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Does its release on Netflix change anything for Sony Pictures? Story by Matt Cummings Perhaps the most significant entertainment story of 2014 was one of its last: the decision by Sony Pictures to cancel the release of the comedy The Interview . This sparked a wave of controversy that hit social media like a 50' wave of guffaws and stunned reactions from people like Director Michael Moore to Actor Patton Oswalt. And although the film eventually saw theatrical release and did well in the VOD market, no one expected to see it on Netflix for at least a couple of months. That changed today when Variety and other outlets today reported that Netflix had agreed to stream the film with Seth Rogen and James Franco beginning January 24th. Sure, it's already made about $6m (at the time of this posting) from 581 theatrical locations, but its VOD went off the scale to the tune of $40m. The Netflix news answers one question: would Sony seek a Netflix release, just to squeeze

Does this weekend's mammoth opening tip the Oscar scales in its direction? Story by Matt Cummings Although the Clint Eastwood war drama American Sniper was poised to make a splash at this year's Oscars, there was no guarantee that it would become a sure-fire financial success. Films like The Imitation Game ($51m) and The Theory of Everything ($27m) featured excellent performances from Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne respectively, but neither has brought in the big bucks, a common feature for most Oscar nominees. But that all changed over the four-day weekend for Sniper , when it took home a stunning $89m in only its first weekend. Add in the Monday numbers and it surpassed $107m - the largest opening ever for a January film in wide release. Who could have saw that coming? Some have claimed its success was willing was based on what few films today will do: show less of itself in the trailers. Look at any film today, and you'll see most of it play

There’s a round of good news/bad news set to hit Snow White And The Huntsman sequel The Huntsman . The good news first, then: Emily Blunt is in negotiations to play the antagonist to Chris Hemsworth ’s hero in the new adventure. Hemsworth will be back as Eric, the heroic sort who aided Kristen Stewart in her battle against the evil Ravenna ( Charlize Theron ). For the follow-up, he’ll be off on a quest to retrieve the stolen magic mirror, which will bring him up against both Theron’s character and her snow queen sister (Blunt, assuming she signs), who are eager for revenge. And now for the bad news: Frank Darabont, who had signed on to direct and wrote a draft of the script, has left the project, citing those reliable old standbys, creative differences. So the search is on for producer Joe Roth and Universal to find a director to bring this one to life, particularly with an April 22, 2016 release date creeping ever closer. Please Leave A Comment-

The “ Hunger Games ” duo will tackle the tragic true tale of Francisco “Pipin” Ferraras and Audrey Mestre Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and her “Hunger Games” director Francis Lawrence are reteaming on “ The Dive ,” which is being produced by James Cameron, TheWrap has learned. “ The Dive ” tells the tragic true story of freedivers Francisco “Pipin” Ferraras and his wife Audrey Mestre, who competed to travel as deep as possible underwater on a single breath of air. Lawrence will play Mestre, who died during an attempt to beat her own world record of 557.7 feet. Ferraras paid tribute to his late wife by diving to the same depth in an attempt that was filmed by Cameron. Cameron is producing with his Lightstorm Entertainment partner Rae Sanchini as well as Barry Josephson. Dana Stevens (“Safe Haven”) wrote the most recent draft of the script, according to an individual familiar with the project. The Lawrences have worked together on “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” an

First announced in the autumn of 2013, Now You See Me 2 , the sequel to the high-concept heist magicians original, is heading for release next summer. We're presumably some time away from any stills or trailers yet, but Fandango has scored this ensemble shot of the cast, featuring an unusually hirsute Daniel Radcliffe and an intriguingly shorn Jesse Eisenberg . Director Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation) also put a snap on his Instagram account . So that's Mark Ruffalo, Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco , Radcliffe and Michael Caine (plus Chu in the foreground in his own version) aboard a plane set. Where are they all off to? See, this series is all about mysteries. They're throwing them at us already. Not pictured are Morgan Freeman (confirmed as returning) and Isla Fisher (on maternity leave but rumored to still be one of the Four Horsemen nevertheless). The plot finds the gang together to face a new enemy (probably Radcliffe since he’s playi

Twentieth Century Fox Launches Year-Long, Golden Campaign Bringing the Beloved Film to Theaters, Blu-ray™, Digital HD and More! Special New Documentary “The Sound of a City: Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg” Opening the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer Twentieth Century Fox proudly honors the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 box office smash and five-time Academy Award®-winning The Sound of Music with an unprecedented year-long, company-wide celebration highlighted by theatrical and home entertainment releases, and a slate of cross-company and promotional partnerships that will bring one of the world’s most ‘favorite things’ to millions around the globe. The unparalleled golden anniversary of the film’s premiere will launch March 2 in the United Kingdom and March 10 in the United States with the release of the 5-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition 50th Anniversary Blu-ray™/DVD/Digital HD. Beautifully restored, the 5-disc 50th Anniversary

From Academy Award® winning director Campanella comes UNDERDOGS , an animated comedy with a little bit of magic and a whole lot of heart. Jake ( Matthew Morrison ) is a shy, but talented, foosball player. His passion for the game is rivaled only by his love for free-spirited Laura ( Ariana Grande ). With her encouragement, he beats the town bully, Ace ( Nicholas Hoult ), in a foosball game. But everything changes when Ace becomes the world's best soccer player and returns years later to turn their village into a new sports stadium. He starts to destroy everything and kidnaps Laura in the process. Just when it looks like all hope is lost, the toy figures from Jake's foosball table come to life. He and the players embark on a wild adventure to save Laura and reclaim their village. With the help of his team, his town, and a little bit of magic, Jake will try to save the day. Please Leave A Comment-

Adapted from 1981 crime novel The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette, The Gunman will unleash the newly grenade-lobbing Penn on the shadowy figures trying to block his exit from their shady organisation. All he wants is a quiet life with his true love ( Jasmine Trinca ), and some time to recover from the PTSD he’s suffering from, but Javier Bardem’s operative and his goons stand in his path. Cue fisticuffs and some massive gun battles. Penn, for his part, rejects our lazy action star tagging. “Calling it an ‘action film’ is kind of like calling Meryl Streep a sexy blonde chick,” he told USA Today in 2013. “She is, but that really doesn't tell the story of what she is at all. I don’t separate this in my mind from anything else I have done. It’s a very human story that deals with the same things exploited in action films, like warfare.” Please Leave A Comment-

Winter is in full swing, which means nights spent doing anything but watching television from your couch have quickly lost appeal. Luckily, you can keep the hibernation fresh with all the new titles hitting Netflix come February. Films and Specials "Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse" "Dark Ride" "Gimme Shelter" "Gucci: The Director" "Hot Pursuit" "Houseboat" "Into the Blue 2: The Reef" "Joe" "King Arthur" "Naruto Shippuden: The Movie" "Now: In the Wings on a World Stage" "Proof" "The Brothers Bloom" "We Could Be King" "We're No Angels" "Zapped" "The Little Rascals Save The Day" (Feb. 5) "Ever After High: Spring Unsung" (Feb. 6) "Danger 5" (Feb. 6) "Dead Snow: Read vs. Dead" (Feb. 7) "Elsa & Fred" (Feb. 7) "Blood Ties" (Feb. 8) "Catch

Learn which films have us excited for 2015. Story by Matt Cummings Last year at the box office was an odd one to be sure - with most people looking ahead to 2015, 2014 seemed like the bastard step-child that the family knows it has to take in, even though they'd rather not. Still, the year did give us several very good flicks, most of which made it into our 2014 Most Anticipated List . Like every year, big-budget franchise sequels and tentpoles dominated the landscape like Godzilla, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as well as The LEGO Movie. But now it's time to move into the big one, the year that should demolish every previous box office record, with a collection of films that honestly is the best we've seen in awhile. As always, our list runs the gamut, from risky comic book projects to interesting adaptions, reboots, and conclusions. Your friends at SJF have compiled our top 20 (or so) most anticipated, which means we'