theatrical releases Archives

AppWizard

December 21, 2025

From Minecraft to The Last of Us Season 2, the best gaming adaptations of 2025 weren’t lacking in variety

Continuity and iteration are prevalent in the gaming industry, particularly in 2025, where many video game adaptations are second seasons of successful prior adaptations. This year's adaptations include notable theatrical releases with creative interpretations. Adaptation involves translating elements of the original game into a different medium, which can spark debate among fans. The diversity of adaptations this year spans various genres, including family-friendly, horror, and post-apocalyptic narratives. The adaptation of Supermassive's game Until Dawn into a film has managed to maintain its essence while providing a fresh perspective. The Minecraft Movie, directed by Jared Hess and featuring Jack Black, distinguishes itself from typical CGI fantasy adventures and resonates with both young fans and newcomers, leading to enthusiastic audience reactions and 'meme-a-long' screenings. Fallout Season 2 has surprised audiences with its quick turnaround, shifting the narrative to New Vegas and featuring beloved elements from the series. The adaptation of The Last of Us Part 2 on HBO Max has received mixed reactions, particularly regarding the timing of plot revelations, though it includes emotionally intense moments and strong chemistry between characters.

AppWizard

September 27, 2025

Warner Bros First Studio This Year To Cross $4 Billion At Global Box Office

Warner Bros became the first studio to surpass billion at the global box office in 2023, marking the first time since 2019. The studio had 11 theatrical releases this year, down from 20 in 2019, with a domestic gross of 5 million and an international total of 0 million. The film "One Battle After Another," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is projected to debut with a global box office of million. Under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, the DC franchise has seen revitalization, particularly with the release of "Superman." Warner Bros had nine films open at No. 1 and achieved 15 weekends at the top domestically and globally in 2023. Seven consecutive films opened to over 0 million, a record since Disney's five titles last year. New Line, Warner Bros' genre label, achieved five consecutive weekends at No. 1, generating over billion from horror films. Warner Bros set records by being the only studio since 2009 to have two films gross over 0 million on the same weekend. The studio led the box office in April with billion, July with 8 million, and August with 8 million, commanding 36% of the domestic gross as of September. Warner Bros' top releases in 2023 include "A Minecraft Movie" (7.8 million), "F1: The Movie" (4.3 million), "Superman" (5.3 million), "The Conjuring: Last Rites" (2 million), "Sinners" (6 million), "Final Destination Bloodlines" (0 million), "Weapons" (0 million), and "Mickey 17" (0 million). Disney is expected to reach the billion mark with upcoming releases like "Tron: Ares," "Zootopia 2," and "Avatar: Fire and Ash."

AppWizard

September 6, 2025

OTT releases this week: Wednesday S2 Part II, A Minecraft Movie, Inspector Zende, Queen Mantis and more

A fresh wave of entertainment is set to debut on streaming platforms this week, including: 1. Wednesday Season 2 Part II - Story: Continues the story of Wednesday Addams at Nevermore Academy. - Cast: Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Lady Gaga - Release Date: September 3 - Platform: Netflix 2. A Minecraft Movie - Story: A group of misfits is transported to the Overworld and must find their way home. - Cast: Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers - Release Date: September 5 - Platform: JioHotstar 3. Love Con Revenge - Story: A docu-series about exposing romance fraudsters. - Cast: Cecilie Fjellhøy, Brianne Joseph - Release Date: September 5 - Platform: Netflix 4. Highest 2 Lowest - Story: A wealthy music executive faces a moral dilemma in a ransom plot. - Cast: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, ASAP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera, Ice Spice - Director: Spike Lee - Release Date: September 5 - Platform: Apple TV+ 5. Queen Mantis Season 1 - Story: A crime thriller about a serial killer and her detective son. - Cast: Go Hyun-jung, Jang Dong-yoon, Cho Seong-ha, Lee El - Release Date: September 5 - Platform: Netflix 6. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan - Story: A romantic drama about a blind musician and a theatre artist. - Cast: Vikrant Massey, Shanaya Kapoor - Release Date: September 5 - Platform: Z5 7. Kannappa - Story: Chronicles the journey of Bhakta Kannappa, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. - Cast: Vishnu Manchu, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal - Release Date: September 5 - Platform: Prime Video 8. Inspector Zende - Story: Follows Senior Inspector Madhukar Zende, known for capturing serial killer Charles Sobhraj. - Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Jim Sarbh - Release Date: September 5 - Platform: Netflix 9. Maalik - Story: A drama about the rise of a gangster in North India's underworld. - Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Manushi Chhillar, Huma Qureshi, Saurabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire - Release Date: September 5 - Platform: Prime Video Other OTT releases include: - The Runarounds – September 1 (Prime Video) - Lilo & Stitch – September 3 (JioHotstar) - Pokémon Concierge Season 1 Part 2 – September 4 (Netflix) - Locked – September 5 (Lionsgate Play) - Dish It Out – September 5 (Prime Video) - Kammattam – September 5 (Z5) - The Paper – September 5 (JioHotstar) - Rise and Fall – September 6 (Amazon MX Player) Theatrical releases include: 1. Baaghi 4 - September 5 2. The Bengal Files - September 5 3. Dil Madharaasi - September 5 4. Ghaati - September 5 5. The Conjuring: Last Rites - September 5 6. Other films: Ufff Yeh Siyapaa, Bad Girl, Naanu Matthu Gunda 2, Splitsville - September 5.

AppWizard

September 4, 2025

Microsoft Scored With Minecraft Movie: Is Call Of Duty The Next Box Office Hit?

Microsoft Corp has partnered with Paramount Skydance to develop a live-action film based on the Call of Duty franchise, following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard for .7 billion. Paramount will handle production and distribution of the film. Call of Duty, which has sold over 500 million units since its launch in 2003, presents a wealth of material for adaptation. David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, expressed his excitement about the project. The partnership could lead to a broader Call of Duty universe, including multiple films and television series. Recent successes in video game adaptations include "A Minecraft Movie," which grossed .9 million domestically and .7 million globally. Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios, the parent company of Minecraft, for .5 billion in 2014. Activision Blizzard previously had success with the film "Warcraft," which grossed 9 million globally.

AppWizard

August 7, 2025

Warner Bros. Discovery built its Q2 on A Minecraft Movie

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) reported a revenue of .8 billion for Q2, stable compared to .7 billion last year. The Minecraft Movie contributed to a 38% increase in theatrical revenue, leading to a 54% rise in the studios segment revenue to .8 billion. WBD added 3.4 million global subscribers, totaling 125.7 million, with streaming revenue increasing by 8% to .8 billion. However, revenue from global networks declined by 9% to .8 billion, with a 13% drop in advertising revenue due to a 23% decrease in domestic audience numbers. WBD plans to separate its networks business from streaming and studios operations. The company aims for 12 to 14 theatrical releases annually and is focusing on expanding the DC franchise across various media. CEO David Zaslav noted progress in returning studios to leadership, scaling HBO Max globally, and optimizing global linear networks.

AppWizard

August 2, 2025

Cinemark CEO On Box Office Turnaround From ‘Minecraft’ To ‘Superman’ As Chain Posts Buoyant Q2; “Thrilled” With Apple’s ‘F1’ Success

Cinemark shares rose by 2.3% following strong sales and profit growth for the June quarter, driven by the release of films like A Minecraft Movie, Superman, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The company reported a nearly 30% increase in revenue, reaching 0 million, and net income more than doubled to million. Admissions revenue increased by 28% to 7 million, and concession sales rose by 29% to a record million. Overall attendance grew by 15.8% to 57.9 million patrons. The Movie Club loyalty program saw a 12% year-over-year increase in subscriptions, totaling 1.45 million members. CEO Shawn Gamble noted a significant improvement in year-to-date tracking, moving from a 12% deficit against 2024 at the end of Q1 to a 14% gain by June's end. He expressed optimism about Apple's F1: The Movie while indicating concerns about Netflix's lack of near-term changes in strategy.

AppWizard

July 7, 2025

‘Lilo & Stitch’ Passes ‘Minecraft’ as Hollywood’s Highest-Grossing Film of 2025

Disney's live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” has surpassed Warner Bros./Legendary’s “A Minecraft Movie” in global theatrical earnings, reaching a total of 8.5 million in the U.S. and 7.7 million worldwide. “A Minecraft Movie” concluded its run with a global tally of 4 million. “Lilo & Stitch” is on track to potentially become the first film to cross the billion-dollar mark since “Ne Zha 2.” Disney's first half of 2025 faced challenges, with “Mufasa” earning million globally, and Marvel films “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Thunderbolts” earning million and million, respectively. Pixar’s “Elio” grossed only .8 million globally over three weekends. Upcoming releases include “Zootopia 2,” “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” and “The Fantastic 4: First Steps,” which is projected to open with over 0 million.