Latest news with #familymovies
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
How are New Zealand cinemas surviving?
Silky Otter Cinemas chief executive Neil Lambert. Photo: Supplied The winter school holidays are about to begin - the perfect time for a family trip to the movies. But with rising cost of living, the slow economy and numerous streaming options like Netflix and Neon, how are New Zealand cinemas surviving? Neil Lambert, owner of premium cinema chain Silky Otter is busy opening his eighth cinema. The new Christchurch theatre has bagels and fried chicken bao buns on its menu. Lambert said hospitality was key to its success. "Wages have gone up dramatically in the last five years, and on top of that, rents are more expensive, food costs are more expensive. But if you look at the way that the ticket price has increased and how consumers have allowed the ticket price to increase, it hasn't gone up much. It hasn't gone up anywhere near in capacity to that [cost increases]. "Now as a business to thrive and not even thrive, to survive, you have to get an all-round hospitality experience. You have your customers come in the door, pay for a movie ticket - which we have to split with the studios - and it's quite a substantial split. So for us food and beverage are huge. That's why we have full service kitchens." Richard Dalton bought Auckland's historic Lido cinema 24 years ago. He said business at the theatre in Epsom was improving. "Business has picked up this year. It's still not perfect because I think the recession is still biting lots of people, but it's definitely showing signs of life returning back to normal." Richard Dalton, director of Lido Cinema in Auckland Photo: Ke-Xin Li He said for Lido, it was not always the blockbusters that brought in the cash. "Every cinema is different, so if you talk to the guys at Events and Hoyts, I'm sure they would tell you completely different stories. For them it's all about the blockbusters and it's all about the first two weeks of business on those. "For us, we always pay a lot more money in the first week back to the film company and then as the weeks go by, the amount you pay back to the film companies starts to fall. "Tinā is still popular at six, seven, eight weeks into its season, so we probably made more money at the end of its life than we did at the beginning of its life. For us in this particular model it's all about keeping films going for as long as possible." Richard Dalton says Tinā was still popular long into its season. Photo: Supplied Dalton said it was special to have movies like Tinā in the cinema. "Everyone comes out crying and you know they're loving it because they sit there for the whole credits. The credits are running and people are still sitting there sniffling, trying to compose themselves and talking. It's a real bonding film. It was such a pleasure to play." While Dalton's main audience are older adults, he thought it was important for cinemas to get children in too. "We got Elio coming up in the school holidays. We'll play things for very young children because often the grandparents might even bring them along. "I do feel strongly about this, so our ticket pricing for kids is just $10 and I kind of wonder why the chains want to charge so much for children's tickets. I think in these tough times, I think they've scared a lot of the market off by overpricing. Especially for a family day out, it becomes really expensive. "You got two parents and three children and popcorn and everything, you're gonna end up spending over $100 or something, which is madness. Children absolutely are the future, if you can get them at a young age and give them a good time and not scare parents off." For a Saturday morning show of Elio , it would cost $58 at the Lido for a family of four. But with up to $20 for a child at Hoyts and Event Cinemas, the same family could be spending $68 at Hoyts, or $113.80 at Event. However, Event does offer discount tickets to members of its Cinebuzz programme. Steve Newall, editor at the film and media website Flicks, said 2025 and 2026 would see a wide range of movies hitting the screens, and New Zealanders in cities were in the prime spot to choose their cinema experience. "I think the cinema offerings in some ways mirror the range of releases out there and that just as there are titles for different ranges of people, there's also price points that you can find. "A bit of research will really help a prospective movie goer. There are good weekly deals, there are certain cinemas that have specific discounts, and the loyalty schemes that the big chains have offer some advantages too." Matthew Liebmann, chief product, innovation and marketing officer at cinema technology firm Vista Group was a big fan of the cinema experience. "I've been to the cinema 24 times this year and we tend to go all around town, wherever the best time and the best film is." Matthew Liebmann, chief product, innovation and marketing officer at Vista Group is an avid movie goer. Photo: Vista Group He was at Cineeurope, a convention for the cinema industry. He said the sentiment was shared at the convention. "This is an industry that reinvents itself. It doesn't put its head in the sand. It doesn't pretend that the world's not changing, and it's always looking for new technology and new ways to serve guests. So while the technology, the fit out and the food might be changing, that innovative spirit of exhibition remains the same." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Kid and Family Movies in 2025: Calendar of Release Dates (Updating)
Looking for new family movies to watch? This Billboard Family calendar is a roundup of 2025 kid and family movie releases that should be appropriate for most ages. To help people find picks that the entire family can enjoy together, only rated PG movies — or those that are expected to be rated PG — are included on the list. More from Billboard Kneecap Launch London Billboard Takeover Ahead of 'Witch-Hunt' Court Appearance How 'Elio' Composer Rob Simonsen Married Space Disco, Choir Dolls & Talking Heads to Bring Pixar's Sci-Fi Adventure to Life The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' Hits Highest Rank on Billboard 200 in Nearly 60 Years After Brian Wilson's Death Plenty of family films are opening in 2025. Winter and spring highlights for kids include January's Paddington in Peru, the third installment of the hit movie series starring the sweet children's literature character Paddington Bear, and the March release of Disney's Snow White, a live-action version of Walt Disney Productions' 1937 animated classic, starring Rachel Zegler. Summer brings theatrical releases such as June's Elio, a Pixar original described as a 'comedic misadventure' that's about an 11-year-old alien-and-space fanatic who's transported to an 'interplanetary paradise that is home to intelligent life from galaxies far and wide,' and August's Freakier Friday, which has stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reuniting in a sequel to the 2003 family comedy that had the mother-daughter duo swapping bodies. While much of fall still appears appears open in the kid and family movie space, part two of Universal's Wicked, titled Wicked: For Good, arrives in theaters in late November. Some anticipated 2025 animated movie releases that do not yet have a release date include an adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel The Twits, which will be streaming on Netflix, and the stop-motion dark fantasy Wildwood from Laika, the studio behind 2009's Coraline. These two films and more have TBD release dates that will be updated on the calendar once announced. Bookmark this page and check back to see the latest updates to Billboard Family's calendar of 2025 movie releases for kids and families. Jan. 3 Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (PG, streaming on Netflix) Jan. 17 Henry Danger: The Movie (PG, Nickelodeon and streaming on Paramount+) Jan. 24 The Colors Within (PG, in theaters) Jan. 31 Dog Man (PG, in theaters) Feb. 14 Paddington in Peru (PG, in theaters) Feb. 21 The Unbreakable Boy (PG, in theaters) March 7 Night of the Zoopocalypse (PG, in theaters) March 14 The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (PG, in theaters) March 21 Disney's Snow White (in theaters) March 28 Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip (PG, streaming on Disney+) April 4 A Minecraft Movie (in theaters) April 11 Pets (streaming on Disney+) The King of Kings (in theaters) April 25 The Legend of Ochi (PG, in theaters) May 23 Lilo & Stitch (in theaters) May 30 Karate Kid: Legends (in theaters) June 13 How to Train Your Dragon (in theaters) June 20 Elio (in theaters) July 2 Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado (PG, Nickelodeon and streaming on Paramount+) July 18 Smurfs (in theaters) Aug. 1 The Bad Guys 2 (in theaters) Aug. 6 Sketch (PG, in theaters) Aug. 8 Freakier Friday (in theaters) Sept. 26 Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie (in theaters) TBD Nov. 14 In Your Dreams (PG, streaming on Netflix) Nov. 21 David (in theaters) Wicked: For Good (in theaters) Nov. 26 Zootopia 2 (in theaters) Dec. 19 The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants (in theaters) Dec. 25 Winnie the Pooh: A Hundred Acre Christmas (streaming on Amazon Prime Video) In Your Dreams Plankton: The Movie Pookoo The Twits Wildwood Best of Billboard Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Pentatonix & Train Will Bring Their Holiday Hits to iHeart Christmas Concert Fox Plans NFT Debut With $20 'Masked Singer' Collectibles 14 Things That Changed (or Didn't) at Farm Aid 2021
CNN
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘How to Train Your Dragon' remake soars to top of weekend box office
Another live-action remake topped the charts as Universal Pictures' 'How to Train Your Dragon' soared to $83.7 million at the box office, marking the best domestic opening weekend for the franchise. The fantasy adventure movie beat analysts' expectations of $70 million and held off Disney's live-action remake 'Lilo & Stitch,' which had maintained the No. 1 spot at the box office for three consecutive weekends. 'There is an insatiable appetite for PG-rated family fare. And there's the nostalgia factor with 'How to Train Your Dragon.' Those movies have earned collectively, even before this film, over a billion dollars worldwide,' said Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst at Comscore. The first 'How to Train Your Dragon' film opened to roughly $64.5 million in 2010 when adjusted for inflation and the third installment to the franchise opened in 2019 to about $81 million, adjusted for inflation. A24 Films' 'Materialists' also opened this weekend and pulled in $12 million, edging the eighth 'Mission: Impossible' ($10.3 million) for the No. 3 spot this weekend, and behind 'Lilo & Stitch,' which grossed $15.5 million domestically for a total of $366 million. Father's Day weekend has offered moviegoers a diverse slate of choices as the first half of the year comes to a close. The lineup includes children and family movies ('How to Train Your Dragon' and 'Lilo & Stitch'), action flicks ('Mission Impossible — The Final Reckoning') and romantic comedies ('Materialists'). The total box office for 2025 is $3.72 billion, up 23% from this period last year, according to Comscore data. 'Opening 'How to Train Your Dragon' on Father's Day weekend was a really smart move,' said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder and owner of Box Office Theory. 'Not only being a remake of a modern, beloved animated film but also one with a strong father-son storyline.' Robbins added that its full weekend gross could be slightly higher than early Sunday estimates because of the holiday. Ultimately, it's 'more about that staying power for those family films,' he said. PG-rated films account for $1.53 billion, or 41%, of this year's earnings, according to Comscore data. But live-action adaptations of family films have not always been box office hits. Disney's 'Snow White,' for example, dashed hope for the big-budget fairytale retelling when it grossed only $43 million domestically during its opening weekend. The most popular live-action remakes have still been Disney films, including 2017's 'Beauty and the Beast' ($230.4 million) and 2019's 'The Lion King' ($240.3 million), both figures adjusted for inflation. Box office analyst David A. Gross, who publishes FranchiseRe, said 'How to Train Your Dragon' is more of a 'hybrid film' akin to the 'Sonic the Hedgehog' movies, because it combines animation with human characters. The 2022 release of 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' grossed $71 million during its opening weekend, up from the first live-action remake's $57 million opening. Dergarabedian expects 'How to Train Your Dragon' to continue to perform well despite Pixar's 'Elio,' which opens Thursday. 'This summer is really just revving up,' he said. 'This is just another building block in what is turning out to be a spectacular summer for moviegoers, movie theaters and studios.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
15 Great Kids' Movies You Can Stream on Amazon Prime
This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. Sometimes, it feels like deciding what to watch on family movie night takes longer than watching the actual film does — especially if you don't feel like paying to rent or buy something. To cut down on your decision-making, we sifted through all the family movies on Prime and found the best of the best that everyone will enjoy. Year: 2024Runtime: 1h 44minDirector: John KrasinskiA combination of live-action and animation, this movie tells the story of Bea, a young girl who realizes she can see forgotten imaginary friends and decides to reconnect them with their kids. Not only was it written and directed by John Krasinski, but there are also other A-listers involved too: Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrell, Awkwafina, and Maya Rudolph, among many more. P.S.: In case you didn't put it together before, IF stands for 'imaginary friends.'Watch on Prime Video: IF Year: 2009Runtime: 1h 30minDirector: David BowersInspired by a manga series with the same name, this animated sci-fi movie is set in the 22nd-century, a time when humans and robots coexist. After his son Toby dies in an accident, Dr. Tenma builds a robot named Astro to replace him. Instead of becoming a member of the family, Astro is disowned because nothing can ever truly replace Tony. The robot ends up on a journey to discover who he truly is, and he even ends up teaming up with Dr. Tenma to take down the evil President on Prime Video: Astro Boy Year: 2000Runtime: 1h 15minDirector: Paul Demeyer, Stig BergqvistConsidering this movie is 25 years old, it's possible you watched it when you were a kid. But it's more than just a nostalgic watch — your family will enjoy experiencing Paris from babies' points of view, laughing at the slapstick comedy, and feeling all the feels over the heartwarming story of young Chuckie Finster trying to find his new on Prime Video: Rugrats in Paris: The Movie Year: 2023Runtime: 1h 29minDirector: Aaron Horvath, Michael JelenicIs there a more iconic duo out there than Mario and Luigi? Anyone who's seen this would disagree. Based on the Super Mario game series, the movie follows the Brooklyn brothers as they fix a water main and then magically end up in Mushroom Kingdom. What follows is an action-packed adventure that will leave your kids begging for the latest Nintendo on Prime Video: The Super Mario Bros. Movie Year: 2003Runtime: 1h 23minDirector: Kevin LimaWhat kid hasn't dreamt about living in a hotel and causing a ruckus? Yours can live vicariously through Eloise, a 6-year-old created by Kay Thompson who calls a penthouse in the Plaza Hotel home. Although her nanny is responsible for keeping her in line, when a prince comes to New York, she ends up playing matchmaker at a debutante on Prime Video: Eloise at the Plaza Year: 2017Runtime: 1h 31minDirector: Alberto RodríguezAn animated film showcasing loyalty and heart, it's named after the main character, Ozzy the beagle. When his owners go to a comic festival in Japan, he's left at a luxury dog spa — that's not actually a spa, but instead a prison. In order to reunite with his family, he forms an alliance with other prisoners and together they make a brave plan to on Prime Video: Ozzy Year: 2005Runtime: 1h 22minDirector: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrathAt Central Park Zoo, Alex the lion is the main attraction — which is exactly how he likes it. Thanks to Marty the zebra and some penguins, he and his other friends end up part of an adventure they never asked for on the island of (you guessed it) Madagascar. It's a beloved animated film that still holds up 20 years after being released. Warning: Don't watch if you don't want 'I Like to Move It' stuck in your head for the next on Prime Video: Madagascar Year: 2016Runtime: 1h 30minDirector: Trevor Wall, Anthony BellA polar bear with the ability to talk to humans, Norm has always been the odd one out. When a real estate developer decides to build luxury condos in the Arctic, he has to use this unique ability to save his home. This movie tackles the theme of environmentalism as simply as it can, while also showing kids how to overcome on Prime Video: Norm of the North Year: 2007Runtime: 1h 17minDirector: Howard E. Baker, John Fox, Kyung Ho LeeIf you want to watch Finding Nemo or Shark Tale but don't feel like paying for either, try Shark Bait, which is basically a combination of the two. After losing his parents to a fishing boat in the Boston Harbor, Pi moves to a Caribbean reef with his aunt Pearl. There, he falls for an angelfish named Cordelia, who Tony the shark just so happens to have a thing for. After angering him, Pi starts training for a showdown in order to defend the entire reef from their on Prime Video: Shark Bait Year: 2017Runtime: 1h 33minDirector: Jayson ThiessenMy Little Pony came to life in 1983, and it's still just as relevant today. In the 2017 franchise film, alicorn Twilight Sparkle is on a mission to save Equestria from evil with five of her pony friends and her dragon friend/assistant. What is this evil, you may be wondering? Unicorn Tempest Shadow, voiced by Emily Blunt, and the Storm King, voiced by Liev Schreiber. Other big names include Kristin Chenoweth, Sia, Taye Diggs, and Uzo on Prime Video: My Little Pony: The Movie Year: 2022Runtime: 1h 42minDirector: Joel Crawford, Januel P. MercadoThey say cats have nine lives, but what happens when they're down to their last one? When you're Puss in Boots, you go on a hunt for the Last Wish of the fallen Wishing Star — alongside every other fairy tale character — to have them restored. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Florence Pugh, and John Mulaney all lent their voices to the sixth installment of the Shrek on Prime Video: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Year: 2022Runtime: 1h 23minDirector: Kyle Balda, Brad Ableson, Jonathan del ValTaking place before the three Despicable Me films but after the first Minions, this comedy follows Gru as an 11-year-old in 1976. With big dreams to become a supervillain, he hires the Minions to be a part of his team and then receives an audition to join the Vicious 6, a supervillain team looking to replace their founder. What happens next is, unsurprisingly, chaos — which is exactly what we all love about the Despicable Me on Prime Video: Minions: The Rise of Gru Year: 2014Runtime: 1h 26minDirector: Eric Darnell, Simon J. SmithIf you thought the best part of the Madagascar series was the penguins, you're going to love this film. The villain is a Giant Pacific octopus named Dave, who has vowed to get revenge on all Adélie penguins after Skipper, Rico, Kowalski, and Private upstaged him at the Central Park Zoo. The foursome works with the North Wind intelligence agency to help prevent their capture and, naturally, all kinds of shenanigans ensue. Watch on Prime Video: Penguins of Madagascar Year: 2015Runtime: 1h 27minDirector: Alexs StandermannAfter Buzzlina Von Beena steals the Queen's royal jelly, which she needs to survive, Maya finds out and is subsequently banished from their hive. Her best friend Willy joins her, and when the hornets are falsely blamed for the theft, they join forces with a young hornet named Sting to get the jelly back and bring Buzzlina to on Prime Video: Maya the Bee Year: 2011Runtime: 1h 31minDirector: John SchultzFeeling nostalgic for the good old days? Consider going back in time with Judy Moody. She and her friends are competing to see who has the best summer, and because her parents left her with her younger brother Stink and aunt Opal, she's in dead last. Her luck starts to change when she joins Stink on a hunt for Bigfoot, however — even though they never find on Prime Video: Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer This post originally ran on Cubby. See it there: 15 Great Kids' Movies You Can Stream on Amazon Prime We Tested (and Rated!) All the Living Room Seating at Burrow to Determine the Best for Every Space and Need We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here's What They Said Sign up for Apartment Therapy's Daily email newsletter to receive our favorite posts, tours, products, and shopping guides in your inbox.
