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The Rise of Compilation Films The release of Jackass: Best and Last, the fifth movie in the Jackass franchise, has sparked debate about the resurgence of cheap compilation films in Hollywood. The film's trailer suggests a victory lap celebrating 25 years of broken bones, injured genitals, and general stupidity. However, the most striking thing is the heavy reliance on archive footage from prior movies. The Business of Compilation Films This brand of compilation film isn't new to Hollywood. Prior to the rise of VHS and Blockbuster, when thousands of titles became available to view at home, the only opportunities film fans had to see classic titles was to hope that they would be rerun on one of the few available TV stations, or that they'd have a theatrical rerelease. Hence the That's Entertainment! compilation movies, in which stars of MGM's famous musicals would introduce iconic scenes from the studio's vault. The Data Behind Compilation Films The success of anime compilation films, such as 2024's To the Hashira Training, which cruised to $50m worldwide, may have reminded Hollywood of an easy way to make a quick buck from a devoted fanbase. However, this type of film can also be a risk, as seen with Jackass: Best and Last, which fell 82% on its second weekend at the US box office. The Impact on the Film Industry The resurgence of cheap compilation films raises questions about the value of watching a compilation of old stunts in theaters. With large swathes of studios' archives now available at the touch of a button, the compilation movie should be even less common now than those waning days. However, they are still sneaking into multiplexes without much attention. The Future of Compilation Films Given the success of Jackass: Best and Last's opening weekend, it's likely that we will see more titles in this vein going forward. However, the film's reliance on archive footage and its quick production time may set a precedent for future films. As the film industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how compilation films adapt to changing audience demands and technological advancements.

The 2026 World Cup has turned the summer into a nonstop football marathon, with 104 games, 40 more matches than the previous tournament and many fixtures airing in the small hours for UK viewers. The Guide #246 provides a curated list of films, TV series and music festivals that can serve as a welcome distraction. World Cup Overload Meets a Bloated Schedule With the tournament stretched over more than a week longer than before, almost half of the matches air in the early morning, turning ordinary evenings into sleepless watch‑parties. Numbers That Make the Fever Harder to Swallow 104 total games scheduled 40 additional matches compared with the last World Cup Nearly 50% of fixtures broadcast in the UK during the "wee small hours" Over 5 weeks of continuous football coverage Pop‑Culture Counter‑Programming: Film Releases to Watch Obsession and Backrooms – horror sensations still in cinemas Disclosure Day – Steven Spielberg’s latest blockbuster Toy Story 5 – early buzz for its screen‑addiction themed story (out 26 June) Jackass: Best and Last – Johnny Knoxville’s final stunt‑filled outing (26 June) A Private Life – Jodie Foster’s French‑language debut (26 June) Minions & Monsters – family fun (1 July) The Invite – Olivia Wilde’s much‑talked‑about thriller (8 July) Evil Dead Burn and live‑action Moana remake (10 July) The Odyssey – Christopher Nolan’s biggest film of the year (17 July) Television Line‑up to Distract the Fanatics Widow’s Bay (Apple TV) – comedy‑horror finale (next Wednesday) I Will Find You (Netflix) – Harlan Coben thriller starring Britt Lower (Thursday) House of the Dragon season 3 (HBO Max) – weekly from 21 June The Bear final season (Disney+) – all episodes 26 June Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (HBO Max) – Larry David’s satirical look at America (26 June) Silo season 3 (Apple TV) – dystopian thriller (3 July) Ride Or Die (Prime Video) – action‑comedy thriller starring Hannah Waddingham (15 July) Heartstopper Forever (Netflix) – final feature‑length episode (17 July) Music Festivals and Live Events as an Escape Route Isle of Wight Festival – classic summer music gathering Creamfields (Cheshire) – electronic‑dance extravaganza TRNSMT (Glasgow) – indie and rock showcase Refer to the Guardian’s summer festival guide for a full rundown of UK events running alongside the World Cup. What’s Next: Summer Releases to Keep You Busy As the tournament winds down, the cultural calendar stays packed. From blockbuster films to high‑profile TV seasons and sprawling music festivals, there will be plenty of alternatives to keep screens occupied and minds off the endless stream of matches.

Lead: Musk’s Self‑Critique Sets the Tone for a High‑Stakes TrialElon Musk opened the second day of his lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI by calling himself a “fool” for funding the company, reiterating that the nonprofit was “stolen” and now threatens humanity. The courtroom drama in Oakland, California has drawn intense media attention and could determine the future structure of one of the world’s most valuable AI firms.Musk’s Day‑Two Testimony Reiterates ‘Stole a Charity’ ClaimMusk repeated his accusation that Altman “stole a charity,” arguing that OpenAI’s shift from a nonprofit to a for‑profit entity breached the original founding agreement. He described a 2015 conversation with Google co‑founder Larry Page that spurred his initial investment, and he highlighted email exchanges from 2017 that, in his view, showed Altman reneging on promises.Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers warned spectators against photography, threatening to close an overflow room.Musk’s lawyers presented emails praising his technical expertise and a document where Musk called OpenAI’s safety team “jackasses,” which he later framed as a joke.Financial Stakes: $134 bn Claim and Musk’s $38 m InvestmentThe lawsuit seeks the removal of Altman and co‑founder Greg Brockman, the reversal of OpenAI’s for‑profit structure, and $134 bn in damages to be redirected to the nonprofit arm. Musk’s own financial involvement includes:A reported $38 m contribution that OpenAI describes as a tax‑deductible donation.Quarterly payments of $5 m that continued after the initial funding.Claims that he funded OpenAI’s rent and operations while believing the entity would stay nonprofit.Implications for OpenAI’s IPO and AI GovernanceOpenAI is planning a public listing later this year with a target valuation near $1 tn. A court‑ordered restructuring or leadership change could derail that IPO, affecting investors and the broader AI market. The case also raises questions about:Governance mechanisms for hybrid nonprofit‑for‑profit AI entities.Potential precedent for future disputes over AI safety commitments.Investor confidence in companies that blend charitable missions with commercial ambitions.What the Next Weeks Could Mean for Silicon Valley’s Power BalanceWith a nine‑person jury expected to deliberate over roughly three weeks, the outcome may reshape the power dynamics between visionary founders and corporate governance structures. If the court sides with Musk, we could see:Reinstatement of a stricter nonprofit oversight model for OpenAI.Increased scrutiny of founder‑led AI projects and their funding sources.Potential ripple effects on other AI startups facing similar governance debates.Conversely, a ruling in favor of Altman would reinforce the current for‑profit trajectory, likely accelerating OpenAI’s market debut and solidifying its position as a dominant AI platform.

The rising cost of gaming consoles and components, such as the recent £90 price hike of the PlayStation 5, can be attributed to the growing demand for computing power driven by artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. This surge in demand has led to increased prices for RAM and storage, affecting not only console manufacturers like Sony but also PC gamers.AI data centers require massive amounts of computing power to present information, which has driven up the demand and pricing for critical components. The 30% rise in the cost of living over the past half-decade, coupled with Nvidia's market cap hitting £5 trillion, highlights the significant economic impact of AI investment.The situation is further complicated by global economic disruptions, including the wars in Ukraine and Iran, which have contributed to rampant inflation. The video game industry, including major players like Valve, Nintendo, and Sony, is feeling the strain. Valve has run out of Steam Decks, and Nintendo has raised the price of physical games by $10 in the US.Critics argue that the focus on AI is misguided and that it doesn't need to be this way. As Chris Person notes, "I'm tired of these useless jackasses making the computer expensive." The emphasis on AI over consumer needs has led to frustration among gamers, who feel that technology is being forced into everything, making desirable products prohibitively expensive.The article concludes that the issue isn't just about Sony's greed but an indication of a closed economic system in big tech, which prioritizes profits over consumer needs. This shift has resulted in consumers paying more for products like the PlayStation 5 so that a select few can benefit financially from AI advancements.