City Hollywood Financial News

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A $40 late fee on a Blockbuster Video rental led to the creation of the company that has swallowed Hollywood. Software entrepreneur and movie buff Reed Hastings was hit with sticker shock one day in the 1990s, when he returned an overdue film.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Healthcare jobs are keeping the U.S. labor market humming.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Despite betting on VFX-driven, high-budget spectacles to lure audiences in droves to cinemas, Bollywood has largely been unable to crack the visual effects game.This was particularly evident in the recent criticism of the trailer for the first instalment of the mega-budget, two-part Ramayana franchise. The major criticism was that despite a reported ₹4,000 crore production budget, the visual effects seemed artificial and video game-like, and that they appeared ‘too digital’ and lacked soul.Experts said not only are Indian movie budgets much lower than in Hollywood, but Indian studios and producers also often handle visual effects in a rushed manner during post-production.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.NEW DELHI: As Alpha, the Alia Bhatt-starrer female spin-off to Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe, which includes hits like Pathaan, readies for release later this year, trade experts say Bollywood still lags Hollywood in building high-profile, female-led franchise extensions.Unlike the West, where films such as Wonder Woman and Black Widow have proven audience pull for women-led entries within larger cinematic universes, Indian studios have been slower to back big-budget action spectacles anchored by female stars—even when they sit inside established franchises.Malayalam cinema has taken early steps in this direction with Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, a female superhero film released last year. In Hindi cinema, comparable attempts have largely been limited to mid-budget spin-offs such as Taapsee Pannu’s Naam Shabana, a spin-off to Akshay Kumar’s spy film Baby, Kajol’s horror film Maa, a spin-off to Ajay Devgn’s Shaitaan, alongside Rani Mukerji’s ongoing Mardaani series.“The gap largely comes from how franchises have historically been built in Indian cinema.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. SINGAPORE—The company behind TikTok has developed an artificial-intelligence model that can turn a single text prompt into a high-quality video with a story line, scene changes and distinctive characters. The new AI video-creation model from Beijing-based ByteDance is generating buzz in China and a backlash in Hollywood over copyright issues.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. With Netflix recently striking a deal to stream all films produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment globally after their theatrical release—and potentially moving to acquire the massive Warner Bros library—the niche, urban, English-language OTT space in India is bracing for a significant shake-up. As global catalogues consolidate under fewer platforms, industry experts believe these international shifts will fundamentally alter consumer choices in India, forcing rivals like Prime Video and JioHotstar to rethink their strategies for targeting up-market, premium users.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Canadian-American entertainment company Starz Entertainment Corp., formerly Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, has sold Lionsgate Play—its streaming platform in South Asia and Southeast Asia—to Rohit Jain, president of Lionsgate Play Asia.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Multiplex chain PVR Inox Ltd is set to close the curtains on the December quarter (Q3FY26) on a decent note. Multi-starrer Bollywood movie Dhurandhar has seen impressive box office collections worth over ₹400 crore so far.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Netflix’s audacious bid for Warner Bros Discovery has sent ripples through Hollywood, and landed squarely in Indian cinemas, where exhibitors see both a looming disruption and a surprising opportunity.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Tilly Norwood, an “actress" built with artificial intelligence, comes from humble beginnings, popping into the mind of Eline Van der Velden while the producer was in the restroom at London’s private Groucho Club. By the time Van der Velden got home, her mind was made up: She was going to make the first AI movie star.

Blake Lively is currently making headlines way too frequently as she is facing backlash from all corners. She is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. As her legal dispute with It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, escalates, so does the backlash. With Hollywood insiders turning away and her popularity dwindling, Lively's public image is suffering greatly. Blake Lively's popularity has dipped to a new low as her legal battle with Justin Baldoni progresses. In her lawsuit against «It Ends With Us» co-star Justin Baldoni, who also directed and produced the film, Blake Lively is attempting to portray herself as a victim of sexual harassment and defamation. However, her public image is reaching a new low, as quoted in a report by the NewsNation.

Planet Hollywood in Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) had become second nature. He had spent years in the service industry, ensuring that customers had a pleasant dining experience before catching their flights. But on March 21, what started as a routine shift took an unexpected and disheartening turn. According to a report from KTLA, toward the end of his shift, Ortiz was serving a couple who, at first, seemed no different from any other travelers passing through the bustling airport restaurant. He greeted them with his usual warmth, took their order, and provided the kind of attentive service he had perfected over the years. But something about their demeanor felt off. “The way they were looking at me—you can tell when something isn’t right,” Ortiz later recalled.

Meghan Markle may have walked away from royal duties five years ago, but if recent reports are to be believed, she’s far from done with royalty. The former actress and Duchess of Sussex is allegedly on a bizarre mission to rebrand herself as the most beloved royal—despite distancing herself from the very institution that once embraced her. From Hollywood to Buckingham Palace and back again, Meghan has spent years navigating the complexities of both stardom and monarchy. But now, sources claim she is using her royal title as a stepping stone to newfound influence in the U.S., leveraging multi-million-dollar deals, a brand-new lifestyle empire, and a carefully curated public image.

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has pulled in several PR practitioners, producers, and media personalities, making it one of Hollywood’s most complex and closely watched battles. Justin Baldoni is suing his former publicist Stephanie Jones for leaking intimate text messages that fueled his court fight against Blake Lively. The case has snowballed into a multi-layered lawsuit featuring Hollywood stars and bombshell claims of betrayal and bad behaviour.

Jennifer Lopez and 44-year-old British actor Goldstein, known for his role in Ted Lasso were seen having a great time together recently. Both of them also appeared backstage with the play’s cast, including Meryl Streep and Martin Short. Lopez wore a cream blazer with her hair styled half-up, while Goldstein opted for dark, casual attire, according to a Daily Mail UK report.

With Love, Meghan has sparked a fresh wave of controversy — and this time, it's her own family calling her out. The Duchess of Sussex's estranged half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., is accusing Meghan of fabricating stories about her humble upbringing, branding her recollections as «malarkey.» In the eight-episode series, Meghan paints a picture of growing up glued to cooking shows and learning her way around the kitchen — a narrative Thomas Jr. claims couldn't be further from the truth. Speaking to the UK’s TalkTV, the 58-year-old dismissed the claims outright.

The Academy Awards — the most glamorous night in Hollywood — is synonymous with opulence, prestige, and the crème de la crème of the entertainment world. With A-list stars strutting down the red carpet and the Dolby Theatre glittering under the spotlight, one would expect every aspect of the ceremony to carry an exorbitant price tag — especially for the evening's host. However, what might leave you truly stunned is just how little Oscars hosts are paid for orchestrating one of the world's most-watched events.

Sebastian Stan, best known for his portrayal of Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has been nominated for an Oscar for The Apprentice.

Connekkt Media, one of Asia’s fastest growing media and entertainment companies, has acquired Mob Scene, a premier Hollywood marketing agency known for marketing some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters and franchises.

Ben Affleck has begun ‘casually dating’ following his split from Jennifer Lopez.