Forget Paramount, Let's Talk About Spinal Tap
Right now feels like the perfect moment to remind America that while other genres crank their volume up to ten, comedy can go one louder.
Welcome to MovieNewsPro for Friday, July 25th, 2025. Here's what you need to know.
🎬 Today's Take
Everyone is talking about the Paramount/Skydance merger and how Donald Trump has handled the entire CBS/60 Minutes/Stephen Colbert fiasco. Frankly, it's exhausting—and depressing.
So instead of diving into the Paramount drama, let’s focus on something America needs more than ever right now: Spinal Tap. That’s right. Spinal Tap.
It goes without saying that the country is more divided than ever, and as we've noted before, comedies are in short supply these days. I’m a huge fan of dark, weird films (I even loved Beau Is Afraid), but every now and then, you just need a break. And now feels like exactly the right time.
That’s why I’m counting down the days—49, to be exact—until I can once again see England’s loudest band on the big screen.
For some reason, Hollywood seems to have forgotten how audiences will respond to a good, viral, word-of-mouth comedy. So here’s my hot take: Bleecker Street’s Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues is going to be a huge hit this summer, as will next week’s release of Naked Gun. Who knows, Disney's Freakier Friday might even do solid box office.
Right now feels like the perfect moment to remind America that while other genres can crank their volume up to ten, comedy can go one louder. This one goes to eleven.
📢 MovieNewsPro News
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🎥 Industry Intel
PWC reports that it may take until 2029 before the movie industry box office totals reach pre-Covid levels. (Hollywood Reporter)
Neon has hired David Laub as SVP Marketing and Publicity. Laub was the former head of Metrograph Pictures, and spent 8 years at A24. (Deadline)
While Superman has been flying high here in the states, there's concern that the Warner Bros. movie isn't performing very well internationally. (Hollywood Reporter)
🏆 Upcoming Film Festivals
New York Asian Film Festival, US - July 11-27
Fantasia International Film Festival, Canada - July 17-August 3
Comic-Con, US - July 24-27
Woods Hole Film Festival, US - July 26-August 2
BlackStar Film Festival, US - July 31-August 3
Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival, US - August 1-9
Membrana Film Festival, UK - August 3
Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland - August 6-16
37ºSouth Market, Australia – August 7-10
HollyShorts Film Festival, US - August 7-17
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia - August 7-24
Gramado Film Festival, Brazil - August 13-23
Edinburgh International Film Festival, UK - August 14-20
Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia & Herzegovina - August 15-22
Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund, Norway - August 16-22
Sidewalk Film Festival, US - August 18-24
New Nordic Films, Norway - August 19-22
FrightFest, UK - August 21-25
Venice International Film Festival, Italy - August 27-September 6
📺 Watch This Tonight
Rear Window (1954)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Grace Kelly's slow motion kiss hits like an atomic bomb.
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Disclaimer/Transparency
MovieNewsPro is a film industry news, trends and analysis monitoring service. All stories have been previously reported elsewhere and are not exclusive stories to MNP. All information is believed to be accurate at the time of reporting. MovieNewsPro uses a full array of technology to gather information, including machine learning, automation and artificial intelligence throughout its business monitoring, editing and reporting process.
