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Cannes to unveil film selection under pressure over industry abuse

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The Cannes Film Festival was on Thursday set to unveil the movies that will vie for its coveted Palme d’Or prize next month amid pressure on its bosses to take a stand on tackling abuse in the entertainment industry.

Cannes president Iris Knobloch and long-time festival director Thierry Fremaux will unveil the selection of in-competition films and other major premieres at a press conference in Paris.

So far, they have confirmed only that French screen legend Juliette Binoche will chair the jury, Robert De Niro will be given an honorary Palme d’Or, and Tom Cruise will appear for the world premiere of the last “Mission: Impossible” movie.

The build-up to the festival has been overshadowed by a damning French parliamentary inquiry into the entertainment industry published on Wednesday, which concluded that mistreatment of performers was “endemic”.

Inquiry chairwoman Sandrine Rousseau, an outspoken feminist lawmaker from The Greens party, called on Cannes to set an example in stamping out sexual abuse, as well as physical and psychological violence.

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Tom Cruise is returning to Cannes this year with his last ‘Mission: Impossible’ film

“The Cannes Film Festival must be the place where this shift in mindset happens; the place where we say loud and clear… amid the glitter and the red carpets… that finally, we all want things to change: every one of us, at every level of the industry,” she told reporters.

The opening day of Cannes on May 13 is set to coincide with the verdict in the first sexual assault trial of French film legend Gerard Depardieu, which gripped the country last month.

Depardieu, a tarnished hero of French cinema, is the highest-profile figure to face criminal charges in France’s response to the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to speak out against abuse.

He is accused of assaulting two women on the set of a film in 2021. He denies the allegations.

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Stardust

Cinemas worldwide are desperate for some stardust and sparkling new films after a series of expensive Hollywood flops this year.

These include Disney’s live-action “Snow White”, superhero sequel “Captain America: Brave New World” and big budget sci-fi movie “Mickey 17” from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho.

The much-hyped “A Minecraft Movie”, released last week, was panned by critics but appears to be helping lift the gloom after a record-breaking opening weekend in the United States.

Scarlett Johansson might present her first film as a director in Cannes

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Despite the presence of Cruise and the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, Cannes is set to celebrate more independent, auteur cinema, as per tradition.

Around 20 movies are due to compete in the top competition category for the Palme d’Or, looking to emulate the success of last year’s winner, “Anora” by Sean Baker.

Terrence Malick, who won the top prize for “The Tree of Life” 14 years ago, has been tipped to return with a long-awaited project inspired by biblical stories.

Other festival veterans could also return, such as Jim Jarmusch (“Broken Flowers”, “Dead Man”) or Wes Anderson, who has also assembled Benicio Del Toro, Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson for his latest film.

Johansson, 40, might use the festival to present her directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great”, while another actress-turned-director, Kristen Stewart, has also recently completed her first feature film.

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‘A Minecraft Movie’ stomps to $80.6 million in second weekend

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After just two weeks in theaters, “A Minecraft Movie” is already the highest grossing Hollywood release of 2025.

The Warner Bros. videogame adaptation followed up its blockbuster opening with a second weekend of $80.6 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. Worldwide, it’s quickly surpassed $550 million.

After doubling expectations in its $300 million global debut, “A Minecraft Movie” continued to draw audiences unlike anything else this year. The film, directed by Jared Hess and starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, slid 50% in its second go-around in U.S. and Canadian theaters — an impressive hold after such a big debut.

Though critics slammed the movie (46% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes) and audience scores were merely good (a “B+” CinemaScore), “A Minecraft Movie” latched on with moviegoers who have increasingly turned out in droves for big-budget videogame adaptations.

“A Minecraft Movie,” a $150 million co-production of Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment, has helped -– at least for now -– reinvigorate theaters after a dismal start to the year. Overall ticket sales were double that of the same weekend in 2024, according to Comscore. Before “A Minecraft,” box office revenues trailed last year’s by 11%, but have now virtually pulled even. (2025 grosses still trail 2019’s by 31%, according to Comscore.)

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None of the weekend’s new releases — Angel Studios’ “The King of Kings,” the Walt Disney Co.’s “The Amateur,” Universal Pictures’ “Drop” or A24’s “Warfare” — came close to challenging “Minecraft,” but several films outperformed expectations.

“The King of Kings,” an animated tale of Jesus’ life aimed at Christian audiences, came in second with $19.1 million in 3,200 theaters. The film, loosely based on a children’s book by Charles Dickens, includes a starry voice cast led by Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh and Uma Thurman.

With an enviable “A+” CinemaScore from audiences, “The King of Kings” is posed to capitalize in the coming week before Easter. Part three of Fathom Entertainment’s TV series, “The Chosen: Last Supper,” also looked to appeal to Christian audiences. It launched with $6.2 million from 2,296 cinemas.

“The Amateur,” a 20th Century production starring Rami Malek as a CIA cryptographer hunting down his wife’s killers, debuted with $15 million domestically, plus another $17.2 million overseas. Critics deemed the revenge thriller an awkward star vehicle for Malek, who also produced. “The Amateur” cost $60 million to make.

“Warfare,” director Alex Garland’s follow-up to 2024’s “Civil War,” opened with $8.3 million in ticket sales from 2,670 theaters. Garland co-wrote and co-directed the A24 release with Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza, who based the film on 2006 mission he and his fellow Navy SEALs undertook during the war. “Warfare,” which cost about $20 million to make, was lauded by critics as an uncommonly realistic portrait of combat.

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“Drop,” the latest thriller from Blumhouse Productions, debuted with $7.5 million from 3,085 theaters. Christopher Landon’s film stars Meghann Fahy (“The White Lotus”) as a single-mom widow on a first date (Brandon Sklenar) who’s being terrorized by an unknown person by messages to her phone. “Drop,” which premiered at SXSW, cost less than $10 million to produce.

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. “A Minecraft Movie,” $80.6 million.
2. “The King of Kings,” $19.1 million.
3. “The Amateur,” $15 million.
4. “Warfare,” $8.3 million.
5. “Drop,” $7.5 million.
6. “The Chosen: Last Supper (Part 3),” $6 million.
7. “A Working Man,” $3.1 million.
8. “Snow White,” $2.8 million.
9. “The Woman in the Yard,” $2.1 million.
10. “The Chosen: Last Supper (Part 2),” $932,106.

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Aamir Khan seen for first time with his new partner

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Bollywood megastar Aamir Khan made headlines this weekend as he appeared publicly with his partner, Gauri Spratt, for the first time at an International festival in China.

The couple arrived together in what appeared to be their first official appearance on an international platform.

The two posed for photographers and interacted warmly with attendees, including popular Chinese actors Shen Teng and Ma Li.

A popular clip showed Aamir Khan holding Gauri Spratt’s hand as they entered the venue. The pair smiled for cameras and engaged in light-hearted conversations, including forming heart shapes with their hands for a group photo.

Khan introduced Gauri Spratt to other guests, appearing at ease and attentive during the evening’s interactions. Social media was quick to pick up the couple’s subtle chemistry.

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Recently, Aamir Khan also confirmed his relation with his new partner, he said: “I thought it would be a nice occasion for you all to meet her. Besides, we won’t have to keep hiding. She is from Bangalore, and we knew each other for 25 years. But we connected a year and a half ago. She happened to be in Mumbai, and we met accidentally. We kept in touch, and then it all happened organically.”

Aamir Spratt presently works with Khan’s production company. Aamir Khan confirmed they have been living together for the past year.

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Salman Khan receives another death threat: Mumbai police

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Bollywood megastar Salman Khan has received another death threat.

Indian media reports said the threat was sent via WhatsApp to the official number of the Worli Transport Department.

The message, it was said, included a warning that the actor would be targeted at his residence and that his vehicle would be exploded using a bomb.

After the incident, the Worli Police have registered a case and initiated an inquest to identify and catch the individuals behind the threat.

Authorities are considering the matter seriously given past threats to the actor.

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This is not the first time Khan has been targeted. Over the past few years, he has received multiple threats, many of which have been linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The group is believed to have a long-standing vendetta against the actor, reportedly stemming from his alleged involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The Bishnoi community holds the blackbuck sacred.

In a separate incident last year, two individuals were caught attempting to enter Khan’s Panvel farmhouse using fake IDs. He was also targeted via email in 2023 by a person claiming to be gangster Goldy Brar, and a threatening note was found outside his home in 2022.

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