to take apart his foes and use their weaknesses to his advantage. Fassbender plays him as cold and calculating, with him utterly unwilling to display any sense of weakness. He’s fastidious about everything, including his wardrobe, with him at one point immediately changing out of a crisp dress shirt when the tiniest drop of wine winds up on one of his cuffs. Yet, he has a significant weakness of his own, being his all-consuming love for his wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), who, like him, works in the highly classified “Black Bag” section, with her under Pierce Brosnan’s George Smiley-like character, Arthur Stieglitz.

In addition to his wife, Woodhouse’s suspects include Tom Burke’s hard-drinking Freddie – his best friend in the agency, as well as Freddie’s much younger mistress, Marisa Abel’s Clarissa, whose emotions make her something of a liability. Then there’s Regé-Jean Page as Stokes, a fast-rising agent who lacks a conscience, and his lover, Naomi Harris’s company shrink, Zoe, who has access to everyone’s secrets. The game here, as written by regular Soderbergh collaborator David Koepp, is for Woodhouse to figure out who the inside man (or woman) is.

It helps that Fassbender and Blanchett have great chemistry, and they are a dazzlingly-stylish couple, both of whom, by necessity, have become experts at keeping secrets from each other. Blanchett’s Kathryn runs a little hotter than George, with her more emotional, and suffering from a bit of burnout due to an op that went wrong, which is only lightly hinted at early in the film. Running a taut ninety minutes, Soderbergh’s crafted a twisty spy romp, although even though it centers around a truly Bond-like MacGuffin, the tone is kept playful, with the thrills being more character-based than anything else. 

It’s driven along by a propulsive, jazzy score by Soderbergh regular David Holmes, and it amounts to one of the director’s more entertaining recent efforts. While his ghost thriller Presence might have been a bit too cerebral for most audiences, with Black Bag, he’s operating in a more mainstream mode. If you liked his Ocean’s Trilogy, you’ll likely get a big kick out his spy flick. Fassbender’s Woodhouse is such an interesting antihero that perhaps a return to his take on spycraft might not be out of the question were this Focus Features release to do well. 

Black Bag

GREAT

8

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With 2024 coming to a close, it’s time to start looking to the future for our cinema needs. What does the year hold in store for us cinephiles? While 2024 held some surprise hits, giant blockbusters, and small films that could, it’s looking like 2025 movie releases will hold more of the same. We can hope that the good fortune that Hollywood has brought us will continue into the new year and keep theater attendance up. Here’s our 2025 Movie Preview:

Den Of Thieves: Pantera – January 10

Gerard Butler is back chasing down diamond thieves on the streets of Europe. He stumbles across the planning of the largest diamond heist ever planned. If you liked the first movie, then this will probably be more of the same. I’m personally happy that Gerard Butler is making some fun B-movie action films like back in the day. Plane was fun, and I’m excited to see these types of films at the theater again.

Better Man – January 10

A biopic about UK pop star Robbie Williams as we see his childhood all the way through his superstardom. Robbie will be playing himself, but how do you do that without it being weird? What if you make it so he’s a chimp? Sure. With Pharrell releasing his biopic as a Lego movie and now Robbie Williams replacing himself with a CGI chimp it seems biopics are really trying to gain quirk appeal.

Back In Action – January 17

Cameron Diaz is coming out of retirement and teaming up with Jamie Foxx for this Netflix original film. They play former CIA agents who are pulled back in when their identities are exposed. While I’m glad to see Diaz back on screen after a decade away, it’s odd that this generic spy action movie did it. Maybe just the idea of being in a movie with Jamie Foxx again was enough.

Star Trek: Section 31 – January 24

This direct to Paramount+ film is a spin off from Star Trek: Discovery starring Michelle Yeoh as her character Philippa Georgiou. This was originally planned as a series, but after COVID-19 delays, it was scrapped. Later they revived the idea for an original movie. Star Trek has always been a beloved franchise but with new movies going direct to streaming, will we ever see them return to the big screen?

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy – February 13

For the first time in nine years, Bridget Jones is back! Only this time, it will be on Peacock in the United States and then in theaters everywhere else in the world. Seems backwards but okay. Bridget Jones is now a single mom and trying to figure out how that works when you’re trying to get back into the dating pool. Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant return, along with some other familiar faces. Are we past the Bridget Jones fandom, or is there still more life in this franchise?

Captain America: Brave New World – February 14

After the events of Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie is donning the shield as the new Captain America. Harrison Ford steps in for the late William Hurt as the new President Ross, who has a big red secret to share. Marvel only had one release last summer, and it seemed to work really well for them. Let’s see if something without Hugh Jackman’s claws still registers for Marvel fans.

Mickey 17 – March 7

The new film from Bong Joon-ho sees Robert Pattinson sent on a space mission because he is seen as expendable. With technology, he can be regenerated if something goes wrong. This time, something goes wrong, and he begins to experience an existential crisis. This darkly comedic film looks like a good time as we see Mickey die in numerous different ways and still have to get up to go to work the next day.

Black Bag – March 14

Steven Soderberg’s spy thriller is coming out with no details on the plot. With a cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, and Pierce Brosnan, you can bet lots of people will be interested in checking it out. Soderberg has always had an interesting take on just about any film he releases, and this will be no different.

Snow White – March 21

Disney continues its trend of doing live-action remakes of its old animated films. This one caused a stir when it was announced, as people seemed divided on how to handle the seven dwarfs aspect of the film. Ultimately, the dwarves will be completely CGI. It will be interesting to see how this plays in a modern culture. Expect some new songs, and Gal Gadot will be playing the evil queen, which is inspired casting compared to the look of the original character.

A Minecraft Movie – April 4

With Super Mario Bros. and the Sonic movies being big hits, it’s no surprise that the hugely popular game Minecraft would be getting its own movie. Jack Black once again jumps on board to play Steve, the generic character most players take control of when booting up Minecraft. Jason Mamoa, Jennifer Coolidge, and Kate McKinnon round out the cast as random characters are pulled into the cubic world and need the help of an expert crafter to get home. Seems very Jumanji.

The Accountant 2 – April 25

I don’t think anyone saw this sequel coming. In the first film, Ben Affleck played a neuro-divergent accountant who had a side job as a hitman. The film was a modest hit but nothing that would seem to warrant a sequel. Some other familiar faces from the first one return.

Thunderbolts* – May 2

The second of Marvel’s offerings this year sees a bunch of cast-off characters from previous Marvel films being rounded up for a new agency. Yelena will be leading the team of previous supervillains who are now taking jobs for the government. Of course, this will be complicated by a lot of in-fighting and some unexpected speedbumps. The trailer makes this look like a lot of fun so here’s hoping it will give MCU fans some laughs while providing some great action scenes.

Lilo & Stitch – May 23

This is the second of Disney’s live-action remakes. Stitch crash-lands on Earth and is adopted by a young girl. Hijinks ensue as others come looking for him. The original had a great sense of humor, and the trailers showing Stitch invading other Disney properties were great. I have no idea if this will translate well into live-action, but kids will probably love it.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – May 23

This was originally titled Dead Reckoning Part II, but after the last film underperformed, the title was quickly changed. It will continue the storyline from the last film, and we see Ethan Hunt trying to stop the deadly AI from causing worldwide chaos. Of course in order to shut it down, they have to make their way to the submarine that is crashed on the ocean floor.

Karate Kid: Legends – May 30

The franchise returns to the big screen as we see Daniel from the original and Mr. Han from the 2010 “remake” join forces to mentor a new student. It’s a strange crossing of the streams which retcons the remake into being set in the same continuity. With Cobra Kai just ending when this hits theaters, will fans even care enough to go check it out? Fans of the original movie got their nostalgia fix with the series. Are there people who have nostalgia for the 2010 movie?

From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina – June 6

The spin-off of the John Wick films hits the big screen. We were introduced to the Ballerinas in John Wick 3. Now they get a film all their own while Keanu Reeves will still make an appearance since this is set during that time period. Ana de Armas takes over the role of Eve as she looks to get revenge on the people who killed her family. The intricate world of John Wick is fascinating to explore, and this gives us a chance to see even more of it.

Elio – June 13

An animated film from Disney that follows Elio. He’s a young space fanatic who gets tasked with saving the universe. They have been struggling to come up with animated films that really stick with audiences that aren’t already established Pixar properties. The shine of the early Pixar films has really dimmed after Disney bought them. Hopefully we can see Disney regain its footing with animated films like we used to have.

How To Train Your Dragon – June 13

Dreamworks seems to be taking a cue from Disney and remaking some of their more popular animated properties. We’re getting another round of dragons as we see the first meeting of Hiccup and Toothless. Again. Not sure if this trend will ever end, but at least Dreamworks doesn’t have as deep of a catalog as Disney. When can we expect to see a live-action Kung Fu Panda?

Jurassic World: Rebirth – July 2

Scarlett Johanssen is taking the lead role this time around. No one seems to have learned any lesson about bringing dinosaurs back to life. This time it looks like explorers have to go in to get DNA samples from some prehistoric animals to help cure a disease. Universal really just wants to see if there is any juice left to squeeze out of this fruit. It may be time to let it sleep for a few decades before heading back in.

Superman – July 11

James Gunn takes his stab at the Man of Steel as the DC Universe reboots itself on-screen once again. Reports are that Gunn held an early screening for WB execs and that it did not go well. That could be internet fodder, but it doesn’t instill a lot of hope for the new version of the DCU. With the DC shows on the CW just wrapping up, we’ll have to see if Gunn’s Superman will connect with comic fans. The recent trailer seemed to gain a lot of views very quickly, so we at least know that fans are interested.

The Smurfs Movie – July 18

Those magical little blue creatures will grace theater screens once again. This time, the film will be fully animated and musical. Paramount/Nickelodeon will take on the film, and it seems to be inspired by the popularity of the Troll movies. Rhianna will voice Smurfette and be joined by Nick Offerman, John Goodman, Kurt Russell, Dan Levy, and Hannah Waddingham.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps – July 25

Marvel’s first family finally makes their way into the MCU. While they have been on-screen before as part of Fox’s Marvel movies, this time, we’ll see what the MCU has in store for the group. Marvel’s third film in six months will really test if audiences are in superhero fatigue or not. The early footage shown at Comicon seems fun, so hopefully, it will bring something new.

Naked Gun – August 1

Liam Neeson is hoping to try something drastically different than we’ve seen from him before. He has some big shoes to fill, as Leslie Nielsen based the whole second half of his career on the original Naked Gun. It will be hard to see anyone else trying to play that role. Plus, does that type of comedy have a place anymore?

Freakier Friday – August 8

Disney’s calendar of releases this year is crazy, as we see the reteaming of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. The last film was a remake of an old Disney Classic. Now, twenty-one years later, we are getting a sequel. Expect more body-swapping jokes as the Lindsay Lohan resurgence seems to be taking shape. She’s been on an upswing lately, and hopefully, we can see her get a victory lap as she has matured.

Nobody 2 – August 15

Somehow, Bob Odenkirk became an action star after starring in Nobody back in 2021. Now, we get to see some more middle-aged dad action as he returns for this sequel. The first movie really worked to show what appears to be an ordinary man who decides to get back into a life he left a long time ago. Now that we have seen him for what he really is, here’s hoping for more action and more Christopher Lloyd running around with a shotgun.

Downton Abbey 3 – September 12

The third film spin-off of the popular period drama. Many of the cast return to once again play their characters, showing the divide between the upper class and the working class. This drama captivated audiences when it first premiered, and both previous films have been big hits. It only makes sense to keep it going with another film.

Tron: Ares – October 10

We’re traveling back into the world of Tron. Jeff Bridges is back, along with a slew of other familiar faces like Jodie Turner-Smith, Evan Peters, and Jared Leto. This time, a program is sent from the digital world to the real world. Each Tron film so far has pushed the boundaries in terms of special effects and technical marvels. Let’s see what they come up with this time.

Mortal Kombat 2 – October 24

We’re heading back to the arcade, so get your quarters ready. The reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise continues as our heroes are heading back to Outland to continue the fight for all existence. The last film was released during the pandemic, so a true gauge of the popularity is hard to judge, but audiences seem to have a positive response. During the initial film franchise run, the second entry pushed it off a cliff. We can hope they learned their lesson.

Now You See Me 3 – November 14

Another entry into the magic mystery franchise is in the pipeline. All of our sleight-of-hand artists are returning, but no plot has been released so far. The previous movies have gained an audience through their unique use of stage magic and illusions to foil their adversaries. It is a fun and interesting way of doing a mystery based action film. If it lives up to the previous entries, then audiences should leave the theater happy.

Wicked: For Good – November 21

The second part of the recent smash hit. Those who haven’t seen the Broadway play or read the book will get to see how the story ends. I expect more fantastic songs, some great visuals, and more Oz. We all need all the Oz we can get. Let’s all get ready to defy gravity once again.

Zootopia 2 – November 26

Disney has quite the release schedule this year, and we’re not even done yet. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are teaming up to solve a wild case that could change their entire lives. It will be fun to travel back into the world of Zootopia and see where the characters are. It looks like more of the same fun we had in the last film.

Avatar: Fire And Ash – December 19

It’s time to head back to Pandora. Last time James Cameron dealt with water motifs and explored more of the world. Looks like we’ll be dealing with fire this time around. While the films seem to always be a wonder of motion capture and CGI, it would be great to see Cameron go back to other projects before his film career comes to an end. We can always hope.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants – December 19

Hey Kids! SpongeBob is back with another movie. This time, he will explore the depths of the ocean to deal with the ghost of the Flying Dutchman. This franchise just keeps engaging generation after generation. At this point, The Simpsons might be about the only animated franchise that has lasted longer. As long as fans keep checking out the movies, the more they will keep making.

What 2025 movie releases are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments. And, if you’re looking for more info on horror releases, check out our horror movie preview HERE!

The post 2025 Movie Preview: All the big movies hitting theaters next year! appeared first on JoBlo.

Soderbergh has once again teamed up with screenwriter David Koepp, who also wrote the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth, for a film about an unconventional marriage. The movie, titled Black Bag, looks to have a plot resembling Mr. and Mrs. Smith, where two spies are married to each other. However, there is a bit of a twist as both know who each other are, and the conflict comes from the wife being suspected of becoming a traitor. Focus Features has just released the trailer for the thriller.

Black Bag stars Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke and Pierce Brosnan. The official plot synopsis reads, “From Director Steven Soderbergh, Black Bag is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife, Kathryn. When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.” Casey Silver and Greg Jacobs are on board as producers of the film.

Soderbergh and Blanchett previously worked together on his 2006 noir thriller The Good German. Additionally, Blanchett played a part in the film Ocean’s 8, part of Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 11 franchise. Soderbergh produced Ocean’s 8 but didn’t direct that one. He and Fassbender previously worked together on his 2011 action thriller Haywire. And in addition to collaborating on Presence, Soderbergh and Koepp also worked together on the 2022 thriller Kimi.

Steven Soderbergh’s latest movie, Presence, screened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The supernatural thriller follows a family who moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they are not alone. Our own Chris Bumbray enjoyed the film but admitted that it might not be for everyone. “While its experimental nature means that Presence will be one of Soderbergh’s more niche efforts, it’s still technically impeccable and moving once you settle into it,” Bumbray wrote. “It’s an interesting exercise for a director who never fails to innovate.”

Black Bag opens in theaters on March 14, 2024. Focus will release the film in the US, and Universal Pictures International will handle international distribution.

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As the Hollywood news cycle continues to churn with anticipation for the launch of Deadpool & Wolverine, presidential candidate endorsements, and enthusiasm for the increasing numbers of the summer box office, Focus Features is ready to make headlines by assigning a date for Steven Soderbergh‘s upcoming spy drama Black Bag. The studio says Black Bag opens in theaters on March 14, 2024. Focus will release the film in the US, and Universal Pictures International will handle international distribution.

Black Bag is a high-stakes mystery starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, as well as Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke, and Pierce Brosnan. Steven Soderbergh directs Black Bag from a script by David Koepp. Soderbergh and Blanchett previously worked together on his 2006 noir thriller The Good German. Additionally, Blanchett played a part in the film Ocean’s 8, part of Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 11 franchise. Soderbergh produced Ocean’s 8 but didn’t direct that one. He and Fassbender previously worked together on his 2011 action thriller Haywire. And in addition to collaborating on Presence, Soderbergh and Koepp also worked together on the 2022 thriller Kimi.

Cate Blanchett’s next silver-screen outing is Eli Roth’s Borderlands, an action extravaganza based on the best-selling video game franchise from 2K and Gearbox Software. Blanchett plays Lilith, a Vault Hunter, in the film coming to theaters on August 9.

Here’s the synopsis: “Lilith (Blanchett), an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., Atlas (Ramirez). Lilith allies with an unexpected team – Roland (Hart), a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg (Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis (Curtis), the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and Claptrap (Black), a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.”

Borderlands also stars Kevin Hart, Edgar Ramirez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Haley Bennett, Olivier Richters, Gina Gershon, Cheyenne Jackson, Charles Babalola, Benjamin Byron Davis, Steven Boyer, Bobby Lee, Ryann Redmond, Penn Jillette, and Janina Gavankar, who plays “a new, key character” called Commander Knoxx, someone who has not been in the video games. Jack Black provides the voice of the robot Claptrap.

Michael Fassbender recently completed work on David Sandberg’s long-gestating sequel, Kung Fury 2. The story will focus on Kung Fury’s universe, which has no real connection to the short movie other than the lead character. The anticipated Kung Fury film stars Alexandra Shipp, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Hasselhoff, and more!

While it’s nice to have a release date for Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag, we know very little about the film thus far. We’ll share more details when we receive updates about this curious spy project.

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Steven Soderbergh is assembling quite the cast for his upcoming spy thriller, Black Bag, and THR has reported that Pierce Brosnan, Naomie Harris, and Tom Burke are the latest additions to the project.

Plot details are being kept under wrap, but the cast of Black Bag also includes Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Regé Jean Page, and Marisa Abela. Soderbergh will direct from a script by David Koepp, and production is expected to begin in May in London.

Of course, Pierce Brosnan and Naomie Harris are no stranger to spy movies, with Brosnan playing James Bond in Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, and Die Another Day, and Harris playing Eve Moneypenny in Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die. Tom Burke played Orson Welles in David Fincher’s Mank and will next be seen in George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Speaking of James Bond, Brosnan recently suggested that Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy would make a great 007, saying, “Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond.” While I have little doubt he would be great in the role, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are looking for someone in their mid-thirties. Earlier today it was suggested that Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been “formally offered” the role of James Bond, but nothing is official. Taylor-Johnson has previously called rumours that he would be the next James Bond “flattering” but wouldn’t confirm or deny anything.

Steven Soderbergh’s latest movie, Presence, screened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The supernatural thriller follows a family who moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they are not alone. A supernatural force has infiltrated the house, taking a specific interest in the couple’s daughter. Our own Chris Bumbray enjoyed the film but admitted that it might not be for everyone. “While its experimental nature means that Presence will be one of Soderbergh’s more niche efforts, it’s still technically impeccable and moving once you settle into it,” Bumbray wrote. “It’s an interesting exercise for a director who never fails to innovate.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

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The cast of Steven Soderbergh’s spy thriller Black Bag expands today with Regé-Jean Page joining Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. Soderbergh directs from a script by David Koepp, with Caset Silver and Greg Jacobs producing. Focus Features is setting up Black Bag, with filming happening in London. Plot details remain a mystery. However, the film’s story is a spy thriller unfolding in the United Kingdom.

As The Hollywood Reporter pointed out in January, Soderbergh and Blanchett previously worked together on his 2006 noir thriller The Good German. Blanchett played a part in the film Ocean’s 8, as part of Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 11 franchise. Soderbergh produced Ocean’s 8 but didn’t direct that one. He and Fassbender previously worked together on his 2011 action thriller Haywire. And in addition to collaborating on Presence, Soderbergh and Koepp also worked together on the 2022 thriller Kimi.

Kimi told the following story: A tech worker with agoraphobia discovers recorded evidence of a violent crime but is met with resistance when she tries to report it. Seeking justice, she must do the thing she fears the most: she must leave her apartment. Kimi stars Zoë Kravitz as the agoraphobic Angela Childs, with Byron Bowers playing Terry Hughes and Rita Wilson starring as Natalie Chowdhury.

Here’s the synopsis for Presence: A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they are not alone. A supernatural force has infiltrated the house, taking a specific interest in the couple’s daughter.

In addition to Black Bag, David Koepp is ready to walk with dinosaurs for a new entry in Universal‘s Jurassic World franchise. Initially, David Leitch was slated to direct the new Jurassic film but was replaced by The Creator filmmaker Gareth Edwards. Leitch exited the project amicably, citing creative differences for the franchise’s new direction. The studio is fast-tracking the Jurassic project, creating an all-hands-on-deck situation.

What do you think about this development for Soderbergh’s forthcoming project? Are Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, and Regé-Jean Page enough of a triple threat to excite you about the filmmaker’s Black Bag? Let us know if you want to learn more about Black Bag in the comments section below.

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