Latest news with #ChrisColumbus
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix makes huge Thursday Murder Club announcement and fans won't want to miss it
The Thursday Murder Club movie, directed by Home Alone's Chris Columbus, is coming to cinemas and Netflix later this month. Netflix has unveiled some thrilling news for fans eagerly awaiting The Thursday Murder Club movie, adapted from Richard Osman's hit novel. In a unique collaboration, the streaming service is teaming up with the Royal Horticultural Society to mark the release of the much-awaited film, directed by the renowned Chris Columbus. The star-studded cast of The Thursday Murder Club includes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie, and audiences can catch it in cinemas and on Netflix later this month. The plot synopsis reads: "Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands." For a limited period of one week, enthusiasts of the popular book series will be able to immerse themselves in a cosy crime experience at five RHS gardens, reports the Express. At these locations, murder mystery buffs are invited to "put their sleuthing skills to the test" through engaging scavenger hunts that "blend horticulture with homicide". From Friday August 22 to Thursday August 28, the event titled 'Murder Amongst the Marigolds' will offer visitors themed scavenger hunts, impressive floral billboards, and a special tearoom experience at RHS Garden Wisley. Participating gardens across the UK include RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, RHS Garden Bridgewater in Manchester, RHS Garden Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex, and RHS Garden Rosemoor in Devon. The event description teases: "Fans will enjoy exclusive activities, clues, and prizes; from interacting with film billboards meticulously brought to life in flowers, to channel their inner sleuths in scavenger hunts for themed prizes. "For those with a taste for something truly killer, visitors to RHS Wisley can even indulge in a murderously good afternoon tea at Joyce's Tearoom. "Named in honour of the character played by Celia Imrie in the film, the menu is packed with delightful nods to the gang, from Elizabeth's Earl Grey (with a twist) to Ibrahim's Calming Chamomile. "And fans certainly won't want to miss Joyce's famous Lemon Drizzle or Ron's must-try Sausage Rolls - some might say they're to die for." Reflecting on the adaptation of his novel last year, Osman shared: "I'm so proud of this book, so it is a dream to see The Thursday Murder Club in such incredible hands. "From Chris Columbus to Amblin to Netflix, there are geniuses everywhere I look. And what a cast. I'm pinching myself." On his widely followed podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, which he co-hosts with Marina Hyde, Osman also touched upon potential alterations to the narrative for its cinematic rendition. "The plot, as I understand it, for The Thursday Murder Club movie is based on the first book but it's not entirely the same, because you have to change things is the truth," he explained. "And to have me looking over their shoulder telling them every five seconds that they couldn't do this or they couldn't do that I think would be hard." The Thursday Murder Club film is set to hit the big screen on August 22 and will be available for streaming on Netflix starting August 28.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Macaulay Culkin finally clarifies Home Alone rumours that have left fans guessing for YEARS
Macaulay Culkin has cleared up a whole of rumours about iconic movie Home Alone 35 years after the film catapulted him to superstardom. The actor, 44, who played Kevin McAlister in the 1990 flick and 1992 sequel Lost in New York, lifted the lid on the script and his co-stars during a rare appearance on YouTube show Hot Ones. Following years of speculation from fans, Macaulay denied he had improvised the now iconic line 'You guys give up? Or are you thirsty for more?' however revealed that another memorable moment was all down to him. He said: 'When I was at the grocery store, it's like: "Where are your parents? Why won't you tell me?" and I said: "Because you're a stranger" that one was mine, I did a lot of that kind of stuff'. In another scene Macaulay's character find a photo of elder brother not so attractive girlfriend and sarcastically said, 'Buzz, your girlfriend: woof!'. It's been claimed for decades that the picture was not of a young girl but actually a member of the crew's son dressed up, which the actor has now confirmed is correct. The actor who played Kevin McAlister in the 1990 flick (pictured) and 1992 sequel Lost in New York, lifted the lid on the script and his co-stars during a rare appearance on Hot Ones Host Sean Evans asked: 'Is it true that the picture of Buzz's girlfriend is actually a boy in makeup because [director] Chris Columbus thought it would be too cruel to rip on a little girl that way?'. To which Macaulay replied: 'As far as I know, yes, I mean, you'd have to ask Chris, but that's what I was told. Apparently that was the gag.' The actor, who was nine during filming, also revealed that his stunt double for the film was a 30 year old man named Larry. When the man asked Macaulay to guess his age the youngster pondered before guessing 13, leaving his counterpart in stitches. However as filming got underway, the nine-year-old was left terrified for the safety of his 'teenage' pal. Macaulay recalled: 'He's climbing the shelf, trying to reach the thing on top, and the whole shelf collapsed. It was vicious that first take, they do it again and there's another take and just boom'. 'They didn't like the way everything fell. And they do it again, and they do it again, and they do it again and I'm going: "Please take it easy on Larry! He's only 13 years old!". Elsewhere during the rare interview Macaulay revealed one role that he regretted skipping as he retired from acting in the mid-1990s. The actor, who was nine during filming, also revealed that his stunt double for the film was a 30 year old man named Larry He opened up about his hiatus before returning to acting for 2003 flick Party Monster. Macaulay said: 'You have to least then, I was retired for at least like six or seven years. I went to high school. I got married way too young. Things like that, you know. 'I was actually pretty good at reading. I was kind of voraciously reading through the scripts, but there was a couple that slipped through.' He then went on to reveal that it was 1998 Wes Anderson directed film Rushmore starring Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Brian Cox, Connie Nielsen, and Sara Tanaka that he wishes he knew about before. Macaulay explained: 'I remember about two years later, clearing out the house and throwing out the old scripts and I saw the one that I didn't read was Rushmore, I was like, "Oh dang."' Elsewhere during the rare interview Macaulay revealed one role that he regretted skipping as he retired from acting in the mid-1990s He then went on to reveal that it was 1998 Wes Anderson directed film Rushmore starring Olivia Williams and Jason Schwartzman He had been considered for Schwarzman's protagonist role playing Max Fischer as Macaulay admitted on the chat show that he 'can't imagine' anyone else playing that character. Macaulay said: 'But at the same time I'm like, "Oh man, that would have been a ball and a biscuit." I probably could have done that one.' The former child star had a great run early in his career but paused his acting career in 1994 after playing the titular character of Richie Rich.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Thursday Murder Club creator says fans will be 'in tears' as film includes 'tough scenes'
The Thursday Murder Club, directed by Chris Columbus, is set to premiere on Netflix on August 28 The Thursday Murder Club lands on Netflix on August 28 and it's based on Richard Osman's 2020 bestseller of the same title. The flick, which takes place in a Kent retirement community, tracks four pensioner detectives as they probe a genuine killing near their home. An all-star lineup features Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie, alongside major guest appearances from David Tennant and Daniel Mays. Director Chris Columbus cautioned viewers they'd be reaching for tissues by the finale, declaring: "I believe Helen, Pierce, Ben and Celia were born to play these roles. "It's a very immersive movie filled with laughs and suspense. And there's a surprising moving quality to the film. You'll find yourself choked up and wiping away tears by the end." Whilst the leading actors fostered a cosy and welcoming atmosphere during production, Columbus confessed certain days proved challenging. He revealed in his chat with Country and Townhouse: "That's not saying each day was a walk in the park. "There were tough scenes, emotional scenes that pushed the limits and boundaries of what one may expect from your standard procedural murder mystery." There was enormous pressure in creating the film as shooting kicked off in June 2024, and only ran for three months before concluding in September. It was anticipated filming would start in September 2023, with Steven Spielberg as producer, but there were setbacks caused by union strikes across the TV industry. In a separate chat with Collider, Columbus described adapting Osman's book as "a dream". He elaborated: "Because of Richard Osman's writing, I was able to cast one of the best acting ensembles I've worked with since Harry Potter. "Making this film was a dream. I truly hope I am fortunate enough to make a sequel. And another sequel. And another sequel." The Thursday Murder Club will be available on Netflix from 28 August, following a limited cinema release on 22 August.
Daily Record
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Harry Potter film with 96% rating dubbed 'perfect as entire franchise ranked
The Harry Potter films are a mix of fantasy and adventure, and we've ranked all 10 of them from best to worst, according to their Rotten Tomatoes scores - so you can see how they stack up Author J.K. Rowling is in the spotlight once more for her controversial views on the trans community, this time drawing criticism from Stephen Fry – the voice behind all seven Harry Potter audiobooks – who has labelled her a "lost cause". Despite the controversy surrounding its creator, the Harry Potter film series has continued to fare well. And now all the movies, including the less-celebrated Fantastic Beasts spin-offs, have been ranked by Rotten Tomatoes, with some doing better than others. Topping the list as the most acclaimed adaptation is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, hailed as a fitting adieu to the cherished magical realm by both critics and fans alike. At the opposite end of the spectrum sits the 2018 release, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which failed to win over many viewers, reports the Express. Below is the Rotten Tomatoes ranking of the Harry Potter films, from the highest to lowest rated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96% Helmed by director David Yates One critic perfectly captured the sentiment towards the final instalment, stating: "For a grand finale to a truly epic, good-natured franchise, this is a perfect goodbye that's very hard to beat." Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) Rotten Tomatoes rating: 96% Directed by Alfonso Cuarón The third instalment in the Harry Potter film series garnered effusive accolades from reviewers, particularly lauding Cuarón's contribution: "Prisoner of Azkaban is a standout entry in the Harry Potter franchise - it establishes an effective tone under Alfonso Cuarón's stellar direction." Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88% Directed by Mike Newell Describing the fourth film, a succinct Wall Street Journal critique exclaimed: "It's downright scary how good this movie is." Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) Rotten Tomatoes rating: 83% In the directorial hands of David Yates One reviewer's insight into the penultimate Harry Potter chapter spoke volumes: "The strangest thing about the new Harry Potter movie is not that it's unusually good, which it is, but that it unequivocally illustrates just how poorly we've been served by the previous five instalments in the franchise." Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) Rotten Tomatoes rating: 82% Helmed by Chris Columbus Columbus' second venture into the wizarding world was met with observations of progress: "Director Chris Columbus has pushed the envelope farther, made a sequel that is pacier and more swashbuckling. Yet it still feels cautious and reined-in." Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) Rotten Tomatoes rating: 80% The first foray with Chris Columbus at the helm. Critics were unanimously taken by Harry Potter's initial cinematic adventure, noting: "The quickest, zappiest two and a half hours of entertainment you'll ever see." Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) Rotten Tomatoes rating: 78% Directed by David Yates, the fifth instalment in the Potter series didn't quite live up to expectations, with one critic bluntly stating: "Brought me straight back to one of the most enduring of childhood feelings: boredom." Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) also saw Yates at the helm Rotten Tomatoes rating: 77% The seventh film received its fair share of criticism as one reviewer observed: "The trouble with Harry, as becomes clear from this seventh and penultimate installment, is not that we have lost the plot -- the film is as tangled and as corkscrewed as Bonham Carter's hair -- but that we are in danger of losing everything else." Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), another Yates-directed venture, struggled to impress, with a commentator noting: "The film strains considerably under the weight of all its plot lines-it's never fun to be the movie with the origin story." Rotten Tomatoes rating: 74% The subsequent Fantastic Beasts instalment, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), directed by Yates too, faced similar critique. Rotten Tomatoes rating: 46% A disappointed reviewer remarked: "Even taken on its own merits, it's a case of a sequel too far. There's no getting away from the fact that, without Harry Potter, this (movie) doesn't seem to know where to go." Furthermore, the prior Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) had also seen Yates in the director's chair. With a disappointing 36% rating, The Crimes of Grindelwald sits at the bottom of the Harry Potter series, receiving a drubbing from both critics and cinema-goers alike. One reviewer described it as: "About as exciting as a trip to Hogwarts's most neglected lavatory." For those in the UK looking for a magical fix, the complete Harry Potter collection is now on Netflix, ready for streaming. Across the pond, US folks can find all the Harry Potter films up for rent on Amazon Prime Video.
Geek Tyrant
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Fun Trailer For Netflix Mystery Comedy THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB Starring Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan — GeekTyrant
Netflix has released a fun new trailer for their murder mystery comedy The Thursday Murder Club , featuring an all-star cast that includes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie, as well as Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Tom Ellis, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Paul Freeman, Geoff Bell, Richard E. Grant, and Ingrid Oliver. The film is directed by Chris Columbus ( Adventures in Babysitting , Home Alone & Home Alone 2 , Mrs. Doubtfire , Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone & Chamber of Secrets , Rent ). The screenplay is written by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, adapted from Richard Osman's book of the same name. The synopsis reads: 'Based on Richard Osman's bestselling novel of the same name, The Thursday Murder Club follows four irrepressible retirees - Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) and Joyce (Celia Imrie) - who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun. 'When an unexplained death occurs right on their own doorstep, their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn as they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands. This looks like it will be a fun watch akin to Only Murders in the Building , with another really fun cast. Netflix will debut The Thursday Murder Club on August 28th, 2025. Check out the trailer below:
