Kristin Gore: Last News

Todd Gilchrist editor Intellectual property — the books, films, characters and properties that get butts into seats — has long been a cornerstone of Hollywood moviemaking. But many of this year’s films have drawn from less likely, though perhaps inevitable, sources of inspiration: products and brands.

The Beanie Bubble is about the Beanie Baby craze of the 1990s and the drama behind the scenes. Zach Galifianakis plays Ty Warner, the founder of the toy line. Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Snook and Geraldine Viswanathan play the three women in Warner’s life who found each other, and success, in the company. OK Go singer Damian Kulash directed with his wife, screenwriter Kristin Gore.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Chief Correspondent This summer, “Barbie” has revived the box office, making nearly $500 million worldwide in its first week. Earlier this year, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” surpassed the billion-dollar mark.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor OK Go has shared the new track “This,” from the Apple Original Film “The Beanie Bubble.” The band’s lead singer and guitarist Damian Kulash co-directed the film with his wife Kristin Gore, who also wrote the screenplay. According to Kulash, the idea for the song, filled with exuberant guitars and horns, was in the script: “The term said, ‘We close to unbelievably joyful music.” The film debuts theaters on limited release on July 21 before streaming on AppleTV+ on July 28. It stars Zach Galifianakis, Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Snook and Geraldine Viswanathan and follows the story of the Beanie Baby phenomenon.

It is probably no accident that Apple has chosen this week to launch its own legendary toy biopic, The Beanie Bubble, in the shadow of Warner Bros. about-to-be blockbuster Barbie. It can only benefit from the obvious connections and themes of female empowerment bubbling under the surface of both.

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic Dig deep enough through the eBay auction site, and you can still find Beanie Babies listed for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Nobody’s buying them at that price, but it’s a reminder that there was a moment in the not-so-distant past when the cheaply made stuffed animals fetched outrageous sums. The phenomenon, while it lasted, was fueled largely by the illusion of scarcity, as collectors chased what they believed to be limited numbers of the highly coveted critters. Were they really so rare? “The Beanie Bubble” doesn’t have any particularly interesting insights into the craze, focusing instead on their inventor, disgraced self-made toy mogul Ty Warner, portrayed by Zach Galifianakis in one of the discomfort comedian’s most skin-crawling performances to date. Tonally, the movie walks a tricky line between easy-target satire and female-empowering corporate case study, falling into the overcrowded junk-culture nostalgia-porn category so recently represented by “Tetris,” “Air,” “BlackBerry” and “Flamin’ Hot.”

Apple TV+ is bringing the unbelievable tale of one of America’s most fascinating phenomena to life — Beanie Babies.

Apple Original Films on Tuesday unveiled the theatrical and streaming release dates, as well as first-look photos for its true-life dramedy The Beanie Bubble, starring Zach Galifianakis (Baskets), Elizabeth Banks (Call Jane), Sarah Snook (Succession) and Geraldine Viswanathan (Cat Person). The film marking the feature directorial debut of Emmy nominee Kristin Gore and Damian Kulash, Jr. will premiere in select theaters on July 21st before bowing globally on Apple TV+ on July 28th.

Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover franchise) has signed on to star in the live-action Lilo & Stitch film from Marcell the Shell With Shoes On filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp, Deadline can confirm.

If you’re someone of a certain age, you probably remember the Beanie Baby craze in the ‘90s. For some reason, decades ago, people became obsessed with little stuffed animals and swore that they would become collector’s items worth millions in the future.

Zach Galifianakis and Elizabeth Banks will explore the rise and fall of Ty's Beanie Babies in Apple's new film The Beanie Bubble.Galifianakis and Banks will star alongside Succession star Sarah Snook and Blockers' Geraldine Viswanathan, via The Hollywood Reporter.Kristin Gore (Saturday Night Live) will write the movie and co-direct alongside her husband Damian Kulash, the lead singer of the group Ok Go. Beanie Babies:Zach Galifianakis and Elizabeth Banks will explore the rise and fall of Ty's Beanie Babies in Apple's new film The Beanie Bubble New role:Galifianakis and Banks will star alongside Succession star Sarah Snook and Blockers' Geraldine Viswanathan, via The Hollywood ReporterThe movie will be adapted fromZac Bissonette’s 2016 bookThe Great Beanie Baby Bubble: The Amazing Story of How America Lost Its Mind Over a Plush Toy--and the Eccentric Genius Behind It.The book charts the inception of Ty Inc., founded by eccentric college dropout Ty Warner, who became a billionaire in just a few short years with his iconic Beanie Babies toys.