Latest news with #F1:TheMovie
UPI
a day ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
'Fantastic Four' tops North American box office with $118M
Pedro Pascal's "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is the No. 1 movie in North America this weekend. File Photo by Rune Hellestad/ UPI | License Photo July 27 (UPI) -- The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the No. 1 movie in North America, earning $118 million in receipts this weekend, announced Sunday. Coming in at No. 2 is Superman with $24.9 million, followed by Jurassic World: Rebirth at No. 3 with $13 million, F1: The Movie at No. 4 with $6.2 million and Smurfs at No. 5 with $5.4 million. Rounding out the top tier are I Know What You Did Last Summer at No. 6 with $2.8 million, How to Train Your Dragon at No. 7 with $2.8 million, Eddington at No. 8 with $1.7 million, Oh, Hi! at No. 9 with $1.1 million and The Home at No. 10 with $1 million.
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Celebration of traditional craft does not need a viral moment
Isha Ambani was recently seen in a sari-inspired gown, made by Roberto Cavalli using the traditional bandhani technique from Gujarat. Her look instantly became a topic of conversation on social media, with many netizens calling it a global celebration of Indian artistry. A similar reaction followed when actor Brad Pitt flaunted a shirt by homegrown label 11.11 in his new film, F1: The Movie. The shirt was crafted using Tangaliya, a 700-year-old weaving technique from Saurashtra, Gujarat, that requires artisans to hand-twist yarns, creating delicate bead-like patterns. While 11.11 had showcased the process in a detailed video earlier this year, the craft caught the attention of media outlets and digital platforms only after the American actor wore it on the big screen. Last month, the Prada and Kolhapuri chappal controversy took over the news cycle. During men's fashion week in Milan, Prada was called out by Indian media and government authorities for presenting 'sandals" that looked unmistakably inspired by, if not a direct copy of, the popular Kolhapuri chappal from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. Designers like Tarun Tahiliani and Malini Ramani have long used these traditional leather sandals in their runway shows, but it took a global fashion house to bring public attention to them. n the above three instances, one thing was common: Indian people started celebrating and talking about their traditional crafts, even if on social media, after it was presented on an international stage. This isn't something new, though. For decades, international brands have borrowed liberally from cultures of the Global South. Cultural appropriation is a serious issue, but it also raises a deeper, more uncomfortable question: Why do a lot of us continue to wait for the West's validation when it comes to celebrating our own traditional crafts? 'We need to rehab ourselves from this habit," says the founder of Diet Sabya, an independent Instagram account that criticises and celebrates Indian fashion, who prefers to stay anonymous. It's a sentiment echoed by academics too. Phyllida Jay, a UK-based anthropologist and author of books on Indian fashion, explains: 'The adoption of an Indian craft by a big luxury brand can make people in India reappraise an unsung craft and see it in a shiny new light. I've even had Indian designers tell me that their customers in India perceive more value in their work back home if they've shown at Paris fashion week or are stocked in a cool Milanese boutique. Sadly, there's still considerable power in the idea of foreign validation and branding in India." To call this a colonial hangover, after 77 years of independence, would be too simplistic. India is no longer a passive participant in global conversations—it is a cultural, social and economic power. With that rise comes a responsibility: to protect and champion our creative legacies on our own terms. The backlash around the Kolhapuri incident reflects this shift. The uproar prompted Prada to meet with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, which represents 3,000 Kolhapuri sandal artisans, to explore possible collaborations. The issue, however, is far from resolved. 'The 2026 menswear show using direct, literal copies of Kolhapuris was a communications disaster. It was a massive, baffling oversight. Prada is now doing everything it can to counter the reputational damage. How they follow up with real engagement, true collaboration, and transparent communication in relation to the collections that result from their dialogue with Kolhapuri artisans will be key," says Jay. And India needs to keep a close eye and follow up on the matter, as it could become an important example of how international brands should ideally interact with Indian crafts. But, at the same time, it's also our responsibility to constantly value our vast textile and craft traditions and talk about them loudly, whether online or offline, without waiting for reason, a controversy or a trend. As the Diet Sabya founder puts it: 'Let's not act like Prada did something groundbreaking. Influencers will latch on to anything buzzy. If not Prada, then Saint Laurent. If not Kolhapuris, then Nehru jackets. It's not homage—it's content. Their interest is seasonal, algorithm-fed, and frankly, as fickle as fashion." In the book Inspired By India, Jay documents how Indian craft and design traditions have shaped European fashion for centuries. In the late 18th century, for instance, the Scottish town of Paisley became so successful at reproducing Kashmiri shawls at a lower cost that the buta motif from Kashmir is now globally famous as 'paisley". And it's not just in fashion. If people want to change how India's contribution to global culture is valued and treated, they first need to celebrate and appreciate traditional knowledge, and not wait for someone else to do it. 'Indian designers have always been about craft. Craft isn't just a moment—it's the backbone of our fashion," says the Diet Sabya founder. 'But it's not just the designers' responsibility. It's everyone's." Dress Sense is a monthly column on the clothes we wear every day. Sujata Assomull is a journalist, author and mindful fashion advocate.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Hollywood vs censorville
A rude emoji was replaced with a politer one in F1: The Movie. Photo: File Film fans in India were outraged to learn that a 33-second kiss scene in Superman was shortened to just a few seconds by their country's censors. Despite the film's 13+ rating, India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) felt compelled to sanitise the embrace they described as "overly sensual." When it was created through the Cinematograph Act of 1952, the CBFC's official mandate was to certify films according to age categories, but it has since become notorious for its role as a censor. Recent examples of alterations in major Hollywood productions include replacing a middle-finger emoji appearing in F1: The Movie with a fist emoji. Swear words were muted in Marvel's Thunderbolts and Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. In Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer (2023), the Indian board had Florence Pugh's nudity covered up with a digitally inserted CGI dress. "If a scene is meant for mature audiences, it should simply be placed in the appropriate category," argued writer Disha Bijolia in Indian online magazine Homegrown. "Instead, the CBFC repeatedly interferes with a filmmaker's vision — cutting into plots, disrupting emotional arcs, and flattening the intent behind entire narratives." Satisfying demand Along with the widespread censorship method of simply banning films, releasing alternate versions of movies is also well established in many countries beyond India. Authoritarian states know that even if a film is banned, it can still circulate illegally, which motivates them to distribute their own "more appropriate" versions of the works. Way before AI-created imagery became widely available, Iran had already equipped the country's censors with new digital technology by 2010, allowing them to tweak dialogues and images that didn't conform to Islamic modesty. The approach is detailed in an 2012 article in The Atlantic, which also shows stills comparing how the original scenes were retouched in the Iranian versions: Women simply disappear from the frame, or their neckline is covered up with a clunky vase. Even Will Ferrell's crotch is hidden behind a wall in the motorsports comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006). Drugs not okay Even though many major Hollywood studios no longer distribute their films in Russia since it launched its full-scale war on Ukraine in 2022, there are still some Western films appearing in the country's cinemas or on streaming platforms. One recent example of a film that circulated in an altered version was the award-winning US film Anora (2024). Censors simply zoomed into various scenes to crop out the depictions of characters using drugs, as shown by independent Russian-language news site Meduza. Meanwhile, the film's nude scenes featuring the stripper played by Mikey Madison were left untouched. A film like Anora would never air on Turkish television. Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's conservative AKP government, around 95 per cent of the media landscape has been brought into line with their conservative guidelines. Broadcasters mainly avoid sex scenes and portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters. Historical topics seen as promoting "anti-Turkish rhetoric" can be particularly contentious. Cigarettes and alcohol are also blurred on TV, with some stations coming up with creative solutions to cover up the items. Meanwhile, some Hollywood studios have released their own self-censored versions to circumvent bans and blurs. Sony Pictures supplied an alternate version of Blade Runner 2049 to Turkey and other non-Western markets, removing or cropping scenes showing nudity, as film critic Burak Göral first noted. Turkey's Film Critics Association (S?YAD) issued an open letter condemning the censorship, noting that the cuts were "an insult to moviegoers in Turkey." Accessing China China is renowned for banning and shortening films, too. Official censorship guidelines prohibit, among other things, the "promotion of cults or superstition." The 2016 Ghostbusters reboot thus failed to be released in the country despite being retitled Super Power Dare Die Team. Surprisingly, Disney's Coco, which centers on the Mexican Day of the Dead, was authorised a year later. Major productions that have been altered by China's censors include the 2012 James Bond film, Skyfall. A scene in which a Chinese security guard is killed was completely cut out because it suggested that China is unable to protect its own territory from foreign agents. In other "controversial" scenes, the subtitles differed from what was actually been said on screen. In the famous portrait scene in James Cameron's Titanic 3D (2012), Kate Winslet was cropped up to her chin to hide her nudity. "Considering the vivid 3D effects, we fear that viewers may reach out their hands for a touch and thus interrupt other people's viewing," a Chinese official explained. In 2022, social media users widely mocked the censors' alternate ending for Minions: The Rise of Gru. In the original version, villains Gru and Wild Knuckles evade capture by authorities after the latter fakes his own death. But through a series of subtitled stills that were widely compared to a PowerPoint presentation for their poor quality, the Chinese version had Wild Knuckles arrested and imprisoned for 20 years; he starts a theater troupe in jail. Gru is portrayed as simply "returning to his family," with being a father becoming his "biggest accomplishment." Hollywood studios have also been releasing their own alternate versions of movies in China to avoid state censorship — and the PowerPoint slides. The country began allowing a limited number of Hollywood films per year into the country in 1994, and as major studios increasingly competed to gain access to the restricted and lucrative slots, they also started tailoring their stories to please a Chinese market of some 1.4 billion people. A 2020 report by nonprofit organisation PEN denounces the growing trend of producers willingly altering their films for Beijing's censors: Hollywood filmmakers "are making difficult and troubling compromises on free expression," it stated. Iron Man 3 (2013) is a prominent case highlighting this approach. While altered films typically lose runtime, four minutes of extra content were added to the Marvel blockbuster, with exclusive scenes featuring Chinese star Fan Bingbing and actor Wang Xueqi, as well as scenes promoting a local milk brand. In the Chinese version, the beverage helps Iron Man/Tony Stark recover from an injury.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Speedboat on F1 track in War 2 trailer raises eyebrows: ‘Adipurush moment na ho jaye'
The trailer of War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR and Kiara Advani, is making waves online. However, one scene has drawn criticism: a speedboat racing on a Formula 1 track. The visual has sparked memes and jokes on social media, with many questioning its logic. War 2 is part of YRF's expansive spy universe. Speedboat on F1 track scene sparks debate The trailer of the film was released on Friday. The Ayan Mukerji film features Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR as rival Indian spies. Kiara Advani plays the lead female role. The trailer hints at an action-packed ride with emotional depth and drama. Amidst the praise, many social media users noticed a scene where a speedboat appears to be racing on a car track, sparking widespread criticism and memes on social media, including Reddit. Some social media users also called out the visual effects in the trailer. 'Looks like a boat racing on an F1 track with VFX straight outta PS2. Only YRF can pull off these cinematic karnaamas, bike turns into a boat (D3), now the boat turns into a car. At this rate, the next film's gonna have a car turning into a fighter jet mid-song. Peak innovation,' one wrote. One shared, 'At this rate, next film's gonna have a car turning into a fighter jet mid-song', with another mentioning, 'Seriously. Why do Indian directors think that the audience is stupid?!? Brain rot in Bollywood is so real now.' 'One of the leading production companies can't. Afford. Decent VFX on a film,' shared one. One mentioned, 'They literally approved this ... bhai adipurush moment naah ho jaye (Hope it is not an Adipurush moment.' One wrote, 'VFX are so poor', and one shared, 'Boat on a F1 circuit… War 2 trailer in a nutshell.' Another joked, 'Didn't know Bollywood remade F1: The Movie." One comment read, 'Speed boat chase in an F1 track only Ayan can pull this off.' 'The bigger problem is that they have put this in the trailer, which means they think that it's one of their better shots. Scary stuff,' shared another. About War 2 Hrithik is reprising his role as super spy Kabir in War 2, a sequel to the 2019 hit War. The first part starred Hrithik along with Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor. War 2, which also stars Ashutosh Rana, is part of YRF's expansive Spy Universe, which includes the Tiger series, Pathaan, and the upcoming film Alpha. War 2 is slated to release on August 14 in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil.
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
IMAX Reports Record Q2 Box Office Surge
IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) reported Q2 2025 results on July 24, 2025, delivering record domestic box office results. The company achieved a 41% year-over-year increase in global box office, and adjusted EBITDA margin exceeded 42% for the second quarter in a row. Management raised full-year 2025 system installation guidance to 150-160, reflecting surging demand, and confirmed a replenished backlog with robust installation slate visibility through 2027. The key insights below focus on IMAX's network expansion, competitive dynamics, and sustained profitability drivers. IMAX installations and signings accelerate global reach System installations grew 50% year over year with 36 new installations. Geographic expansion was highlighted by France, the Netherlands, and Japan achieving their largest single-year growth. The company signed 124 new and upgraded systems year to date, nearly matching full-year 2024 signings in just six months. "Given the demand for IMAX systems, moving higher in our range for full-year installations to between 150 and 160 systems worldwide. And we've now completed agreements for 124 new and upgraded IMAX systems worldwide year to date compared to 130 in all of 2024." -- Richard Gelfond, Chief Executive Officer This accelerated pace of installations and new signings expands the addressable market, drives future recurring revenue, and demonstrates management's ability to convert strategic demand into tangible network growth, IMAX box office and market share hit all-time highs IMAX delivered its highest-grossing domestic box office quarter ever, achieving a 3.6% share of global box office on less than 1% of active movie screens, with U.S. and China ticket-sale market shares at 5.3% and 6%, respectively. Major releases such as "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning" and "F1: The Movie" saw IMAX capture over 20% of opening weekend box office receipts. This is an exceptional achievement, with an average opening-weekend share of about 15% for recent major releases. "With all seven of these films to date, we've averaged about 15% of the North American box office on opening weekend on just 400 IMAX screens, soaring as high as 20% on Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Thinners, and F1 during opening weekend. That's a feat we've only achieved eight times in our entire history. And three of those milestones came in this second quarter." -- Richard Gelfond, Chief Executive Officer This consistent box office outperformance reinforces the brand's status as a must-have premium format for tentpole releases, firmly differentiating it from non-IMAX premium large format (PLF) competitors. Improving operating leverage and capital discipline drive profitability Gross profit grew 22% year over year to $54 million, with consolidated gross margin hitting 58%, driven by box office outperformance, high-margin revenue mix, and tight control of infrastructure expenses. Year-to-date operating cash flow increased 25% year over year to just over $30 million, while adjusted EBITDA margin climbed to 42.6%, up 780 basis points year over year, alongside an expanded $375 million credit facility announced in July 2025. "We've talked about this before, but exceeding box office levels over $250 million in each quarter, essentially, every dollar beyond that flows right through down to EBITDA and to cash at about an 85% conversion rate. And so that's what will continue to generate the cash flow." -- Natasha Fernandes, Chief Financial Officer This strong margin and cash flow conversion indicate that incremental box office is largely accretive, offering substantial upside leverage as the network and slate scale, while prudent investment and low-cost capital structure further protect long-term shareholder value. Looking Ahead Management raised full-year 2025 installation guidance to 150-160 systems and projects adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) in the low-forties percent range for the full year. Visibility into the film slate now extends through 2027 with a record number of 'film for IMAX' titles secured, supporting confidence in sustained global box office and installation growth. The company reports a replenishing system backlog and expects to set a new annual record for local language box office within Q3 2025. Where to invest $1,000 right now When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,037%* — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now, available when you join Stock Advisor. *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 This article was created using Large Language Models (LLMs) based on The Motley Fool's insights and investing approach. It has been reviewed by our AI quality control systems and human editors. Since LLMs cannot (currently) own stocks, it has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
