Foreign ministers warn against renewed strikes on Iran at Istanbul talks
Foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul on Friday warned that renewed military strikes on Iran could deepen the regional conflict, urging diplomatic ...
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has grossed $927 million worldwide during its opening weekend, delivering the second-biggest global and domestic box office debut of all time behind Avengers: Endgame.
The latest Marvel Studios film, starring Tom Holland in his fourth outing as Spider-Man alongside Zendaya, earned $355 million in the United States and Canada and a further $572 million internationally. China led overseas markets with $121 million in ticket sales.
The film also recorded the biggest domestic opening since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to box office data from Rentrak.
The story follows Peter Parker as he battles crime in a world that no longer remembers he is Spider-Man, while struggling with loneliness and the search for human connection.
Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman said those themes had struck a chord with audiences worldwide.
"Spider-Man: Brand New Day is fundamentally a movie about friendship, about the balm of connection in all our lives, and that is resonant to audiences of all ages and all around the world," Rothman said.
The film has also been well received by critics and audiences, earning a 90% critics' score and a 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Entertainment analyst Greg Durkin said the movie's focus on loneliness, isolation and friendship particularly resonated with younger audiences.
"There's a mental health crisis now with young people... There's a friendship crisis," Durkin said, adding that the film addresses issues many Gen Z viewers identify with.
The film's strong debut has further strengthened an already successful summer cinema season, alongside major releases including Toy Story 5 and The Odyssey.
Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak, said the combination of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey helped produce the biggest domestic box office weekend on record.
Spider-Man remains one of Marvel's most enduring characters, with the franchise now approaching $10 billion in worldwide theatrical ticket sales, according to Dergarabedian.
Despite the recent momentum, overall domestic box office revenue remains below pre-pandemic levels. Year-to-date receipts are up 10% compared with last year but remain 16% lower than in 2019, according to Rentrak.
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Super typhoon Champi is set to batter Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture from Friday (23 October), bringing violent winds, torrential rain and waves up to 11 metres high, as airlines cancel flights and organisers scrap a major festival.
Israeli military bulldozers have begun demolishing buildings in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, 23 October, following armed clashes with Palestinians that left two Israeli soldiers dead, according to the Israeli military.
The 12th Baku International Book Fair has opened at the Baku Expo Center, bringing together writers, publishers and cultural representatives from 30 countries to promote literature and international cultural exchange.
Here are five major events bringing sport, cinema, literature and the arts to Baku this October, as Azerbaijan’s capital welcomes international talent and visitors for a packed cultural calendar.
Baku is welcoming filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts for the 17th edition of the Baku International Film Festival (BIFF), bringing together Azerbaijani and international productions. The festival began on Wednesday and will run for six days.
A former gang leader was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on Tuesday for orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting death of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, capping the prosecution of a long-unsolved murder that shaped the golden age of rap music.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 14 October 2026, featuring the top five culture and entertainment stories from around the world.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment