Ever since 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, the conversation revolving around the death of cinema has been at an all-time high. 

The question of what’s been killing cinema has long been debated with no one true answer, as there are multiple culprits ranging from unnecessary sequels to live-action remakes. Still, there is one answer that has slipped past people’s minds: direct-to-streaming releases. 

Direct-to-streaming is the term used to describe when a movie skips a theatrical release and arrives immediately on streaming services like Netflix, the most recent streaming service to be guilty of direct-to-streaming. 

Netflix has hosted an event every year since 2021 called Tudum—named after the Netflix logo’s sound—where the streaming service previews what is coming to Netflix in the future by showcasing new trailers or talking with actors. 

At Tudum 2025, two movies I’ve had my eye on for at least a year were given updates. Those two movies are Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.” 

Both movies got teasers at the event that revealed they will release on December 12 and November, respectively, but they both won’t receive theatrical releases. 

Johnson’s new film being direct-to-streaming doesn’t surprise me as the previous movie in the franchise, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” was also a direct-to-streaming release. 

However, the original movie in the franchise, titled “Knives Out,” did have a theatrical release. 

Johnson isn’t at fault for this being a direct-to-streaming release, as he previously said in May that he wanted “Wake Up Dead Man” to be in as many theaters as possible, according to an interview he had with Business Insider. 

Looking back on Johnson’s statement of, “We’re going to push for everything we can get in terms of theatrical because I want as many people as possible to see it in that form,” things didn’t age well. 

Del Toro had a similar experience as his last film, “Pinocchio” also was a direct-to-streaming release, and he has expressed his love for film and movie theaters on various occasions. 

These films being direct-to-streaming releases is a problem because Netflix has a small audience compared to theaters. 

That being said, there is a counterargument to be made regarding both “Glass Onion” and “Pinocchio” having limited theatrical releases and how that means they are reaching that larger audience. 

But that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Looking at “Pinocchio” for example, the film was allowed a limited theatrical release a month before the film’s release date on Netflix. 

That sounds like plenty of time for the movie to reach people outside of streaming, but the key word of “limited” in “limited theatrical release” is being forgotten. 

By limiting the theatrical release, the movie is set back from the start as the theaters the film occurs in are usually in places the common moviegoer can’t reach. 

So yes, it’s good that it’s in a theater, but I can’t afford to fly out to New York City or Los Angeles for the theatrical release. 

With no official word about “Wake Up Dead Man” or “Frankenstein” having theatrical releases, it’s safe to assume they won’t be receiving any this time around. 

Netflix is a giant in the streaming service industry, but two films aren’t going to kill cinema alone.  

Instead, it’s the precedent Netflix is setting of normalizing not having theatrical releases that will continue to kill the industry. 

Netflix’s decision to do no theatrical releases makes sense from a business standpoint as they are competing with all the other streaming services for subscribers and having films exclusive to Netflix helps sway people to subscribe. 

So, if no theatrical release is a problem and Netflix doing direct-to-streaming is a good business move, what’s the solution? 

Thankfully, it’s already happened but only once thanks to the Marvel Studios’ “Black Widow.” 

“Black Widow” originally released in theaters July 9, 2021 and on Disney+ the same day with Premier Access, which costs a bit extra compared to the normal subscription. 

This hybrid release from Disney solved both problems as it allowed the normal theatrical release to occur as well as giving Disney+ an edge in the streaming service competition. 

While this would solve those problems, new ones appear, such as a much lower box office release and some contracts not giving fair compensation as a result, which happened with “Black Widow’s” hybrid release that led to a lawsuit against Disney from Black Widow lead Scarlett Johansson. 

If the hybrid release was altered to be a separate fee specifically to watch a certain movie on the streaming service at the same time as the theatrical release and contracts with those involved with the movie both in the behind-the-scenes and on-screen realms, accounted for this, the hybrid solution would be the best solution going forward. 

This hybrid approach isn’t something that will likely occur again, as no corporation wants to deal with lawsuits, which is something that terrified all the other corporations after the Johansson lawsuit. 

So, unless another solution presents itself, we’re all going to be forced to watch the film industry squabble for decades to come and slowly wither away.

Ryann Neushul and Ryder Dodd Win 2025 Peter J. Cutino Awards for NCAA Water Polo Excellence

On a warm June evening in the heart of San Francisco, The Olympic Club once again played host to the 26th Annual Peter J. Cutino Awards, honoring the outstanding female and male collegiate water polo players of the year. Sponsored by USA Water Polo, the gala brought together coaches, former Cutino winners, NCAA notables, Rap Artist Flavor Flav, and collegiate standouts for an elegant three-course dinner and the presentation of the coveted bronze Cutino trophies.

A pair of California standouts rose to the top at this year’s Peter J. Cutino Awards, as Stanford’s Ryann Neushul and UCLA’s Ryder Dodd were named the top female and male collegiate water polo players in the country.

For a full list of 2025 finalists, see:
Cutino Awards 2025 Finalists

Ryann Neushul: Family, Fierceness, and a Full-Circle Moment

With a legacy rooted in the sport and two Olympic-bound sisters paving the way, Ryann Neushul took the stage with emotion and composure. The Stanford senior paid tribute to her family’s influence and the standard set by her older siblings:

“Water polo has always been more than a sport—it’s a family tradition. My dad played at UCSB, and my mom captained the UCSB club team before women’s water polo was even an NCAA sport. I grew up on pool decks—celebrating birthdays at the Holiday Cup, cheering my sisters at nationals, and traveling the globe to support Team USA.”

Neushul also shared a pivotal moment with her sister Kylie, herself a two-time Cutino winner, who once told her after a turnover:

“Every pass you make sends a message. What is this one saying?”

It was that honest coaching, she said, that elevated her expectations—and helped shape her into the player she is today.

With this win, Ryann joins Kylie as the first sister duo to earn Cutino honors, a landmark moment for the Neushul family and for Stanford Water Polo.

Ryder Dodd: A Rising Star Makes His Mark

On the men’s side, UCLA’s Ryder Dodd capped a breakout season by earning the top individual honor in collegiate water polo. Just one year removed from high school, the freshman phenom showed composure beyond his years, anchoring UCLA’s offense and earning praise across the NCAA.

After a season that saw him lead his team in scoring and defensive efforts, Dodd took the stage to accept the prestigious bronze trophy and delivered the following heartfelt acceptance speech that struck a balance between humility and gratitude:

“To my brother Chase Dodd—my fiercest competitor and greatest supporter—I wouldn’t be here without you. And to my parents: thank you for every early-morning commute, every ounce of patience, and for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

He closed by thanking his teammates and coaches for their belief and trust, sharing the award as a team victory as much as an individual one.

A Night to Remember at The Olympic Club

The 2025 finalists included:

• Women: Ryann Neushul (Stanford), Tilly Kearns (USC), Emily Ausmus (USC)

• Men: Ryder Dodd (UCLA), Max Miller (USC), Mihailo Vukazic (Pacific)

Named after legendary coach Peter J. Cutino, the award represents more than performance—it honors integrity, leadership, and impact on the game. As Neushul and Dodd hoisted their bronze trophies, it was clear the sport’s future remains in good hands.

Stay tuned to Swimming World for exclusive interviews, photo highlights, and behind-the-scenes coverage from the 2025 Cutino Awards.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The two-day boys’ and girls’ Track and Field State Tournament officially wrapped up Saturday at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. This year marks the 50th anniversary since girls have been able to compete.

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One local woman has watched the sport evolve since the very beginning in 1975. Cindy Noble Hauserman competed at the first girls’ state track and field tournament 50 years ago at Ohio Stadium. She was a sophomore at Adena High School in Ross County at the time and a member of the winning 1975 mile relay team.

“Title IX started when I was right in high school and that was just a foot in the door, and we still played second fiddle to the men,” Hauserman said. “Not so much now.”

Hauserman was among other female athletes, coaches, administrators and officials who were honored Saturday for their significant contributions in putting Ohio girls’ track and field on the map.

“I think it’ll continue to grow, maybe not at such a pace that it has, but more power to the women,” Hauserman said.

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Bishop Watterson boys’ lacrosse looks to add to historic school year

The Bishop Watterson girls’ track and field athletes said it’s exciting knowing how far women have come in sports.

“I think it’s really empowering for us to be able to come out here and run and show the guys that we can go fast too,” Makayla Cahill, Bishop Watterson track and field athlete, said.

Hauserman said this milestone is an exciting feat for women’s athletics. She said her time competing in the first girls state tournament is one she remembers fondly and wishes everyone could experience.

“Especially in today’s world I think that sports for boys or girls is so important,” Hauserman said. “They keep you off the streets. They keep you in a disciplined situation and it keeps you driving towards a goal of being better and you want to be more successful and that takes you into the workplace and life.”

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Other big names recognized Saturday included renowned Ohio State alumni and basketball legend Katie Smith and Nancy Beattie, a retired hall of fame coach who led Thomas Worthington High School to the girls track and field division one state runner-up in the early 1990s.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – The International Volleyball Hall of Fame hosted the Battle of the Badges first responder tournament on Saturday at Holyoke Community College for a tenth year.

Police and fire teams from Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield, West Springfield, New York state, and New York City all came together for a little friendly competition on the court. Friday was the Night of Heroes celebration to honor the participants and their service.

Copyright 2025. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.

The national Iranian team, who had defeated Indonesia 3-2 in their opening match, are scheduled to meet the Philippines on Monday.

Iran are drawn in Pool B, alongside the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

Pool A features Vietnam, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and India.

The tournament will feature a round-robin preliminary stage from June 7–12, with a rest day scheduled for Tuesday. The top two teams from each pool after the preliminaries will advance to the cross semifinals on June 13.

The winners of the semifinals will meet in the final showdown on June 14, while classification matches will determine final standings. Notably, the fifth-ranked team in Pool A will play the sixth-ranked team in Pool B for 10th–11th place, while the third- and fourth-placed teams from both pools will compete for their respective rankings.

The Nations Cup is being held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from June 7 to June 14.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The start gun goes off on Wednesday, June 11 in Eugene, OR at the NCAA track and field championships. The Florida State track and field team is sending 11 individual athletes, their men’s and women’s four by 100 meter relay teams, and their women’s four by 400 meter relay team.

The group includes multi-sports athlete and Tallahassee native Micahi Danzy, who will look to cap off his stellar freshman season with national hardware.

Junior Shenese Walker is another runner to watch. Both Walker and Danzy set records at the ACC Championships this year.

Seminoles head coach Matt Kane spoke on his team’s success this year.

“They’ve made a lot of changes and they’ve been hungry to be good and they’ve been working really hard. It’s exciting to see them reap some of the benefits of that hard work,” said Kane. “A lot of times, I can see things that they don’t necessarily know are going to happen. But they’ve been putting in the work. It doesn’t surprise me because I get to see them all the time, but I think it’s probably surprised a few people here over the last couple weeks.”

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