On this episode of Collider Movie Talk (July 25, 2025) Mark Ellis, Kristian Harloff, Dennis Tzeng and Ashley Mova discuss the following:
Paramount has releasedthe finalStar Trek Beyondtrailer online, showing us more of the story about the Enterprise into their five-year mission when a mysterious force attacks the crew forcing them to survive on an unknown planet; all set to the music ofRihanna’snew songSledgehammer. The film opens July 22nd and starsIdris Elba,Chris Pine,Simon Pegg,Zachary Quinto,Zoe Saldana,John Cho,Anton Yelchin, andKarl Urban.

It’s Monday which means it’s time for the weekend box office report brought to you by our friends at AMC theatres.Audiences continued to find Dory this weekendwith the sequel toFinding Nemoshowing plenty of box office staying power. Finding Doryeasily took the No. 1 spot with $73.2 million declining only 46% and generating the eighth-highest second weekend of all time. Dory is already the sixth-highest domestic grosser of 2016 after ten days with $285.6 million — less than $100 million short of the final total for the original. Taking the No. 2 spot wasIndependence Day: Resurgence, pulling in a disappointing $41.6 million. The movie finished about 20% below recent forecasts, which had the sequel matching the $50 million opening weekend from the 1996 original. In the No. 3 spot wasCentral Intelligence, pulling in $18.4 million for a domestic total of $69.3 million.Blake Lively’sshark taleThe Shallowstook the No. 4 spot, performing above forecasts with $16.7 million dollars. And at No. 5,Matthew McConaughey’shistorical dramaFree State of Jones, with $7.8 million dollars.
ThoughAnt-Manwent through a major upheaval before principle production began when original directorEdgar Wrightexited due to creative differences, the movie was shepherded to to the finish line byPeyton Reed, enjoying a positive response in the process, a successful box office and a recent Saturn Award for best comic adaptation. The second movie was given the green light with the same creative team back forAnt-Man and the Wasp, which is currently slated for a 2018 release date, followingAvengers: Infinity Wars – Part 1. Speaking with Modern Myth Media at the recent Saturn Award,Reed confirmed that the film will deal directly with the aftermathofCaptain America: Civil War. He also went on to talk about howEvangeline Lilly’sWasp will figure into the new narrative, saying it’s something he’s excited about. To show her fully formed in this movie is really exciting as she’s not a supporting character in this movie. It’s every bit as much her movie as it is Scott Lang’s.Ant-Man and the Waspis scheduled for release on August 04, 2025.

ThoughIndependence Day: Resurgenceunderperformed at the box office this weekend, directorRoland Emmerichisn’t slowing down. Thanks to a report from Entertainment Weekly,the director will next helmMoonfall,a film based on a spec script recently acquired by Universal Pictures. Written by Emmerich,Harold Kloser, andSpencer Cohen, the story is described as a collision between2012andClose Encounters of the Third Kindthat tells the story an unlikely band of misfits who must unite to save humanity when the moon falls out of orbit and comes crashing down on Earth. Emmerich and Kloser have worked together on several films before includingWhite House Down,The Day After Tomorrow, and10,000 B.C. A release date has yet to be set.
A report surfaced a year ago that Warner Bros. had commissioned a new script for a live-actionAkiraadaptation from the second season showrunner ofDaredevil,Marco J. Ramirez; with another rumor later sayingChristopher Nolanwas also involved in the project, helping plan it for a possible trilogy. From the latest episode of Meet the Movie Press, film reporter Jeff Sneider revealed Warner Bros. is now actively courtingJustin Linto sign on to directAkira.Akiratells the story of a metropolis built on the ashes of a Tokyo annihilated by an apocalyptic blast of unknown origin that triggered World War III. The lives of two streetwise teenage friends, Tetsuo and Kaneda, change forever when dormant paranormal abilities begin to waken in Tetsuo, who becomes a target for a shadowy government agency. The studio has yet to officially confirm Justin Lin’s involvement as this time.

BUY OR SELL
This weekend saw the release ofNicolas Winding Refn‘sThe Neon Demonin a limited capacity. Next up is a French mini-series about an elite police squad but beyond that, only rumors have pointed at what the Danish filmmaker’s next feature will be. However, just this week, he expressed interest in a bigger property that happens to be under the DC Comics banner. According to a report from Business Insider, Refn said he’d love to direct a big budget studio movieand is especially interested in the story of Barbara Gordon, known as Batgirl. He said he would love to make one, but just doesn’t know if it could happen because he loves his freedom creatively.

A new big screen version ofMasters of the Universehas been in the works for years with various writers penning new drafts, but no version has gotten anywhere near a greenlight in front of the camera. The latest attempt is over at Sony Pictures withCharlie’s AngelsdirectorMcGin talks to bring He-Man to the big screen and now it sounds like the filmmaker is meeting with potential stars for the movie.Kellan Lutz, who found fame with a supporting role inThe Twilight Sagaand following it up withThe Legend of Hercules, recently revealed that he met with McG specifically about theMasters of the Universemovie. Lutz posted to Twitter, telling Masters of the Universe fans that he had an amazing meeting with McG and his Wonderland production presidentMary Viola, and that the project is in good hands. No official word has been given on the casting so this could be a simple meeting to start.
20th Century Fox has released the first fullMorgantraileronline. The movie is the debut film fromLuke Scott, son ofRidley Scott, and starsKate Maraas a corporate troubleshooter sent to evaluate a terrifying incident at a remote, top-secret lab where she discovers scientists have created a new form of evil inhabiting a human form. Morgan is played byThe WitchstarAnya Taylor-JoyalongsideRose Leslie,Boyd Holbrook,Michelle Yeoh,Jennifer Jason Leigh, andPaul Giamatti. It opens in theatres on September 2nd.

Rashad Hardrick writes
Hey Collider Crew! My question refers to the divisive response ofBatman v Superman. Ever since the movie was released in March people have been discussing/debating the movie and the conversations are still going to this day. With the release of the R-rated Extended Blu-ray being released soon fans are talking aboutBvSeven more. The recentJustice Leagueset-visit news has gotten people very intrigued andBen Affleckhas even confirmed thatJustice Leaguewill have a major presence at Comic Con this year. I believe that because of the divisiveBvS, the release of the R-rated Extended Cut and theJustice Leaguenews fans are more curious/anxious about the DCU than ever, which is a great thing. What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the response toBvShas actually had an unusually positive effect?
Robert Johnson writes:
I went to seeCentral Intelligence(PG-13) and theSausage Partytrailer played. There were children in the audience that screamed in terror during the kitchen scene. Do you think there will be any parents who see the poster alone and take their kids to seeSausage Party? Could that be a problem?