This Month
Inside the rise of the cute movie sidekick
In hit after hit, adorable companions – from Superman’s pooch Krypto to playful dragon Toothless – have fulfilled moviegoers’ need for escapism.
How Marvel’s heroes lost their superpowers
The studio has long been the engine that powered global cinema ticket sales. But a crowded and confusing universe has left the comic book characters running out of puff.
Superman reboot fails to fly high enough
Writer-director James Gunn is good for eye-popping and colourful action scenes and effects, but there’s nothing innovative here.
Why Steven Spielberg hated the ‘star’ of Jaws
The mechanical shark is probably the most maligned prop in movie history, but having to shoot around it is what made the film a masterpiece.
June
‘28 Years Later’ is not the zombie film you expected
Danny Boyle delivers tension, blood and guts along with hints of Brexit and a dash of English mischief amid the societal collapse.
Why Jacinda Ardern made an intimate documentary about her marriage
The former NZ prime minister went along with her husband when he started filming her because she figured no one would ever see it. Two filmmakers had other ideas.
F1 gets the ‘Top Gun’ treatment – and Brad Pitt driving at 290km/h
It took four years, unprecedented co-ordination and groundbreaking innovation in camera technology to bring the grand prix film to the screen.
Inside the race for Sydney’s second film studio
With Disney Studios often closed off to everybody but the owner, the NSW Government has pledged $100m and kicked off a battle to become Sydney’s second screen mecca.
A piece of this seminal ’80s film could be yours for $460,000
Anyone? Anyone? Taking bids now for the vest worn by Matthew Broderick in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”.
What Stephen King really thinks about movie adaptations of his books
The prolific writer is also a movie buff. But he has learnt to keep his mouth shut if he doesn’t like a film version of one of his books – most of the time.
How they pulled off that wild ‘Mission: Impossible’ plane stunt
Creating Tom Cruise’s pivotal scene for “The Final Reckoning” required months of grit, G-force training and a little hypothermia.
The surprise hit that could help Disney collect $1.5b
The studio has done everything right with the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, which overnight has become one of the biggest movie windfalls in years.
A frank take on love and money (with wealth porn)
The new movie Materialists is a fresh look at an age-old conundrum: is it better to be with someone for love or money?
IMAX bets that bigger, louder will win people back from streaming
The NYSE-listed maker of large-screen cinema systems will more than double its presence in Australia by 2027, hoping that premium content can save the movies.
May
Jennifer Lawrence stirs Oscar talk in risky, unhinged role
The Hunger Games star said her new movie about a mother suffering postpartum depression was deeply personal as it premiered in Cannes to rave reviews.
How an Aussie nabbed Wicked star Cynthia Erivo before she was famous
Producer Michael Cassel contracted her for a West End season of Sydney Theatre Company’s Dracula weeks before Wicked made her a household name.
How Packer and Murdoch missed the boat on Crocodile Dundee’s fortunes
The two business titans weren’t among investors in Paul Hogan’s film. But 2500 others, from mums and dads to Test cricketers, took a punt and cleaned up.
Emily’s in Paris. Macron wants a Netflix there too
Information is power and so is entertainment. With Donald Trump now threatening tariffs on films, Europe needs the equivalent of an Airbus for streaming.
‘Ted Lasso taxed into oblivion’: Trump tariffs shock screen world
The sets of US studio films and TV shows have been thrown into turmoil by Donald Trump’s announcement of a 100 per cent tariff on movies shot outside the US
April
The 6 best movies about financial turmoil
From the Great Depression to The Wolf of Wall Street, watch these titles when you can no longer watch the ticker.