Category: Movie News

This summer, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled in Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Long before he becomes the master of evil, Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement.

It’s not going particularly well. When Gru crosses paths with the Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto—a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please—this unexpected family joins forces. Together, they build their first lair, design their first weapons, and strive to execute their first missions.

When the infamous supervillain supergroup, the Vicious 6, oust their leader—legendary martial arts fighter Wild Knuckles (Oscar® winner Alan Arkin)— Gru, their most devoted fanboy, interviews to become their newest member. The Vicious 6 is not impressed by the diminutive, wannabe villain, but then Gru outsmarts (and enrages) them, and he suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. With Gru on the run, the Minions attempt to master the art of kung fu to help save him, and Gru discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.

Featuring more spectacular action than any film in Illumination history and packed with the franchise’s signature subversive humor, Minions: The Rise of Gru stars a thrilling new cast, including, the Vicious 6: Taraji P. Henson as cool and confident leader Belle Bottom, whose chain belt doubles as a lethal disco-ball mace; Jean-Claude Van Damme as the nihilistic Jean Clawed, who’s armed (literally) with a giant robotic claw; Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck, whose traditional nun’s habit hides her deadly nun-chucks; Dolph Lundgren as Swedish roller-skate champion Svengeance, who dispenses his enemies with spin kicks from his spiked skates; and Danny Trejo as Stronghold, whose giant iron hands are both a menace to others and a burden to him. 

The film also stars Russell Brand as Young Dr. Nefario, an aspiring mad scientist, Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow, an acupuncturist with mad kung fu skills, and Oscar® winner Julie Andrews as Gru’s maddeningly self-absorbed mom.

Steered by the franchise’s original creators, Minions: The Rise of Gru is produced by visionary Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborators Janet Healy and Chris Renaud. The film is directed by returning franchise filmmaker Kyle Balda (Despicable Me 3, Minions), co-directed by Brad Ableson (The Simpsons) and Jonathan del Val (The Secret Life of Pets films), and features the iconic voice of Pierre Coffin as the Minions and a killer ’70s soundtrack courtesy of legendary Grammy-winning music producer Jack Antonoff.

Genre: Action-Comedy

Cast: Steve Carell, Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, RZA, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Russell Brand, with Julie Andrews and Alan Arkin

Director: Kyle Balda

Co-Directors: Brad Ableson, Jonathan del Val

Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy, Chris Renaud

Get ready for all the feels and nostalgia!!

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell played by Tom Cruise is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw played by Miles Teller, call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.”

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Top Gun is set to hit theaters on May 27th, so get ready!

DIRECTED BY
Joseph Kosinski

SCREENPLAY BY
Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie

STORY BY
Peter Craig and Justin Marks

BASED ON CHARACTERS CREATED BY
Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr.

PRODUCED BY
Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY
Tommy Harper, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson

STARRING
Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris and Val Kilmer

“Draw Mr. Wolf with the Cast + Director!” Featurette

In the “A Look Inside: Meet The Bad Guys” Featurette, hear from the baddest cast to hit the big screen on what they think of their new film. Watch now!

Nobody has ever failed so hard at trying to be good as The Bad Guys.

In the new action comedy from DreamWorks Animation, based on the New York Times best-selling book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are about to attempt their most challenging con yet—becoming model citizens.

Never have there been five friends as infamous as The Bad Guys—dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf (Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), seen-it-all safecracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron, GLOW), chill master-of-disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson, Hot Tub Time Machine franchise), short-fused “muscle” Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos, In the Heights) and sharp-tongued expert hacker Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina, Crazy Rich Asians), aka “Webs.”

But when, after years of countless heists and being the world’s most-wanted villains, the gang is finally caught, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal (that he has no intention of keeping) to save them all from prison: The Bad Guys will go good.

Under the tutelage of their mentor Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade, Paddington 2), an arrogant (but adorable!) guinea pig, The Bad Guys set out to fool the world that they’ve been transformed. Along the way, though, Mr. Wolf begins to suspect that doing good for real may give him what he’s always secretly longed for: acceptance. So when a new villain threatens the city, can Mr. Wolf persuade the rest of the gang to become … The Good Guys?

The film co-stars Zazie Beetz (Joker), Lilly Singh (Bad Moms) and Emmy winner Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel).

Based on the blockbuster Scholastic book series by Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys is directed by Pierre Perifel (animator, the Kung Fu Panda films), making his feature-directing debut. The film is produced by Damon Ross (development executive Trolls, The Boss Baby, co-producer Nacho Libre) and Rebecca Huntley (associate producer, The Boss Baby). The executive producers are Aaron Blabey, Etan Cohen and Patrick Hughes.

Genre: Animated Action Comedy
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Lilly Singh and Alex Borstein
Based On: The Scholastic book series by Aaron Blabey
Director: Pierre Perifel
Producers: Damon Ross, Rebecca Huntley
Executive Producers: Aaron Blabey, Etan Cohen, Patrick Hughes

CELEBRATING ILLUMINATION’S

BEGINNING MARCH 25, AUDIENCES ARE INVITED TO

SING ALONG WITH ILLUMINATION’S MUSICAL SENSATION,

SING 2, AT THEATERS NATIONWIDE

THE SPECIAL SING 2 SING-ALONG WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ALL MAJOR U.S. AND CANADIAN MARKETS

TICKETS AVIALABLE ON FANDANGO NOW

Illumination’s blockbuster Sing franchise

has earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office

The Sing 2 Sing-Along will feature lyrics

to more than 20 hit songs, including,

“Girl on Fire,” “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” and the U2 classic,
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”

Universal City, Calif., March 18, 2022 — To celebrate the success of Illumination’s smash musical sensation, Sing 2, Illumination and Universal Pictures today announced the launch of The Sing 2 Sing-Along Experience in theaters nationwide.

Beginning March 25, audiences in the United States and Canada will be able to choose from multiple Sing 2 Sing-Along showings at participating theaters in all major markets and experience the thrill and joy of sharing unforgettable musical performances with fellow fans as, together, they sing their favorite songs along with the film’s beloved characters. Tickets are available on Fandango now.

Conceived and designed as a one-of-a-kind experience for fans, the Sing 2 Sing Along welcomes audiences to join together in creating the kind of magic that usually only happens when a crowd unites in a live concert, as their favorite band performs their favorite song. The Sing 2 Sing Along provides fans that feeling again and again and again throughout the film.

The Sing 2 Sing-Along Experience will include lyrics to more than 20 of the biggest hits featured in the film, including “Girl on Fire,” “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” “She Bangs,” and the beloved U2 classics, “Where The Streets Have No Name” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”

Illumination’s Sing 2 has been playing in theaters and delighting audiences everywhere since Dec. 22. The blockbuster franchise has now earned more than $1 billion worldwide.

Illumination’s Sing 2 celebrates the thrill of chasing your dreams, as the ever-optimistic Buster Moon and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet …all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by global music icon Bono, in his animated film debut—to join them.

With dozens of contemporary and classic hit songs, electrifying performances and breathtaking artistry, Sing 2 serves as an emotional reminder about the importance of dreaming big and the power of music to heal.

Sing 2 features all of the characters audiences fell in love with in the first film (voiced by Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Nick Kroll and Garth Jennings), plus additional characters played by music superstars Pharrell Williams and Halsey, actors Bobby Cannavale and Letitia Wright and comedians Eric André and Chelsea Peretti.

The film is written and directed by acclaimed returning filmmaker Garth Jennings and is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Janet Healy.