movies
‘Backrooms’ Director Kane Parsons Distances Hit From Horror Moniker
Kane Parson’s $400M hit Backrooms, spinning off his web-series inspired by “creepypasta’ horror content on the internet, is invariably and understandably billed as a horror.
The director told a panel at the Zurich Summit on Saturday, however, that he does not see it as being aligned with the genre.
“I didn’t direct like a horror film. I don’t view it as a horror project. I think that’s just naturally been the path of least resistance from a marketing perspective and it’s what seems comfortable to people as a framing device,” he said,
Parsons acknowledged that A24, which spearheaded the adaptation the web-series and distributed the movie, would not like his comments, but added he hoped to be able to avoid this sort of framing in the future.
“I’m going to try to stay as oblivious to those labels as possible… I think I have more creative control now with future projects so those sorts of structures will probably be a little less forceful in the future,” he said.
Parsons was talking on a panel on the $4.7 billion resurgence at the U.S. box office this summer, alongside Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer; President & Chief Content Officer Mattel Studios and Barbie producer Robbie Brenner and Sony Pictures Classics co-head Michael Barker.
Kramer, Brenner and Barker all acknowledged the role played by Backrooms in the box office resurgence, alongside Obsession, which was also born out of the YouTube space.
“Backrooms was an amazing example… and speaks to one of the things that’s happening with our industry…. your fandom travelled from YouTube to the theaters,” said Kramer.
“Young people want to go back to movie theaters. Fandoms shift. Theatrical can inform a fandom. YouTube can inform a theatrical fandom. It’s all connected in a way that I don’t think we thought was possible, and that for me was a big takeaway of this summer, and it gives me great hope for the film industry.
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movies
Bill Gates Warns AI Could “Cause A Billion Deaths”
As Trump brushes off the need for additional guardrails around artificial intelligence, Bill Gates is sounding the alarm.
In a recent interview, the Microsoft co-founder urged the U.S. government to implement regulations around the development of AI, following a meeting with CEOs of several of biggest AI companies, who agreed it’s necessary to slow down the pace of the growing tech.
“No one thinks self-regulation is enough,” he said on NBC News’ Meet the Press. “You need law enforcement and the politicians to get into the discussion about what safeguards and monitoring look like. And that has to be a required thing. And it will be a little bit of overhead for the industry, but not a dramatic slowing of what they’re doing.”
Gates added, “AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths. You know, so even though it’s pretty hard to get to 100%, there’s never been a weapon as powerful as the combination of people with ill intent using the latest AI tools.”
Following recent warnings from those working in AI, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order this month to fast-track stringent oversight and control of AI. Convening “a group of world-leading experts” within the next 60 days, the order lays out a discussion of “safety plans” and “an emergency shutoff, or ‘kill switch,’ for frontier models.”
On a federal level, Trump has brushed off concerns about AI as “a hoax,” insisting the U.S. government “already have tremendous CRIMINAL and REGULATORY power” over AI companies.
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movies
Jeff Probst Says “Nothing Changed” On ‘Survivor’ After CBS Scrapped DEI
Although Paramount was one of several companies to roll back their DEI initiative when Trump was re-elected, Survivor continues to operate by it.
Host Jeff Probst recently noted that “nothing has changed” with how the reality competition series approaches diversity, equity and inclusion, noting that it was “one of the biggest positive changes ever” for the CBS show that launched in 2000.
“And if you watch our show, you know that we’re so diverse — and it’s not just skin color or ethnicity. It goes much deeper than that. It’s one of the biggest positive changes ever,” he told The New York Times. “Our stories are so much more interesting now because we have people from completely different walks of life.”
Probst continued, “I feel no pressure. No one ever says, can you count the numbers again? But Jesse Tannenbaum, who runs our casting team, knows: There’s no stopping, not because we’re told to do it. This is what we need. We need diversity. It’s for narrative. All those differences matter in the story when you throw people together and force them to rely on each other while conspiring against each other. The more diverse, the more interesting.”
In 2020, Paramount implemented a DEI initiative to make CBS and its other brands more inclusive, which the company rolled back last year amid the Trump administration’s attacks on such programs. Months later, Skydance pledged there would be no DEI policies under the Ellison’s reign as they sought the FCC’s approval of the merger.
Following its milestone 50th season, Probst returns to host Survivor for Season 51, airing Wednesdays at 8pm ET/PT on CBS and streaming live on Paramount+.
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movies
How To Watch The 2026 MTV VMAs
The MTV Video Music Awards are back tonight for the 42nd awards show, celebrating the best music videos of the year.
Hosted by 3x VMA winner Snoop Dogg, the ceremony broadcasts live on Sunday night from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with performances from Madonna, Kacey Musgraves, Lisa, Sombr and more.
Madonna leads this year’s nominations with 13 categories, tying Lady Gaga’s 2010 record for most nominations in a year. She’s followed by Taylor Swift (11), Sabrina Carpenter (nine) and Ariana Grande (eight) in earning the most nominations.
Tonight’s awards show will honor Nirvana with the Video Vanguard Award, and Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, with her “Patient Zero” music video from The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore making its world premiere during the simulcast.
This years MTV VMA performances will include tributes to Dolly Parton and George Michael, marking 40 years since his solo debut album Faith.
With all this and more expected for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, read on for how to watch or stream the awards show.
How Can I Watch The 2026 VMAs?
The 2026 VMAs will air live from on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 7:30-9:30pm ET/4:30-6:30pm PT on CBS, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ (Premium) in the US. The show will be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.
Who Is Presenting At The 2026 VMAs?
The VMA presenters include some of this years nominees and winners of VMAs past, as well as a survivor, a superhero, a scream queen and a Saturday Night Live alum.
The lineup features Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Brandon Sklenar, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Troye Sivan and Tyla.
Who Is Performing At The 2026 VMAs?
Returning to the VMAs stage for her first performance there in 23 years, Madonna will open the awards show with some songs from Confessions II, presented by Spotify.
Following Dolly Parton’s death at age 80 last month, Kacey Musgraves will perform a tribute to the Queen of Country. Meanwhile, Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will team up for a tribute performance directed by Adam Blackstone, celebrating 40 years since the late George Michaels’ career-defining album Faith (1987).
Also performing at the 2026 MTV VMAs are Gener8ion & Yung Lean, Lisa, Shaboozey & Gunna and Sienna Spiro.
For more info, visit MTV.com.
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