‘Focker-in-Law’ Is Now the Official Title of ‘Meet the Parents’ Sequel

You thought the Fockers were gone for good? Think again. Universal Pictures has officially announced the fourth entry in the ‘Meet the Parents’ franchise, and it comes with a title that you’ll either find wildly amusing or embarrassingly desperate: “Focker-in-Law.”

Set to hit theaters on November 25, 2026, the film stars returnees Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, the newly-added Beanie Feldstein and none other than Ariana Grande, fresh off her ‘Wicked’ Oscar nomination.

Grande will reportedly play the fiancée of Greg and Pam’s son. Will De Niro bring back the lie detector?

The only genuinely good movie in this series was the gut-bustingly funny original, “Meet the Parents,” from 2000. A perfect blend of cringey family dysfunction and De Niro’s stone-cold delivery of “I have nipples, Greg” made it an instant comedy classic. Since then? Crumbs.

“Meet the Fockers” (2004) was underwhelming. “Little Fockers” (2010) was what happens when a franchise overstays its welcome by about six years. Still, all three films somehow racked up over $1.1 billion globally — so, yeah, it's no surprise Universal wants to squeeze one more drop from the awkward family sponge.

Producer Jane Rosenthal, speaking to Variety last month, made it clear that “Focker-in-Law” will have to play things safer this time around. “There are jokes you can’t tell anymore,” she said, carefully dodging specifics. “You have to think about who’s going to have issues with a joke now.”

Is there still an audience for this franchise? Or are we headed for another Little Fockers-sized misfire? Universal wouldn’t have greenlit the damn thing if they didn’t believe in its potential. The cast is starry, the holiday release is strategic, and Ariana Grande is there for Gen Z baiting. Whether that’s enough to bring new life to a series that’s been coasting remains to be seen.

Michael Douglas Says Jack Nicholson, 89, Is “Not Working Any More" and Has “Disappeared"

While James L. Brooks teased last year that "we'll soon be seeing" Jack Nicholson, 89, act again, and that he was "reading scripts," that idea has now been shut down by his close friend Michael Douglas, 82.

Karyn Kusama to Direct ‘Mouthwashing’ Movie for Sony, ‘The Invitation’ Writers to Pen Script

Sony has acquired the feature film rights to "Mouthwashing," the acclaimed psychological horror game. The studio has hired Kusama to direct, and she will bring her most reliable writers, Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, with her.

Sir Patrick Stewart, 86, Has Died

A real shocker. There are some people you think will live forever, and Sir Patrick Stewart was one of them. The legendary actor has passed away at the age of 86. We’ve lost one of the greats.

Ken Russell's ‘The Devils' Extends Theatrical Run Indefinitely (!) After $3.3M Box Office Surprise

Nobody expected a 55-year-old NC-17 movie to be one of the surprise box office stories of the fall. Yet here we are, and this absolutely puts a smile on my face.

‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ First Reactions Are Very Positive

Of course, we all know the rule: take these reactions with a grain of salt rather than treating them as gospel. Still, I will say that the film tested like gangbusters earlier this year, and Lionsgate clearly has confidence.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

CONFIRMED: Sadie Soverall Exits Brady Corbet's ‘The Origin of the World' Mid-Shoot, Lily McInerny Steps In Lead Role

Sadie Soverall was just let go after briefly filming on Corbet's new film — no official reason given. She had the lead role. Corbet has replaced her, last minute, with Lily McInerny.

Ron Howard’s ‘Alone at Dawn’ Starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway Sets Christmas 2027 Release

This is the adaptation of the nonfiction book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz. It wrapped production in February and has been in post-production ever since. The film test-screened a few months ago.

Jeremy Saulnier’s Next Film Retitled to ‘Slayground,’ Current Runtime is 2.5 Hours, Plot Details

Jeremy Saulnier’s mysterious A24 project, formerly “October,” still has no release date. You’d think, given that it has been in post-production for almost a year now.

Jemima Kirke and Alexi Wasser to Star in Woody Allen's Next Film

A few months ago, Deadline reported that Woody Allen's next film, set in Madrid and carrying a $14M budget, will be "largely English-language" and feature a "high-profile cast."

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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