Avengers: Doomsday – Marvel Studios’ next major Avengers film is emerging as the top pick among Hollywood insiders for the biggest global box office hit of 2026, according to a year end survey of more than 700 entertainment industry experts conducted by Bloomberg Screentime.
The poll asked industry professionals across distribution, production, exhibition, and film analysis to forecast which movie will earn the most at cinemas worldwide next year. Avengers: Doomsday was the most frequently selected title, suggesting strong early confidence in its commercial prospects.
Marvel’s Avengers franchise has a well-established track record of blockbuster success. Previous entries like Avengers: Endgame set historic box office records, making nearly $2.8 billion globally one of the highest total grosses of all time.
How Avengers: Doomsday Compares to Other 2026 Contenders
Although Avengers: Doomsday topped the expert poll, the 2026 film slate includes several other high-potential blockbusters that could break records:
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Toy Story 5
Betting-market odds and prediction platforms reflect this competitiveness: in some outlooks, Avengers: Doomsday trails titles like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in probability rankings for highest grossing film of 2026, even though it remains a strong prospect.
This highlights that while expert sentiment favors Doomsday, public and market expectations vary according to reports and the box office race could shift as awards season and audience data roll in.
Forecasts from industry analysts paint 2026 as a potentially record-setting year for theatrical revenue. Independent box office forecasting suggests global ticket sales could reach roughly $35 billion the highest total since before the pandemic.
If these predictions hold, Avengers: Doomsday could anchor a broader theatrical rebound driving attendance, strengthening franchise cinema, and affirming the continued value of big-screen releases fueled by the many speculations around the movie by the trailers recently released.
The entertainment world is thrown into mourning after the tragic death of Imani Dia Smith, a former Broadway child star best known for playing Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King. The 25-year-old actress was stabbed to death in her home on December 21, 2025, and her boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, has been arrested and charged in connection with her killing.
According to authorities, Edison police responded to a 911 call around 9:18 a.m. on December 21 reporting a stabbing at a residence in Edison, New Jersey. Officers found Imani Dia Smith with multiple stab wounds and rushed her to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the incident was not random Smith and the suspect knew each other prior to the attack.
Jackson-Small was arrested without incident and now faces a series of serious charges, including:
First-degree murder
Second-degree endangering the welfare of a child
Third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
Fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon
He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending further legal proceedings.
Prosecutors emphasized that this appears to be a known and personal incident, not a random act of violence.
Who Was Imani Dia Smith?
Imani Dia Smith first gained public attention as a child performer on Broadway, starring as Young Nala in the acclaimed stage production of Disney’s The Lion King from September 27, 2011, to September 23, 2012. The role portraying the childhood version of Nala introduced her talent to theatre audiences worldwide.
Beyond The Lion King, Smith pursued her artistic journey as a triple-threat performer; excelling in acting, singing, and dancing and was remembered by family and friends as vivacious, loving, and fiercely talented.
News of Smith’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief across social media and entertainment circles, especially given the timing during the holiday season.
The untimely death of Imani Dia Smith at just 25 is a devastating loss, both personally for her family and professionally for fans who remember her talent from Broadway’s The Lion King. With her boyfriend now facing multiple serious charges, the case continues to develop and is likely to draw further legal scrutiny in the coming weeks. A grieving family and community are left to honour her memory and rally around her young son.
Netflix has officially released the first trailer for the highly anticipated Peaky Blinders movie, confirming that Thomas Shelby is returning to the screen. Mark your calendars: the movie will premiere on Netflix worldwide on March 20, 2026.
Titled Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the film continues the saga of the Shelby family after the events of the critically acclaimed TV series. Cillian Murphy continues his iconic role as Tommy Shelby, bringing back the same cold, calculated, and charming gangster fans have loved since 2013.
The movie also sees the return of familiar faces like Sophie Rundle (Ada Shelby), Stephen Graham (Arthur Shelby), Tim Roth, Rebecca Ferguson, and introduces new characters played by Barry Keoghan, adding fresh energy and tension to the story.
The Trailer Teases What’s Coming
The first trailer offers a glimpse into Tommy’s world post-TV series. While Netflix has kept major plot points under wraps, we can expect:
High-stakes drama: Tommy is navigating a world filled with new enemies and old rivalries.
Dark and stylish cinematography: The movie keeps the series’ signature moody tone, with sharp suits, smoky streets, and tense confrontations.
Action-packed sequences: Explosions, gunfights, and fast-moving chases hint that the film will be bigger and more cinematic than the TV series.
The trailer ends on a chilling note, promising that the power struggles, betrayals, and Shelby-style cunning will be back in full force.
Release Dates
Limited Theatrical Release: March 6, 2026
Netflix Global Streaming: March 20, 2026
Whatever happened to Tommy Shelby?
Cillian Murphy stars in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. In select theaters March 6. On Netflix March 20. pic.twitter.com/DWZiZ7Ssck
Prime Video is expanding the Fallout franchise again and this time it’s not another TV drama. The streamer is developing a reality competition series inspired by the cult-favorite Fallout Shelter game, aiming to bring the strategic survival gameplay of Fallout into real-world competition.
Here’s the full breakdown of what’s known so far, the context behind it, and why this could become one of the most talked-about unscripted shows of the next year.
What Is Fallout Shelter and Why It’s a Big Deal
Before we talk about the show, it helps to understand the game it is based on.
Fallout Shelter is a famed mobile and console game in the Fallout universe in which players act as the Overseer of a Vault, an underground shelter built to protect humanity after a nuclear apocalypse.
In the game you must:
Build and expand your Vault
Manage essential resources like food, water, and power
Assign dwellers to roles based on their skills
Defend against threats from the Wasteland
Balance risk, growth, and survival
This blend of strategy, resource management and human storytelling gives Fallout Shelter its unique appeal and it’s the foundation Prime Video will use for its competition format.
What the Fallout Shelter Gameshow Is About
According to recent reports, Prime Video is creating a reality competition series titled Fallout Shelter.
Here’s what we know:
The show will take contestants (real people) and put them in scenarios similar to Fallout Shelter. Instead of battling mutants and raiders, competitors will manage their own Vault-style environments, balancing resources, growth and survival goals.
This mirrors the core gameplay loop of the original game: strategic thinking under pressure.
According to reports, Prime Video explicitly wants the show to resemble other popular competition formats like Squid Game: The Challenge — where contestants face tactical, high-stakes challenges over weeks of episodic competition.
That means multiple contestants will likely compete over rounds, with eliminations, twists, and collaborative challenges that test how well they can manage people and resources in an environment under stress.
Production Creative Team
While full details haven’t been revealed yet, early reporting suggests Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy executive producers of the Fallout TV series are involved with the gameshow project alongside Bethesda, the game’s original developer.
This alignment with the main Fallout narrative universe gives the show credibility and continuity within the broader franchise.
Timing and Status
Prime Video has confirmed the project is in development, and filming is expected to begin in 2026.
The Fallout franchise is enjoying a massive increase in mainstream interest thanks to its live-action TV adaptation on Prime Video which has already been renewed for Season 3 amid strong audience demand.
Shows like Squid Game: The Challenge and Beast Games resonate because they combine tactics, human drama, teamwork and competition elements Fallout Shelter was built around.
As more details surface including casting, premiere date, and format specifics, this article will be updated to keep you fully informed.
Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender will no longer be seeing Aang return to the big screen at least not in cinemas. Paramount has officially changed plans for The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, confirming that the animated movie will no longer receive a theatrical release. Instead, the film will now premiere exclusively on Paramount+ on October 9, 2026.
The decision marks a significant shift for one of the most beloved animated franchises of the 21st century and raises questions about the future of major animated releases in an era increasingly dominated by streaming platforms.
Originally announced as a wide theatrical release, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender was positioned as a major cinematic return to the Avatar universe. The film is being produced by Avatar Studios, the in-house studio formed by franchise creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, in partnership with Paramount.
However, new reports confirm that Paramount has scrapped its theatrical plans entirely, opting instead for a streaming-only debut on Paramount+. The October 9, 2026 date remains unchanged, but the distribution strategy has shifted.
Paramount has not publicly detailed the specific reasons for the move, but industry observers point to changing box office realities, rising production and marketing costs, and Paramount+’s need for exclusive franchise content as likely factors.
About The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender
The upcoming film is an animated continuation of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series, focusing on Aang in his later years, well after the events of the Nickelodeon classic that aired from 2005 to 2008.
While full plot details are still under wraps, the movie is expected to:
Explore Aang’s responsibilities as the Avatar in a more mature phase of his life
Expand the Avatar universe beyond the original TV series
Serve as a bridge between Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra
The project is part of a larger Avatar Studios roadmap, which includes multiple animated films and series set across different eras of the Avatar timeline.
Fan Reactions: Mixed Feelings
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions among fans.
On one hand:
Some viewers welcome the convenience of a home release
Streaming ensures global accessibility on day one
The film may reach younger audiences more easily
On the other hand:
Many fans feel the Avatar universe deserves the cinematic experience
The move has been described by some as a “downgrade,” even if the production quality remains high
Concerns linger about whether streaming-first releases receive the same long-term cultural impact as theatrical films
Still, Paramount insists the decision does not reflect a lack of confidence in the project.
The decision to move The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender exclusively to Paramount+ reflects the realities of modern entertainment, where streaming platforms increasingly shape how stories are told and consumed.
While fans may miss the theatrical experience, the film’s arrival in 2026 still represents a major moment for the Avatar universe one that will bring Aang back into focus for a new generation, even if it happens from the comfort of home.
Hollywood actor and filmmaker Kevin Costner has been hit with a lawsuit over alleged unpaid costume rental fees connected to his upcoming Western film, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2.
According to court filings, a long established costume supplier has accused Costner and the production companies behind the film of failing to settle outstanding payments for costumes used during filming.
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court by Western Costume Leasing Company, a well known Hollywood costume house. The company claims it supplied costumes for Horizon: Chapter 2 under a rental agreement but was never fully paid.
Court documents state that the production allegedly owes over $134,000 in unpaid costume rental fees. However, the total amount being sought in the lawsuit exceeds $400,000, factoring in damages, legal fees, interest, and other related costs via People
The costume company reportedly maintains that the costumes were delivered, used on set, and accepted without dispute.
📸 Richard Foreman/ Warner Bros / People
Another Setback for the Horizon Franchise
The legal action adds to the growing challenges surrounding Costner’s ambitious Horizon film series. The project, planned as a multi-part Western saga, has faced financial pressure and scheduling delays, especially after Chapter 1 struggled at the box office.
As a result, the theatrical release of Horizon: Chapter 2 was postponed, raising concerns about the future rollout of the remaining installments.
Costner has previously revealed that he invested millions of dollars of his own money into the project, making the film deeply personal as well as financially risky.
As of the time of this report, Kevin Costner and his representatives have not issued an official statement regarding the lawsuit. It is also unclear whether the dispute will be settled out of court or proceed to trial.
Despite the legal setback, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 has already been screened at select film festivals and is still expected to reach audiences once distribution plans are finalized.
James Cameron’s Avatar franchise has once again proven its box office power.
The third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has debuted with a massive $345 million global opening weekend, officially becoming the second-biggest opening of 2025 so far.
A Strong Global Start
According to early box office reports, Avatar: Fire and Ash earned approximately $88 million from North America, while international markets contributed about $257 million, highlighting the franchise’s continued global appeal .
International territories once again played a major role in driving the film’s opening numbers, especially in key markets where the Avatar brand has historically performed well.
Second Biggest Opening of 2025
With its $345 million debut, Fire and Ash now ranks as the second-largest global opening of 2025, trailing only Zootopia 2, which currently holds the top spot for the year .
The achievement places Avatar: Fire and Ash ahead of several high-profile releases this year, confirming audience anticipation for the next chapter in Cameron’s sci-fi saga.
How It Compares to Previous Avatar Films
While the opening weekend is slightly below Avatar: The Way of Water, which launched with over $441 million globally in 2022, industry analysts note that the current performance still represents a very strong start, particularly given changing cinema attendance trends worldwide .
Box office observers expect the film to show strong legs in the coming weeks, especially in international markets where Avatar films traditionally enjoy extended theatrical runs.
The impressive debut of Avatar: Fire and Ash strengthens confidence in the future of the franchise, with additional sequels already planned.
Popular Nigerian filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has officially announced the return of her hit YouTube series, Aiyetoro Town, with Season 2 set to premiere soon.
The confirmation came via a post shared on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, where she revealed that the series will be returning “back and better” on the FAANtv YouTube channel.
Funke Akindele Announces the Return ofAiyetoro Town
In her post, Funke Akindele wrote:
“Coming soon, back and better! Aiyetoro Town (The Series) will be back shortly on the FAANtv YouTube channel and yes, we’re coming back bigger, better, and full of premium drama.”
The announcement was accompanied by an official poster boldly stating “Aiyetoro Town 2: The Series – Will Be Back!”, confirming that the new season is already in motion.
Where to Watch Aiyetoro Town
According to the announcement, Aiyetoro Town Season 2 will stream exclusively on FAANtv’s YouTube channel. Fans who may have missed earlier episodes can also catch up on previous episodes available on the channel.
The return of Aiyetoro Town adds to Funke Akindele’s growing list of successful projects across film, television, and digital platforms. In recent years, she has consistently delivered record-breaking cinema releases and highly streamed series, further cementing her status as one of Nollywood’s most influential creatives.
Every year, hundreds of films are released across cinemas and streaming platforms. Some become cultural moments. Others quietly disappear. And then there are the few that attract overwhelming criticism from professional reviewers.
In 2025, Metacritic, one of the most respected review aggregation platforms in the entertainment industry published its list of the worst-reviewed movies of the year, based purely on critics’ scores. The result was a diverse but deeply underwhelming collection of films that failed to impress across genres, budgets, and expectations.
This article breaks down the 13 worst movies of 2025, explains why they landed at the bottom, and explores the common mistakes that defined many of these releases.
What Is Metacritic and How Does the Metascore Work?
Before diving into the list, it’s important to understand how Metacritic evaluates films.
Metacritic is a review aggregation website that collects professional critic reviews from trusted publications and outlets around the world. Instead of showing only star ratings or opinions, Metacritic converts each review into a numeric score between 0 and 100.
These scores are then weighted based on the credibility and influence of the publication, producing a final average known as the Metascore.
How Metascore Ratings Are Interpreted:
81–100: Universal acclaim
61–80: Generally favorable reviews
40–60: Mixed or average reviews
20–39: Generally unfavorable reviews
0–19: Overwhelming dislike
The films on this list fall almost entirely in the bottom two categories, meaning critics largely agreed that these movies failed in storytelling, execution, or creative vision.
The 13 Worst Movies of 2025 (By Metascore)
War of the Worlds
This sci-fi adaptation finished 2025 as the lowest-rated movie of the year on Metacritic. Critics widely criticized its poor visual effects, lack of emotional weight, and unimaginative approach to a well-known story. Despite its ambitious premise, the film struggled to justify its existence.
Playdate
What was marketed as a lighthearted action-comedy ended up being one of the year’s biggest critical disappointments. Reviewers pointed to weak jokes, uneven pacing, and a storyline that never fully came together.
Gunslingers
This Western drama was expected to bring grit and style but instead delivered flat dialogue and an overly familiar plot. Critics felt the film relied too heavily on genre clichés without adding anything fresh or memorable.
Alarum
Despite its action-heavy trailer and strong cast, Alarum failed to impress critics. Reviews described it as noisy but empty, with confusing storytelling and little emotional payoff.
Bride Hard
A comedy that aimed to mix wedding chaos with action tropes, Bride Hard was widely criticized for being unfunny and predictable. Many reviewers noted that the film struggled to balance its tone, resulting in awkward humor and weak character development.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Following the commercial success of the first film, this sequel received harsher critical treatment. While fans of the franchise found moments to enjoy, critics pointed out repetitive scares, thin plotting, and a lack of originality.
Shadow Force
This action thriller failed to leave a lasting impression. Critics cited bland performances, predictable action sequences, and a script that felt unfinished.
The Strangers: Chapter 2
Horror sequels are notoriously difficult to get right, and this one struggled to justify its continuation. Reviews described the film as repetitive, lacking tension, and overly dependent on familiar scare tactics.
Hurry Up Tomorrow
One of the more divisive films on the list, Hurry Up Tomorrow was criticized for being unfocused and self-indulgent. While it attempted to explore deeper themes, critics felt the execution was confusing rather than thoughtful.
The Electric State
One of the most surprising entries on the list, The Electric State arrived with a massive budget and major star power. Critics, however, were unimpressed, describing the film as visually ambitious but emotionally hollow, with a story that never fully connected.
Juliet & Romeo
This modern musical reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s classic love story struggled to find its audience. Critics felt the film lacked emotional depth and failed to make its creative risks worthwhile.
Smurfs
Intended as a family-friendly reboot, Smurfs failed to charm critics. Reviews highlighted predictable jokes, thin storytelling, and a lack of the warmth that once made the franchise appealing.
Regretting You
Adapted from a popular novel, this emotional drama was criticized for shallow character work and an overly melodramatic approach that failed to translate well to the screen.
Some of these titles may still find cult followings, strong streaming numbers, or fan appreciation despite critical backlash.However, the list serves as a reminder that strong ideas still need careful execution, and big budgets or famous names cannot replace compelling storytelling.
Nollywood actress and producer Ini Edo recently released a new movie titled A Very Dirty Christmas. The film, which premiered in cinemas nationwide on December 16, 2025, immediately attracted widespread attention; not only for its story but for its provocative title.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemned the title, describing it as offensive and disrespectful to the Christian faith. CAN argued that linking the sacred celebration of Christmas with the word “dirty” diminishes its spiritual significance and could mislead or offend viewers.
CAN’s Strong Criticism
In an official statement, CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh said:
“The Christian Association of Nigeria is deeply troubled by the title of the movie: ‘A Very Dirty Christmas’, which it considers offensive and disrespectful to the Christian faith. Christmas is a sacred season that marks the birth of Jesus Christ and represents purity, peace, love and redemption. Linking such a holy celebration with the word ‘dirty’ diminishes its spiritual meaning and reduces a solemn religious observance to something crude and sensational.”
CAN also called for a public apology from the film’s producers and urged the Nigerian film industry to handle religious themes with sensitivity. The body emphasized that creative freedom must be exercised responsibly in Nigeria’s multi-religious society.
Federal Government / NFVCB Response
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the government agency responsible for approving and classifying movies has clarified its position.
Director-General Dr. Shaibu Husseini stated:
“The film was approved and classified after undergoing the established censorship and classification process, during which the Film Censorship Committee examined the work within its narrative and thematic context. The approval of the title was not intended to disparage or trivialise the Christian faith or the significance of Christmas. The title was considered part of fictional and creative expression.”
Dr. Husseini also addressed public concerns:
“We have heard the concerns raised by CAN, and in light of this, NFVCB has formally engaged the producers of the film and requested a modification of the title. Our aim is to respect religious sensitivities while supporting creative expression.”
Ini Edo Defends her Film
Speaking publicly, Ini Edo defended the film and its title, explaining that it is metaphorical and meant to reflect human struggles beneath festive appearances.
She stated:
“Art, at its highest form, is meant to provoke thought, spark conversation, and reflect the complexities of human experience. It is in this spirit that A Very Dirty Christmas was created.”
She added:
“At no time was there any intention to demean, ridicule, or dishonour Christianity, the Christmas season, or the values held dear by millions of Nigerians. All legal and regulatory requirements governing motion pictures in Nigeria were fully complied with, including securing the appropriate approval from the NFVCB.”
The controversy has sparked heated discussions on social media. Supporters defend the film as a work of art and metaphorical storytelling, while critics maintain that the title is offensive to Christians.
Industry watchers note that this is not the first time Nollywood films have faced religious criticism, and the ongoing debate highlights the need for balance between creative freedom and cultural/religious sensitivity.
While A Very Dirty Christmas continues to play in cinemas, the controversy remains unresolved. The NFVCB has not banned the film but has requested the producers consider a title modification to reduce potential offense. Ini Edo maintains that the film reflects artistic expression and human realities, not an attack on Christianity.
