Box Office: ‘Scream 7’ Becomes Franchise’s Highest-Grossing Release With $176 Million, ‘Hamnet’ Surpasses $100 Million Milestone Chloe Zhao’s Shakespearean drama “Hamnet” has crossed the $100 million mark globally, achieving a milestone on Oscar weekend. The film, which is nominated for eight Academy Awards, has earned $100.6 million worldwide, including $75.2 million internationally and $24.1 million in North America. Released by Focus Features in the U.S. and Universal abroad starting in December, the film stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal as Agnes and William Shakespeare, portraying their struggle with the loss of their son. Focus distribution executives Niels Swinkels and Lisa Bunnell praised the film’s global resonance, noting its 17-week rollout since its initial launch. Universal’s romantic drama “Reminders of Him,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, opened with $10 million from 56 international markets and $18.2 million domestically, totaling $28.2 million globally. The film, which cost $25 million to produce, marks Hoover’s third novel to be adapted for the big screen. Her previous adaptations, “It Ends With Us” ($350 million) and “Regretting You” ($90 million), were commercial successes targeting female audiences. Hoover’s next project, “Verity,” starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway, is set for release in October. Disney and Pixar’s animated film “Hoppers” remained No. 1 at the international box office, earning $31 million from 45 territories in its second weekend. The film has generated $77.9 million overseas and $164 million globally, against a $150 million budget. “Hoppers” is poised to be Pixar’s first original hit since 2017’s “Coco,” despite challenges in launching new ideas like 2025’s “Elio.#jessie_buckley #paul_mescal #chloe_zhao #focus_features #universal
Oscars 2026: 'One Battle After Another' Wins Best Picture at 98th Academy Awards The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien in Los Angeles, concluded with "One Battle After Another" claiming the best picture award. The film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, also secured the best director honor for Anderson and best actress for Jessie Buckley in her role as the protagonist of "Hamnet." Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman to win the best cinematography award, while Michael B. Jordan took home best actor for his performance in "Sinners." The ceremony saw a historic tie for best live action short film, with "The Singers" and "Two People Exchanging Saliva" sharing the accolade—a rare occurrence in the event's nearly century-long history. Cassandra Kulukundis became the first recipient of the best casting award, recognizing her work on "One Battle After Another," while "Avatar: Fire and Ash" earned the best visual effects prize. On the red carpet, best actress nominee Rose Byrne opted for a custom Chanel ensemble, while KPop group Demon Hunters made a fashion statement with their appearance. The ceremony also highlighted the global impact of documentary filmmaking, as Pavel Talankin’s "Mr Nobody Against Putin" won the documentary feature award. Talankin, a Russian teacher who fled his homeland in 2024 after resisting President Vladimir Putin’s war machine, documented his experiences under the regime’s propaganda pressures. His film reveals how he became a whistleblower, risking his life to expose the system. The Academy’s voting process, which determines Oscar winners, is governed by its 19 branches representing film crafts. Membership is typically sponsored, though winning an Oscar automatically qualifies candidates for membership.#conan_o_brien #jessie_buckley #oscars_2026 #paul_thomas_anderson #autumn_durald_arkapaw
Jessie Buckley Oscars 2026: A Kerry Girl Taking Hollywood By The Heart Tonight in Los Angeles, as Conan O’Brien announces the winner of Best Actress at the 2026 Academy Awards, the Irish will hold their breath in anticipation. From Dingle to Dublin, the nation’s hopes are pinned on one name: Jessie Buckley. With prediction markets giving her odds at 97.8%, the moment feels less like a competition and more like a historic coronation. For those who identify as Irish, it carries a deeply personal significance. Buckley, the eldest of five in a family often compared to an Irish Von Trapp, was raised in a home without television. Her father, Tim, writes poetry, while her mother, Marina Cassidy, is a trained classical harpist and soprano whose performances draw crowds in her hometown. Creativity was not nurtured in this family—it was simply part of their existence. Buckley’s great-grandmother, Madge Clifford, a prominent Irish republican, adds another layer to her heritage, linking her to a lineage of women who refused to be forgotten. In Killarney, Buckley’s image is everywhere. Street posts, shop windows, and local landmarks proudly display her likeness. To the Irish, she is not a woman who left Ireland behind but one who carries its spirit with her. Her connection to her roots is evident in her work and personal life. She often returns to Co. Kerry to climb mountains near her childhood home, finding solace and inspiration in the natural world. Buckley’s breakthrough role in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet as Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, has captivated critics and audiences alike. Her portrayal of a woman deeply tied to her body, nature, and emotional truth has elevated the film into a universal story of grief and acceptance.#conan_o_brien #jessie_buckley #chloe_zhao #kerry #padraig_osullivan
Jessie Buckley’s home town abuzz before Oscars Excitement in Killarney is reaching a fever pitch as the actor prepares to face the world’s most prestigious stage. If Buckley wins the Oscar for best actress on Sunday night, County Kerry will have no need for further proof of a long-held belief: being born in this part of Ireland is the greatest gift one could ever receive. The award would recognize her performance in Hamnet, but for Killarney, her hometown in the county known as the Kingdom, the credit will stretch back to her childhood, when she first acted in local plays. “Hollywood here we come!” declared Kerry’s Eye, a local newspaper, capturing the sense that Buckley’s journey to the 98th Academy Awards has been a collective effort fueled by her talent, determination, and deep roots. The writer John B. Keane once humorously described Kerry heritage as a divine gift with “awesome responsibility”—a sentiment that could be validated if Buckley becomes the first Irish woman to win the award. Sinead Van Bladel, a supermarket worker who crafted Buckley masks for her colleagues, said, “Everyone will tune in—she’s one of our own.” Bookmakers have positioned Buckley as the overwhelming favorite, ahead of Rose Byrne, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, and Renate Reinsve, for her portrayal of William Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes Hathaway, in the film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel. Only two Irish women have previously won acting Oscars: Brenda Fricker in 1990 for My Left Foot and Maureen O’Hara, who received an honorary Oscar in 2014. For Buckley’s family and friends, the anticipation is tinged with an unspoken question: what if she doesn’t win? “Oh God, the disappointment. We’d of course still be proud, but can you imagine the anticlimax?” said one, who declined to be named. “I don’t want to be blamed for putting a hex on it.#academy_awards #jessie_buckley #killarney #kerry #michel_martin
Jessie Buckley: Why the Bride star is the Oscars’ Best Actress front-runner The Bride! is a film that defies easy categorization, blending genres and styles in a way that feels both ambitious and chaotic. Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, the movie attempts to merge a love story, a reimagining of Frankenstein, an action film, a murder mystery, and a crime comedy—all while evoking the aesthetics of Prohibition-era Chicago, Manhattan, and Weimar Berlin. Its narrative is built on a framework of overt homage to other films, leading to stylistic shifts that feel less like storytelling and more like a series of stylistic experiments. One scene, set in a dance hall, leans into the absurdity of its influences, with the on-screen band playing “Puttin’ on the Ritz” moments after the narrator compares it to a scene from Young Frankenstein. Despite its tonal whiplash, the film also aims to be a serious exploration of love, female complexity, and societal constraints on women’s lives. It straddles the line between camp and feminist critique, much like Joan Crawford’s momentary pause in Johnny Guitar to deliver America Ferrera’s speech from Barbie. At the center of this patchwork is Jessie Buckley, whose performance as the titular Bride(!) is both wildly unconventional and deeply compelling. Buckley plays multiple roles—sometimes simultaneously—each with distinct emotional and physical demands. She begins as the ghost of Mary Shelley, delivering a meta-commentary on the film’s premise, then transitions to Ida, a young call girl for the Chicago mob. Her character is later possessed by Shelley, leading to a dramatic shift from a carefree entertainer to a vengeful figure spouting Shakespearean rhetoric.#jessie_buckley #the_bride #maggie_gyllenhaal #marlene_dietrich #johnny_guitar
The Bride! Flops at Box Office Despite High Budget and Prominent Cast The punk rock, feminist reimagining of The Bride of Frankenstein titled The Bride! failed to attract audiences, grossing just $7.3 million domestically and $13.6 million globally in its opening weekend. This underperformance contrasts sharply with Warner Bros.’ $90 million production budget and an additional $65 million in marketing costs, leaving the studio with a significant financial loss. The film’s poor reception marks the end of a streak of successful releases for Warner Bros., including hits like A Minecraft Movie and Wuthering Heights. Set in the 1930s, The Bride! follows a lonely Frankenstein’s monster (Christian Bale) and his undead love interest (Jessie Buckley) as they evade capture. Despite its ambitious premise, the film struggled with middling reviews, low audience scores, and a poorly timed release. Studio projections had expected $16 million domestically and $40 million globally, but the film fell far short, landing in last place among its competitors. The release date proved to be a critical misstep. Originally scheduled for October 2025—close to Halloween, a traditional time for horror films—the movie was moved to early March. While Warner Bros. cited favorable timing for recent successes like The Batman and Dune: Part Two, the shift likely alienated fans of the genre. Critics and audiences alike noted the lack of seasonal relevance, which could have hurt its appeal. The film’s release also clashed with Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August 2025 and later debuted on Netflix. Though the two films differ in tone and approach, their similar Gothic themes and release windows created confusion for viewers. Warner Bros.#guillermo_del_toro #jessie_buckley #the_bride #warner_bros #christian_bale
FINAL 2026 Oscar Predictions: BEST ACTRESS The 2026 Oscar race for Best Actress has been marked by a mix of strong performances and fierce competition, but one name has consistently stood out: Jessie Buckley. The Irish actress, known for her role in Hamnet, has dominated the awards season with a string of wins, including BAFTA and SAG accolades, and is poised to make history by becoming the first Irish woman to win an Oscar in this category. Her performance in Hamnet, a film that won the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award, has earned her nearly 40 critics’ prizes, the most for any individual this season. Despite the presence of formidable contenders, Buckley’s dominance has remained unchallenged. Renate Reinsve, who starred in Sentimental Value, a Cannes Grand Prize winner, has garnered attention with her European Film Award and critical acclaim. However, her efforts have not been enough to disrupt Buckley’s momentum. Rose Byrne, whose film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You earned a Golden Globe for musical or comedy, also faces an uphill battle, as her work has not translated into the same level of recognition as Buckley’s. The field includes other notable names, such as Emma Stone for Bugonia and Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue. Both have received critical praise and multiple award nominations, but they trail behind Buckley in terms of industry support and critical consensus. The 98th Academy Awards, set to take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, will determine the final outcome of this tightly contested category. The predictions for Best Actress reflect the consensus among industry insiders and critics, with Buckley’s victory seen as inevitable given her overwhelming performance and the lack of a clear rival.#hamnet #jessie_buckley #toronto_international_film_festival #dolby_theater #oscar_awards
Irish Oscar Winners - The Full Roll Call With the 2026 Academy Awards approaching, Irish eyes are once again fixed on the Dolby Theatre, where Jessie Buckley could make history by becoming the first Irish woman to win Best Actress for her role in Hamnet. This year’s nominations include several Irish talents, such as Richard Baneham for visual effects in Avatar: Fire and Ash and producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Bugonia. Maggie O’Farrell is also nominated for Adapted Screenplay, while Irish animation is represented by John Kelly’s Retirement Plan in the Animated Short Film category. The list of Irish Oscar winners spans decades, highlighting the nation’s significant contributions to Hollywood. Cedric Gibbons, an Irish-American art director, holds the record for the most Academy Awards, with 11 wins in the Art Direction category. His work at MGM helped define the visual style of classic films, and he was nominated 39 times, reflecting the studio’s dominance in the craft categories during the golden age of cinema. George Bernard Shaw, the Dublin-born playwright, won an Oscar for Pygmalion in 1939, adding to his already impressive legacy that includes a Nobel Prize in Literature. He remains one of only two individuals to have won both an Oscar and a Nobel Prize, alongside Bob Dylan. Barry Fitzgerald, an Irish actor, made Oscars history in 1945 by winning Best Supporting Actor for Going My Way. He was also nominated for Best Actor in the same ceremony for his role, a rare double nomination that the Academy later discontinued. The film itself was a major Oscar success, winning Best Picture and Best Actor for Bing Crosby. Michèle Burke, from Kildare, became the first woman to win the Academy Award for Make-up in 1983 for Quest for Fire, sharing the honor with Sarah Monzani.#jessie_buckley #cedric_gibbons #george_bernard_shaw #barry_fitzgerald #michele_burke
Oscar Volley: Is "Best Actress" Tied Up with a Bow for Jessie Buckley? The Oscar Volleys continue, with Lynn Lee and Nick Taylor analyzing the surprisingly stable race for Best Actress. Buckley’s performance in Hamnet has positioned her as the frontrunner, but the discussion explores whether her win is inevitable. LYNN: At the risk of stating the obvious, Nick, Best Actress has been the most predictable category of the four acting races by far. Is there a world in which Jessie Buckley doesn’t take this? And are we basically fine with that? NICK: I mean, where else is there to start? Buckley is the surest winner of the acting categories, and among a handful of artists—like PTA and Ludwig Göransson—who know they’re winning the Oscar. Buckley has delivered ambitious, awards-worthy turns since her debut in Beast in 2017. Her role as Agnes in Hamnet is an ideal use of her screen persona, blending practical intelligence with precise-yet-walloping emotions. Her characters are irreducibly themselves, their odd edges and peculiar beliefs condemning them to black sheep status even when things are looking their way. She’s incredible, and while the grieving mother is an easy type for awards groups to notice, it shouldn’t diminish the power of her work in Hamnet. LYNN: Those are two separate questions, right? To answer the second one first, I am more than okay with a Buckley win. Her performance in Hamnet is exemplary, highlighting without overplaying the touch of wildness that so entrances Will before it curdles into raw despair over losing their child. She’s most moving in the final scene, where that spark starts to flicker back to life as she finally sees what her husband has done to sublimate and memorialize his grief.#jessie_buckley #lynn_lee #nick_taylor #hamnet #if_i_had_legs_i_d_kick_you
Jessie Buckley has arrived for the #ActorAwards Jessie Buckley has arrived for the #ActorAwards, marking her presence at the event as part of the industry’s celebration of acting excellence. The ceremony, hosted by Deadline Hollywood, featured behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Oscars carpet setup, which is located at Ovation Mall in Hollywood. Nominees walk through the covered shopping center to reach the Dolby Theater, where the ceremony is held. The event also highlighted other notable moments, including Kathryn Newton striking a pose in the Deadline #SXSW Studio, presented by Redbreast Irish Whiskey. Sarah Michelle Gellar was also present, engaging in a conversation about the potential reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Gellar expressed her desire to ensure the project meets her high standards, emphasizing her commitment to perfection. Exclusive announcements included RZA’s upcoming film, One Spoon of Chocolate, which is set for a theatrical release in May 2026. The film, directed, written, and produced by RZA, is influenced by martial arts and exploitation cinema. Quentin Tarantino, a collaborator and mentor to RZA, has joined as a presenter for the film. The project will be released in 35mm for select engagements, including a two-week run at LA’s Vista Theatre. Additionally, Billie Eilish is in advanced talks to make her acting debut in an adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Oscar-winning director Sarah Polley, known for her work on Women Talking and Away From Her, is set to helm the project, with Focus Features securing distribution rights. The comedy Power Ballad, directed by John Carney, features Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. The film’s first look has been shared, with more details available through the provided link.#jessie_buckley #dolby_theater #actorawards #deadline_hollywood #ovation_mall
Actor Awards: Jessie Buckley Wins Best Actress for Hamnet Jessie Buckley secured her second major award of the season by winning the best film actress category at the Actor Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild awards. The ceremony took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, where Buckley, nominated for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech. “I want to take a minute to see all these incredible, inspiring faces and souls in front of me,” she said, expressing gratitude for the support of her colleagues and the transformative impact of her work. Buckley’s victory solidifies her position as a leading contender for the Academy Awards in March, following her wins at the Golden Globe, Bafta, and Critics’ Choice awards. Her closest rival, Rose Byrne, had one last chance to challenge her with her performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, but Buckley’s dominance in televised ceremonies has left little room for upsets. The ceremony also highlighted other notable winners. Michael B Jordan claimed the best actor award for his role in Sinners, a film that also took the best ensemble prize. Jordan’s win came as a surprise, with critics noting his performance as a vampire in Ryan Coogler’s film outshining nominations from Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Meanwhile, Paul Mescal, nominated for his role in Hamnet, lost out to Sean Penn for best supporting actor. Penn’s win for his portrayal of a despot in Sinners has positioned him as a potential Oscar favorite. Amy Madigan won best supporting actress for her role as a witch in the horror film Weapons, while Catherine O’Hara posthumously received the best television comedy actress award for her role in The Studio.#hamnet #jessie_buckley #chloe_zhao #shrine_auditorium #screen_actors_guild
Jessie Buckley's Oscar Prospects: A Winning Streak Continues Jessie Buckley, the Irish actress, has solidified her position as a rising star in Hollywood after securing a major victory at the Actor Awards, where she was named best actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in the film Hamnet. With a Golden Globe and a Bafta already under her belt this year, the question now looms: can Buckley extend her winning streak to the Oscars? Buckley’s recent performances have spanned a diverse range of roles, from the tragic figure of Agnes in Hamnet to the iconic Sally Bowles in the West End musical Cabaret. Her portrayal of Agnes, a wife of William Shakespeare, has earned critical acclaim, particularly for its emotional depth and nuanced storytelling. At the Actor Awards ceremony, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Buckley accepted her award with gratitude, acknowledging the support of her peers and collaborators. Speaking at the event, Buckley reflected on the impact of her colleagues, stating, “I have been categorically changed by so many people in this room and beyond.” She also paid tribute to her co-star Emily Watson, whose work in Breaking The Waves inspired Buckley’s own artistic journey. “To share those scenes with you in Hamnet, I will cherish that for the rest of my life,” she said, highlighting the lasting significance of her collaboration. The film Hamnet, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, explores the fictionalized lives of Shakespeare, his wife Agnes, and their son Hamnet, whose death is believed to have influenced the writing of Hamlet. The film received six Golden Globe nominations and won two, including best film. Buckley’s performance earned her a Bafta, while the film itself was honored with the BAFTA for outstanding British film.#hamnet #jessie_buckley #emily_watson #maggie_ofarrell #cabaret
