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We're now less than two weeks away from Deadpool & Wolverine's release in theaters and, while early opening weekend projections were a tad overblown, all signs point to the Merc with the Mouth and Logan breaking records.

Fandango has confirmed that the upcoming blockbuster its users recently named their "#1 Most Anticipated Movie of 2024" is now on track to be the #1 Ticket Pre-Seller of 2024. Needless to say, that bodes well for Deadpool & Wolverine's projected $165 million debut.

Could the threequel go as high as $200 million when it opens in the U.S. later this month? It's a big ask, yes, but we can't fully discount the possibility.

In other news, Ryan Reynolds - who, alongside Hugh Jackman, has just finished promoting the movie in the UK - just took to X to share a heartwarming message about Dogpool. The pooch once named Britain's Ugliest Dog has joined the duo...

American character actor Bill Cobbs, known for his appearances in The Color Of Money, The Bodyguard, Night At The Museum and many other films and TV shows, has died. He was 90.

According to a statement released by his family, Cobbs died on Tuesday (June 25) at his home in California.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Cobbs did not become a professional actor until he moved to New York in his thirties. He made his feature film debut in 1974 thriller The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three and went on to appear in numerous films through the eighties and nineties, including The Cotton Club,...

Bill Cobbs, a prolific film and TV actor with memorable performances in Night At The Museum, Brother From Another Planet, Oz The Great And Powerful, The Sopranos and dozens of others, died surrounded by family Tuesday, June 25, of natural causes at his home in Inland Empire, California. He was 90.

His death was announced by family members on Facebook, and confirmed to Deadline by his publicist Chuck I. Jones.

“We are saddened to share the passing of Bill Cobbs,” wrote brother Thomas G. Cobbs. “On Tuesday, June 25, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in California. A beloved partner, big brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather and friend, Bill recently and happily celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by cherished loved ones. As a family we are comforted knowing Bill has found peace and eternal rest with his Heavenly Father. We ask for your prayers and encouragement during this time.”

Said Jones, “Bill...

Bill Cobbs, a prolific character actor who had a 50-year career with almost 200 film and TV credits, died Tuesday at his home in Riverside, Calif., his rep confirmed. He was 90.

Among his most notable roles were on Season 3 of “The West Wing,” where his character Alan Tatum visits the White House with his son. In the Coen brothers “The Hudsucker Proxy,” Cobbs played Moses, the clock man who delivers the prologue at the beginning of the film.

Cobbs played manager Devaney in “The Bodyguard” starring Whitney Houston.

His first television credit was 1975’s “Vegetable Soup,” a New York public television educational series. He went on to appear in shows like “The Sopranos,” “Good Times,” “Sesame Street” and “My Wife and Kids.” He also won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for the series “Dino Dana” in 2020.

In the “West Wing” episode, presidential personal aide...

Sad news to report today as it has been confirmed that legendary character actor Bill Cobbs has died at the age of 90. The actor’s publicist, Chuck I. Jones, told TMZ that Cobbs passed away at his home in Riverside. He recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Cobbs leaves behind an incredible body of work, with memorable roles in movies such as The Hudsucker Proxy, The Bodyguard, That Thing You Do!, Ghosts of Mississippi, Night at the Museum, and so much more.

After serving for eight years in the U.S. Air Force, Cobbs sold cars and worked for Ibm before he decided to give acting a try. After appearing in various theater productions, he made his feature film debut in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. “I came back home to see my mom and dad, and all our friends and neighbors went to see the movie, and everyone was waiting for my appearance,...

Bill Cobbs, the convincing character actor who had pivotal turns in such films as The Hudsucker Proxy, Sunshine State and Night at the Museum, has died. He was 90.

Cobbs died Tuesday night at his home in Riverside, his publicist, Chuck I. Jones, told TMZ.

A native of Cleveland who excelled at comedy as well as drama, Cobbs portrayed Whitney Houston’s manager in The Bodyguard (1992), the older brother of Medgar Evers in Rob Reiner’s Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), a jazz pianist in Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do! (1996) and the Master Tinker, builder of the Tin Woodsman, in Sam Raimi’s Oz the Great and Powerful (2013).

He also played the wise coach who put a basketball-playing dog into the Timberwolves lineup in Air Bud (1997).

On television, Cobbs stood out as the sardonic bartender The Dutchman on the Dabney Coleman-starring The Slap Maxwell Story, the bus driver Tony on The Drew Carey Show,...

Summertime is the best time to transport yourself into a nostalgic world, as Freeform celebrates 30 Days of Disney with legendary Disney films starting June 1. Viewers can relive their childhood with films from the full Disney catalog, including Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out, National Treasure, Avatar, Spider-Man (2002), and many more.

The programming event will also feature the world television premiere of Disney-Pixar’s animated film Lightyear. Other Freeform premieres include Disney-Pixar’s Soul and Disney Animation’s Fantasia (1940 and 2000).

Throughout each week in June, fans can reminisce with special summer marathons that will stir up fond memories and reconnect them with the films they cherish.

During the first weekend of June, you can check out your Disney “faves” with classic films like Disney Animation’s Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid (1989). During the second weekend, check out your Pixar faves with movies like Inside Out, Coco, and Cars.

Celebrate...

On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.

First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.

Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.

The Pitch: It’s Time for IndieWire After the Dark Underside of Suburbia

I’ve long felt that the premise of “This Suburban Utopia Has Something Dark Lurking Underneath It” is among the lamest, most played-out tropes in all of media. Decades have passed since any serious person viewed the stylized suburban innocence of “Leave It to Beaver” as a remotely accurate depiction of American life, and contemporary attempts at “subverting” it often feel as if artists are mocking the same media that they grew up watching other artists mock without pausing...

“It’s good to face fears.” That’s Sydney Sweeney’s wisdom about doing live television, specifically her hosting duties recently on Saturday Night Live.

The two-time Emmy-nominated actress made her comments during a Q&a panel here at SXSW. Sweeney is in Austin for the world premiere of her Neon horror film Immaculate, which she stars in and produced. It plays at the Paramount Theatre tonight.

“I knew I would be terrified,” said Sweeney about agreeing to do SNL. “I wanted to do it.”

“I think it’s important to do things that scare you,” she said.

“The whole entire SNL experience, it was a challenge, it was terrifying.”

Related: SXSW Film & TV Festival 2024: All Of Deadline’s Reviews

Among the sketches the Euphoria actress appeared in was one where she was the top waitress at Hooters, hands down. Another entailed her Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell...

Sydney Sweeney has been on a seemingly constant tear since starring on HBO’s Euphoria, the project that truly launched her career after promising turns on the small screen’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Sharp Objects. But what’s fame without the occasional flop, rumor and label? Last night, Sydney Sweeney got the chance to address them all when she hosted SNL for the first time.

Taking the stage of Studio 8H, Sydney Sweeney opened her SNL monologue joking about her first major flop, Marvel’s Madame Web, which had an $80 million budget and only swung in $15.3 on opening weekend. “I am so happy to be here. My name is Sydney Sweeney. You might have seen me in Anyone But You or Euphoria…You definitely did not see me in Madame Web.”

Coming off of a dud of that magnitude, Sydney Sweeney showed a lot of confidence on SNL, especially in her brief monologue.

Sydney Sweeney is still riding the shockwave that came from "Madame Web" bombing spectacularly hard at the box office. Though the mystifyingly terrible film set in Sony Pictures' own strange Marvel universe took the fourth place spot at the box office this weekend, where "Dune: Part Two" had no problem dominating, it just barely edged out the Fathom Events' special presentation of a couple of season 4 episodes of the Biblical series "The Chosen," and that's playing in nearly 1,000 fewer theaters (via Box Office Mojo). But that didn't stop Sweeney from cracking a joke at the expense of "Madame Web" and having a great time hosting "Saturday Night Live."

Though some would argue that Sydney Sweeney's range as an actress feels like it has limitations, her performance on "SNL" revealed that she has some eclectic comedic chops. In addition, despite not being known for her comedic skills, she had very little...

The first rule of comedy is: “If you can get a dog, put him in the sketch.” It’s a rule as true now as it was when I made it up just a moment ago, but also a rule that Saturday Night Live knows quite well.

Following SNL‘s new trend of weirdly specific ’90s movie references (a Forrest Gump sketch in 2024?), “Air Bud” features guest host Sydney Sweeney as a cheerleader trying to boost her popularity by dating the star basketball player, who just happens to be… a golden retriever.

More from TVLine<em>SNL</em> Host Sydney Sweeney Jokes...

There are a lot of actors in the world and only a finite amount of roles, so it's not usually surprising to hear that two actors who worked together both tried out for the same role at some point. Heck, the guys from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" even met while auditioning for the same roles in New York City, so there's a lot of actor crossover at different auditions. One of the more surprising battles for a role, however, comes from the late Matthew Perry and his "Friends" co-star, Matt LeBlanc. The two would become close friends while filming the 10 seasons of "Friends," but once upon a time in the mid-1990s, they were role rivals for the starring role in... a movie about a baseball-playing ape. I know animals playing sports were really big in the 90s, thanks to "Air Bud," but "Ed" arrived the year before. So...

Attention, dog lovers! Disney+ wants to inspire you to wag your tail by bringing the Air Bud movie collection to the mouse-eared streaming service! The sports comedy franchise featuring the beloved golden retriever and his animal friends has been a staple of family entertainment for over 20 years. Now, a new generation of fans can enjoy the K-9’s hijinks on Disney+! The Air Bud movie collection arrives on Disney+ on Sunday, October 1.

Charles Martin directs Air Bud from a script by Paul Tamasy and Aaron Mendelssohn. The original comedy revolves around Buddy, an athletic golden retriever with an uncanny knack for sinking baskets and dribbling circles around his opponents on the court. The story focuses on a young boy named Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers) who is having trouble making the basketball team. However, when he meets a stray golden retriever with mad basketball skills, the duo boosts the team and makes it to the finals!

Disney+ announced Friday that the original Air Bud franchise — consisting of 1997’s Air Bud, 1998’s Air Bud: Golden Receiver, 2000’s Air Bud: World Pup, 2002’s Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch and 2003’s Air Bud: Spikes Back — will be available to stream for the first time on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Air Bud’s Disney+ debut coincides quite perfectly with the return of HBO’s Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, whose host previously went on a must-see tangent about the rules and moral intentions of the original Air Bud — a film described by Disney+ as the story of a “shy young student...

Dog. Man’s best friend, and also his greatest muse.

Since the beginning of film history, humans have found a way to put a puppies and canines on screen. One of the very first British movies was the 1905 silent short “Rescued by Rover,” about a Collie leading her master to their kidnapped baby. That film launched the career of Blair, the first canine onscreen actor, and defined how dogs would be depicted in cinema for centuries: loyal, smart, resourceful, and lovable.

From there, canine actors began appearing at a steady clip throughout film history. They appeared in comedies like Charlie Chaplin’s “A Dog’s Life” and teary dramas like “Old Yeller.” And kid-friendly companies like Disney churned out film after film centering dogs, like “Homeward Bound” and the “Air Bud” franchise. The dog movie is maybe not the most well-respected genre in the history of film, but it’s hard...

Click here to read the full article.

Air Bud — the Disney film about a dog who could play basketball (and which starred Buddy, a golden retriever that could indeed launch the ball into the net with his nose) — first dribbled its way into our hearts 25 years ago.

The idea for Air Bud had been hatched by Canadian brothers Robert and William Vince, who churned out low-budget horror films. When they caught Buddy on Late Show With David Letterman, inspiration struck for a family film. They described the idea to director Charles Martin Smith (who’d go on to direct 2011’s Dolphin Tale and 2019’s A Dog’s Way Home).

“I said, ‘That just sounds horrible,’ ” Smith recalls of their pitch. “This is what I said to them: ‘If you’d let me rewrite it and make it honest — a classic story of a boy and his dog — I’ll be in.

John Oliver may not have had an entirely new episode this week, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have a new segment for fans. And in this one, he absolutely unloaded on “Air Bud.”

Now, to be clear, Oliver totally understands any confusion that might come at reading that sentence. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking ‘He must get paid extra to do these web exclusives.’ I don’t!” Oliver prefaced the segment. He then followed up by stating it bluntly: “I’m not talking about ‘Air Bud’ because I have to, I’m doing it because I want to.”

From there, Oliver tore the mickey out of the 1997 sports comedy, making fun of everything from Air Bud’s actual basketball stats to how far the franchise has strayed from its original concept. You can watch John Oliver’s full rant on “Air Bud” in the video here and above.

The 1990s were the heyday for kid-led sports movies, with films like "The Big Green," "The Sandlot," "Little Giants," "Ladybugs," "Air Bud," "Little Big League," "Angels in the Outfield," and "Rookie of the Year" becoming household favorites, but only one* became a certified cultural phenomenon. Disney's "The Mighty Ducks" spawned a trilogy of films, an animated television series, a live-action sequel television series, and a real-life National Hockey League hockey team. The feature writing debut of Steve Brill, "The Mighty Ducks" nabbed Stephen...

The post The Classic Comedy That Heavily Influenced The Mighty Ducks appeared first on /Film.

A few days after the WWE scaled back its matches, instituted coronavirus protocols and began staging events without an audience, the company’s studio arm has stepped into the breach, along with Netflix, to release “The Main Event,” in which an 11-year-old boy with a magic mask spends lots of time inside the ring in front of those screaming fans that have disappeared in real life.

(And as a bonus, the climactic match takes place in a steel cage, the hallmark of the now-shuttered Ufc.)

It’s unlikely, though, that too many WWE fanatics are going to embrace “The Main Event” in place of a full-fledged Raw or Smackdown or Wrestlemania event, despite the presence of a bevy of the organization’s stars, including Sheamus, The Miz and Kofi Kingston. This is a kids’ movie, a WWE spin on “Air Bud” or “Angels in the Outfield” or “Space Jam” rather...

Disney unveiled the complete list of films to premiere on its streaming service Disney Plus via a lengthy Twitter thread Monday. With its powerhouse catalog including Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and National Geographic properties, the full magnitude of the Disney empire will be seen once the streaming service launches. Along with Disney originals previously announced like “Star Wars” live action series “The Mandalorian” and “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” viewers in search of nostalgic watches can find dozens of titles from Disney, Disney channel, Disney direct-to-home video and Fox joining the streaming service come Nov. 12.

Feature films start off with the 1937 version of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and continues with quintessential feature films such as “Fantasia,” “Dumbo” and “Cinderella.”

Fantasia (1940) pic.twitter.com/pHbtWWseNH

— Disney+ (@disneyplus) October 14, 2019

Check out some of the pre-Lindsay Lohan titles like “Parent Trap” and “Freaky Friday” starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris.

David Crow Oct 8, 2019

Joker continues to break October records, but a new report suggests some of that money may go to convicted child abuser Gary Glitter.

Todd Phillips’ Joker is enjoying the biggest opening rollout in October movie history. Opening at what is now officially $96 million—above the $93.5 million Warner Bros. estimated on Sunday—the picture surpassed last year’s Venom for the opening weekend record and would appear to prove that hard R-rated content and adult character studies can still do massive business… at least so long as they are attached to familiar intellectual property like the Clown Prince of Crime.

While we tend to think Joker earns its stripes, thanks in large part to actor Joaquin Phoenix’s haunting work, there has been controversy swirling around the film ever since its first trailer dropped. And it’s only grown more pronounced after it took home the Golden Lion from the Venice Film Festival.

The penultimate episode of The Righteous Gemstones leaves the titular family feeling anything but heavenly.

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This Righteous Gemstones review contains spoilers.

The Righteous Gemstones Episode 8

Though every episode title for The Righteous Gemstones’ first season has foreshadowed the events within using an appropriate biblical verse, perhaps none is more befittingly on the nose than “But the Righteous Will See Their Fall.” The penultimate episode of this stellar first season, “But the Righteous Will See Their Fall” is a dark installment for pretty much every character. The storm caused by Scotty and his robbery rains down hard on all of the Gemstones and proves that the foundations of this powerful family were greatly weakened by the loss of Aimee-Leigh and only waiting for one turbulent event to send the whole clan crumbling.

Well, I guess things aren’t exactly bad for everyone. Everyone’s favorite supporting character, Baby Billy,...

Though more conversations are taking place all around Hollywood about inclusion in movies, the latest statistics continue to be pitiful.

A recent study out of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism of the 1,100 top-grossing films from 2007 to 2017 shows little has changed over the past decade. As with many minority groups, Asian actors are woefully underrepresented on-screen, particularly in leading roles. Of the top 100 films in 2017, 65 had no speaking roles for Asian or Asian-American females.

The upcoming release “Crazy Rich Asians,” the buzzy adaptation of the first book in Kevin Kwan’s trilogy, stands as a notable exception. The movie, which hits U.S. theaters Aug. 15, features an ensemble of Asian actors from around the world. But in a cast of scene-stealers, it is Awkwafina (born Nora Lum), the internet personality, rapper and actress, who walks away with the most laughs.

It’s been a rapid ascension in the acting world for Awkwafina,...

Ashley Judd is set to topline A Dog’s Way Home, Sony’s adaptation of the best-selling book by W. Bruce Cameron, the author of A Dog’s Purpose.

Judd will lead an ensemble that also sees Edward James Olmos, Wes Studi, Alexandra Shipp and Jonah Hauer-King on the roll call.

Charles Martin Smith, who directed animals as the helmer of Air Bud and Dolphin Tale, is directing the family drama, which is being produced by Gavin Polone. Cameron and his wife, Cathryn Michon, wrote the script.

According to the studio, “A Dog’s Way Home chronicles the heartwarming adventure of Bella, a...

Ashley Judd has been tapped to star in the faith-based film A Dog’s Way’s Home, which hails from Sony and has Dolphin Tale and Air Bud helmer Charles Martin Smith attached to direct. Edward James Olmos, Wes Studi, Alexandra Shipp, and Jonah Hauer-King will also co-star. It’s based on the bestselling book by W. Bruce Cameron who, along with his wife and A Dog’s Purpose co-writer Cathryn Michon, wrote the screenplay for this film. In addition, production is said to have…...

Ashley Judd is set to topline A Dog’s Way Home, Sony’s adaptation of the best-selling book by W. Bruce Cameron, the author of A Dog’s Purpose.

Judd will lead an ensemble that also sees Edward James Olmos, Wes Studi, Alexandra Shipp and Jonah Hauer-King on the roll call.

Charles Martin Smith, who directed animals as the helmer of Air Bud and Dolphin Tale, is directing the family drama, which is being produced by Gavin Polone. Cameron and his wife, Cathryn Michon, wrote the script.

According to the studio, “A Dog’s Way Home chronicles the heartwarming adventure of Bella, a dog ...

Ashley Judd is set to topline A Dog’s Way Home, Sony’s adaptation of the best-selling book by W. Bruce Cameron, the author of A Dog’s Purpose.

Judd will lead an ensemble that also sees Edward James Olmos, Wes Studi, Alexandra Shipp and Jonah Hauer-King on the roll call.

Charles Martin Smith, who directed animals as the helmer of Air Bud and Dolphin Tale, is directing the family drama, which is being produced by Gavin Polone. Cameron and his wife, Cathryn Michon, wrote the script.

According to the studio, “A Dog’s Way Home chronicles the heartwarming adventure of Bella, a dog ...

In tragically familiar news, a powerful man in entertainment was recently revealed to be a scumbag. Harvey Weinstein, who spent millions paying off women who accused him of sexual assault, was involved in hundreds of great works including Project Runway, Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, and Air Bud. Weinstein, of…

Read more...

With Run The Series, The A.V. Club examines film franchises, studying how they change and evolve with each new installment.

Compared to some of their more crass kids’ movie counterparts, the Air Bud movies are relatively digestible. They’re not trying to sell anything—save for their own interminable sequels and spin-offs, which have now grown to include the Air Buddies series, the Santa Paws series, the Pup Star series, the Mvp: Most Valuable Primate series, and a smattering of ape- and/or dog-related movies unrelated to the rest of the Air Bud franchise. (We’re sticking with the original five for our purposes.) They encourage kids to go outside and play sports, which is nice, if shame-inducing if one happens to be a full-grown adult sitting inside and watching these movies in air-conditioned comfort all day. And animals doing people things, as five minutes on YouTube will prove...

The '90s were a magical time for basketball. We had Michael Jordan, the Dream Team, Space Jam, short shorts, snazzy sneakers and the Jock Jams soundtrack. And of course, there was Air Bud, the unforgettable family film about a golden retriever with a love for the game. He didn't dribble—but he did drool, and he scored a spot in the hearts of kids all around the world. It was 20 years ago today back in 1997 that Air Bud premiered in theaters. It was an independent movie based on a real-life dog named Buddy who had risen to fame thanks to his ability to shoot baskets. Yes, that's right. CGI was in its infancy back then, but Air Bud didn't utilize any special effects to show Buddy playing the...

Watching a Jack Russell terrier struggle to hop up on a bed at the end of “My Dog Skip” or seeing the look in a golden retriever’s eye after being told he’s not wanted anymore in “Air Bud” or recognizing the moment that a rabid Old Yeller isn’t the same family pet anymore — those are heart-shattering dog moments. But even though there are canines at the center of those stories, they say more about what it means to be human; to invest so much of yourself in a creature that will never speak your name.

That same spirit is the driving force behind “Downward Dog,” the latest ABC comedy that brings a surprising level of poignancy to a simple premise. Nan (Allison Tolman), newly broken up and drifting about at an unfulfilling marketing job, finds solace in the companionship of her dog, Martin. As the show documents...

15 years ago, evil got an upgrade…In Space!

Eight years after Jason Voorhees went to the hell of middling box office returns, New Line Cinema (who snatched up the rights to the character after Paramount squandered the Friday the 13th property into a tired series of faceless slasher sequels) launched their psychotic goalie into that far, far away galaxy where franchises like Critters and Leprechaun had already gone to die — In Space!!! The last-second climax of Jason Goes To Hell promised an ultimate fighting showdown between New Line’s other favorite son, Freddy Krueger, but the studio had to put that dream on hold while Wes Craven completed his final statement with New Nightmare. Desperate to keep his franchise alive while the promise of Freddy Vs. Jason tried to free itself from the muck of development hell, original creator Sean S. Cunningham passed the producing credits down to his son Noel, and...

Quiz: From Kong: Skull Island to Air Bud, do you know these movie animals?Quiz: From Kong: Skull Island to Air Bud, do you know these movie animals?Garrett McCormick3/6/2017 10:54:00 Am

Animals in Movies Quiz They're so fluffy!!!

There's one thing that takes a movie from amazing, to an absolute must-see...and that's animals.

One cannot go wrong with putting an animal in a movie because they are either too cute to handle, or so monstrous and scary that it makes the film that much more exciting. How is it that animals never have any lines in movies yet they always become our favourite characters?

To celebrate the release of Kong: Skull Island, take our quiz based on famous movie animals!

Kong: Skull Island hits Cineplex theatres March 10th - Click here for tickets and showtimes!

Tony Sokol Feb 16, 2017

Disney is making a book and film about American football star Tom Brady...

American football star Tom Brady just won his fifth Super Bowl, and now he’s going to Disneyland. The New England Patriots’ quarterback, who commandeered the first overtime win in Super Bowl history, will be the topic of an upcoming book and movie from the writers of Disney’s The Finest Hours.

The book and film will be written simultaneously. The screenplay will be penned by Paul Tamasy (Air Bud) and Eric Johnson, who write the films The Finest Hours, The Fighter and Patriots Day. The book will be co-authored by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge, the team that penned Boston Strong, which was the basis for the film Patriots Day starring Mark Wahlberg.

“When we’re looking for stories, we’re looking for these universal themes of overcoming odds and people using moments of adversity to inspire,...

Even though its several months till the temps rise to signal the start of blockbuster kid-friendly entertainment time, the multiplex chefs are ready to whip up something that will satisfy the appetites of the pre-teen crowds. Here’s a tasty mash-up, much in the vein of other blended concoctions. Several years ago some far-sighted studio marketing exec thought, “Hey, kids love their doggies and they love sports, so how about a pooch that plays basketball?”. Air Bud proved to be quite the franchise, so this new flick should be another “slam dunk”. The tots love their weird creatures (as long as they’re not too scary) and they adore those big-wheeled behemoths that flattened everything in their path. Have some animation veterans sprinkle a bit of magic and slapstick, and you’ve got a candy coated respite from those somber award season contenders. Clear the way for the Monster Trucks.

Hulu and Walt Disney Studios have reached a multiyear licensing agreement for the exclusive Svod rights to a collection of the latter’s theatrical features. Through the deal, Hulu becomes the lone subscription video on demand home to a selection of Disney favorites, including “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Mulan” (pictured above), “Pocahontas,” “Hercules,” “Sister Act” and “Air Bud,” which are all available to stream on Hulu now. More coming titles include: “Con Air,” “Step Up,” “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” “The Mighty Ducks,” as well as Disney blockbusters that the whole family...

Hulu is adding Disney classics to its growing movie library.

The streamer has inked an exclusive subscription streaming deal with Walt Disney Studios for such films as Mulan, Pocahontas, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Air Bud. In addition, more than 50 titles — including Pearl Harbor, The Mighty Ducks, Tarzan and The Emperor's New Groove — will become available to Hulu members in the coming months.

"The Disney brand is synonymous with beloved movies that the whole family can enjoy," said Hulu head of content Craig Erwich. "Expanding our offering of top-rated kids and family programming has been a top priority...

For a direct-to-dvd Disney movie about adorable golden retrievers forming a dog sled team in Alaska and making a young boy’s dreams come true, 2008’s Snow Buddies has an almost impossibly tragic backstory. Andrew Gruttadaro tells the sad tale behind the film’s making in a disheartening piece written for Complex. A warning in advance to pet lovers: This article contains the term “puppy-killing virus.” The production of Snow Buddies should have been routine; this was, after all, the seventh film in the incredibly durable Air Bud series, making it only about the midway point in that franchise. But the lighthearted sequel was filmed in February in Vancouver, British Columbia during an outbreak of “highly contagious” parvovirus. In the end, at least five puppies associated with the production were dead, and PETA alleged that as many as “40 or 50” could have been made sick. The animal rights ...

Having fulfilled the role of lovable losers for decades now, the Chicago Cubs have a lot of goodwill in their first World Series appearance since 1945. (They also have a one-game deficit to overcome, but let’s try not to think about that.) Among their celebrity fans is Daniel Stern, whom you might recognize as Phil Brickman from “Rookie of the Year” — a standout from the mid-’90s halcyon days of kids’ sports movies (see also: “Little Big League,” “Air Bud,” “Little Giants,” “The Big Green”) that he also directed.

Read More: World Series 2016: Hollywood Is Divided Over the Battle Between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians

Stern — who appeared in both “Home Alone” films and narrated “The Wonder Years” — has reprised his quirky role on both YouTube and Twitter in support of the Cubbies, who haven’t won the World Series since 1908. He’s posted a number of videos...

The world premiere of Pup Star in Sensory Friendly Screening at Select TheatresThe world premiere of Pup Star in Sensory Friendly Screening at Select TheatresJenny Bullough9/15/2016 12:00:00 Pm

From the studio that brought us Air Bud and Air Buddies, Cineplex is proud to present Pup Star! This world premiere event happening on Sept. 17th will be screened as a regular Family Favourites presentation, and simultaneously as a Sensory Friendly screening – both absolutely Free of charge!

In Pup Star, Tiny, a cute little Yorkie pup with a big voice, gets a chance to audition for the singing competition for dogs. After she earns a place in the finale, she’s suddenly dog-napped! But with the help of her new friend, Charlie, a retired rock-and-roller, she escapes. Together they leave on an incredible journey through some of music’s most iconic cities. Filled with the biggest cast of canines ever assembled,...

From David Bowie to Pup Star: our featured Family Favourites in SeptemberFrom David Bowie to Pup Star: our featured Family Favourites in SeptemberJenny Bullough8/31/2016 11:43:00 Am

For most of us, September means just one thing: back to school! Even those of us who’ve been out of school for years still sometimes think of early fall as a time of new beginnings. Your little ones might not feel the same way, though, as they head back to the classroom! If they need a little cheering up on a Saturday morning, look no further than your local Cineplex theatre. Every month there are classic family-friendly features playing on Saturday mornings at 11am. Admission is only $2.99 and a portion of the proceeds goes towards Free the Children. Why not treat the family by introducing the next generation to an old favourite, or discover a new family favourite together, on the big screen!

Pete’s Dragon officially marks the Year of the Wild Child. The Aug. 11 release is about the discovery of a 10-year old boy living deep in the forest under the care of a dragon. In the last 10 months, the Orphan Raised by Wild Animals story has popped up in four films: Spot in The Good Dinosaur, Mowgli in The Jungle Book, Tarzan in The Legend of Tarzan, and now Pete in Pete’s Dragon. Here’s why it’s become a popular trope… · Kids love animals in movies. The more connected the young protagonist is with the animals, the more kids tend to connect with the film (see Dolphin Tale, Air Bud movies). The idea that they are equals with creatures – or even “be the boss” over large, wild animals – is more exciting than eating pancakes for dinner. · Living amongst untamed creatures and becoming one of them is one of our deep-rooted survivalist fantasies.

Are you an animal-loving actor? Then you know that even in movies starring the likes of Ben Stiller, Ian McKellen, or Jim Carrey, a talented dolphin, horse, dog, or monkey can run away with the show. We’ve rounded up seven of our favorite animal actors in everything from “Mr. Poppers Penguins” to “The Lord of the Rings.” Now who’s a good boy? Crystal the MonkeyThere’s no monkeying around when this little lady hits the set—she’s a professional! Named in 2012 as one of television’s highest paid actors, audiences know Crystal from feature comedies like the “Night at the Museum” franchise and “The Hangover Part II,” as well as television series “Community” and “Animal Practice.” Cosmo the DogThis talented Jack Russell terrier made such an impact on set that “Beginners” star Ewan McGregor wrapped shooting and adopted a dog of his own. Cosmo has also had...

Here are a bunch of little bites to satisfy your hunger for movie culture:   Trailer Remix of the Day: Here's what the new trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens would look like if it was a schlocky 1980s action movie:   Trailer Reaction of the Day: This video of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer being screened at the Yavin 4 briefing uses the old teaser but it's still worth watching for Han Solo's reaction to his older self (via Live for Films):   Movie Parody of the Day: This parody of 30 for 30 documentaries about the plot of Angels in the Outfield (and Air Bud, Space Jam, Happy Gilmore and more) is a pretty funny mockumentary even if you haven't seen its...

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When Tyler and I ranked our Top 5 ghosts on a recent episode of The 5Cast, Christopher Lloyd's Al from Angels in the Outfield made my list, so it's good timing for this great parody of an episode of Espn's 30 For 30 documentary series devoted to the 1994 movie. College Humor perfectly captures the tone of the real show by mixing in baffled sports analysts with actors — including Neal McDonough, reprising his role from the movie as pitcher Whitt Bass. If you fall into the (probably fairly large) center of a Venn diagram featuring people who have seen Angels in the Outfield and people who have seen at least one episode of 30 For 30, you're sure to love this.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for references to other '90s sports movies like Happy Gilmore, Rookie of the Year, and Air Bud.

You probably know Kevin Zegers from films like Air Bud and shows like Gossip Girl, but his life outside of the spotlight is what really makes him lovable. The actor, who welcomed twin daughters with his wife, Jaime Feld, in early August, frequently posts hilarious and adorable photos on Instagram. In addition to sharing romantic moments with his wife, whom he married in August 2013, Kevin also posts sexy selfies, snapshots of his famous friends (hello, Nick Carter), and throwback photos that will seriously make you miss the '90s. Keep reading to see all the times Kevin made you swoon, then check out fellow '90s star Mark-Paul Gosselaar's best social media family snaps.

If you've seen one dog movie, you've probably seen them all, and Boaz Yakin's (Remember the Titans) red-blooded, family-friendly military feature Max isn't going to give you much of anything you haven't seen before. There are dog antics, petty kids coming into their own through their new animal friends, family drama and an obvious villain who just can't have a dog mucking up their plans. It's repetitive, it's lazy, it's narratively tired and plain-faced, but, most of all, it's just plain boring. But it's also entirely inoffensive -- save for some cringe-worthy Mexican stereotypes -- and it's hard to necessarily get mad at a film as vanilla as this. It's tacky, but it's almost like kicking a dog. Literally. As overlong and overplayed as Yakin's movie is, it wears its purebred, red, white and blue intentions on its sleeve, and causing an uproar won't do anyone any good. Good or bad,...

Lifetime, the dream factory that gave us that "Saved by the Bell" biopic last year, is back with its newest vision of God: a behind-the-scenes take on "Full House." It premieres August 22. Look at that picture. That's a real thing that your retinas are supposed to handle. Let's name all the stuff we want this movie to teach us. 1. Was there tension between Bob Saget and Dave Coulier when they both hosted home video series? We all remember that Bob Saget hosted "America's Funniest Home Videos" for years, but you may have forgotten that Dave Coulier hosted a similar series called "America's Funniest People" on ABC. Did Bob ever say to Dave, "Step off my game, b*tch"? I want to know. 2. Was there a casting session where a diabolical director decided Comet would play Air Bud? Did you know the golden retriever who played Comet would end up playing Air Bud?...

"Animals can come down with post-traumatic stress the same as people can." If for some reason you thought American Sniper would be better with a dog than Bradley Cooper, we have some good news. Max is just that, as the film from Remember the Titans director Boaz Yakin follows a dog who has just returned from being a military canine in Afghanistan, but has trouble adjusting to life back in a family's home. It's literally the same kind of war drama we've seen before, but through the eyes of man's best friend. It has some flares of E.T. and Air Bud along with the typical Ptsd drama, but it does look pretty cheesy. Watch? Here's the first official trailer for Boaz Yakin's Max, originally from Yahoo: Max is directed by Boaz Yakin (Safe, Remember the Titans) from a script he wrote with Sheldon Lettich (Double Impact, Bloodsport). The story...