Brad Pitt's Zombie Apocalypse Stuck on Loop in 'World War Z'

Brad Pitt and his family attempt to survive the zombie apocalypse in World War Z. 

With AMC's The Walking Dead commanding the cable air waves and The Last of Us making its mark on the Playstation 3 several weeks ago, zombies definitely continue to be the trending facet of apocalyptic fiction in recent years.

Enter onto the summer blockbuster stage World War Z, based on the Max Brooks novel of the same name, which combines the star power of Brad Pitt with thousands of undead CGI co-stars. Pitt takes on the role of Gerry Lane, a former United Nations investigator sent back into the field after several zombie outbreaks occur around the world. Even with minimal information provided about the lead character, World War Z boils down into a non-stop battle between Pitt and zombies.

'White House Down' Showboats Absurdity in Typical Roland Emmerich Fashion

John Cale (Channing Tatum) protects President Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) in White House Down.

Isn't one hostile takeover a year enough for the White House to handle? For director Roland Emmerich, perhaps not. Back in 1996, Emmerich sicked a 15 mile-wide mother ship on America's seat of power in blockbuster hit, Independence Day and in 2013, nearly similar to Antoine Fuqua's Olympus Has Fallen a few months ago, there's no reprieve for the structure in White House Down.

Channing Tatum plays John Cale, a Capitol Police officer, who at the start of White House Down interviews for a post in the Secret Service, protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Concurrently, several key structures around Washington including the White House are targeted by a pack of terrorists motivated by financial and personal agendas. As the White House is compromised, Cale finds himself in the crossfire and teams up with the president to reach a safe point outside.

BLU-RAY TUESDAY: 'Burt Wonderstone' Sets to Upstage Halle Berry's "Call" Thriller on Blu-Ray

Halle Berry and Steve Carrell are both top-tier actors in their own right, but neither The Call nor The Incredible Burt Wonderstone spark a great interest in theaters this past spring. Both films make their way to Blu-Ray this week.

As Vegas magician Burt Wonderstone, Steve Carrell clashes with a street magican (Jim Carrey), while attempting to reunite with his former partner played by Steve Buscemi. Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin and James Gandolfini round out the ensemble cast.

Marling, Batmanglij Reunite to Target Sins of Corporate Corruption in 'The East'

Sarah (Brit Marling) goes undercover to investigate the eco-terrorist organization, The East.

Brit Marling is one of the most underrated talents working in Hollywood today and for the third straight year commencing with 2011's Another Earth and last year's underground thriller, Sound of My Voice, this magnetically talented producer, writer and actress shakes the indie scene to its core with The East.

Marling reteams up with director Zal Batmanglij (Sound of My Voice) for a second collaborative effort diving headfirst into a trifecta of eco-terrorist plots engineered by the titular group that's solely directed towards three corrupt corporations. The East live by the ancient Hammurabi moral code, "an eye for an eye" turning each of their "jams" by fighting fire with fire, regardless of who gets caught in the crossfire.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 'Monsters University' and 'World War Z' Scare Superman Reboot Off Top Spot

The summer box office season might have started last month with $400 million blockbuster Iron Man 3, but with both Monsters University and World War Z opening north of $65 million, the first official weekend of summer 2013 ranks as the 8th largest weekend ever.

Pixar can rest easy now that their 14th feature, Monsters University cleared $80 million, a near-impossible feat that's only been broken once before by the animation studio. After a strong $30 million opening day, Monsters University already finds itself off to a more impressive start than Pixar's previous two films, Cars 2 and Brave.

Brad Pitt's zombie apocalyptic film, World War Z also opened higher than expected with $66 million. With Monsters University and World War Z taking the top two spots, last week's superhero champion, Man of Steel dropped to a third place finish.

Disney/Pixar's "Monsters University" Graduates Top of Its Animated Class

Mike Wasowski (Billy Crystal) prepares a year of scaring and partying at Monsters University.

With the exception of last summer's Brave, Pixar continues to capitalize on its most profitable franchises releasing sequel after sequel leaving the question whether or not the studio has much more originality left in the tank. But even if fresh new concepts aren't generating out of the reputable studio, Toy Story 3 and now Monsters University have undeniably proved that expanding upon beloved existing worlds reaps its own slew of successes.

Set many years before 2001's Monsters, Inc., Monsters University details the beginnings of  Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley's (John Goodman) relationship that started at the titular school where both strive to become professional scarers. The two enter campus completely different. Mike is overly ambitious, but isn't taken seriously for being a small green cyclops while Sulley rides the coattails of his family's legacy, under the impression that he doesn't need to put any effort in college to succeed.

'Hangover' Finale Completely Wasted Without the Morning-After Mysteries

The Wolfpack and Mr. Chow are in the heart of Tijuana for the third and final installment 

While completely absent of any ridiculously inebriated bachelor parties or morning-after mysteries, it's a wonder how The Hangover Part III even wears that title with pride. Four years ago, Todd Phillips' The Hangover shocked audiences and critics alike becoming not only the undisputed breakout film of that summer, but earned a grander accolade as the highest grossing R-rated comedy to date.

After a series of déjà-vu incidents in the heart of Bangkok, Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) get mixed up in the affairs of effeminate international criminal Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong), who stole $21 million in gold bars from mob leader Marshall (John Goodman). With their friend Doug (Justin Bartha) used as Marshall's leverage, the Wolfpack are on a hunt for Chow, ultimately leading them back to where the whole saga started, Sin City.

BLU-RAY TUESDAY: Fairy Tale Adaptation 'Jack the Giant Slayer' Ascends to New Heights on Blu-Ray

Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum! Hollywood's latest fairy tale re-imagination, Jack the Giant Slayer, leads this Tuesday's pack of new release Blu-Rays. Directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns), Jack the Giant Slayer expands on the classic "Jack and the Beanstalk" story, as poor farmboy Jack (Nicolas Hoult) joins an expedition up a beanstalk to rescue a princess from CGI giants dwelling above the clouds.

Jack the Giant Slayer is released in two formats on Blu-Ray from Warner Bros. including a Blu-Ray, DVD, Digital Copy, UltraViolet combo pack as well as a 3D edition that includes the standard combo pack discs. 

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 'Man of Steel' Overpowers Competition Over Father's Day Weekend

Superman blasted through the box office this Father's Day weekend like a speeding bullet with no signs of stopping anytime soon. Zack Snyder's Superman reboot, Man of Steel, broke the June record opening up to $129 million. ($12 million came from Walmart exclusive showings the night before).

Already one of the highest grossing films of 2013, Man of Steel is already looking ahead at the inevitable sequel. While critics were mixed on Man of Steel, audiences are warming up to this reboot more than 2006's Superman Returns. 

Though Superman overshadowed every other title over the weekend, Seth Rogen's comedy This is the End managed to debut in second place with $21 million over its 3-day run and $33 million over 5 days.

'Man of Steel' Sacrifices Superman's Origin Story for Cynical CGI-Fest

General Zod (Michael Shannon) vows revenge Jor-El and his son Kal-El, later known on Earth as the Man of Steel, Superman.

Superman, we hardly knew you. After enduring a pretentious two-and-a-half hour origin story, Zack Snyder's Superman reboot, Man of Steel forces the iconic epithet into the plot for one random instance. Snyder's iteration doesn't stand for truth, justice or the American way, rather assuming the role of an alien refugee attempting to remain off the grid except for the occasional phantom heroism.

Man of Steel goes through the same expected motions Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie did back in 1978. Still a carbon copy origin story, the alien planet Krypton is dying and in a last-ditch effort, scientists Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) send their newborn son to Earth for a chance to live and grow up to become humanity's savior.

Greater Perils Face Bilbo and Company in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' Teaser

Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and his company of dwarves close in on The Lonely Mountain.

After teasing audiences nearly six months ago with just an eye bursting out mountains of gold, director Peter Jackson briefly reveals a bit more of the dragon Smaug in the teaser trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which was released online Tuesday. 

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the journey across Middle-earth from last Christmas as Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman from BBC Sherlock fame) and thirteen dwarves set out to take back a mountain stronghold from a gold-hoarding fire breathing dragon.

BLU-RAY TUESDAY: Disney's 'Oz' Sees Green, 'Hansel & Gretel' Battle Fairy-Tale Witches on Blu-Ray

The first major blockbuster of 2013 makes its way on Blu-Ray this Tuesday, roughly three months after its theatrical release in early March. Oz the Great and Powerful, starring James Franco, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis, is set before the 1939 classic when Dorothy arrives in the world of wizards, witches and singing Munchkins exploring how the Wizard of Oz became the mysterious floating head ruling from the confines of Emerald City.

Oz the Great and Powerful is released in multiple formats on Blu-Ray including a Blu-Ray, DVD, Digital Copy combo pack, a Blu-Ray, Digital Copy combo pack and a Blu-Ray 3D, Digital Copy combo pack.

'Frances Ha' Explores a Clever Comedic Approach to Late Millennial Maturity

Best friends Frances (Greta Gerwig) and Sophie (Mickey Summer) have their ups and down in Frances Ha.

For any twenty-something millennial wavering between clinging to the freedoms of adolescence and assuming the duties of being a responsible adult, Noah Baumbach's (The Squid and the Whale) Frances Ha paves a modern-day odyssey that rides the fine line of being too close for comfort.

Frances (Greta Gerwig) is a 27-year-old dance apprentice, who like many her age haven't accomplished much in her life, let alone catapulted her career as a professional choreographer and dancer. Bouncing from one house to another, Frances is heavily dependent on her friends' charity, but still desires to prove her worth as an independent adult.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 'Purge' Terrorizes Charts at #1, Places 'Internship' on Lockdown

Google might be one of the largest players online, but audiences were turned off by The Internship, an Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn comedy where two become interns at the online juggernaut. Instead the top spot at the box office weekend this past weekend went to the micro-marketed thriller, The Purge. 

Last week's top pair, Fast & Furious 6 and Now You See Me continue to hold despite growing competition at the box office. Both films are still gunning for $250 million and $100 million runs respectively, which were predicted to be highly unlikely a month ago.

With the highly anticipated Superman reboot, Man of Steel being released this Friday and Monsters University the Friday after, the current slew of releases are racking up the numbers now before two potentially large week-to-week declines. 

BLU-RAY TUESDAY: 'Warm Bodies' Professes Zombie Love, 'Identity Thief' Continues to Steal on Blu-Ray

The first Tuesday of June is fully loaded with several new choices to check out this week. Four theatrical releases include Warm Bodies, A Good Day to Die Hard, Identity Thief and Escape From Planet Earth, while the latest seasons of Breaking Bad and Falling Skies also street for television audiences.

First up is Warm Bodies, a zombie apocalypse comedy that twists the Shakespeare's classic love story, Romeo & Juliet. "R" (a zombie iteration of Romeo) played by Nicholas Hoult falls in love with human Julie (Teresa Palmer). Together, the two are forced to hide their forbidden love from the humans and zombies, who are at war with one another.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 'Fast & Furious' Rides Again, 'Now You See Me' Outplays 'After Earth'

After a record-setting Memorial Day weekend, all of the key holdovers fell over 50 percent over the weekend. Despite a hefty 64 percent drop, Fast & Furious 6 rode to the top spot once again for the second weekend in a row.

The real upset of the weekend was Now You See Me outperforming its new release competition After Earth. With household names like Will Smith and M. Night Shyamalan attached to the sci-fi survival flick, After Earth was a shoe-in for the runner-up spot. After a string of panned releases including The Happening and The Last Airbender, M. Night Shyamalan certainly has his detractors, many of whom seemed to have abandoned the director.

Other May holdovers, Star Trek Into Darkness and Epic continued to battle it out for the final two spots of this weekend's Top 5. Comedy sequel The Hangover Part III quickly plummeted down the chart in its second week, sending the Wolfpack out with a whimper.