Gerard Butler Races Against the End of the World in Greenland, Now on Lionsgate Play

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In this Gerard Butler starrer, a family navigates through an apocalyptic threat, showcasing the resilience and heroism of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

How far would you go to protect your family as the world ends? In Greenland, Gerard Butler stars as John Garrity, a structural engineer who finds himself facing the ultimate test of survival as a planet-killing comet speeds towards Earth. He embarks on a perilous journey with his estranged wife (Morena Baccarin) and young son, and as cities around the globe are obliterated one after another, they witness both the darkest and brightest sides of humanity. Faced with societal breakdown and the relentless approach of the comet, their journey becomes a harrowing race against time. The family's desperate quest for safety leads them to a last-minute opportunity for salvation, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of an impending global apocalypse. Greenland is a gripping tale of resilience, love, and the indomitable will to survive against all odds.

On what attracted him to the role, Gerard Butler spoke of how the film focuses on personal stories rather than the apocalyptic background: “Rather than the typical kind of action movie where you're focusing on the bigger thing, the comet, that's almost in the background… I felt like the themes in the movie, that it was incredibly emotional and fraught and it's just this family going through hell… It wasn't your typical hero who's going up there to punch the comet in the face. This is just a simple man and a family. The hero here is almost the family unit themselves. The mother is the hero, the son is the hero. And sometimes heroism is literally just fighting enough to survive. So I really enjoy the subtleties and it took me by surprise.”

Greenland starts streaming on Lionsgate Play on PLDT Home on April 5, 2024.

Helen Mirren Gives a Nuanced Performance as Controversial Historical Figure Golda Meir in ‘Golda’

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In Golda, Helen Mirren portrays controversial Israeli leader Golda Meir as neither hero nor villain, but as a complex leader who made difficult decisions under extraordinary circumstances.

A riveting thriller, Golda is a must-see for history buffs and fans of political dramas. Transporting audiences to the heart of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, it recounts a period marked by intense conflict and uncertainty for Israel. Over the course of 19 nail-biting days, Prime Minister Golda Meir, portrayed with gritty determination by Helen Mirren, finds herself at the epicenter of a crisis that threatens the very existence of her nation.

With the shadow of Israel's total annihilation looming, Meir must outmaneuver her doubtful cabinet and navigate a complex web of international relations, particularly with the enigmatic US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (Liev Schreiber). As the clock ticks down, Meir's unwavering leadership and deep compassion are put to the ultimate test, with millions of lives hanging in the balance. Golda is a story of resilience, strategy, and the heavy burden of leadership, leaving viewers to ponder the controversial legacy of one of the world's most formidable political figures.

On portraying such a complex and divisive figure on screen, Helen Mirren told BBC News:  "All I'm doing is playing Golda during the period of the Yom Kippur War. I'm not explaining her, rationalizing her, or reappraising her. I'm just playing a woman of that age dealing with that situation.”

Meanwhile, director Guy Nativ says that this film explores Meir's complicated legacy instead of simply hailing her as a hero: “I was raised with a narrative that we were stronger, more powerful, and that we won. Golda Meir was a hero. However, what I learned throughout my adult years is that it's not the case. It was a dreadful war; we lost almost 3000 soldiers. There was a big failure with a lot of units. Within this, I found Meir to be a fascinating character, very complicated. Aside from a TV movie in the 1980s, no one had tackled her character in such depth.”

Witness Helen Mirren delivers a powerhouse performance as Golda Meir in Golda, premiering exclusively on Lionsgate Play this March 8.

●       Directed by: Guy Nattiv

●       Screenplay by: Nicholas Martin

●   Cast: Helen Mirren, Camille Cottin, Ellie Piercy, Rami Heuberger, Lior Ashkenazi, Liev Schreiber, Dominic Mafham, Ed Stoppard, Henry Goodman

●       Producers: Michael Kuhn, Jane Hooks, Nicholas Martin

●       Exec. Producers: Louise Nathanson, Anna Vincent, Celine Rattray

Official synopsis:

Golda, a ticking-clock thriller sharing the intensely dramatic events, high-stake responsibilities, and controversial decisions that Meir – also known as the ‘Iron Lady of Israel’ – faced during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Her actions, in impossible circumstances, would ultimately decide the fate of millions of lives.

These Intriguing Movies and TV Series on Lionsgate Play are Inspired by Real Events

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 Dive into dramatic retellings of historical thrills with exciting titles exclusively on Lionsgate Play.

Lionsgate Play’s best blasts from the past are sure to pique anyone’s interest. Get lost in stories about political intrigues, surviving a natural disaster, and the lives of extraordinary individuals you won’t soon forget. These shows and films let the past unfold on the screen in a captivating blend of entertainment and historical accuracy that will have you glued to your seats (and even falling into Internet rabbit holes afterward). So buckle up and prepare for an unforgettable journey through time!

Gaslit (2022)

Gaslit is a fresh look into the 1972 Watergate scandal, a major political scandal involving President Richard Nixon, which eventually led to his resignation. It focuses on the untold story of Martha Mitchell (Julia Roberts), the wife of John Mitchell (Sean Penn), Nixon’s Attorney General who played a role in the scandal. Robbie Pickering’s political thriller is also based on the podcast Slow Burn by Leon Neyfakh and is a gripping tale of a brave woman standing her ground amidst political lies. Roberts’ gripping performance got her nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

Watch Gaslit on Lionsgate Play.

The Impossible (2014)

An idyllic vacation takes a nightmarish turn in disaster-drama film The Impossible. Maria Bennett (Naomi Watts) and her husband Henry Bennett (Ewan McGregor) are enjoying a Christmas holiday at a Thai resort when a tsunami sweeps the peaceful resort and breaks their family apart. In the chaos that follows, Maria desperately finds a way to reunite her family. The film is based on the real-life story of the Belon-Alvarez family, miraculous survivors of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Watch The Impossible on Lionsgate Play.

Papillon (2017)

This 2017 drama tells the story of real-life French convict Henri Charrière (Charlie Hunnam), a Parisian safecracker known in the underworld as "Papillon" (butterfly). In 1933, he was wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the notorious Devil's Island penal colony in French Guiana. There, he forms an alliance with another convict, counterfeiter Louis Dega (Rami Malek) as they attempt daring escapes. Papillon is based Charrière's international best-selling autobiographical books Papillon and Banco.

Watch Papillon on Lionsgate Play.

 

Hotel Mumbai (2019)

Hotel Mumbai is an action-thriller film inspired by the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace in India. A storm of terror erupts after the Lashkar-e-Taiba organization launches coordinated attacks across the city, including the hotel. Meanwhile, a humble waiter,

Arjun (Dev Patel), rises above his duties and risks everything to guide terrified patrons to safety, especially a British heiress, her husband, and their infant.

Watch Hotel Mumbai on Lionsgate Play.

 

Green Book (2018)

In 1960s southern America, an Afrian-American pianist (Mahershala Ali) about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South recruits an Italian American bouncer (Viggo Mortensen) to drive him through his venues. Throughout the journey, the pair develop an unlikely bond, confronting racism and prejudice while discovering the value of friendship beyond social barriers.

Watch Green Book on Lionsgate Play.

The Final Score (2022)

Pablo Gonzales’ The Final Score chronicles Colombian soccer defender Andres Esobar’s (Juan Pablo Urrego) illustrious life that tragically ended in 1994. The six-part layered mini-series delves into the complicated relationship of several Colombian national team players, mired with drug trafficking and culminating in the 1994 World Cup goal and Escobar’s murder.

Watch The Final Score on Lionsgate Play.

Immerse yourself in these captivating titles only on Lionsgate Play on PLDT Home

 

Revisit The Hunger Games saga on Lionsgate Play before Watching The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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Many still hail The Hunger Games franchise as the peak of the dystopian genre even though the first movie premiered over a decade ago. Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novel of the same name, Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games movies thrust viewers into the world of Panem where a band of rebels led by Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) attempts to overthrow an oppressive government. With a gripping narrative, intricate world-building, and a spectacle of violence and power, the trilogy grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide, kickstarting a trend of dystopian movies in the 2010s.

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Press play on a nostalgic marathon of The Hunger Games saga, exclusively 

                                                           streaming on Lionsgate Play.

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No one is ready to say goodbye to the world of Panem just yet. The latest installment from the franchise, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, is set to hit the big screen on November 15. A prequel film set 64 years before the events of the first movie, it explores the childhood of a young President Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) before he stepped to power in Panem.

Dystopian genre lovers will be thrilled to know that all of The Hunger Games movies are available for streaming exclusively on Lionsgate Play. So if you need to revisit the world of Panem and lose yourself once again in epic stories of survival, courage, and hope this is your cue to hit that play button!

The Hunger Games (2012)

Jennifer Lawrence brought Katniss Everdeen to life when she portrayed the bow-and-arrow-wielding teenager from the post-apocalyptic, dystopian nation of Panem. Katniss is a resourceful sixteen-year-old hardened from years of providing for her family in District 12. She heroically volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the 74th Hunger Games, a televised event where tributes from each district are forced to fight to the death for the Capitol’s entertainment. Katniss and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) form an unlikely alliance and, in doing so, unintentionally defy everything the Capitol stands for.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Catching Fire picks up where the first movie left off, with Katniss and fellow victor Peeta on a Victory Tour of Panem. However, Katniss senses their newfound fame is just the spark needed to set ablaze a simmering rebellion against the oppressive government. To control Katniss as the symbol of resistance, the Capitol holds a Quarter Quell for the 75th Hunger Games. This year, tributes from each district will be chosen from the existing pool of victors, forcing Katniss and Peeta back into the arena. But things are not as they seem. Plans have been set in motion and the pair are thrust in the midst of a rebellion that could change Panem forever.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

Katniss is rescued from a devastating Quarter Quell and embraces becoming a symbol of the rebellion. After the Capitol reduces her home to rubble, she now lives in a supposedly nonexistent District 13 under the leadership of President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore). Katniss becomes the Mockingjay, a symbol of the rebellion. She attempts to save Peeta who was kidnapped by the Capitol. Throughout Mockingjay Part 1, we see Katniss struggling to cope with the loss of loved ones and the weight of her role in the rebellion.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)

The final film brings the trilogy to a thrilling conclusion. Katniss teams up with her closest friends and fellow rebels – Peeta, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), and Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin) – in a bid to defeat President Snow (Donald Sutherland) once and for all. As they take the battle in the streets of the Capitol, the rebels have to navigate through mortal traps, determine who the enemies are, and make moral choices that will determine the future of millions in Panem. In the end, Katniss understands that to truly liberate Panem’s citizens from a war that threatens to kill them all, she has to eliminate every single threat and put a total end to the bloodshed.

Watch all four The Hunger Games films, available exclusively on Lionsgate Play via PLDT Home. Immerse yourself in the dystopian world of Panem, right in time for the prequel!

 

Enjoy Lionsgate Play’s roster of suspenseful Asian thrillers at the comfort of your home - Here are 5 Horror Flicks That Will Haunt Your Nightmares

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Love Asian Horror? 

Here are 5 Horror Flicks That Will Haunt Your Nightmares        

Every avid horror movie fan knows that Asian horror is in a league of its own. It’s an artful mix of hair-raising stories rooted in cultural beliefs and traditions, psychological issues, and graphic and violent scenes. Though they have their fair share of jumpscares, they don’t necessarily rely on them like most Western films. Asian horror movies create the creepiest atmospheres that heighten the viewer’s sense of dread and fear. The result? Cult classics that stay with the audience forever. So if you’re looking to spice up your watch parties, press play on these 5 Asian horror flicks available on Lionsgate Play.

Conjuring Spirit (2014)

Conjuring Spirit has solidified everyone’s opinions of ever owning a music box and/or daring to live in decrepit, run-down apartments. The horror flick follows Lan, a novelist who moves to an apartment with her son, Bi, to start a new life. Her landlady gives her a music box and also informs her that her apartment might be haunted by the ghost of a woman who was murdered years ago. Soon, Lan enlists the help of her neighbor, Vu, a budding musician, to solve the mystery and survive the haunting. Aside from having the winning formula for Asian horror flicks (including petrifying jumpscares and an awesome twist to boot), Conjuring Spirit also sprinkles a bit of comedy in an otherwise terrifying film.

Kidan Piece of Darkness (2016)

Kidan Piece of Darkness is an anthology horror film composed of 10 tales based on Japanese author Fuyumi Ono’s best-selling books. The stories are tied together by a woman reading letters from her listeners about their own supernatural experiences. Kidan Piece of Darkness is the perfect watch for horror enthusiasts who want to take a break from full-length horror films but still get the same jaw-dropping, heart-lurching payoff. Ten directors had a hand in bringing Ono’s stories to life, including Mari Asato, who’s best known for directing horror and thriller movies Ju-On: Black Ghost (2009) and Under Your Bed (2019).

Japanese Doll of Terror (2019)

There’s no shortage of horror films about murderous dolls. Japanese Doll of Terror’s take on a familiar plot comes with its own vintage, albeit eerie, charm plus a few twists up its sleeve. It follows university students Yuri and Masato, poised to have the time of their lives at a campground party. But things turn deadly when a cursed doll starts to attack and won’t stop until the whole party is dead.

3AM (2015)

Malaysian anthology horror flick 3AM gives a whole new meaning to an hour we’re collectively wary of, the “devil’s hour.” This 5-part series includes stories sharing the common themes of vengefulness and karmic retribution. Each story is about wrathful spirits turning innocent victims’ lives into a nightmare – a spiteful office spirit, a college student with a dark agenda, a scorned woman out for revenge, friends stuck in a haunted forest never to make it out alive, and a taxi driver-turned-killer. 3AM promises spooks, thrills, and nightmares that are definitely not for the faint of heart.

Ghost Wedding (2021)

Ghost Wedding is inspired by a 3,000-year-old Chinese tradition of a posthumous wedding to appease spirits and ensure their passage in the afterlife. In the movie, Zhi Cheng, a photographer, is haunted by a “woman in red,” and his relatives tragically die,  one by one. After learning about ghost brides, he enlists the help of a friend to investigate the legend. But as they unravel the secret of a “ghost marriage,” the malevolent spirit of the ghost bride will stop at nothing to get her revenge.

Tune into Lionsgate Play on PLDT Home and catch all of these thrilling Asian horror flicks!

 

Join the Binge Buddy Blowout: Don’t Miss Out on Lionsgate Play Philippines' Anniversary Promo!

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Lionsgate Play Philippines (LGP) is celebrating its first anniversary in the country, and they're roaring with excitement. To mark this extra special milestone, LGP is giving its subscribers an opportunity to win incredible prizes through a social media contest. One lucky winner will have the chance to take home a brand-new APPLE AIRPODS GEN 3, while three other participants will be rewarded with the JBL WAVE BUDS TWS EARBUDS.

Submissions end on August 15, so act fast and don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to celebrate Lionsgate Play Philippines' first anniversary!

Promo Mechanics:

1. Like the promo announcement post and follow Lionsgate Play on Instagram: @lionsgateplayphl
2. Tag your favorite binge buddy in the comments section.
3. Write a caption in the comment section about why you love Lionsgate Play. THE BEST CAPTIONS WIN!
4. Don’t forget to include the official hashtags in your captions: #LionsgatePlayPH #LGPBingeBuddy
5. Promo runs from August 1 to August 15, 2023

Let your creativity run wild, because each entry will be reviewed based on the submitted captions. And don’t forget to keep checking LGP’s official Instagram account @lionsgateplayphl, because that’s where the winners will be announced! For more details, check out the official promo post.

Don't miss out on this roaring opportunity to win the coveted prizes! Stay tuned to Lionsgate Play on Facebook and Instagram for more updates and exciting entertainment offerings.

‘There’s Something Primal About Water and Rebirth’: Lead Writer Peter McTighe on The Rising’s Powerful Opening Scene

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What would it be like to live in a different plane of existence? Watch Neve Kelly (Clara Rugaard) navigate through this exact horrifying predicament in The Rising, an 8-part British crime drama with a supernatural twist. Neve uses her newfound paranormal abilities to seek justice and catch her killer. But as she digs deeper into her life, buried secrets start to rise, and Neve — along with the audience — starts to piece together clues to the puzzle of her murder.

Dive into the world of The Rising as its creators and actors talk more about filming the supernatural murder mystery series

Buzzing with excitement for the whole world to enjoy their masterpiece, the show’s lead writer and executive producer share why they chose to film in the chilly mountains of England’s Lake District and what made them decide on the show’s powerful opening scene.

Talking about why they picked the Lake District as the show’s setting, Julian Stevens, executive producer, said, The Lake District is this ancient space that has this sense of isolation that we wanted to portray in this. The exterior locations are a combination of the Lake District and the Peak District. It gives us this sense of epic scale and enclosure, that sense of the mountains surrounding you and you feeling very tiny in that landscape. That’s what we tried to capture in that opening scene how much of a little dot Neve would be in the lake and how terrifying it would be to find yourself in that situation.

Asked if the story’s powerful opening sequence of Neve floating in the lake was planned from the beginning, lead writer and executive producer Peter McTighe said, “Yes, it was there from the beginning. There is something primal about water and rebirth. I wanted the show to be anchored by the environment and the elements. The Lake District and the Peak District where we shot play a huge part in setting the mood and tone much like Twin Peaks did back in the day – the way that David Lynch and Mark Frost used that landscape is so evocative.”

Looking back to when they filmed the show, The Rising’s lead cast recall filming in the freezing water and how the show’s setting made an impact on them as actors.

Lead actress Clara Rugaard who plays Neve Kelly and who spent the most time submerged in the lake, recounts her experience and said, “Ooh, bit nippy. I mean it was fun. It’s fun to complain in the moment because it was freezing and my lips were blue but you come away with such amazing experiences. I would never have done that had I not had to. It was invigorating. I do take cold showers from time to time now after that because of the whole Wim Hof idea. But it was freezing.”

Solly McLeod who plays Joseph Wyatt, Neve Kelly’s boyfriend, also talked about his fair share of wading in the freezing water: “It was really good fun, but it was cold. It was the first day of filming for me. I was literally thrown in the deep end of a 50 ft to100 ft deep lake. That was probably just what I needed. Any nervousness I had was washed away by this ice cold water. It was super-hard-hitting, super-emotional. So to get that out of the way and be around all the other cast was really good. I was so immersed in it.”

 

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Official synopsis: Neve Kelly (Clara Rugaard) is dead. Understandably, she’s scared and confused by this new (non) existence, but moreover, when she realizes she has been murdered, she’s furious. Determined to find her killer and get justice, she takes advantage of her new supernatural abilities to investigate her own death. In doing so, she uncovers deeply buried secrets and is forced to re-examine everything about her life and the people she cared about.

About Lionsgate Play

Lionsgate Play, a premium streaming service from Lionsgate India and Starz, offers bespoke quality content to its users. It boasts premium and curated content including Premieres, billion-dollar Franchise Movies and binge-worthy Box Sets. Lionsgate Play is accessible to consumers in the Philippines via the app. For a monthly subscription cost of PHP 79, the titles can be streamed with a PLDT Home account.

For more information about Lionsgate Play Philippines, visit lionsgateplay.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok.

 

About PLDT Home

PLDT Home is trusted by Filipinos to deliver the fastest internet connection and future-ready innovations to their homes. It is the only telco in the Philippines that has received the most prestigious “Fastest Fixed Internet, Five Years In a Row” award at the Ookla® Speedtest Awards™ 2022 – a first for PLDT and the Philippines. Enabling moments that bring the family closer together, PLDT Home offers unli-entertainment including Lionsgate Play and its library of award-winning titles.