FOLLOWING FILMS

What if the greatest question in human history was suddenly answered—and the answer belonged to everyone? This summer, audiences around the world will confront that possibility in Disclosure Day, a new original event film from Universal Pictures, created and directed by legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. Framed as a high-stakes thriller, the film explores the emotional, political, and existential shockwaves that follow proof that humanity is not alone in the universe. Set against the backdrop of a global reckoning, Disclosure Day asks a chillingly simple question: If someone showed you undeniable proof that we weren’t alone, would that truth comfort you—or terrify you? The film positions that revelation not as a distant science-fiction concept, but as an immediate and deeply human crisis, shared by all seven billion people on Earth. Spielberg has assembled a formidable ensemble to bring this story to life. The film stars SAG Award winner and Oscar nominee Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer, A...

Actor Jon Heder joins host Chris Maynard for a wide-ranging conversation about his new film Tapawingo. Best known for his iconic role in the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite, Heder talks about choosing meaningful projects, the creative process behind Tapawingo, and where he’s at in his career today. The episode also looks back at his collaboration with Billy Zane in Waltzing With Brando, with behind-the-scenes stories and reflections on independent filmmaking. Tapawingo is available on Blu-ray starting today, December 16th. A great listen for movie lovers, film fans, and anyone interested in the art of acting.

Apple TV+ launched The Morning Show as a prestige provocation: a glossy workplace drama that uses the rhythms of live television to interrogate power, gender, and the stories institutions tell to survive scandal. Across its first two seasons, the series oscillates between sharp satire and earnest melodrama, sometimes wobbling under the weight of its ambitions, but often landing with bracing emotional clarity. What emerges is a study of performance—on camera and off—and the price of being visible in systems designed to protect themselves. Season One arrives fueled by the shock of a sexual misconduct allegation against beloved anchor Mitch Kessler. Season Two pivots toward reckoning and aftermath, widening its lens to include accountability, public apology, and a world destabilized by crisis. Together, they form a diptych about complicity and courage, anchored by committed performances and an unusually tactile sense of workplace pressure. Season One: The Shattering of a Perfect Picture E...

Prime Video has dropped the much-anticipated trailer for Beast Games Season 2, and with it comes a twist no one saw coming: a full-scale crossover with CBS’s Survivor, complete with an appearance from the legendary Jeff Probst. Premiering January 7, 2026 with a three-episode launch, the new season promises not only higher stakes and bigger challenges, but also a landmark collaboration that fuses two of the world’s most dominant forces in reality competition. Filmed on location in Fiji—the longtime home of Survivor—the crossover marks the first time the Emmy-winning franchise has stepped into another show’s arena. Rather than a cameo or branding nod, the episode weaves Survivor’s signature DNA directly into the Beast Games format. Contestants will face a hybrid course that marries MrBeast-sized spectacle with the cutthroat mechanics that defined the genre: mid-challenge bribes, strategic curveballs, and the kind of punishing obstacles that have tested castaways for decades. It’s a rare ...

Premiering in theaters on December 12th, 2025, Patrick Creadon’s latest documentary turns its lens toward a figure whose influence is woven into the fabric of nearly every modern creative industry—yet whose name remains surprisingly under-recognized. The King of Color chronicles the extraordinary life and legacy of Lawrence Herbert, the inventor of the Pantone Matching System and the man responsible for bringing order to the chaotic world of color reproduction. Now 96 years old, Herbert reflects on a lifetime of innovation in a rare, intimate interview featured throughout the film. Growing up in Depression-era Brooklyn, Herbert entered the print and manufacturing trade at a time when color selection was inconsistent and subjective—an industry-wide problem with costly consequences. His solution was nothing short of revolutionary: a comprehensive, standardized system that could translate color into a universally understood language. The result was the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a too...

Punk Rock Christmas was one of my most anticipated concerts of the year, and it didn't disappoint. Some fans showed up to the venue early, armed with Santa hats, patched jackets, festive mohawks, and enough energy to power a small city. The bill read like a love letter to West Coast punk and ska: Winterhaven, Jen Pop, Urethane, Slick Shoes, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Authority Zero, The Vandals, Face to Face, and finally MxPx closing out the night. What followed was a marathon of melody, mosh pits, and pure holiday chaos—each band bringing their own flavor to a show that delivered nostalgia and new energy in equal measure. Winterhaven: A Warm Opening for a Cool Night Local favorites Winterhaven kicked things off just as the sun dipped below the desert horizon. Their sound—clean, melodic, and full of youthful urgency—was the perfect ignition for the long night ahead. Despite going on early, they drew a solid crowd, many of whom had clearly come specifically to support the hometown scene. T...

Today on the podcast, Chris Maynard sits down with filmmaker Kevin Lewis—yes, that Kevin Lewis, the mad genius who gave us Willy’s Wonderland and cemented his place in modern cult horror. He’s back with a new Southern-Gothic nightmare, Pig Hill, a film that premiered at FrightFest and is now available on VOD courtesy of Cineverse, the folks behind Terrifier 3 and The Toxic Avenger. Pig Hill follows Carrie, played by Rainey Qualley, a young woman obsessed with the eerie legend of the “pig people”—grotesque creatures said to stalk the wooded hills of her rural hometown. As the disappearances of local women reach a chilling tenth victim, Carrie, her brother (Shiloh Fernandez), and their friend Andy (Shane West) begin digging into the folklore… and discover there may be more truth to the stories than anyone wants to believe. So let’s dive into Pig Hill, the filmmaking process, and what keeps Kevin chasing the next nightmare. Pig Hill is available on VOD today—and I’m thrilled to welcome Ke...

The New Yorker has added Extremist, the award-winning short film from writer–director Alexander Molochnikov, to its curated slate of prestige releases. The film is now streaming both on the magazine’s website and on its YouTube channel, accompanied by a newly published interview with Molochnikov. Inspired by the real case of Sasha Skochilenko—a St. Petersburg artist imprisoned for seven years after swapping four grocery-store price tags with anti-war messages—Extremist approaches her story from a more internal, imaginative angle. Instead of recreating events literally, Molochnikov explores the emotional and psychological weight of a seemingly tiny act of dissent at a time when public expression can trigger severe state retaliation. The film uses this small gesture as an entry point into broader questions about conscience, repression, and the cost of refusing to stay silent. Since premiering at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival, Extremist has quickly become a standout on the festival cir...

The first time anyone in Binger County heard the phrase “tourism initiative,” they assumed it meant another mural, maybe a sunflower festival, or, at most, a modest water tower repaint. No one expected the Lamp. It appeared first as a rumor: a whisper drifting down the aisles of Ozzie’s Hardware, caught between the feed sacks and the impulse-buy screwdrivers. Did you hear? Chickasha’s going to build a giant leg lamp. Like the one from the movie. But bigger. Way bigger. By the time the city council agenda went public, the Lamp had grown in the telling, from fifteen feet to thirty, then forty, before settling at an improbable, structurally questionable fifty. A fiberglass monument to kitsch. A glowing testament to the town’s new, maybe misguided ambition. The night of the vote, the council chambers filled with the kind of crowd usually reserved for bond issues or controversial playground shade structures. Retirees clutched printouts from the internet; teenagers filmed on their phones; th...

Altitude is set to bring one of next year’s most talked-about horror films straight into living rooms, with SHELBY OAKS arriving on DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital on 15 December. The film, already building a devoted following long before its wide release, marks the feature debut of filmmaker and longtime genre commentator Chris Stuckmann, whose transition from critic to creator has been watched with intense curiosity by horror fans. At the centre of the story is a woman tortured by the disappearance of her sister—an absence that has shaped her life and, increasingly, her sanity. As she digs deeper into old memories and abandoned leads, she becomes convinced that the malevolent figure they once blamed for childhood nightmares might not have been imaginary at all. What begins as a search for answers spirals into a feverish fixation, blurring the line between trauma and the supernatural. Led by performances from Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, and Michael Beach, the film has already draw...

From Director Johnny Ma and EP Pablo Larraín comes THE MOTHER AND THE BEAR, a tender, off-beat dramedy about a mother, a daughter, and the chaotic, sometimes absurd ways we try to protect the people we love. The film, which premiered in the Centrepiece section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, arrives with the support of multi–Oscar nominee Pablo Larraín, whose taste for emotionally sharp, character-driven stories is an ideal match for Johnny Ma’s sensibility. The film centers on Sara, played by acclaimed Korean actress Kim Ho-jung, who rushes from Seoul to icy Winnipeg after her 26-year-old daughter Sumi is left comatose following an accident. Faced with the terrifying possibility of an uncertain recovery, Sara channels her fear into a misguided mission: finding her daughter a future husband—preferably Korean—before she wakes up. Her tool of choice is a dating app, where she catfishes on Sumi’s behalf, stumbling into awkward, funny, and unexpectedly moving encounters. A...

Holiday shoppers scanning the crowds this season may notice more than discounted gadgets and glittering storefronts—there’s a sinister buzz building around Silent Night, Deadly Night, the new theatrical horror arriving December 12. Tickets have officially gone on sale, and early promotions are turning Black Friday and Cyber Monday into a blood-red countdown to release day. With Fandango offering limited-time buy-one-get-one tickets and a fresh preview clip stirring up fan chatter, the film is positioning itself as winter’s most chaotic night at the movies. The latest incarnation of the cult franchise comes from filmmaker Mike P. Nelson, who writes and directs a new story that revisits the chilling legacy of Billy, a traumatized boy who grows into a holiday-season executioner. Nelson’s take leans into tragedy as much as terror—violence is inevitable, but for the first time, someone might try to pull Billy back from the brink. Rather than simply revive the original film’s shock value, th...

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.