Aardman Academy Pacts With New Zealand’s Canterbury University for Stop-Motion Animation (Exclusive)
New Zealand’s University of Canterbury has signed a five-year exclusive agreement with the Aardman Academy, the training arm of the Aardman Animations, the British film and TV studio behind “Wallace and Gromit” and “Shaun the Sheep.”
The agreement enables the Christchurch-based university to become the only educational institution in New Zealand to specialize in Aardman’s unique version of stop-motion animation. It has the potential to upend the country’s animation industry.
The Aardman Academy was created at a time when the studio urgently needed more animators to produce “Chicken Run.” Released in 2000, the film went on to become the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time. The Aardman Academy has since trained hundreds of world-class animators, directors, model makers and other specialists.
Training will be offered to animation students studying for the university’s Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours degree. And it creates the opportunity to receive training...
The agreement enables the Christchurch-based university to become the only educational institution in New Zealand to specialize in Aardman’s unique version of stop-motion animation. It has the potential to upend the country’s animation industry.
The Aardman Academy was created at a time when the studio urgently needed more animators to produce “Chicken Run.” Released in 2000, the film went on to become the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time. The Aardman Academy has since trained hundreds of world-class animators, directors, model makers and other specialists.
Training will be offered to animation students studying for the university’s Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours degree. And it creates the opportunity to receive training...
- 4/16/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Aardman co-founder Peter Lord has revealed details about the plot of the new Wallace And Gromit film, which will be broadcast at Christmas 2024.
There are few franchises as universally beloved as Wallace And Gromit. What began as Nick Park’s student film project grew into two of Britain’s most iconic animated characters.
So far, the titular heroes have starred in four short films – A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers – which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 1994 and features arguably the best train chase sequence ever put on screen – A Close Shave and A Matter Of Loaf And Death. There’s also the 2005 feature film The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, a series of even shorter films called Cracking Contraptions and a videogame, Wallace And Gromit: Project Zoo.
A new film has been in the works for a number of years, owing to the arduous production process of stop motion animation.
There are few franchises as universally beloved as Wallace And Gromit. What began as Nick Park’s student film project grew into two of Britain’s most iconic animated characters.
So far, the titular heroes have starred in four short films – A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers – which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 1994 and features arguably the best train chase sequence ever put on screen – A Close Shave and A Matter Of Loaf And Death. There’s also the 2005 feature film The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, a series of even shorter films called Cracking Contraptions and a videogame, Wallace And Gromit: Project Zoo.
A new film has been in the works for a number of years, owing to the arduous production process of stop motion animation.
- 2/20/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
February is here, and the countdown has begun at Netflix as many major titles are on their way out the proverbial door. With “Dune: Part Two” finally heading to theaters at the start of March, the streamer is giving subscribers one more month to rewatch (or catch up on) 2021’s “Dune,” starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and more. Plus, dive into other unfamiliar worlds with “Dredd,” “Snowpiercer,” and Prometheus.
Watch now before they’re gone: see The Streamable’s top picks for what’s leaving Netflix this month, and check out all the shows and movies leaving the streamer this February!
Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Netflix in February 2024? “Chicken Run” | Wednesday, Feb. 14
More than 23 years after its release, 2000’s “Chicken Run” still holds the record as the highest-grossing stop motion animated film of all time, beating all “Wallace and Gromit” features to top the list.
Watch now before they’re gone: see The Streamable’s top picks for what’s leaving Netflix this month, and check out all the shows and movies leaving the streamer this February!
Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Netflix in February 2024? “Chicken Run” | Wednesday, Feb. 14
More than 23 years after its release, 2000’s “Chicken Run” still holds the record as the highest-grossing stop motion animated film of all time, beating all “Wallace and Gromit” features to top the list.
- 2/2/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
There’s quite a lot going on beneath the shiny, fun surface of this animated comedy, though some of the questions it deals with — animal mortality, the world’s fragile eco-system — might be too much for younger children to process. For older, smarter kids, it could be a gateway film, a way to turn young cinephiles onto Powell and Pressburger’s 1946 masterpiece A Matter of Life and Death, with which it shares a little DNA. It also, like the brace of Chicken Run movies, raises the subject of nature conservation in a way they will respond to, thanks to Bill Nighy’s deliciously machiavellian uber-villain and his killer horde of robot bees.
The star of the show is a stray cat played by British comedian Mo Gilligan, who also narrates the film with a Goodfellas-style voiceover. When we meet him, he’s at the end of his lives, having been abandoned by his owners,...
The star of the show is a stray cat played by British comedian Mo Gilligan, who also narrates the film with a Goodfellas-style voiceover. When we meet him, he’s at the end of his lives, having been abandoned by his owners,...
- 2/2/2024
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
New seasons of “Bridgerton” and “The Night Agent” are coming to the world’s largest streamer in 2024, but what about “Stranger Things”?
Netflix takes its position as the leader of the streaming industry seriously. It frequently makes moves that no other streaming platform does, such as releasing viewership data for 99% of its shows, and this week it took another action few competing streaming services do: unveiling its entire TV, movie, and mobile game slate for the rest of 2024.
New seasons of “Bridgerton,” “Cobra Kai” and “Squid Game” will arrive on Netflix in 2024. Movie highlights include the new “Beverly Hills Cop” starring Eddie Murphy and Tyler Perry’s horror flick “Mea Culpa.” The schedule confirms there will be no new episodes of “Stranger Things” until at least 2025. Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com
What Are the Highlights of Netflix’s TV Release Schedule in 2024?
What Are the Highlights of Netflix’s Movie...
Netflix takes its position as the leader of the streaming industry seriously. It frequently makes moves that no other streaming platform does, such as releasing viewership data for 99% of its shows, and this week it took another action few competing streaming services do: unveiling its entire TV, movie, and mobile game slate for the rest of 2024.
New seasons of “Bridgerton,” “Cobra Kai” and “Squid Game” will arrive on Netflix in 2024. Movie highlights include the new “Beverly Hills Cop” starring Eddie Murphy and Tyler Perry’s horror flick “Mea Culpa.” The schedule confirms there will be no new episodes of “Stranger Things” until at least 2025. Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com
What Are the Highlights of Netflix’s TV Release Schedule in 2024?
What Are the Highlights of Netflix’s Movie...
- 2/1/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The list of movies and television shows that Netflix is removing from the streaming service throughout the month of February 2024 have been revealed.
If you don’t know, each and every month, Netflix has to remove certain titles from the streaming service, likely due to the expiration of various deals with studios.
Head inside to find out what is being removed from Netflix beginning in February..
See the full list of titles that are leaving Netflix in February…
Leaving February 7
MTV Floribama Shore: Season 1
Leaving February 9
Prisoners
Leaving February 10
Father Stu
Goosebumps
Leaving February 14
Chicken Run
Prometheus
Real Steel
Leaving February 19
Operation Finale
Leaving February 23
Married at First Sight: Season 12
The Real World: Season 12
Leaving February 26
19-2: Seasons 1-3
Million Pound Menu: Seasons 1-2
Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie
Leaving February 27
American Pickers: Season 15
Leaving February 28
Babylon Berlin: Seasons 1-3
Morbius
Snowpiercer
The Last Black Man...
If you don’t know, each and every month, Netflix has to remove certain titles from the streaming service, likely due to the expiration of various deals with studios.
Head inside to find out what is being removed from Netflix beginning in February..
See the full list of titles that are leaving Netflix in February…
Leaving February 7
MTV Floribama Shore: Season 1
Leaving February 9
Prisoners
Leaving February 10
Father Stu
Goosebumps
Leaving February 14
Chicken Run
Prometheus
Real Steel
Leaving February 19
Operation Finale
Leaving February 23
Married at First Sight: Season 12
The Real World: Season 12
Leaving February 26
19-2: Seasons 1-3
Million Pound Menu: Seasons 1-2
Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie
Leaving February 27
American Pickers: Season 15
Leaving February 28
Babylon Berlin: Seasons 1-3
Morbius
Snowpiercer
The Last Black Man...
- 1/24/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
For more than 40 years, Aardman Animations has been producing classics like “Wallace & Gromit,” “Chicken Run” and “Shaun the Sheep.” Now, following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Peter Lord, David Sproxton and Nick Park, new recruits have come on board at the company’s headquarters on Spike Island in the port city of Bristol, in the West of England, replenishing its creative treasure chest.
Variety steps along the gangplank to meet some of the more recent additions to the crew: Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of Oscar-nominated “Robin Robin” (see here); kids’ comedy series “Lloyd of the Flies” creator and director Matthew Walker, and co-director and voice director Jane Davies (see here); and Lucy Izzard, the creator, writer and director of “The Very Small Creatures,” a BAFTA nominated preschool series (see below).
“The Very Small Creatures,” commissioned by U.K. pay-tv operator Sky, is a stop-motion series for one to three-year-olds.
Variety steps along the gangplank to meet some of the more recent additions to the crew: Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of Oscar-nominated “Robin Robin” (see here); kids’ comedy series “Lloyd of the Flies” creator and director Matthew Walker, and co-director and voice director Jane Davies (see here); and Lucy Izzard, the creator, writer and director of “The Very Small Creatures,” a BAFTA nominated preschool series (see below).
“The Very Small Creatures,” commissioned by U.K. pay-tv operator Sky, is a stop-motion series for one to three-year-olds.
- 1/24/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The first 2024 issue of Film Junior magazine is available now – the film magazine for young film fans (and they write lots of it too!)
Introducing issue 15 of Film Junior magazine that’s now available for purchase. This time, we’re looking forward to the movie year ahead, celebrating the cream of upcoming family movies, and letting our young reporter interrogate the director of Aardman’s latest Chicken Run film!
If you’re new to the publication, it’s a 52 page print magazine aimed at younger film fans (around 7 to 14 years old), and it’s also mainly written by them too. The young writers come up with the majority of the ideas, the words are theirs, and they’re paid for their work.
We sell this magazine via subscription and mail order. We’re going to have news on the digital version shortly.
If there’s a young film fan in...
Introducing issue 15 of Film Junior magazine that’s now available for purchase. This time, we’re looking forward to the movie year ahead, celebrating the cream of upcoming family movies, and letting our young reporter interrogate the director of Aardman’s latest Chicken Run film!
If you’re new to the publication, it’s a 52 page print magazine aimed at younger film fans (around 7 to 14 years old), and it’s also mainly written by them too. The young writers come up with the majority of the ideas, the words are theirs, and they’re paid for their work.
We sell this magazine via subscription and mail order. We’re going to have news on the digital version shortly.
If there’s a young film fan in...
- 1/23/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Following in the footsteps of Aardman Animations legends Peter Lord, David Sproxton and Nick Park, a new wave of creators are driving the company forward. While its celebrated franchises, such as Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run are still much loved, and it has four Oscars wins with nine further nominations under its belt, Aardman is also focused on nurturing new talent, such as the creators of Oscar nominated short film “Robin Robin,” and series, such as “Lloyd of the Flies” and “The Very Small Creatures.”
Speaking to Variety from Aardman’s headquarters on Spike Island, Bristol, in the West of England, two of the creative minds behind “Lloyd of the Flies,” Aardman’s first CGI series, explain how the show evolved. In other articles, Variety speaks to Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of “Robin Robin,” and Lucy Izzard, the creator of “The Very Small Creatures.
Speaking to Variety from Aardman’s headquarters on Spike Island, Bristol, in the West of England, two of the creative minds behind “Lloyd of the Flies,” Aardman’s first CGI series, explain how the show evolved. In other articles, Variety speaks to Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of “Robin Robin,” and Lucy Izzard, the creator of “The Very Small Creatures.
- 1/22/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the co-writers and co-directors of Aardman Animations’ musical film “Robin Robin,” which premiered on Netflix in November 2021, and was nominated for an Oscar the following year, say that a spinoff is in the cards.
“We are currently working on more stories in the world of ‘Robin, Robin,’” Please tells Variety. “I think that’s all we’re allowed to say. But that would certainly be our hopes and dreams. We feel like there are loads more stories to tell in this world, so we’d love to do more.”
“Robin Robin,” whose voice cast includes Bronte Carmichael, Adeel Akhtar, Gillian Anderson and Richard E. Grant, centers on a robin who is raised by a loving family of burglar mice. As Robin grows up, her differences become more apparent. She sets out to pull off a daring heist in a bid to prove to her family...
“We are currently working on more stories in the world of ‘Robin, Robin,’” Please tells Variety. “I think that’s all we’re allowed to say. But that would certainly be our hopes and dreams. We feel like there are loads more stories to tell in this world, so we’d love to do more.”
“Robin Robin,” whose voice cast includes Bronte Carmichael, Adeel Akhtar, Gillian Anderson and Richard E. Grant, centers on a robin who is raised by a loving family of burglar mice. As Robin grows up, her differences become more apparent. She sets out to pull off a daring heist in a bid to prove to her family...
- 1/21/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Two decades after organizing a feathery union and flying the coop, the heroes of Chicken Run are making a triumphant comeback. The stop-motion classic’s long-awaited sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, hits Netflix on December 15, 2023. In the trailer above , you can catch a glimpse of Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) as they welcome a new little adventurer into their lives.
Chicken Run made history in 2000 as the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, and to date, it has yet to be bested. The follow-up will revisit the original cast of characters — along with the next generation, represented by The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey — as they face an all-new threat to their newfound peace. You can find out more about Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget below.
When is Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’s release date?
Chicken Run:...
Chicken Run made history in 2000 as the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, and to date, it has yet to be bested. The follow-up will revisit the original cast of characters — along with the next generation, represented by The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey — as they face an all-new threat to their newfound peace. You can find out more about Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget below.
When is Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’s release date?
Chicken Run:...
- 1/18/2024
- by Lydia Wang
- Tudum - Netflix
As 2023 came to a close, a pair of animated movies — Aardman and Netflix’s Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and Illumination/Universal’s Migration — delivered stories featuring carefully designed chickens and mallards, respectively, that leaned into simplicity to be expressive.
Dawn of the Nugget is the sequel to famed British animation studio Aardman’s 2000 stop-motion hit Chicken Run, which was directed by studio co-founder Peter Lord and four-time Academy Award winner and Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park, who designed the original flock. “He came up with this aesthetic, which is very simple. And if you look at Wallace & Gromit and then look at the chickens, they have this in common. They’re not very mobile. The chickens are kind of like bottle shapes with arms and legs,” says Lord. “Then they have this quite exaggerated mouth. Nick came up with this idea that lip sync was best served...
Dawn of the Nugget is the sequel to famed British animation studio Aardman’s 2000 stop-motion hit Chicken Run, which was directed by studio co-founder Peter Lord and four-time Academy Award winner and Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park, who designed the original flock. “He came up with this aesthetic, which is very simple. And if you look at Wallace & Gromit and then look at the chickens, they have this in common. They’re not very mobile. The chickens are kind of like bottle shapes with arms and legs,” says Lord. “Then they have this quite exaggerated mouth. Nick came up with this idea that lip sync was best served...
- 1/8/2024
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jodie Foster is one of the most-celebrated former-child stars of the modern era, so it’s no wonder that she spends quite a bit of time thinking about the experiences of young actors who are just beginning to hit the scene. Now, in a new interview, she’s shared some of her thoughts regarding the ascendant Generation Z, revealing that, though she admires their yearning for “authenticity,” she feels that they need to “learn how to relax” and can be “really annoying, especially in the workplace.”
The comments come in a new interview with The Guardian, throughout which Foster discusses her 2023 film, Nyad, and touches on the journey of aging as a woman in Hollywood. When the subject of younger actors is brought up, Foster is asked what her advice would be. She replied: “They need to learn how to relax, how to not think about it so much, how...
The comments come in a new interview with The Guardian, throughout which Foster discusses her 2023 film, Nyad, and touches on the journey of aging as a woman in Hollywood. When the subject of younger actors is brought up, Foster is asked what her advice would be. She replied: “They need to learn how to relax, how to not think about it so much, how...
- 1/6/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Film News
Picture: Aardman Animations
Wallace and Gromit are returning to the big screen. Almost 20 years after their 2005 feature film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Netflix and the BBC will release a brand new entry in 2024.
This will mark Aardman Animation’s seventh major project with Netflix, following Robin Robin and the sequel to Chicken Run. Netflix also distributed the 2019 movie A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and two Shaun the Sheep series. The studio is also very much involved in the upcoming mobile Netflix game called Chicken Run: Eggstraction.
The project was first announced in January 2022, with the BBC and Netflix boarding the project.
We should note at this point that the movie has yet to get an official name. The majority of places referring to the movie refer to is as “Wallace & Gromit Feature Film” or “Untitled Wallace & Gromit”.
According to several people attached to the project,...
Wallace and Gromit are returning to the big screen. Almost 20 years after their 2005 feature film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Netflix and the BBC will release a brand new entry in 2024.
This will mark Aardman Animation’s seventh major project with Netflix, following Robin Robin and the sequel to Chicken Run. Netflix also distributed the 2019 movie A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and two Shaun the Sheep series. The studio is also very much involved in the upcoming mobile Netflix game called Chicken Run: Eggstraction.
The project was first announced in January 2022, with the BBC and Netflix boarding the project.
We should note at this point that the movie has yet to get an official name. The majority of places referring to the movie refer to is as “Wallace & Gromit Feature Film” or “Untitled Wallace & Gromit”.
According to several people attached to the project,...
- 1/5/2024
- by Kasey Moore
- Whats-on-Netflix
Battle of the titans: Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things and Killers Of The Flower Moon
Barbie, Oppenheimer and Killers Of The Flower Moon and leading the BAFTA race this year, with 15 nods apiece on the longlists announced today. With Poor Things on 14, the stage is set for a clash between titans, but there are plenty of other, smaller films which could still deliver surprise results.
The longlists, which were developed to clarify voter options and as part of an effort to improve diversity, will give way to shorter lists of formal nominations on 18 January. The winners will then be announced on 18 February, in a ceremony to be hosted by David Tennant.
Those lists in full:-
Best Film All Of Us Strangers Anatomy Of A Fall Barbie The Holdovers Killers Of The Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer Past Lives Poor Things The Zone Of Interest
Outstanding British Film All Of Us Strangers Chicken Run...
Barbie, Oppenheimer and Killers Of The Flower Moon and leading the BAFTA race this year, with 15 nods apiece on the longlists announced today. With Poor Things on 14, the stage is set for a clash between titans, but there are plenty of other, smaller films which could still deliver surprise results.
The longlists, which were developed to clarify voter options and as part of an effort to improve diversity, will give way to shorter lists of formal nominations on 18 January. The winners will then be announced on 18 February, in a ceremony to be hosted by David Tennant.
Those lists in full:-
Best Film All Of Us Strangers Anatomy Of A Fall Barbie The Holdovers Killers Of The Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer Past Lives Poor Things The Zone Of Interest
Outstanding British Film All Of Us Strangers Chicken Run...
- 1/5/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Netflix’s Top 10 Most-Viewed Films Weekly List ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
People seem to be shifting their focus from holiday-inspired movies to other films, as the list of Netflix’s Weekly Top-10 Most Viewed Films is here. Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, Tom Cruise’s TopGun: Maverick, Pretty Woman, and others have kept the viewers hooked to their phones and TV screens. Scroll below to find out which films have made it to the top ten charts for the last week of 2023.
Last week Zack’s sci-fi adventure movie grabbed the number one spot and is also sitting comfortably this week. The Tom Cruise starrer has been added recently, and the Top Gun sequel didn’t take much time to make a place on the weekly list. Julia Roberts is winning, with two of her films enjoying the top spots on the list.
Films...
People seem to be shifting their focus from holiday-inspired movies to other films, as the list of Netflix’s Weekly Top-10 Most Viewed Films is here. Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, Tom Cruise’s TopGun: Maverick, Pretty Woman, and others have kept the viewers hooked to their phones and TV screens. Scroll below to find out which films have made it to the top ten charts for the last week of 2023.
Last week Zack’s sci-fi adventure movie grabbed the number one spot and is also sitting comfortably this week. The Tom Cruise starrer has been added recently, and the Top Gun sequel didn’t take much time to make a place on the weekly list. Julia Roberts is winning, with two of her films enjoying the top spots on the list.
Films...
- 1/5/2024
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
Pictures: Netflix – Illustration by What’s on Netflix
A new year is just around the corner and if you’re wondering what new British productions Netflix has coming up for 2024 and beyond, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ll break down all the currently announced new British movies, series and documentaries in the works.
Please remember that this doesn’t represent every movie and series currently in development at Netflix. There are a few that we’re not allowed to mention just yet, including a hotly anticipated new series from a writer who has produced some excellent titles for Netflix so far.
There are also plenty of shows and movies that should probably be listed here but won’t be. That’s because of how entwined US and UK projects tend to be, with some more US-produced series like The Witcher also falling into the UK camp...
A new year is just around the corner and if you’re wondering what new British productions Netflix has coming up for 2024 and beyond, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ll break down all the currently announced new British movies, series and documentaries in the works.
Please remember that this doesn’t represent every movie and series currently in development at Netflix. There are a few that we’re not allowed to mention just yet, including a hotly anticipated new series from a writer who has produced some excellent titles for Netflix so far.
There are also plenty of shows and movies that should probably be listed here but won’t be. That’s because of how entwined US and UK projects tend to be, with some more US-produced series like The Witcher also falling into the UK camp...
- 12/30/2023
- by Kasey Moore
- Whats-on-Netflix
Netflix’s Top-10 Most-Viewed Films: Weekly List ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
Another week, and Netflix is also here with the list of Top-10 Most-Viewed Films. Zack Snyder’s much-awaited film Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire came out a few days back and has already made its place in the Top-10 Global list of the popular streaming platform. Films like The Super Mario Bros Movie, Leo, Family Switch, and others have also secured places on the list.
The film features Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunman, Charlotte Maggi, Ed Skrein, Anthony Hopkins, and Ray Fisher in crucial roles. People who have been fans of Snyder’s works, namely the Justice League, 300, and others, waited eagerly for it.
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire by Zack Snyder earned the #1 position on Netflix’s Top-10 Most-Viewed Films list in its debut week, dethroning Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali’s Leave the World Behind.
Another week, and Netflix is also here with the list of Top-10 Most-Viewed Films. Zack Snyder’s much-awaited film Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire came out a few days back and has already made its place in the Top-10 Global list of the popular streaming platform. Films like The Super Mario Bros Movie, Leo, Family Switch, and others have also secured places on the list.
The film features Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunman, Charlotte Maggi, Ed Skrein, Anthony Hopkins, and Ray Fisher in crucial roles. People who have been fans of Snyder’s works, namely the Justice League, 300, and others, waited eagerly for it.
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire by Zack Snyder earned the #1 position on Netflix’s Top-10 Most-Viewed Films list in its debut week, dethroning Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali’s Leave the World Behind.
- 12/28/2023
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
Simple can be both efficient and effective and so it was when the plucky chucks of Chicken Run first hit the scene in 2000. The Aardman classic took PoW camp ideas - familiar from a thousand re-runs of The Great Escape at Christmas - and plonked them into a chicken farm, with the hens hatching plans to break-out. All of this is shown in a recap at the start of the sequel, which by dint of being more sprawling than the original, lacks the same sharply funny focus, although it's not without its moments.
Time has moved on and Ginger and Rocky (now voiced by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi) and their feathered friends are living an idyllic life on a secluded island. They've also added to their brood and the first section of the film charts their daughter Molly (Bella Ramsey) from egg to the cusp of adolescence, when she is a.
Time has moved on and Ginger and Rocky (now voiced by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi) and their feathered friends are living an idyllic life on a secluded island. They've also added to their brood and the first section of the film charts their daughter Molly (Bella Ramsey) from egg to the cusp of adolescence, when she is a.
- 12/24/2023
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – Picture: Paramount Pictures
The holiday season is in full-swing and if you fancy settling down onto Netflix for a new movie to watch – you should probably be prioritising these excellent nine movies that will all be departing as we head into the New Year.
For a full list of what’s leaving Netflix throughout January 2024, check our guide of removals for the month which is the most comprehensive on the net!
Captain Phillips (2013)
Leaving Netflix: January 1st
Paul Greengrass’s superb biopic about the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama continues to stir much controversy. The controversy stems from the scrutiny of Richard Phillips, portrayed by Tom Hanks, and his decisions that led to the event. Regardless of these opinions, one cannot deny that this is a fantastically made movie.
As with most Sony Pictures movies on Netflix, you’ll a premium tier...
The holiday season is in full-swing and if you fancy settling down onto Netflix for a new movie to watch – you should probably be prioritising these excellent nine movies that will all be departing as we head into the New Year.
For a full list of what’s leaving Netflix throughout January 2024, check our guide of removals for the month which is the most comprehensive on the net!
Captain Phillips (2013)
Leaving Netflix: January 1st
Paul Greengrass’s superb biopic about the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama continues to stir much controversy. The controversy stems from the scrutiny of Richard Phillips, portrayed by Tom Hanks, and his decisions that led to the event. Regardless of these opinions, one cannot deny that this is a fantastically made movie.
As with most Sony Pictures movies on Netflix, you’ll a premium tier...
- 12/22/2023
- by Kasey Moore
- Whats-on-Netflix
Welcome to your weekly rundown of the biggest stories from Netflix’s top 10 hourly figures drop for the week ending December 10th, 2023. Lots to cover again this week with titles covered including Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, Yu Yu Hakusho, Leave the World Behind, Obliterated, Car Masters, and another look at the Big Netflix Data Dump
In case you didn’t know, every Tuesday, Netflix updates its top 10 stats page with 40 new hourly figures of the top movies and shows of the past seven days.
Note: In this report of Netflix’s hours viewed from December 11th, 2023 to December 18th, 2023, we’ll use “Complete Viewings Equivalent,” or Cve, expressed in millions. That means we divide the hours viewed announced by Netflix by the runtime of films or series. It allows for better comparisons between films and series, but it’s not an audience metric. It is the minimum number...
In case you didn’t know, every Tuesday, Netflix updates its top 10 stats page with 40 new hourly figures of the top movies and shows of the past seven days.
Note: In this report of Netflix’s hours viewed from December 11th, 2023 to December 18th, 2023, we’ll use “Complete Viewings Equivalent,” or Cve, expressed in millions. That means we divide the hours viewed announced by Netflix by the runtime of films or series. It allows for better comparisons between films and series, but it’s not an audience metric. It is the minimum number...
- 12/20/2023
- by Frédéric Durand
- Whats-on-Netflix
Rachel McAdams as Barbara Dimon and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon in ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ (Photo Credit: Dana Hawley)
The San Diego Film Critics Society’s 2023 nominees and winners are in step with the group’s reputation for marching to the beat of a different drummer. Barbie earned 12 nominations but was absent from the Best Picture category. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, which has only made a few appearances on awards lists, picked up eight nominations and was ultimately named the Best Picture of 2023.
The San Diego Film Critics Society’s winners were announced on December 19, 2023.
Best Picture
American Fiction
Winner: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Runner Up: Oppenheimer
Best Director
Kelly Fremon Craig, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Runner Up: Greta Gerwig, Barbie
Cord Jefferson, American Fiction
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Winner: Martin Scorsese,...
The San Diego Film Critics Society’s 2023 nominees and winners are in step with the group’s reputation for marching to the beat of a different drummer. Barbie earned 12 nominations but was absent from the Best Picture category. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, which has only made a few appearances on awards lists, picked up eight nominations and was ultimately named the Best Picture of 2023.
The San Diego Film Critics Society’s winners were announced on December 19, 2023.
Best Picture
American Fiction
Winner: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Runner Up: Oppenheimer
Best Director
Kelly Fremon Craig, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Runner Up: Greta Gerwig, Barbie
Cord Jefferson, American Fiction
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Winner: Martin Scorsese,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Picture: Netflix / Aardman Animations
Arriving 23 years after its predecessor’s release, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is the long-awaited sequel to the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all-time, Chicken Run, which scored a Golden Globe nomination & Critics’ Choice win for Best Animated Feature back in 2001.
Created by the legendary team at Aardman Animations, Dawn of the Nugget continues the studio’s strong Netflix production output, including recent Oscar nominees Robin Robin and A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.
This new sequel catches up with the lead characters from the first film, Ginger & Rocky, several years after their daring escape from Tweedy Farms. Living in a peaceful island sanctuary created by Ginger, Rocky, & their fellow escapees, our leads have created their happy ending together including their smart & curious daughter Molly.
While life seems serene & complete for her parents, Molly yearns for more than her small island surroundings. But when the...
Arriving 23 years after its predecessor’s release, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is the long-awaited sequel to the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all-time, Chicken Run, which scored a Golden Globe nomination & Critics’ Choice win for Best Animated Feature back in 2001.
Created by the legendary team at Aardman Animations, Dawn of the Nugget continues the studio’s strong Netflix production output, including recent Oscar nominees Robin Robin and A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.
This new sequel catches up with the lead characters from the first film, Ginger & Rocky, several years after their daring escape from Tweedy Farms. Living in a peaceful island sanctuary created by Ginger, Rocky, & their fellow escapees, our leads have created their happy ending together including their smart & curious daughter Molly.
While life seems serene & complete for her parents, Molly yearns for more than her small island surroundings. But when the...
- 12/17/2023
- by Andrew Morgan
- Whats-on-Netflix
This post contains spoilers for "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget."
Happy Chicken Farms. Happy Egg Co. Organics Happy Family. Happy Farms. The Happy Chicken Project. In the worlds of farming and agriculture, "happy" is an extremely popular word -- so much so that the new movie "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget" avoided it entirely when naming their fictional chicken farm with a dark side. "Originally it was called Happy Land Farms, but we couldn't go there for legal reasons because so many food producers use 'happy' in their branding that it was just a minefield," director Sam Fell told /Film's Hannah Shaw-Williams in a new interview.
The farm where mama chicken Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) ends up is certainly not a happy one, as trailers for the film have already revealed that its owners have a plan to turn their resident fowl into chicken nuggets. There's brainwashing, fattening up,...
Happy Chicken Farms. Happy Egg Co. Organics Happy Family. Happy Farms. The Happy Chicken Project. In the worlds of farming and agriculture, "happy" is an extremely popular word -- so much so that the new movie "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget" avoided it entirely when naming their fictional chicken farm with a dark side. "Originally it was called Happy Land Farms, but we couldn't go there for legal reasons because so many food producers use 'happy' in their branding that it was just a minefield," director Sam Fell told /Film's Hannah Shaw-Williams in a new interview.
The farm where mama chicken Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) ends up is certainly not a happy one, as trailers for the film have already revealed that its owners have a plan to turn their resident fowl into chicken nuggets. There's brainwashing, fattening up,...
- 12/16/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
More than two decades ago, "Chicken Run" clucked its way onto the movie scene and became a runaway hit. The stop-motion animation movie was clever and strange, and unlike any of its contemporaries at the time (CGI-heavy flick "Dinosaur" and wacky Disney one-off "The Emperor's New Groove" bookended it at the year's box office). "Chicken Run" was also a surprisingly rich text, a movie that included plenty of moments of parody and humor meant to appeal to adults as well as kids.
The first movie functioned as a riff on "The Great Escape," the 1963 war film starring Steve McQueen, but the new sequel film, "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," chose a different parody path. In an interview with /Film, director Sam Fell confirmed that "Dawn of the Nugget" was influenced by heist films, so much so that it earned a pointed nickname during production. "We called it 'Chicken Impossible,...
The first movie functioned as a riff on "The Great Escape," the 1963 war film starring Steve McQueen, but the new sequel film, "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," chose a different parody path. In an interview with /Film, director Sam Fell confirmed that "Dawn of the Nugget" was influenced by heist films, so much so that it earned a pointed nickname during production. "We called it 'Chicken Impossible,...
- 12/16/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Screenshot: A24/YouTube, Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube, Photo: A24, Hector Vivas (Getty Images), Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix, Aardman / Netflix, Claire Folger/Orion Releasing, Laurie Sparham / MGM, A24, Graphic: The A.V. ClubWhat the heck is going on in Alex Garland’s Civil War trailer?Nick Offerman in Civil WarScreenshot: A...
- 12/16/2023
- avclub.com
It’s the apex of campaign season, which means prestige titles are hitting more digital platforms to boost their footprints as precursor nominations trickle in. Two summer releases have expanded to additional streaming services, and an A-list wild card still playing in some theaters is debuting on VOD.
The contender to watch this week: “Priscilla”
Cailee Spaeny picked up a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Sofia Coppola‘s even-handed biopic about Priscilla Presley‘s storied relationship with Elvis (Jacob Elordi), giving her a little extra juice in an extremely stacked Best Actress contest. Coppola’s movies haven’t received many awards since “Lost in Translation,” but this is her biggest box-office hit in years. Spaeny had to inhabit Presley from ages 14 to 28, and her efforts won her the best actress prize at the Venice Film Festival. A VOD release right in time for the holidays could be the boost “Priscilla” needs.
The contender to watch this week: “Priscilla”
Cailee Spaeny picked up a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Sofia Coppola‘s even-handed biopic about Priscilla Presley‘s storied relationship with Elvis (Jacob Elordi), giving her a little extra juice in an extremely stacked Best Actress contest. Coppola’s movies haven’t received many awards since “Lost in Translation,” but this is her biggest box-office hit in years. Spaeny had to inhabit Presley from ages 14 to 28, and her efforts won her the best actress prize at the Venice Film Festival. A VOD release right in time for the holidays could be the boost “Priscilla” needs.
- 12/16/2023
- by Matthew Jacobs
- Gold Derby
The revolting poultry of "Chicken Run" thought that their darkest days were behind them after escaping from Tweedy's Farm in Aardman Animation's daring stop-motion prison break, "Chicken Run." In the 2023 sequel, "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," even the fierce and fearless leader Ginger is willing to turn a blind eye to the suffering of chickens on other farms, for the sake of preserving an idyllic new existence in their island chicken sanctuary.
Between finding her dream home and becoming a mother, Ginger suddenly has a lot of reasons to be afraid. She and Rocky hatch an adorable chick, Molly, who inherits her parents' love of freedom and daredevil antics. But when Molly's free spirit leads her off the island and into the path of the villainous Mrs. Tweedy, who has concocted a sinister new business model for chicken farming, Ginger has to face her fears and break into Fun-Land...
Between finding her dream home and becoming a mother, Ginger suddenly has a lot of reasons to be afraid. She and Rocky hatch an adorable chick, Molly, who inherits her parents' love of freedom and daredevil antics. But when Molly's free spirit leads her off the island and into the path of the villainous Mrs. Tweedy, who has concocted a sinister new business model for chicken farming, Ginger has to face her fears and break into Fun-Land...
- 12/15/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey and Norbit actress Thandiwe Newton lead the voice cast of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
The highly-anticipated sequel to 2000's Chicken Run movie explores the arrival of a new villain named Dr. Fry who plans to turn all the world's chickens into nuggets, leading to a chicken uprising to save all of them.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget made its premiere on Netflix on December 15.
Read full article on The Direct.
The highly-anticipated sequel to 2000's Chicken Run movie explores the arrival of a new villain named Dr. Fry who plans to turn all the world's chickens into nuggets, leading to a chicken uprising to save all of them.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget made its premiere on Netflix on December 15.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 12/15/2023
- by Aeron Mer Eclarinal
- The Direct
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on Wbgr-fm on December 14th, 2023, reviewing “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” the animated sequel to 2000’s “Chicken Run.” Steaming on Netflix beginning December 15th, 2023.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
It’s the same gang from “Chicken Run,” this time residing in an island paradise after the events from that film. Ginger (voice of Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levy) welcome daughter Molly (Bella Ramsey), and the girl’s curiosity about her parent’s past leads to her to find a way out of chicken island. After hitching a ride on a transport truck, Molly lands in what seems like chicken paradise … all of the fowl running free and enjoying an amusement park. But it’s all part of a plan … a happy chicken is a tastier chicken, in an experiment run by old nemesis Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson). Can...
Rating: 3.5/5.0
It’s the same gang from “Chicken Run,” this time residing in an island paradise after the events from that film. Ginger (voice of Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levy) welcome daughter Molly (Bella Ramsey), and the girl’s curiosity about her parent’s past leads to her to find a way out of chicken island. After hitching a ride on a transport truck, Molly lands in what seems like chicken paradise … all of the fowl running free and enjoying an amusement park. But it’s all part of a plan … a happy chicken is a tastier chicken, in an experiment run by old nemesis Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson). Can...
- 12/15/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Zachari Levi, Thandiwe Newton, Bella Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, David Bradley, and Miranda Richardson
Director: Sam Fell
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Movie Review Out! (Picture Credit: IMDb)
What’s Good: Aardman Animations continues to push their stop-motion art to a new level, and it is quite impressive what they have achieved 23 years after the original.
What’s Bad: The new voice cast does a great job, but they lack the raw energy of the original cast.
Loo Break: You can take a break during some of the musical sequences, they look great, but they are not that vital to the plot.
Watch or Not?: It feels like the right thing to watch the film, even if it is just to support Aardman Animations and their soon-to-be lost craft.
Language: English
Available On: Netflix
Runtime: 97 Minutes.
Star Cast: Zachari Levi, Thandiwe Newton, Bella Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, David Bradley, and Miranda Richardson
Director: Sam Fell
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Movie Review Out! (Picture Credit: IMDb)
What’s Good: Aardman Animations continues to push their stop-motion art to a new level, and it is quite impressive what they have achieved 23 years after the original.
What’s Bad: The new voice cast does a great job, but they lack the raw energy of the original cast.
Loo Break: You can take a break during some of the musical sequences, they look great, but they are not that vital to the plot.
Watch or Not?: It feels like the right thing to watch the film, even if it is just to support Aardman Animations and their soon-to-be lost craft.
Language: English
Available On: Netflix
Runtime: 97 Minutes.
- 12/15/2023
- by Nelson Acosta
- KoiMoi
168 pages, nice paper, and a ton of British films: it’s the new issue of Film Stories magazine!
Introducing issue 47 of Film Stories, where once again we’ve clearly gone made and produced another 168 page bumper issue. And printed it on nice paper too!
We’re 100% independent, so this is an absolute labour of love for us.
We’re really proud of it. We hope you’re going to like it, and we hope you might consider supporting it. Sold primarily via mail order, and popping up in a few WHSmiths stores around the country too, here’s the cover of the new issue…
And inside:
The British movie preview 2024: British cinema is hugely important to us, and that’s why our annual preview feature is 100% about UK films.
Femme: We’ve followed this film from short to feature, and have been digging into its story, with the people behind it…...
Introducing issue 47 of Film Stories, where once again we’ve clearly gone made and produced another 168 page bumper issue. And printed it on nice paper too!
We’re 100% independent, so this is an absolute labour of love for us.
We’re really proud of it. We hope you’re going to like it, and we hope you might consider supporting it. Sold primarily via mail order, and popping up in a few WHSmiths stores around the country too, here’s the cover of the new issue…
And inside:
The British movie preview 2024: British cinema is hugely important to us, and that’s why our annual preview feature is 100% about UK films.
Femme: We’ve followed this film from short to feature, and have been digging into its story, with the people behind it…...
- 12/15/2023
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
No one really asked for a prequel to "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" that focused on the origin of a future psychotic child murderer -- especially if it meant losing a third Paul King "Paddington" movie. Even fewer people could have predicted that "Wonka" would end up being a pretty great film. As our own Ethan Anderton wrote in this review, the film has a "well-thought-out story that doesn't even lean heavily on nostalgia or cheeky references to the classic film adaptation."
Indeed, the film is a riot. Paul King delivers a whimsical, colorful holiday film for the whole family that features a fantastic ensemble that steals every scene they're in, and there's a sense of whimsy that is reminiscent of King's "Paddington" movies. Timothée Chalamet finds the right balance between homaging Gene Wilder and doing his own weird little chocolate-loving psycho. There are even hints of some of...
Indeed, the film is a riot. Paul King delivers a whimsical, colorful holiday film for the whole family that features a fantastic ensemble that steals every scene they're in, and there's a sense of whimsy that is reminiscent of King's "Paddington" movies. Timothée Chalamet finds the right balance between homaging Gene Wilder and doing his own weird little chocolate-loving psycho. There are even hints of some of...
- 12/14/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Two decades after a group of chickens escaped from a farm, they’re back for more. Netflix’s “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” is a sequel 23 years in the making, and it is much bigger in scope than its predecessor. After all, the film is about breaking back into a farm — one substantially bigger than in the first film. In order to handle the scale of the story and the production, which more than doubled the number of units and character models, Aardman Animations turned to digital tools and virtual production.
“We couldn’t achieve the scope and scale of this film 20 years ago because CG wasn’t a reliable source,” animation supervisor Ian Whitlock told IndieWire during a visit to the set of the film at Aardman’s studios in Bristol, U.K. “But even with CG, we are still very tight on the style of the animation.
“We couldn’t achieve the scope and scale of this film 20 years ago because CG wasn’t a reliable source,” animation supervisor Ian Whitlock told IndieWire during a visit to the set of the film at Aardman’s studios in Bristol, U.K. “But even with CG, we are still very tight on the style of the animation.
- 12/14/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Indiewire
Twenty-three years after Aardman Animations hatched its stop-motion send-up to The Great Escape, Chicken Run is back for a sequel worthy of the original’s legacy! During the incubation period before Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget debuts on Netflix, JoBlo’s resident animation enthusiast, Steve Seigh, caught up with the sequel’s director, Sam Fell, and Rocky voice actor Zachary Levi.
During the interview, Fell discusses whether technological advances in the animation industry have changed his directorial approach. He also touches on the significant scope of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and digs into the franchise’s dark themes. How do you balance themes of incarceration with a light-hearted reverse take on The Great Escape? Sam knows, and he’s ready to spill the beans. We also reveal the moment Fell knew Dawn of the Nugget was something special and something fans could get excited about.
Meanwhile, Zachary...
During the interview, Fell discusses whether technological advances in the animation industry have changed his directorial approach. He also touches on the significant scope of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and digs into the franchise’s dark themes. How do you balance themes of incarceration with a light-hearted reverse take on The Great Escape? Sam knows, and he’s ready to spill the beans. We also reveal the moment Fell knew Dawn of the Nugget was something special and something fans could get excited about.
Meanwhile, Zachary...
- 12/14/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
We’ve been closely tracking Tsz-wing Ho’s artistic journey on Vimeo and have been captivated by her vibrant and abstract animations, which truly stand out on the platform. We’re not alone in our admiration for her work either, as her short films have garnered attention and selection at festivals around the globe. Eager to delve into the unique aesthetic that defines her creations and to gain insights into her creative process, we are joined by this talented filmmaker from Hong Kong. In our conversation, she shares the influences shaping her work and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to carve out a career crafting surreal films.
We’ve been following your work for a while, ever since we witnessed the wonderful Catgot back in 2019, and your kaleidoscopic style really left a mark on us. Can you tell us a little about your filmmaking journey and when your love for animation first began?...
We’ve been following your work for a while, ever since we witnessed the wonderful Catgot back in 2019, and your kaleidoscopic style really left a mark on us. Can you tell us a little about your filmmaking journey and when your love for animation first began?...
- 12/14/2023
- by Rob Munday
- Directors Notes
After 23 long years, we finally get the sequel to “Chicken Run.” Called “Dawn of the Nugget,” Zachary Levi now voices Rocky (previously voiced by Mel Gibson) who is now married to Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and must take care of their daughter Molly (Bella Ramsey). But a new danger is in the horizon, the
The post “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” Interviews appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
The post “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” Interviews appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
- 12/14/2023
- by manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Somehow, it has been almost 25 years since Aardman Animations released its first full-length stop-motion animated film, "Chicken Run." The then-fledgling DreamWorks Skg released the film in the summer of 2000, before the studio's fortunes would shift with the "Shrek" franchise the following year. For Aardman, though they netted an A-List celebrity in the form of Mel Gibson, "Chicken Run" was both thrilling and also somewhat modest. Riffing on World War II-era entertainment, "Chicken Run" was an exciting adventure about a group of chickens who band together to escape their cruel owners and a fine example of how animation could do more than just what was being offered by Disney and Pixar. Now, decades later, Aardman isn't the only stop-motion animation house working today, and DreamWorks' biggest days appear to be behind them. So for a sequel, subtitled "Dawn of the Nugget," Aardman is now pairing with Netflix for another lighthearted, fast-paced...
- 12/13/2023
- by Josh Spiegel
- Slash Film
It would be understandable, as much as easy to forgive, were one to have allowed the existence of 2000’s “Chicken Run” to slip from that mental space reserved for cinema’s finest animated offerings; indeed, despite co-director Nick Park (having shared the credit with Peter Lord) helming franchise successes “Wallace & Gromit” and spinoff “Shaun the Sheep,” “Chicken Run” has, for the past 23 years, remained a somewhat unique, solitary hit in the world of stop-motion animation, still the highest-grossing stop-motion film and a critically acclaimed classic begging for a follow-up.
Continue reading ‘Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget’ Review: A Long Overdue Delight at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget’ Review: A Long Overdue Delight at The Playlist.
- 12/13/2023
- by Brian Farvour
- The Playlist
Netflix is not slowing down on its video game ambitions, leaning on some key intellectual property to help it grow the business.
The company on Wednesday published a post looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, and announcing a number of new titles coming to the platform.
Among the games in the works are a new Sonic the Hedgehog game, called Sonic Mania Plus, which will be exclusive to the platform. “You can relive the Sonic of the past with an exciting new twist on classic zones while fighting against new bosses and Dr. Eggman’s evil robot army,” the logline says.
And Netflix is developing a game based on its own Squid Game franchise, “in which you can compete with other players in games from the hit series.” Netflix also developing a Rebel Moon video game alongside Super Evil Megacorp.
Other games coming in 2024 include titles baed on Money Heist, Virgin River and Chicken Run,...
The company on Wednesday published a post looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, and announcing a number of new titles coming to the platform.
Among the games in the works are a new Sonic the Hedgehog game, called Sonic Mania Plus, which will be exclusive to the platform. “You can relive the Sonic of the past with an exciting new twist on classic zones while fighting against new bosses and Dr. Eggman’s evil robot army,” the logline says.
And Netflix is developing a game based on its own Squid Game franchise, “in which you can compete with other players in games from the hit series.” Netflix also developing a Rebel Moon video game alongside Super Evil Megacorp.
Other games coming in 2024 include titles baed on Money Heist, Virgin River and Chicken Run,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix, which started its push into video games a bit more than two years ago, will have 86 games available to all subscribers by the end of 2023 as well as another 90 titles on its development slate.
The company on Wednesday announced a batch of titles coming in 2024, including a sequel to its Cozy Grove “sim” game and an extension of Zack Snyder’s two-part space opera Rebel Moon. A 2018 Sonic the Hedgehog outing, Sonic Mania Plus, is also on next year’s docket as an exclusive to Netflix.
“While we’re still early in the journey, this last year we made foundational strides toward this goal” of being a destination for gamers, VP of Games Mike Verdu wrote in a blog post.
The Rebel Moon game, developed by Super Evil Megacorp, will take place following the events of Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire and Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver.
The company on Wednesday announced a batch of titles coming in 2024, including a sequel to its Cozy Grove “sim” game and an extension of Zack Snyder’s two-part space opera Rebel Moon. A 2018 Sonic the Hedgehog outing, Sonic Mania Plus, is also on next year’s docket as an exclusive to Netflix.
“While we’re still early in the journey, this last year we made foundational strides toward this goal” of being a destination for gamers, VP of Games Mike Verdu wrote in a blog post.
The Rebel Moon game, developed by Super Evil Megacorp, will take place following the events of Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire and Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver.
- 12/13/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicken Run: Dawn Of The NuggetPhoto: Aardman / Netflix
On paper, the original Chicken Run sounded more like the sort of film a character in a comedy movie might pitch: “It’s The Great Escape ... starring chickens!” For better or worse, Chicken Run committed to the bit, and as a result...
On paper, the original Chicken Run sounded more like the sort of film a character in a comedy movie might pitch: “It’s The Great Escape ... starring chickens!” For better or worse, Chicken Run committed to the bit, and as a result...
- 12/13/2023
- by Luke Y. Thompson
- avclub.com
When Chicken Run flew into cinemas, it didn’t just bring a flock of clay chickens to life; it left us with lines that still crack us up today. Let’s hatch into some of the most memorable quips that make us shout, ‘Cluck Yeah!’ Ginger’s Unyielding Spirit Ginger, the plucky hen with a plan, never let the coop fence in her dreams. You know what the problem is? The fences aren’t just ’round the farm, they’re up here- in your heads. There’s… a better place out there, somewhere beyond that hill and… well it has wide-open spaces and lots of trees...
- 12/13/2023
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Plot: Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream — a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk — this time, they’re breaking in!
Review: Aardman Animation has become synonymous with claymation productions. Since the 1970s, Aardman has pioneered stop-motion short films and is the creator of the beloved Wallace & Gromit characters. Despite years of acclaim, Aardman did not make the leap to feature films until 2000’s Chicken Run. Since then, they have released seven feature films, two computer-animated. Twenty-three years after their first movie, Aardman’s sequel...
Review: Aardman Animation has become synonymous with claymation productions. Since the 1970s, Aardman has pioneered stop-motion short films and is the creator of the beloved Wallace & Gromit characters. Despite years of acclaim, Aardman did not make the leap to feature films until 2000’s Chicken Run. Since then, they have released seven feature films, two computer-animated. Twenty-three years after their first movie, Aardman’s sequel...
- 12/12/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
We’re big fans of Aardman Animation here at Film Stories Towers. With the new Chicken Run sequel out soon, this week’s film quiz covers their cracking canon to date…
Why did the chicken cross the road? Well, since Netflix has cracked down on password-sharing, it’s might go and watch Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget at a mate’s house when the long-awaited sequel drops next week. It’s also in selected cinemas throughout the UK today, but whenever you’re watching it, we’ve got some Aardman-themed quiz questions to keep you going.
Once you’ve completed all three rounds, you’ll find a link to a separate post with the correct answers at the bottom of this post. As always, this is just for fun, but please let us know how you did in the comments (scores out of 30 this week!) and give us any other lovely feedback.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Well, since Netflix has cracked down on password-sharing, it’s might go and watch Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget at a mate’s house when the long-awaited sequel drops next week. It’s also in selected cinemas throughout the UK today, but whenever you’re watching it, we’ve got some Aardman-themed quiz questions to keep you going.
Once you’ve completed all three rounds, you’ll find a link to a separate post with the correct answers at the bottom of this post. As always, this is just for fun, but please let us know how you did in the comments (scores out of 30 this week!) and give us any other lovely feedback.
- 12/8/2023
- by Mark Harrison
- Film Stories
Every few years, the Academy tweaks the rules for its animated feature category, with the net result that the nominees tend to skew ever more mainstream. That makes it tough for most of this year’s hopefuls: A record-setting number of animated features submitted. Those who pick the noms are required to watch roughly a third before ranking their top five, which can include additional titles they might have seen on their own. Blockbusters naturally benefit, though “Flee” and “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” earned nominations in 2022 and 2023, respectively, suggesting that artful indies still stand a chance.
The Boy and the Heron
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Voices: Luca Padovan, Robert Pattinson
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Distributor: GKids
Rumors of Miyazaki’s retirement were greatly exaggerated, as the unstoppable creative force (who won an Oscar for “Spirited Away” in 2003) returns with a story inspired by his childhood memories during wartime. More fanciful than “The Wind Rises,...
The Boy and the Heron
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Voices: Luca Padovan, Robert Pattinson
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Distributor: GKids
Rumors of Miyazaki’s retirement were greatly exaggerated, as the unstoppable creative force (who won an Oscar for “Spirited Away” in 2003) returns with a story inspired by his childhood memories during wartime. More fanciful than “The Wind Rises,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Sam Fell’s Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget finds Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) settled down on a bucolic island sanctuary that’s entirely free of humans, their daring Great Escape-style breakout from Tweedy’s industrial farm now a distant memory. But while they and old friends like Babs (Jane Horrocks) and Fowler (David Bradley) appreciate their hard-won freedom, their young daughter, Molly (Bella Ramsey), is now at an age where this safe haven is beginning to feel like its own form of captivity.
Defying her parents’ wishes and heading out in search of adventure, Molly soon finds herself in trouble on the mainland that the older members of her flock once fought so heroically to leave. And it’s not long before their old foe, Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), re-emerges with a new diabolical scheme—one that allows the basic premise of Peter Lord and...
Defying her parents’ wishes and heading out in search of adventure, Molly soon finds herself in trouble on the mainland that the older members of her flock once fought so heroically to leave. And it’s not long before their old foe, Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), re-emerges with a new diabolical scheme—one that allows the basic premise of Peter Lord and...
- 12/4/2023
- by David Robb
- Slant Magazine
A broad range of titles, animation styles and plenty of music define this season’s animated feature race, with some expected contenders still to debut.
For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.
This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...
For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.
This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...
- 12/4/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s the final month of the year, which means much of our attention will be turned to sharing various best-of-2023 rundowns throughout December. The month also brings many of the year’s most noteworthy films, which we’ve rounded up before––some of which will be opening in a more limited capacity and expanding next month.
We should also note some top November picks like The Boy and the Heron and May December are finally getting in front of wider audiences, with the former getting a wide release on December 8 and the latter arriving on Netflix this Friday. For this round-up we’re also not including films getting limited one-week-only runs this month, such as Noora Niasari’s Shayda on December 1 and Ava DuVernay’s Origin and Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera on December 8.
14. Memory (Michel Franco; Dec. 22)
Every year there’s at least one film that premieres at...
We should also note some top November picks like The Boy and the Heron and May December are finally getting in front of wider audiences, with the former getting a wide release on December 8 and the latter arriving on Netflix this Friday. For this round-up we’re also not including films getting limited one-week-only runs this month, such as Noora Niasari’s Shayda on December 1 and Ava DuVernay’s Origin and Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera on December 8.
14. Memory (Michel Franco; Dec. 22)
Every year there’s at least one film that premieres at...
- 12/1/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Zack Snyder’s latest big-budget effects-driven feature, an awards contender from Todd Haynes, Bradley Cooper’s sensitive portrayal of an American icon, a beloved follow-up to an Aardman classic and the conclusion of The Crown are some of the highlights of a jam-packed December schedule on Netflix.
Haynes’ drama May December debuts on Netflix on Dec. 1. Loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, the film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year, is led by A-listers Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore and also stars Charles Melton, who was named best supporting actor by New York critics this week.
Sam Esmail’s feature Leave the World Behind is another heavyweight addition to Netflix in December. Starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke, the psychological thriller tells the story of survival in a world on the brink of collapse. Written, directed and produced by Esmail, the film...
Haynes’ drama May December debuts on Netflix on Dec. 1. Loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, the film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year, is led by A-listers Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore and also stars Charles Melton, who was named best supporting actor by New York critics this week.
Sam Esmail’s feature Leave the World Behind is another heavyweight addition to Netflix in December. Starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke, the psychological thriller tells the story of survival in a world on the brink of collapse. Written, directed and produced by Esmail, the film...
- 12/1/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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