Today's International Movie and Television News Summary – November 26, 2025
It's been quite a day for entertainment news around the world, with major streaming announcements, exciting franchise developments, and some fascinating insights from international cinema. Let's dive into what's making headlines today across the movie and television landscape.
Netflix Dominance: Stranger Things Takes Over Global Charts
The big story everyone's talking about today is the launch of Stranger Things Season 5 on Netflix. The highly anticipated final season has officially arrived, and it's already making waves across the platform's global rankings. What's particularly impressive is that all previous seasons of the beloved sci-fi series are now trending in Netflix's worldwide Top 10, creating what fans are calling a "Stranger Things takeover."
This phenomenon isn't entirely surprising – whenever a popular series releases its final season, viewers often go back to rewatch earlier episodes to refresh their memory or catch details they might have missed. The Hawkins gang has clearly struck a chord with audiences worldwide, and the show's ability to maintain its popularity across multiple seasons speaks volumes about the quality of storytelling that the Duffer Brothers have delivered.
Good news: you can now preorder officially licensed Stranger Things merchandise from Rock Universe. If you’re hyped for Season 5 or want to celebrate the whole Hawkins crew, check out our full Stranger Things collection, available for preorder now at https://rockuniverse.co.uk/collections/stranger-things.
The streaming success of Stranger Things Season 5 also highlights Netflix's continued dominance in the original content space. With subscribers in over 190 countries, the platform's ability to create global phenomena remains unmatched, and today's viewing numbers are proof of that reach.
Universal Pictures Eyes Wicked Expansion
In theatrical news, Universal Pictures is reportedly exploring ways to expand the Wicked franchise following the massive success of the recent film adaptation. Industry insiders suggest the studio is considering multiple avenues, including additional films and potentially a television series that could explore different aspects of the Oz universe.
The success of Wicked has been nothing short of spectacular, both critically and commercially. The film's blend of spectacular musical numbers, stunning visuals, and compelling performances has resonated with audiences worldwide. Given the rich source material and the expansive world of Oz, there's certainly plenty of content to mine for future projects.
What makes this particularly interesting is how Universal might approach expanding the franchise. Will they focus on prequels that explore the backstories of beloved characters? Could they venture into entirely new storylines within the Oz universe? Or might they take the television route, allowing for more detailed character development and world-building across multiple episodes?
The decision to potentially expand Wicked also reflects broader industry trends toward building interconnected universes around successful properties. Studios have learned that audiences are hungry for more content from worlds they love, and Wicked's magical setting provides endless possibilities for exploration.
Horror Gets a Star: Scarlett Johansson Joins Exorcist Reboot
Horror fans have something major to look forward to with the announcement that Scarlett Johansson will headline a new Exorcist film from acclaimed director Mike Flanagan. This collaboration brings together one of Hollywood's most versatile actresses with a filmmaker who has become synonymous with intelligent, atmospheric horror.
Mike Flanagan has built an impressive reputation in the horror genre with projects like The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher. His approach to horror focuses on psychological depth and character development rather than relying solely on jump scares, which makes him an intriguing choice to tackle the Exorcist franchise.
Johansson's involvement adds another layer of excitement to the project. Known for her work in action films and dramas, she's shown time and again her ability to bring complexity and nuance to challenging roles. Her presence in the horror genre will likely attract audiences who might not typically gravitate toward scary movies.
The Exorcist franchise has a long and storied history in cinema, with the original 1973 film still considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made. Taking on such an iconic property is never easy, but with Flanagan's track record and Johansson's star power, this new iteration has the potential to breathe fresh life into the series while respecting its legacy.
International Cinema: China's Box Office Surprise
Moving to international cinema news, Bi Gan's art house drama 'Resurrection' has topped China's box office, which is particularly noteworthy given the film's unconventional style and narrative approach. Bi Gan is known for creating visually stunning, dreamlike films that challenge traditional storytelling conventions, making this commercial success quite remarkable.
Resurrection's success at the Chinese box office suggests that audiences are increasingly open to experimental and artistic filmmaking. This is encouraging news for filmmakers who want to push creative boundaries while still reaching mainstream audiences. The film's performance also highlights the diversity and sophistication of Chinese cinema audiences, who are clearly willing to embrace challenging, thought-provoking content.
The success of art house films in major markets like China often has ripple effects throughout the international film community. It can encourage distributors to take chances on more experimental films and give filmmakers confidence to pursue unconventional projects. For the global film industry, this kind of cross-cultural appreciation of artistic cinema is incredibly valuable.
Hong Kong Action Cinema: A Discussion on Creative Freedom
Adding to today's international film news, director Tai-Lee Chan has been making headlines with his candid discussion about creative freedom in Hong Kong action cinema. In recent interviews, Chan has been exploring how filmmakers in Hong Kong navigate the balance between commercial expectations and artistic expression in the action genre.
Chan's comments come at an interesting time for Hong Kong cinema, which has long been celebrated for its innovative action sequences and unique storytelling approaches. The territory's film industry has faced various challenges in recent years, making discussions about creative freedom particularly relevant for both local and international audiences.
The Hong Kong action cinema tradition has influenced filmmakers worldwide, from the wire work and choreography that became staples of modern action films to the emotional depth that many Hong Kong directors bring to the genre. Chan's perspectives on maintaining this creative legacy while adapting to changing market conditions provide valuable insights into the current state of the industry.
What makes Chan's discussion particularly interesting is his focus on how creative freedom impacts not just the artistic quality of films, but also their commercial potential. He argues that audiences can tell when filmmakers are constrained versus when they're given the freedom to fully realize their vision, and that this freedom often translates to more engaging and successful films.
The Global Entertainment Landscape
Today's news highlights several important trends in the global entertainment industry. The success of Stranger Things demonstrates the power of streaming platforms to create worldwide cultural phenomena, while Universal's Wicked expansion plans show how studios are thinking strategically about building lasting franchises.
The horror genre continues to evolve with high-profile projects like Flanagan's Exorcist film attracting A-list talent, while international cinema is showing that audiences are hungry for diverse, challenging content. The success of Resurrection in China and the ongoing discussions about creative freedom in Hong Kong cinema both point to a global film community that's becoming increasingly interconnected and mutually influential.
These developments also reflect changing audience expectations and consumption habits. Viewers today want quality content across all platforms – streaming, theatrical, and international – and they're willing to engage with different types of storytelling from various cultural perspectives.
Looking Ahead
As we wrap up today's entertainment news roundup, it's clear that the industry continues to evolve in fascinating ways. From Netflix's global reach to Universal's franchise ambitions, from innovative horror filmmaking to the international appreciation of art house cinema, there's never been a more exciting time to be a fan of movies and television.
The diversity of today's headlines – spanning streaming success, franchise expansion, genre evolution, and international perspectives – shows just how rich and varied the entertainment landscape has become. Whether you're into supernatural thrillers, musical fantasies, atmospheric horror, experimental drama, or action cinema, there's something for everyone in today's global entertainment ecosystem.
Keep an eye on these developing stories as they continue to unfold. The entertainment industry moves fast, and today's announcements are likely just the beginning of many exciting developments to come.