With the first week of August behind us, we take a look back at the week in movie news, rumors, pics, trailers and videos. Check out the week that was and have a great movie-going weekend!
News
- Sissy Spacek received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hard to believe the Oscar-winning actress best known for her performance in the 1976 horror classic Carrie didn’t have one already. In case you’re counting, hers is star number 2,443.
- AMC Theaters and Regal Cinema dropped Electric Daisy Carnival from their screening schedule citing the melee that broke out in Hollywood during a screening that preceding Friday. The movie is still scheduled to open nationwide August 4th.
-As you no doubt know -- since fans have been peppering the Internet with all kinds of pictures and videos of it -- The Dark Knight Rises has been filming in the streets of Pittsburgh. Well it appears one aspiring PA man thought it was a genius move to use the fervor of the filming to cover up a few crimes. And he might have gotten away with it if it weren't for those pesky Pittsburgh police offers. Read the full story over on Movies.com.
-Reese Witherspoon signed on to star in Disney’s 2013 comedy-drama Wish List, which tells the story of a thirty-something career woman whose life changes when a coin she threw in a magic fountain as a girl finally reaches the bottom. What was this fountain spewing, molasses?
-Jennifer Lopez will return to judge contestants on American Idol… for a paycheck of about $20 million.
-Jordan’s King Abdullah II is such a huge Star Trek fan that he’s currently attempting to secure $1.5 billion to build a Star Trek theme park near the coastal town of Aqaba.
-A new Friday Night Lights movie is in the works based on the TV show which was originally adapted from the 2004 Billy Bob Thornton movie.
-You can say hello to Scarface on August 31st as Fathom Events announced a one-night special screening of the 1983 Al Pacino gangster flick.
-Twitch Film reports that Piranha 3D director Alex Aja met with Paramount and is set to direct a remake of Pet Sematary. Recently, Aja also announced he was developing a Scanners television series.
-In celebration of The Big Lebowski Limited Edition Blu-Ray debuting on Aug. 16, the cast of the cult favorite are re-uniting in New York.
-Laurence Fishburne joined the cast of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel Superman movie as Perry White.
-Sigh of relief guys. Len Wiseman confirms that the three-breasted woman will return in the Total Recall remake.
-Fresh off the heat generated from Midnight in Paris, his most successful movie ever (if success is measured in dollars at the box office), Woody Allen took time to critique his earlier works, saying Annie Hall was OK and that he really didn’t like Manhattan.
-A list of movies that Steven Spielberg requires people to watch before he works with them hit the ‘net and gave birth to something called The Spielberg Number, which is just a cooler way of saying how many of the movies on his list you’ve seen.
-Blockbuster Express members can use five promo codes for free rentals. The promotion ends August 8th.
-On a sad note, ex-NFL player and Police Academy star Bubba Smith was found dead at his home on Wednesday. He was 66.
-In even more sad news, the tree from Shawshank Redemption was ripped in half by heavy winds.
-Following the much-ridiculed release of the Battleship trailer (which you can watch in the Trailer section below), Universal dropped the movie adaptation of the board game Clue, which now joins Magic: The Gathering and Monopoly as board game movies looking for a studio.
-While Relativity and Universal go back and forth with their competing Snow White movies, Disney announced that their live-action adaptation landed a director and also changed the title to The Order of Seven.
-The Toronto Film Festival announced their Midnight Madness line-up. Movies.com breaks down the Top 5 to Check Out.
-In the latest news controversy over movie texting, Brenda Godwin was fined $260 and charged with assault after she allegedly tapped the shoulder of Dale Fout who was sitting in front of her and texting during a movie. The 220-pound Fout describes himself as, “a pretty big guy. I’m broad, not fat. I used to play football.” Godwin says she is a 136-pound skin care specialist. You can read both sides of their story here.
-John McClane and his yet-to-be-cast son look to be headed to Moscow in Die Hard 5. How do you say Yippie-kai-yay in Russian?
Rumors
-Now that we know that Samuel L. Jackson is set to produce a live-action version of Afro Samurai, the R-rated cult anime for which he provided the voice for, the question is now who can pull off that role. GeekTyrant has nominated Donald Glover, who currently plays Troy Barnes on the NBC sitcom Community. He certainly has the look and is a fresh face to the film scene. What do you think?
Pics
-Of course the picture making the biggest waves this week was the first look at Henry Cavill as Superman. Movies.com breaks down Five Important Things About the New Pic.
-Today, we got our first look at Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in Dark Knight Rises. Jump on over to Movies.com for yet another pic of Hathaway (or perhaps her stunt double).
- Not to be outdone, Universal just released a first look at Rihanna in Battleship.
-IGN created this handy little graphic cheat sheet for those who haven’t seen any of the previous Planet of the Apes movies, but will be venturing out to theaters this weekend to check out Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Click image for larger (readable) version.
-New images from Emma Watson’s Lancome shoot cast a spell on Potterheads. You can view the full gallery here.
-Ever wondered just how many people have fallen victim to Jason Voorhees? Well, this nifty chart answers that question. Click image for larger version.
Trailers
-Taylor Kitsch keeps his cool while Brooklyn Decker lies on top of him, gets scolded by Liam Neeson and faces off against a massive Michael Bay-esque alien in the first Battleship trailer which premiered July 27th but we post since there's a ton of Battleship content in this recap.
- Cloverfield + Skyline x Russia + invisible aliens = the first trailer for the Emile Hirsch-Olivia Thirlby horror-thriller The Darkest Hour.
-If you thought the first trailer for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was awesome, check out the second trailer released this week.
-A new trailer for Killer Elite hit the net and finds Jason Statham rescuing Robert De Niro amid a sea of clichés.
-A second trailer for the Brad Pitt baseball drama Moneyball hit the web featuring the same dialogue from the first version with a few new shots mixed in.
Videos
-Matt Damon spent the previous weekend in Washington, D.C. as the keynote speaker for the Save Our Schools March. Watch the video below which has turned the Bourne trilogy actor into the conservative’s whipping boy this week.
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-Did you watch the trailer for the Jason Bateman-Ryan Reynolds comedy The Change-Up and think, “Wow, that reminds me of Freaky Friday”? This mash-up from Hulu proves you weren’t that far off.
-Ever wonder what a heavy metal version of the Harry Potter theme song would sound like? Eric Calderone, decked out in a Ghostbusters shirt, posted his latest shred-tastic video. You can check out his much-loved Star Wars meets Metal clip here.
-Hitting the web today is this awesome Street Fighter stop action short shot on a Nikon D5100 camera. Watch Ryu vs. Ken in a best-of-three smackdown!
Derrick Deane, Fandango Content Personnel/Movie Blogger, joined Fandango in 2010, bringing more than 10 years of filmmaking and writing experience with him. While The Godfather, Rear Window and 12 Angry Men are all favorites, he will always have a soft spot for Die Hard, Leon: The Professional and B
Katherine Waterston Says She’s in All of the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Movies
Apple Pay Wednesday
Use Apple Pay to get $5 off your order
Limited time offer, and limited quantities available. To redeem the offer, purchase one or more movie tickets on Wednesday 8/27/25 to see any film through Fandango.com or the Fandango iOS mobile app and use Apple Pay® as the payment method, and must enter the Fandango Promotional Code APPLEPAYWED (“Code”) in order to get the $5 off the entire purchase. There is a limited quantity of Code redemptions allowed in this promotion and therefore the offer is only available first come first served while supplies last. Code expires, and can no longer be used, upon earlier of Wednesday 8/27/25, or after the limit of Code redemptions have been reached. Only valid for purchase of movie tickets made at Fandango.com or via the Fandango iOS app and cannot be redeemed directly at any theater box office. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. No cash value, except as required by law. Void where prohibited. Not valid with any other offer. Offer valid in U.S. One-time use only per email address, for a maximum of one transaction, receiving a maximum of one $5 discount on the purchase total regardless of how many tickets were purchased in that one transaction. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Limit 1 Code per email address. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. The redemption of the Code is subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies at www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies. Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services is a bank. Any card used in Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer. Apple Pay is a registered mark of Apple Inc.
Buy a ticket to The Long Walk, get $10 off the King of Horror: 7 Stephen King Movies bundle on Fandango at Home.
Limited time offer. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 12:00am ET on 8/27/25 and 11:59pm PT on 10/2/25 and purchase at least one movie ticket to The Long Walk. Purchaser will receive a post purchase email containing 1 Fandango at Home Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for $10 off the purchase (and not the rental) of the “King of Horror: 7 Stephen King Movies” bundle in My Offers in your account on http://fandangoathome.com and via participating Fandango at Home apps. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Code expires on (and must be used by) 10/5/25 at 11:59pm PT. Limit one per transaction. You may have to pay taxes additionally. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only. You must have a Fandango at Home account to redeem your Code on Fandango at Home. Fandango at Home is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to open a Fandango at Home account. Credit card may be required for transactions on fandangoathome.com. Fandango at Home reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer is subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at Terms and Policies at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Get the Beneath the Surface Bundle for a movie ticket to see JAWS return to the big screen, plus an exclusive limited-edition poster.
*Beneath the Surface Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice.You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. Poster will ship in August. Please use a physical U.S. address where the poster shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/beneath-the-surface-bundle
Commemorate one final night at Downton with The Grand Finale Bundle including a Movie Ticket and Limited-Edition Top Hat Popcorn Bucket keepsake.
*The Grand Finale Bundle is non-refundable. While supplies last; Limited time offer. This offer is redeemable for one Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Bundle (“Bundle”). Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Movie Ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Popcorn not included. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a Bundle. The popcorn bucket will begin shipping in the month of September. Please use a physical address where the item can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. Valid only in the U.S. and D.C., excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one (1) Bundle per person. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/the-grand-finale-bundle.
Buy a ticket to The Sound of Music 60th Anniversary, get 20% off The Sound of Music picture disc vinyl.
Limited time offer. While supplies last. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app and purchase at least one movie ticket to ‘The Sound of Music 60th Anniversary’ between 9:00am PT on 8/13/25 and 11:59pm PT on 9/17/24. Purchaser will receive a post purchase email containing 1 Craft Recordings Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for 20% off the purchase of The Sound of Music picture disc vinyl. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Code expires, and can no longer be used, on 9/30/25. Code must be entered at checkout of picture disc vinyl purchase. Void where prohibited. Offer valid in U.S only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). Non-transferable. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. You may have to pay taxes additionally. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer is subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies at www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Buy a ticket to Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, get This is Spinal Tap for $5 on Fandango at Home!
Limited time offer. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app and purchase, between 8:00am PT on 8/19/25 and 11:59pm PT on 9/15/25, at least one movie ticket to ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’. Purchaser will receive a post-purchase email containing 1 Fandango at Home Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for the purchase (and not the rental) of 'This is Spinal Tap' for $5 in My Offers in your account on http://fandangoathome.com and via participating Fandango at Home apps. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Code expires on (and must be used by) 9/17/25 at 11:59pm PT. Limit one per transaction. You may have to pay taxes additionally. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). You must have a Fandango at Home account to redeem your Code on Fandango at Home. Fandango at Home is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to open a Fandango at Home account. Credit card may be required for transactions on fandangoathome.com. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Buy a ticket to Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps, get 20% off The Fantastic Four: First Steps Main Theme 7” Vinyl
Limited time offer. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 6:00am PT on 8/8/25 and 11:59pm PT on 9/5/25 and purchase at least one movie ticket to ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Purchaser will receive a post purchase email containing a link (“Link”) to the Disney Music Emporium website that is good for 20% off the purchase of the Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps Main Theme 7” Vinyl. Link expires, and can no longer be used, at 11:59pm PT on 9/5/25. Limit 2 purchases per Link. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive the link to the discount. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. This offer is subject to Fandango’s terms and policies at https://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies and the Link is subject to Disney’s terms and policies, at https://disneytermsofuse.com/
Purchase a ticket to Disney’s Freakier Friday and receive 50% off a 4-pack of tickets to the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour.
Limited time offer. While supplies last. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app and purchase a ticket to ‘Freakier Friday’ between 12:01am PT on 8/11/25 and 11:59pm PT on 9/8/25. Purchaser will receive a post purchase email containing one (1) promotional code (“Code”) that is redeemable for 50% off up to two (2) 4-packs of tickets of select seats for the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour. Offer excludes ticket purchases for shows in Philadelphia, New York City, Belmont Park, Rosemont, Newark, Boston, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Orlando, and Detroit. Availability is limited in Indianapolis, Baltimore, Greensboro, Raleigh, Atlanta, Sunrise, Houston, and Austin. Orders must be in multiples of 4 tickets for offer to be applied, up to a total of 8 tickets (in other words, Code will provide 50% off a purchase of 4 tickets or 8 tickets). Codes will stop being distributed on the earlier of (i) Freakier Friday no longer being in theaters, (ii) the conclusion of the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour, or (iii) 11:59pm PT on 9/8/25. Code expires, and can no longer be used, at 11:59pm PT on 9/15/25. Limit one Code per transaction. You may have to pay taxes additionally. Void where prohibited. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. No cash value, except as required by law. Non-transferable. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer is subject to Fandango Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.