American film production and distribution giant, flagship of NBCUniversal’s Universal Filmed Entertainment Group
Sam Neill has died in Sydney at 78. His family has described the death as "sudden and unexpected" and his longtime agent has said Neill passed from pneumonia after having beaten a rare lymphoma with CAR‑T therapy; the agent added Neill had filmed four projects due for release and the family has asked for privacy and donations to causes he supported.
The European Commission has cleared Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery’s merger after Paramount agrees to terminate a distribution joint venture with Universal in Europe and to refrain from joint distribution deals with Universal or Disney for 10 years. The approval comes with a 13-month unwind window for the Universal arrangement. US regulators remain weighing the merger, with a court pause and potential injunction ongoing.
Universal Pictures releases Nolan’s Odyssey, adapting Homer’s epic with Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland. The film is shot entirely in IMAX 70mm, positioning Nolan’s epic as 2026’s event cinema.
Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey reimagines Homer’s epic as a sweeping modern myth. Matt Damon’s Odysseus is haunted by trauma and guilt as he returns home; Samantha Morton anchors Circe while a star-studded cast and IMAX-scale spectacle redefine heroism and the cost of war.
Nolan has secured the scale and tech to adapt Homer’s Odyssey, with Matt Damon leading a star-studded cast. The film is shot entirely on IMAX film and follows Odysseus’s ten-year journey home, with Penelope and Telemachus in supporting roles. Releases are imminent as studios push the project toward premiere.
IMAX reports a surge in global box office as Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey expands its lead, with Nolan claiming the first feature shot entirely on IMAX film. The film has set opening and streaming benchmarks and drives momentum for premium formats across theaters.
Sony Pictures is moving forward with a new Resident Evil film from Zach Cregger, presenting an original story set in the game universe. The release follows CinemaCon teasers and introduces Bryan as the protagonist on a survivalist night, with a supporting cast including Paul Walter Hauser and Kali Reis. The project aims to stay true to the spirit of the games while avoiding direct adaptation.
Steven Spielberg has released Disclosure Day, a science‑fiction thriller starring Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor. The film follows a whistleblower exposing decades of suppressed evidence of extraterrestrial contact, has opened to broadly positive reviews praising its humour, spectacle and moral questions, and is expected to perform strongly at the box office.
Horror films directed by young creators from YouTube and TikTok are reshaping the summer box office, with Kane Parsons’ Backrooms and Curry Barker’s Obsession delivering strong openings. Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day opens strongly in the U.S. and worldwide, while Masters of the Universe struggles to meet expectations. Audiences over 34 are driving early legs for original releases.
Comcast has announced a tax-free spin-off that will separate NBCUniversal and Sky into a standalone, publicly traded media company while leaving Comcast focused on broadband, wireless and business services. The company has said the separation will complete in about a year, executives told investors, and Comcast will initially keep up to 19.9% of the new media group.
Comcast has announced a planned separation of NBCUniversal from its core technology and telecommunications business, forming NBCUniversal as an independent media and entertainment group while Comcast retains the broadband and wireless unit. The move aims to unlock greater growth for both operations, with Sky remaining part of the broader group and a future UK investment plan in motion.
Minions & Monsters has opened strongly, topping North American box office with $36.4 million for the holiday weekend and $61.4 million over five days. Toy Story 5 follows with $31 million, while Young Washington debuts around $21 million. Supergirl trails, and overall weekend revenue is down year-on-year but up for the summer period vs 2025.
The latest from major studios shows a blend of high-profile talent and innovative storytelling as Minions & Monsters charts a path through 1920s Hollywood. The project explores non-verbal storytelling and behind-the-scenes animation work, while a star-studded cast positions the film for global release.
The wedding dress market is shifting as GLP-1 weight loss drugs become common among engaged couples. Designers report earlier fittings, changed guarantees, and rising alterations costs. Brides worry about weight loss before weddings, while sales staff push early purchases and flexible guarantees.
The Minions & Monsters franchise continues to ride high on box office success, with Coffin defending its bridge to cinema history while the latest film tests whether silent era nostalgia can translate into new, daring storytelling.
A week of streaming releases and new music debuts is highlighted by cross-platform titles, including a Netflix relaunch of a classic, a Peacock original, and new albums from Adam Lambert and Finn Wolfhard. AP reviews frame several releases, while HBO Max debuts The Long Walk ahead of a Stephen King adaptation.
Sky has announced it will acquire ITV’s broadcasting and ITVX operations for £1.6bn, creating a major UK challenger to global streaming platforms. ITV Studios remains independent, and a long-term content-supply deal will see ITV Studios provide content to the merged group. Regulators will review the deal, which includes potential contingent payments based on advertising performance.
Disney’s live-action Moana opens to a global $95 million, underperforming the $60 million U.S. target and facing scathing critics who call it a “shot-for-shot” redo. Audiences are warmer, with a CinemaScore A- and a largely female 66% share, while competition from new releases looms.
Andy Burnham has taken up the role of prime minister, with plans to honour Labour’s 2024 manifesto while weighing a pragmatic approach to North Sea drilling. The policy debate centers on Rosebank and Jackdaw, with Green groups warning against new licences and industry voices urging reconsideration to support energy security and jobs.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has opened with strong global numbers, surpassing expectations and setting a new high for the director’s non-Batman work. The film, starring Matt Damon and Lupita Nyong’o, is drawing praise for its adaptation of Homer’s epic and for its use of IMAX technology, despite early online criticism over casting choices.
The European Commission has approved a Paramount-Warner merger with conditions, saying competition persists in film production and streaming but warns over theatrical distribution. Paramount must divest its UIP stake and end its partnership with Universal within deadlines; the approval emphasizes consumer choice and scale to compete with tech platforms. U.S. regulators pause the case as states challenge the merger; a preliminary injunction hearing is slated for Aug. 3.