Variety

‘Beach Fictions’ Review: Utterly Beguiling, Time-Tweaking Korean Romance Shows What a Day a Difference Makes

Fatalism, self-determination and imagination all gently wrestle for control of the narrative(s) in “Beach Fictions,” an enchanting and subtly profound diptych that follows one young woman through two ...

1 week ago

Critics Vindicate ‘Artificial’ After Messy Amazon MGM Breakup (and the Studios vs. Talent Wars Around AI Are Just Beginning)

Looks like “Artificial” is the real thing. Luca Guadagnino’s genre-blending movie about the evils of artificial intelligence (and one of its fathers, Sam Altman) had a triumphant U.K. premiere at the ...

1 week ago

Zach Bryan Announces 2027 Stadium Tour Dates, John Fogerty, Ryan Bingham, More to Support

Just days after announcing his “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs” EP will be dropping this week — and not long after he broke the attendance record at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium while wea...

1 week ago

’60 Minutes’ Sees Audience Dip Without NFL Lead-In

What was all the fuss about? An average of 6.06 million people tuned in to watch an episode of “60 Minutes” that became the spark of an intense debate between longtime correspondent Lesley Stahl and C...

1 week ago

Fox’s $22 Billion Roku Deal Approved by Shareholders of Both Companies

In an expected development, shareholders for both Fox Corp. and Roku voted to approve Fox’s $22 billion acquisition of the streaming-video platform company. At separate special meetings of shareholder...

1 week ago

YouTube to Label AI-Generated Songs Across Its Platforms: Listeners ‘Want Transparency’

YouTube will label AI-generated songs across its main website and YouTube Music, the latest service to publicly mark tracks as not produced by humans. “Generative AI is opening up new ways for artists...

1 week ago

Markus Schleinzer on Sandra Hüller, Star of His Austrian Oscar Entry ‘Rose’ and a Berlin Best Lead Performance Winner: ‘She’s the Queen’

As a filmmaker, Markus Schleinzer owes much to his 17-year career as a casting director. “Directing a movie and being a casting director are quite similar jobs,” he tells Variety. Both require making ...

1 week ago

Sally Rooney Speaks Out on Her Books Being Removed from U.K. Shelves Over Palestine Action Support: ‘I Am Wholly Prepared to Accept the Consequences’

Sally Rooney is sticking to her guns. The Irish author behind the bestselling novels “Conversations with Friends” and “Normal People” — the latter adapted into an award-winning miniseries that launche...

1 week ago

Variety’s 2026 Artisans to Watch: ‘Obsession’ Makeup Head, ‘Project Hail Mary’ Visual Effects Supervisor, ‘La Bola Negra’ Composer and More

In 2026, moviegoers came back to cinemas, packing theaters to see blockbusters like “The Odyssey,” “Project Hail Mary,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “Toy Story 5,” “Michael” and “The Super Mario Galax...

1 week ago

‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ Renewed for Season 2 at Apple TV

“Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” has been renewed for a second season at Apple TV. Per the official logline, the series stars “follows newly divorced mom Paula (Tatiana Maslany) as she falls down a dange...

1 week ago

Bob Daly to Step Down as Chair of AFI Board of Directors (EXCLUSIVE)

After 17 years of leadership, Bob Daly will step down as chair of the American Film Institute Board of Directors at the next trustee meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, Variety can reveal exclusively. Daly...

1 week ago

Box Office: ‘Street Fighter’ Aims for $30 Million Opening, ‘You Can See Everything’ Could Score $8 Million Start

Strength in numbers? Movie theater operators are hoping the adage proves true as four new movies aim to bolster the October box office. Paramount’s video game adaptation “Street Fighter” will lead ove...

1 week ago

Mark Duplass Joins Cast of Hulu’s Erotic Thriller Limited Series ‘Victoria’

Mark Duplass has been added to the cast of Hulu’s limited series “Victoria,” joining previously announced stars Li Jun Li and Diane Lane. The San Francisco-set drama is described as an “erotic thrille...

1 week ago

‘Dune’ Immersive Experience Heads to L.A With Real Props, Sandworms and a $250 VIP Package

Fans won’t have to wait until December to return to Arrakis. Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment are bringing the world of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” films to downtown Los Angeles next month, with...

1 week ago

Celine Dion Gets Her Own Barbie Doll Inspired by Iconic ‘Titanic’ Oscars Performance

Celine Dion’s comeback year now includes a Barbie doll. Mattel has unveiled a new collectible doll honoring the Canadian superstar, recreating her look from the 1998 Academy Awards, where she performe...

1 week ago

Steve Hilton, Republican Candidate for Governor, Rolls Out Expanded Hollywood Plan

Steve Hilton, the Republican contender for California governor, rolled out a plan Wednesday to revive Hollywood production that includes increased tax credits and state-backed financing for studio rep...

1 week ago

Xavier Becerra’s Film Policy Is Vague. Was It Written by AI?

On his campaign website, Xavier Becerra has a page devoted to Hollywood. The 1,600-word policy statement is long on platitudes — “California Is the Home of Film and TV and We Intend to Keep It That Wa...

1 week ago

For the Love of Television, Please Watch ‘The Lowdown’ Season 2: TV Review

On the one hand, it wouldn’t be very apt for a show about a scrappy citizen journalist in a small heartland city to become a massive hit. On the other, FX’s “The Lowdown” was one of the great TV......

1 week ago

Universal Music Group Hit With Layoffs, Several Top Execs to Leave Company

As has long been expected, Universal Music Group is being hit with extensive layoffs across its U.S. and U.K. operations, with multiple top executives departing, among many others. The moves, which ar...

1 week ago

‘Hazara Town,’ About the Hazara Community in Pakistan, Acquired by Filmotor Ahead of IDFA World Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

World sales outfit Filmotor has acquired the global sales rights to “Hazara Town,” the debut feature documentary by Khadim Dai. The film will have its world premiere in the International Competition a...

1 week ago

Nia Long Joins Teyana Taylor’s Directorial Debut ‘Get Lite’ at Paramount (EXCLUSIVE)

After starring in the blockbuster biopic “Michael,” Nia Long has joined the cast of Teyana Taylor’s directorial debut “Get Lite.” The Paramount movie stars Emmy winner Storm Reid and NFL rookie-turned...

1 week ago

ESPN Launches ESPN JV YouTube Channel for Kids

ESPN JV isn’t for second-stringers. The new YouTube channel aims to cultivate younger sports fans who will keep the Disney sports-media giant in mind as they grow up. The new channel, to be found at y...

1 week ago

RadicalMedia’s New CEO Wants to Test Business Models That Give Production Powerhouse Stakes in Work It Does for Others

At production powerhouse RadicalMedia, the only thing constant is change. Originally conceived as a way for founders Jon Kamen and Frank Scherma to explore new content formats after many years in the ...

1 week ago

Netflix Film VP Doug Belgrad Is Out Amid Layoffs

Netflix’s film VP Doug Belgrad has been let go amid a massive restructuring at the streamer. Netflix is laying off around 1,000 employees, around 6% of its workforce, in what marks the company’s large...

1 week ago

Wang Chao’s ‘A Woman’ Swooped on by France’s Malavida, Which Sets 2027 Retrospective

LYON, France — French distributor Malavida has picked up Wang Chao’s “A Woman,” the Chinese filmmaker’s 2022 drama that won the screenplay prize at San Sebastián but has never received a theatrical re...

1 week ago

Content Market and Conference Mipcom Attracts 10,100 Delegates, Down by Around 500

As Mipcom, the annual content market and conference in Cannes, wound down on Wednesday, Lucy Smith, the event’s chief, revealed attendance figures for this year’s edition. Total attendance this year w...

1 week ago

Paul McCartney Calls Out Beatles Movies Because Paul Mescal Is Shorter Than John Lennon Actor; He Texted Director Sam Mendes: ‘Don’t Do This!’

Paul McCartney has a bone to pick with Sam Mendes, the director of the upcoming four Beatles movies starring Paul Mescal as McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison ...

1 week ago

Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman Thriller ‘Pumping Black’ Adds Daniel Quinn-Toye, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Arieh Worthalter and Tony Hale (EXCLUSI...

Cameras have started rolling in the French Alps on “Pumping Black” a high-adrenaline thriller being led by Jonathan Bailey (“Wicked,” “Jurassic World: Rebirth”) and Oscar winner Natalie Portman (“May ...

1 week ago

Apple TV’s Hit German Series ‘Where’s Wanda?’ Returns for Season 2, Again Asking: ‘How Far Would You Go to Save Your Child?’

“Where’s Wanda?” Apple TV’s first German series, proved a major hit for the streamer. The show’s creative team at UFA Fiction have now raised the stakes with Season 2. Set in the town of Sundersheim, ...

1 week ago

Netflix Lays Off 6% of Employees, Elimination About 1,000 Jobs in Biggest Cutbacks to Date

Netflix is swinging the axe — laying off around 1,000 employees, representing 6% of its workforce, in what is its biggest layoff to date. Most of the layoffs will affect workers in Netflix’s product, ...

1 week ago

Ventana Sur Proyecta 2026: A Powerhouse New Generation Lineup Backed by Some of Latin America’s Finest Producers

Packed to its entirety by first and second-time directors, the 12 projects at this year’s Ventana Sur Proyecta co-production forum delivers a new generation snapshot backed by some of Latin America’s ...

1 week ago

‘Forensic Files’ to Resume Original Production Amid the Streaming Boom for Vintage True Crime Series

“Forensic Files” is headed back to the lab. Radial Entertainment has teamed with Content Partners and ITV Studios to produce new episodes of the series that examines true crime tales from the perspect...

1 week ago

France’s Luxbox, Spain’s Amore Cine Join Melina León’s Ventana Sur Proyecta Title ‘Portrait Huaco’ (EXCLUSIVE)

France’s Luxbox and Spain’s Amore Cine have boarded the Peruvian drama “Portrait Huaco” (“Huaco retrato”) by Melina León, best known for her debut feature “Song Without a Name” (“Canción sin nombre”),...

1 week ago

Ben Frow Stepping Down as Chief Content Officer of 5, Skydance’s U.K. Network, After 14 Years

Ben Frow, chief content officer of 5 (formerly Channel 5) is stepping down next year. The news was shared in an internal memo from Reemah Sakaan, president of the Skydance-owned U.K. network. He has b...

1 week ago

Aaron Sorkin Thinks About Reviving ‘The West Wing’ for a ‘Couple of Seconds Every Day’: ‘I Miss It’

“The West Wing” stays on Aaron Sorkin’s mind. Created by Sorkin, the beloved NBC series ran from 1999 to 2006 and is widely regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time. Asked by Entertainment Wee...

1 week ago

Joanna Hogg to Preside Over El Gouna Film Festival Jury

British director Joanna Hogg (“The Souvenir,” “The Eternal Daughter”) will preside over the jury of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, which runs Oct. 15-23. Hogg, who is one of the U.K.’s leading auteur...

1 week ago

Russell Brand Was ‘Ruthless and Calculated’ With a ‘Voracious’ Desire for ‘Sexual Contact,’ Prosecution Alleges in Rape Trial Opening Statement

Russell Brand was “ruthless and calculated” with an “indiscriminate and voracious” desire for sexual contact, the prosecution alleged in its opening statement at the actor and comedian’s rape trial in...

1 week ago

Banijay Kids & Family Sells ’Little Princess’ to Sky U.K. (EXCLUSIVE)

“Little Princess,” the British pre-school animation classic, is heading to Sky UK, in a deal struck with Banijay Kids & Family which sees the pay TV buying its complete catalog. Further new distri...

1 week ago

Russell T Davies Calls BBC Boss’ AI ‘Doctor Who’ Comment ‘Clumsy’ and Teases Show’s Future: ‘You’ll Start to See Production’ in ‘Summer Next Year’

Outgoing “Doctor Who” showrunner Russell T. Davies has criticized BBC director general Matt Brittin over recent comments he made regarding an AI-generated episode of the cult show. Speaking at the Roy...

1 week ago

Edinburgh Film Festival Reveals Dates for 2027 Edition (EXCLUSIVE)

The Edinburgh International Film Festival has announced the dates for its 80th edition, set to run Aug. 12-18 2027. Supported by Screen Scotland, the milestone edition will honour the festival’s long ...

1 week ago

Philippine-Italian Sales Alliance Targets Indie Film Buyers in Asia, Europe and North America (EXCLUSIVE)

A new Philippine-Italian sales alliance aims to put independent films in front of buyers in Asia, Europe and North America. Fire & Ice Media, the Philippine producer and sales agent, and Italy’s C...

1 week ago

Tallinn-Bound Indian Drama ‘Kidney’ Boarded by Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon One Films (EXCLUSIVE)

Indian drama “Kidney,” the second feature from filmmaking siblings Aakarsh and Agrim Sansanwal, has been boarded by Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon One Films, which joins as co-producer ahead of the film’s ...

1 week ago

ORF-Enterprise Boards ‘Crème de la Crème’ – About a Sperm Bank Business – Produced by Whatever Pictures and a ‘Playful and Irreverent’ Series

Finnish production company Whatever Pictures has signed a new global sales deal with ORF-Enterprise, part of Austrian braodcaster ORF, which has acquired international distribution rights to the comed...

1 week ago

Todd Haynes on Pedro Pascal-Led ‘De Noche,’ What You Can’t See on Screen and the Radical Power of Love

LYON, France — When Mexican costume designer Anna Terrazas told Todd Haynes that the most important thing about a costume was what it smelled like, the filmmaker had just one response: “You’re hired.”...

1 week ago

The Negative Melted, the Legend Didn’t: Inside the Resurrection of Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari’s Storied Indian Epic ‘Pakeezah’

On the night of Feb. 3, 1972, the prints of “Pakeezah” arrived at Bombay’s Maratha Mandir cinema in a palanquin pulled by four horses. Military bands played outside, police held back the thousands cro...

1 week ago