FOLLOWING FILMS

Eugene Jarecki’s The Six Billion Dollar Man arrives at a moment when journalism and institutional power feel more volatile than ever. Premiering as a Special Screening at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the documentary turns its focus toward Julian Assange, spotlighting his release in 2024 and revisiting a story the world has debated for more than a decade. Rather than treating Assange as a historical figure, the film places him firmly in the present, arguing that the stakes surrounding his case are not resolved but escalating.  Jarecki’s approach is expansive and global. The documentary was filmed across multiple regions, tracing the arc of WikiLeaks from its early revelations to the years that followed—years marked by court battles, diplomatic standoffs, constant surveillance, and attempts by various governments to control the narrative. The film incorporates firsthand accounts from journalists, attorneys, public officials, activists, and individuals who interacted with Assange di...

The official synopsis suggests that this film isn’t just a continuation — it's the reckoning everything has been leading toward: Maya must confront the masked killers one final time, forcing a brutal, full-circle collision between survival and revenge. Where previous installments leaned into dread and helplessness, Chapter 3 appears poised to flip the dynamic. The hunter and the hunted may finally trade places. If the teaser is any indication, Maya’s story is no longer just about escaping the Strangers — it’s about ending them. THE MINDS BEHIND THE MADNESS The screenplay comes from Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland , adapting the world originally created by Bryan Bertino — the filmmaker whose original The Strangers left audiences checking their locks for years. This closing film is produced by Courtney Solomon , Mark Canton , Christopher Milburn , Gary Raskin , Alastair Burlingham , and Charlie Dombek , with Lionsgate releasing in partnership with Fifth Element, alongsid...

Colin Minihan’s Coyotes is one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable thrillers of 2025, a tight, fiery, eco-horror adventure that blends creature-feature suspense with an intimate family drama. What could have easily become a campy “animals attack” movie instead emerges as a tense, stylish, emotionally resonant survival story that hits far above its weight class. The plot is straightforward but immediately gripping: a Hollywood Hills family, Scott (Justin Long), Liv (Kate Bosworth), and their teenage daughter Chloe (Mila Harris), becomes trapped in their home as wildfires rage nearby. The already volatile situation turns terrifying when a pack of coyotes, driven from their habitat and behaving with eerie coordination, surrounds the house. The genius of the setup is its layered tension. The fire, the darkness, the isolation, the failing communications, the smoke, all of it compounds into an atmosphere where anything could go wrong at any moment. The coyotes are just the final spark thrown ...

New Line Cinema is once again stepping into the arena, and this time, the stakes for Earthrealm have never been higher. Mortal Kombat II , the follow-up to Simon McQuoid’s 2021 reboot, arrives in theaters and IMAX® in May 2026, promising an even bolder, bloodier, and more lore-rich entry in the long-running video game adaptation saga. McQuoid returns to the director’s chair with a renewed confidence and a stacked creative team, adapting a screenplay by Jeremy Slater ( Moon Knight ) based on Ed Boon and John Tobias’s legendary fighting game series. Where the first film teased a tournament that never came, this sequel dives headfirst into the chaos, and the cast list alone hints at how massive this confrontation will be. Johnny Cage Enters the Fight The loudest cheer from fans may be for the arrival of Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban. Known for his intensity in The Boys and Dredd , Urban brings his signature grit (and surprising comedic chops) to the brash Hollywood martial artist....

Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon share the screen for the first time in two decades in THE BEST YOU CAN, a new feature written and directed by Michael J. Weithorn. Described as a sharp, touching, and comedic look at personal change and unexpected connection, the film brings the pair together in a character-driven story centered on the moments that unsettle us and the people who help us through them. The cast also includes Judd Hirsch, Brittany O’Grady, and Olivia Luccardi, rounding out an ensemble that supports the film’s focus on relationships and self-discovery. Cinematography is by Andrew Wonder, with editing by Tricia Holmes. Executive producers on the project include Greg Clark, Zach Garrett, Judd Hirsch, Gretchen McGowan, Cindy Ambers, Cora Olson, and David L. Schiff. Positioned as both humorous and heartfelt, THE BEST YOU CAN highlights the idea that meaningful understanding often comes from people we least expect. The project marks a notable on-screen reunion for Sedgwick and ...

HBO has officially renewed its breakout crime drama TASK for a second season, continuing its partnership with creator Brad Ingelsby, the Emmy-nominated writer behind Mare of Easttown. The announcement came directly from Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, during a press event in New York City. Produced in association with wiip, TASK quickly became one of HBO’s most talked-about original series of the year, with all Season 1 episodes now streaming on HBO Max. Since its debut, TASK has surged in viewership, becoming one of HBO’s top three fastest-growing first seasons. Critics across major outlets have praised the series for its taut writing, atmospheric direction, and powerhouse performances. GQ dubbed it “the show of the year,” Entertainment Weekly highlighted its “phenomenal cast,” and The Wall Street Journal celebrated it as “one of the year's best crime thrillers.” This strong critical reception, combined with passionate audience engagement, virtually guara...

HBO has officially renewed its two biggest new comedy hits, The Chair Company and I Love LA, following a standout presentation in New York City where Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, confirmed both series will return for second seasons. The renewals come as no surprise: The Chair Company, created by Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin, is now HBO’s top-performing freshman comedy of all time, averaging 3.3 million U.S. cross-platform viewers (L+3). Meanwhile, Rachel Sennott’s I Love LA has become the platform’s second biggest freshman comedy, drawing nearly 2 million viewers and rapidly building momentum. Amy Gravitt, HBO’s EVP of Programming and Head of Comedy, praised the success of both shows, noting how each “confidently carries on the HBO comedy tradition” in its own unique voice. Critics have embraced both series with unusually enthusiastic reviews. The Chair Company currently boasts a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been celebrated as “absurdly funny” ...

Welcome to another episode of The Following Films Podcast. Today, I’m thrilled to be joined once again by director Simon Cellan Jones. If you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll remember our fantastic conversation around his film Arthur the King — and I’ve been eager to have him back on ever since. Simon returns at a particularly exciting moment in his career. His highly anticipated new project, The Family Plan 2, starring Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan, will be hitting Apple TV+ on November 21st. We’ll be diving into the making of the film, revisiting his experience on Arthur the King, and exploring how his storytelling continues to evolve across such varied and ambitious projects. I’m genuinely grateful to have him back on the show — so without further ado, here is my conversation with Simon Cellan Jones.

 THE BLUES BROTHERS: THE ESCAPE OF JOLIET JAKE is a bold and deeply affectionate continuation of the Blues Brothers legacy. Forged from a collaboration between Dan Aykroyd’s family and the estate of John Belushi, this graphic novel seeks to pick up where the classic 1980 film left off, while honoring the irreverent spirit, frenetic energy, and soulful heart that made the original such a beloved cultural touchstone. The result is both a nostalgic homage and a fresh creative chapter, a story that leans on its roots while daring to ask: what happens next for Jake and Elwood after their wild ride through Chicago? The narrative begins by revisiting the end of the original film: Jake “Joliet” Blues and his brother Elwood are jailed after their “mission from God” to save their childhood orphanage ends in arrest. From there, the graphic novel fast-forwards, exploring how the two brothers deal with confinement, legacy, and the restless pull of the blues. Rather than merely rehashing th...