Towering film franchises are more than seasonal tentpoles. So often planned in multiple instalments, of course, they can function like big tops unto themselves.

Karl Puschmann paid good money to see a bad film. And he's happy about it.

Depp's intense, quietly disturbing portrayal of cold-blooded killer Jimmy "Whitey" Bulger proves the actor is back on form.

Break-up made me focus on my job, says actress, but admits winning an Oscar did not heal her loneliness.

Spider-Man, caught scaling Auckland's Sky Tower in the middle of the day and perform superhero tricks 220m up in the air.

The Martian is a movie about a botanist stranded when his crew accidentally leave him behind on Mars. Sadly, some people think it's real.

After hundreds of try-outs across the Pacific the voice of Moana has been found.

Daniel Craig is set to bank $89.85 million for Spectre.

Kirsten Dunst's guilelessness has set her apart from the A-list - and won her work in everything from superhero franchises to the new second season of Fargo. She talks to Elizabeth Day.

Johnny Depp talks to Helen Barlow about taking on the role of Boston gangster James "Whitey" Bulger in the movie Black Mass.

US federal officials are investigating Hollywood movie studios over allegations of widespread gender discrimination.

Featuring Toni Collette and Drew Barrymore

The sobbing and sniffing in the theatre would indicate this emotionally manipulative story about lifelong friends dealing with one of them having cancer hits the mark - but it's a close-run thing.

Mark Wahlberg is set to return to the Transformers film franchise for at least one more movie as studio bosses plan the next four instalments in the blockbuster series.

Tom Hard stars in the crime thriller, Legend.

Auckland University's Professor Richard Easther, one of the world's leading cosmologists, gives his scientific verdict on the movie of the moment.

Taika Waititi is staying tight lipped on his links to Thor 3, but happy to talk about the upcoming Disney film Moana.

Universal Pictures has released a trailer for a fictitious movie 'Jaws 19' - as advertised in the second Back to the Future film. Source: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment/YouTube

A few years ago Mexican filmmaker and amateur ghost hunter Guillermo Del Toro was in New Zealand scouting locations for The Hobbit trilogy when he convinced the owners of the Waitomo Caves Hotel to open their doors.

Featuring Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain

The actor was a danger to others at school because of rage issues.

James Bond actor Daniel Craig has said he cannot understand why he is bombarded by selfie hunters, warning they might "get thumped" if they take photos without asking.

A New Zealand reviewer who wrote a film critique that repeatedly uses the word n****r says he used the taboo term intentionally but is not racist.

Jennifer Lawrence was "dead inside" on the last day of filming The Hunger Games franchise.

Hollywood biopics might be great movies but they're still full of lies, writes Karl Puschmann.

Hugh Jackman deserves his reputation as one of the nicest people in Hollywood, learns Leena Tailor, who speaks to him about his new movie, Pan.

The final official trailer for the new James Bond adventure, Spectre, has been released.

A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE. In NZ cinemas on November 12.