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  • Bitcoin Outperforms Equities as Asia Markets Reel From Iran Strikes

    Bitcoin Outperforms Equities as Asia Markets Reel From Iran Strikes

    Asian markets plunged on Monday as the fallout from US and Israeli military strikes on Iran sent oil surging, stocks tumbling, and investors scrambling for safe havens — but Bitcoin held up better than expected, trading around $66,500 after a weekend that saw it swing between $63,000 and $68,000.

    With the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut and Brent crude up as much as 13%, the conflict is now testing whether Bitcoin’s 24/7 liquidity makes it a crisis shock absorber or just another risk asset caught in the downdraft.

    Asia Opens in the Red, Then Pares Losses

    Japan’s Nikkei plunged as much as 2.15% at the open, shedding over 1,260 points. By midday, it had pared the drop to 1.66%, trading at 57,875. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 2.54%, and Singapore’s Straits Times fell 2.13%. Shanghai held up better, dipping just 0.45%.

    Airline stocks across the region — Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Japan Airlines among them — fell more than 5% as the Hormuz closure disrupted flight routes and sent fuel costs soaring. Chinese airlines were also hit hard.

    Oil’s initial surge faded sharply through the session. Brent had jumped as much as 13% at the open, but WTI was up just 4.24% by midday. US equity-index futures also recovered, with the S&P 500 down 0.67% and the Dow off 0.71% — well off earlier lows of over 1%. Gold rose 1.76%.

    China’s energy sector bucked the trend. PetroChina opened up 7% in Shanghai, and the CSI Energy Index jumped 5%. Korea’s Kospi, one of Asia’s top-performing markets this year, was closed Monday for a national holiday — delaying what could be a sharp reaction on Tuesday.

    Bitcoin, down 2.2% on the day, outperformed the steep losses in equity futures and Asian stock benchmarks.

    A Wild Weekend for Crypto

    The turbulence began Saturday when US-Israeli strikes hit targets across Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Bitcoin dropped below $64,000 within hours as the total crypto market shed roughly $128 billion in value, with forced liquidations cascading across derivatives markets.

    The bounce came fast. After Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei’s death, traders bet the power vacuum could accelerate de-escalation, pushing Bitcoin back above $68,000 in thin Sunday liquidity. But the optimism faded as Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, hitting targets in Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain, dragging the price back below $66,000 by Sunday evening in New York.

    By early Monday in Asia, Bitcoin was trading at around $66,543, with a 24-hour range of $65,149 to $68,043. The 24-hour trading volume topped $43.6 billion, reflecting heightened activity as traders repositioned ahead of the US market open.

    Hormuz: The Real Risk

    The biggest market risk is the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20% of global seaborne oil passes through the waterway. Digital signals indicate tanker traffic has nearly halted. At least three ships have been attacked near the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Economists have warned that a sustained closure could push oil prices as high as $108 per barrel.

    OPEC+ moved to ease supply fears on Sunday, announcing a production increase of 206,000 barrels per day starting in April — more than analysts had expected. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the UAE, and four other members are set to boost output. But analysts cautioned the move may offer limited relief. If Gulf flows remain constrained, additional production means little. Export routes matter more than headline output targets.

    For crypto, the oil shock creates a dual threat. Higher energy prices feed directly into inflation expectations, potentially delaying Federal Reserve rate cuts that the market has been counting on. Even with OPEC+ stepping in, prolonged disruption to Hormuz could keep crude elevated long enough to push inflation readings higher, which is negative for risk assets, including Bitcoin.

    Pressure Valve or Risk Asset?

    The weekend reinforced Bitcoin’s evolving identity in geopolitical crises. When traditional markets are closed, crypto absorbs selling pressure from equities, bonds, and commodities. Analysts call this the “pressure valve” effect. Bitcoin is the only large liquid asset trading around the clock. It took the brunt of weekend risk-off flows. The real price discovery is expected on Monday when US equity markets and Bitcoin ETFs reopen.

    That ETF dynamic adds a new variable. Spot Bitcoin ETFs drew nearly $254 million in net inflows over three sessions last week. Monday’s open could test whether institutional holders maintain positions through escalating geopolitical turmoil.

    Bitcoin futures funding rates have turned sharply negative, with the CMC Crypto Fear and Greed index at 15 — deep in “Extreme Fear” territory where it has been stuck for weeks. Some analysts view this as a contrarian signal, arguing that the market is mechanically paying traders to go long.

    What Comes Next

    Some initial panic has faded after President Trump told the New York Times he was open to dropping sanctions on Iran if its new leadership proves pragmatic. A senior White House official also said to the press that Iran’s new interim leadership had suggested it was open to talks, and Trump said he had agreed to engage.

    Some Wall Street strategists warned against buying the dip too quickly. This episode risks lasting longer than the geopolitical flare-ups investors have grown accustomed to.

    For Bitcoin, which has already fallen 47% from its October all-time high of $126,000, the $60,000 support level remains the line in the sand. A break below could open the path to the mid-$50,000 range. A sustained move above $70,000, on the other hand, could trigger a short squeeze given the heavy bearish positioning currently built up in derivatives markets.

    With CPI data due March 11 and the Fed decision on March 18, the crypto market faces a gauntlet of catalysts that the Iran conflict has made exponentially harder to navigate.

  • Jessie Buckley Dedicates Actor Award Win to ‘Hamnet’ Co-Star Emily Watson: “You’re the Realest of the Real”

    Jessie Buckley Dedicates Actor Award Win to ‘Hamnet’ Co-Star Emily Watson: “You’re the Realest of the Real”

    Jessie Buckley came out on top at the 2026 Actor Awards for outstanding performance by a female actor in a film, cementing the Hamnet star’s status as the Oscar frontrunner for best actress.

    It’s been a dominant run for the Irish native, as she came into Sunday night with major wins already from the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs. With this win, recognizing her devastating turn as Agnes Shakespeare, coming from her peers in SAG-AFTRA, she’ll head into the Oscars in two weeks having effectively swept the precursor awards circuit — a feat that almost always translates to victory at the Academy Awards.

    Buckley spoke to being embraced by her peers as she began her speech, saying, “I have been categorically changed by so many people in this room and beyond. … What a way to spend a life.” But the bulk of her remarks were then dedicated to Emily Watson, her costar in Hamnet and an inspiration for her in forging her own career. She pointed to Watson from the stage and said, “You!”

    “I’d like to say a special thank you to my incredible friend and date tonight, Emily Watson,” Buckley continued. “Breaking the Waves made me say to myself, that’s what I want to do. … The best advice that you always give to me is to always go back to the well of just being human. Ground zero, babe. You’re the realest of the real.”

    Buckley’s strongest competition at the Actor Awards 2026 was thought to be Rose Byrne, whose intense performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You won her a slew of critics’ prizes, in addition to a Golden Globe and a Spirit Award. Byrne is also nominated at the Oscars, as are fellow Actor Award competitors Emma Stone (Bugonia) and Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue); SAG-AFTRA’s final nominee in the category, One Battle After Another’s Chase Infiniti, was passed over by the Academy in favor of Sentimental Value’s Renate Reinsve. This was Buckley’s first-ever individual Actor Award nomination, as SAG-AFTRA ignored her ultimately Oscar-nominated turn in The Lost Daughter.

    Buckley is also nominated tonight as part of the Hamnet cast, and was previously cited for best ensemble for Women Talking. She’s the first Irish performer ever to win this category, and should she win the Oscar for best actress, will also be the first-ever Irish winner there.

  • Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association Supports “Targeted Actions” Against Government Officials in Wake of U.S. Military Operations

    Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) has released a statement backing the “targeted actions against government officials and oppressive agents” following a joint military operation by the United States and Israel on Feb 28 in Iran that caused the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The filmmakers’ group also called for the protection of the civilian population of Iran.

    “The Islamic regime in Iran, following the national uprising and tragic massacre of January 2025, has left its defenseless citizens with no option but to seek urgent humanitarian intervention from the international community,” reads the statement. The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association was founded in 2022 following the Women, Life, Freedom movement, and claims to be made up of members of Iran’s disident filmmaking community.

    The statement continued: “In this context, the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) calls upon the international community to uphold Iran’s sovereignty and to prioritize the protection of tens of millions of citizens held hostage by the Islamic regime. We advocate for targeted actions against government officials and oppressive agents while avoiding harm to innocent civilians. It is essential to put an end to this archaic cycle of patriarchal violence.”

    The IIFMA statement comes after the U.S. and Israel began a surprise coordinated military operation in Iran on Feb 28 that has seen missile strikes in the capital, Tehran, and across the country continue into Sunday. In a message, President Donald Trump said the attacks were an attempt to wipe out Iran’s nuclear capabilities and to bring about regime change.

    The attacks also come after a crackdown by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard on anti-government protests on Jan 8 and Jan 9, which killed over an estimated 30,000 civilians. In addition to Khamenei, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was killed during the Feb 28 military operation.

    A retaliatory strike from the Islamic Republic has reportedly killed three American Army soldiers deployed in Kuwait. Counterattacks have also struck U.S. bases in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

    Read the full statement from the IIFMA below.

    The Islamic regime in Iran, following the national uprising and tragic massacre of January 2025, has left its defenseless citizens with no option but to seek urgent humanitarian intervention from the international community. For decades, this regime has squandered national wealth on nuclear and military infrastructure while imposing harsh sanctions that have devastated the populace. Its recent cowardly attacks on neighboring countries reveal its weakening grasp on power.

    In this context, the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) calls upon the international community to uphold Iran’s sovereignty and to prioritize the protection of tens of millions of citizens held hostage by the Islamic regime. We advocate for targeted actions against government officials and oppressive agents while avoiding harm to innocent civilians. It is essential to put an end to this archaic cycle of patriarchal violence.

    IIFMA is particularly concerned for the lives of all prisoners, especially those involved in the ongoing Revolution. We are alarmed by the regime’s deceitful tactics, which may lead to a repeat of the Cinema Rex tragedy, where blame for civilian deaths is shifted onto foreign actors.

    In these challenging times, it is only through united resistance against theocracy that we can hope to end violence and forge a path toward lasting peace and freedom. True peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is built upon the foundation of genuine liberty and dignity for all.

  • Bitcoin Rebound Stalls at $65K as Stocks Fall and Gold Rises

    Bitcoin Rebound Stalls at $65K as Stocks Fall and Gold Rises

    In brief

    • Bitcoin slipped to nearly $65,000, recently trading near half its all-time high of $126,080.
    • CoreWeave stock dropped more than 20% after Macquarie slashed its price target to $90.
    • Block Inc. bucked the trend, surging 14% after announcing a 40% staff cut due to AI.

    After peaking above $69,000 on Wednesday and suggesting a potential rebound for the leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin dropped more than 3% on Friday to nearly $65,000 as stocks dipped and gold enjoyed a 1.4% bump.

    The S&P 500 has fallen 0.7% and the Nasdaq has slipped 1.15% since the New York opening bell on Friday.

    At the time of writing, Bitcoin was changing hands for $65,222 and has lost 3.5% compared to the same time last week, according to crypto price aggregator CoinGecko.

    The world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has been trading for nearly half its all-time high price of $126,080 for the better part of the past week.

    Bitcoin had a bumpy week, starting with a sell-off Monday. There was more turbulence mid-week as President Donald Trump’s 10% global tariff went into effect, but a brief window of relief as Nvidia’s earnings steadied tech stocks and crypto markets alike.

    “After reaching the $70K psychological level, upside momentum faded,” analysts at Tokyo-based crypto exchange Bitbank wrote in a note shared with Decrypt. “Since Thursday, in the absence of fresh catalysts, BTC has traded in a narrow range in the mid-to-high $60K area.”

    Other major cryptocurrencies have fallen in line with Bitcoin, with Ethereum dropping more than 5% on the day to $1,918, while XRP is down about 4% to $1.35 and Solana has dipped over 5% to $81.50.

    The price of gold, however, has ticked up to $5,268 as investors seek safe haven assets. Meanwhile, crypto stocks have taken a beating, with some falling much harder than indices indicate.

    CoreWeave (CRWV), a Bitcoin mining firm turned AI-native cloud computing provider, had dropped 21% to $76.92 at the time of writing.

    On Friday morning, analysts at Macquarie dropped their price target for the firm. They explained in a note shared with Decrypt that the company missed on its earnings and needs substantial investment before it can bring additional compute resources online.

    “Execution at this scale could be choppy,” they added, dropping their price target for the stock from $115 to $90.

    Ethereum treasury giant BitMine Immersion Technologies has seen its shares drop 7.3% in the past day, falling to $18.95. The company holds 4.42 million ETH that’s worth approximately $8.2 billion at the time of writing. And its Ethereum treasury competitor, Sharplink, has seen its shares drop 6.7% to $6.73. SBET currently holds over 863,000 ETH, which is worth approximately $1.6 billion at current prices.

    Meanwhile, Jack Dorsey’s payments processor, Block Inc., has seen its shares buck the crypto stock trend. Block, which trades under XYZ, has gained nearly 15% since the opening bell after the company announced that it has cut 40% of its staff in a pivot to rely more on AI.

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  • Kelly Osbourne Slams Body-Shaming Critics’ ‘Cruelty’: ‘I’m Going Through the Hardest Time of My Life’ After Father Ozzy’s Death

    Kelly Osbourne Slams Body-Shaming Critics’ ‘Cruelty’: ‘I’m Going Through the Hardest Time of My Life’ After Father Ozzy’s Death

    Kelly Osbourne is speaking out after many people have been commenting on her appearance and weight loss online after Saturday’s Brit Awards.

    “There is a special kind of cruelty in harming someone who is clearly going through something,” she posted on her Instagram story after the British awards show. “Kicking me while I’m down, doubting my pain, spreading my struggles as gossip, and turning your back when I need support and love most.”

    Kelly’s father, the late heavy metal rockstar Ozzy Osbourne, was posthumously honored with a lifetime achievement at the Brit Awards. He died on July 22, 2025, at 76 years old, and Kelly and her mother Sharon accepted the award on Ozzy’s behalf Saturday.

    In the months following Ozzy’s death, Kelly has repeatedly responded to body-shaming critics of her weight loss.

    “To the people who keep thinking they’re being funny and mean by writing comments like ‘Are you ill,’ or ‘Get off Ozempic, you don’t look right.’ My dad just died, and I’m doing the best that I can, and the only thing I have to live for right now is my family,” Kelly said in a since-deleted social media video late last year.” “So to all those people, fuck off.” Sharon also defended her daughter in an interview with Piers Morgan, saying, “She’s lost her daddy, she can’t eat right now.”

    The online critics returned after the mother and daughter walked the Brit Awards red carpet and gave a speech honoring Ozzy.

    “None of it proves strength; it only reveals a profound absence of compassion and character,” Kelly wrote on Instagram. “I’m currently going through the hardest time in my life. I should not even have to defend myself. But I won’t sit here and allow myself to be dehumanized in such a way!”

    On the Brit Awards stage, Sharon paid tribute to her late husband by saying, “If Ozzy was here tonight with us, he would be showing us that gorgeous smile that he had and I know he would be so proud to receive this from the country that he loved. So he may not be here, but he left us one amazing body of work that will never be forgotten by the country that made him.”

  • 19 Best New Movies to Streaming in March: ‘Peaky Blinders,’ ‘Wicked: For Good,’ ‘The Secret Agent,’ ‘Hamnet,’ ‘Sentimental Value’ and More

    March is home to the 2026 Oscars, which makes it the perfect time for a handful of the most acclaimed nominees to make their streaming debuts. Neon’s international favorites “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value” and “It Was Just an Accident” all debut on Hulu this month. Two of these films, “The Secret Agent” and “Sentimental Value,” are best picture nominees, while all three were awarded major prizes at the Cannes Film Festival last May. “It Was Just an Accident,” directed by Jafar Panahi, took home the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or. “The Secret Agent” won Cannes’ best director and best actor prizes for Kleber Mendonça Filho and Wagner Moura, respectively.

    “Hamnet” is another one of the major Oscar contenders hitting streaming before the March 15 ceremony. The acclaimed Chloe Zhao-directed drama, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, is up for eight prizes, including best picture. Jessie Buckley is a favorite to win the best actress prize after sweeping the season so far with wins at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards and BAFTAs.

    Outside of the Oscars, Peacock is bringing a blockbuster to streaming with the premiere of “Wicked: For Good.” The musical sequel, once again headlined by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, arrives on streaming after a $500 million-plus theatrical run worldwide. Netflix, meanwhile, is sure to have a streaming blockbuster on its hands with the premiere of “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man,” the long-anticipated movie continuation of the hit series. Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby.

    Check out a rundown below of the biggest films new to streaming in March.

  • The US reportedly used Anthropic’s AI for its attack on Iran, just after banning it

    The US reportedly used Anthropic’s AI for its attack on Iran, just after banning it

    In a lengthy post on Truth Social on February 27, President Trump ordered all federal agencies to “immediately cease all use of Anthropic’s technology” following strong disagreements between the Department of Defense and the AI company. A few hours later, the US conducted a major air attack on Iran with the help of Anthropic’s AI tools, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

    The president noted in his post that there would be a “six-month phase-out period for agencies like the Department of War who are using Anthropic’s products,” so federal agencies are still expected to eventually move away from using Claude or other Anthropic tech. It’s also not the first time that the US used Anthropic’s AI for a major military operation, as the WSJ previously reported that Claude was used in the capture of the now-removed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

    Moving forward, the Department of Defense may begin transitioning towards other AI options, especially after reaching deals with both xAI and OpenAI to use their models within the federal agency’s network. However, the WSJ reported that it would take months to replace Anthropic’s Claude with other AI models.

  • Big Bull Michael Saylor Releases the Anticipated Bitcoin Update

    Big Bull Michael Saylor Releases the Anticipated Bitcoin Update

    Michael Saylor sparked renewed speculation in the markets by sharing a new Bitcoin ($BTC) update.

    Saylor’s post, which used the phrase “The Turn of the Century,” was interpreted as a sign that his company might be preparing to increase its Bitcoin holdings. In previous instances, Saylor has typically made similar posts a day before an official purchase announcement.

    Strategy, founded by Saylor, currently holds a total of 717,722 $BTC. The total value of the company’s Bitcoin reserves is approximately $48.19 billion. With an average purchase cost of $76,020 and the current price around $67,170, the company’s position appears to be in an unrealized loss of approximately 11.68%. This indicates a paper loss of approximately $6.37 billion.

    The performance data from the past year reveals a striking picture. While technology giants like Alphabet and NVIDIA recorded strong gains, Bitcoin lost approximately 28.7% of its value during the same period. Strategy shares, however, underperformed both Bitcoin and major technology stocks, falling by 49.3%. This is due to the company’s balance sheet being heavily dependent on Bitcoin price movements.

    *This is not investment advice.

  • Box Office: ‘Scream 7’ Scares Up Record $64M U.S. Opening, $97M Globally for a Victorious Paramount

    Box Office: ‘Scream 7’ Scares Up Record $64M U.S. Opening, $97M Globally for a Victorious Paramount

    The good news continues for Paramount as Scream 7 blew past all expectations at the domestic box office, where the Spyglass Media pic opened to a franchise-best $64.1 million domestically and $33.1 million overseas for a global start of $97.2 million. In North America, it’s the biggest launch ever for a horror title going out in February and the biggest debut of 2025 so far, not adjusted for inflation.

    Friday’s haul of $28.8 million includes $7.8 million in Thursday previews, which began just as David Ellison’s Paramount-Skydance learned the path has been cleared for the company to buy Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal that has left Hollywood rocked to its core after Netflix stepped away. The merger — which would mark be the biggest leveraged buyout in history — is bittersweet for many since it will see the number of legacy Hollywood studios dwindle from five to four and result in massive layoffs across film, television and corporate operations.

    Back to Scream 7. The droves of moviegoers rushing to see the pic prove once again why many genre titles are generally review-proof. The pic — whose major coup was getting Neve Campbell to return after sitting out the last installment — currently sits at a series-worst 33 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, but the RT audience score is a good-enough 78 percent (studios generally want to see 80 percent and above). And it earned a B- CinemaScore; its predecessors likewise earned some variation of a B, which is a high grade for a horror title.

    The demo breakdown couldn’t be better. The male split and females was relatively narrow, while the audience was notably diverse. Gen Zers of all ages and younger Millennials turned out in force.

    While Ellison’s hand-picked Paramount Pictures co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein inherited the Spyglass project, they, along with newly installed marketing head Josh Goldstine, successfully carried it over the finish line. Spyglass fully produced the movie, with Paramount co-financing half of the net $45 million budget.

    Heading into the weekend, Paramount was forecasting a $40 million launch for the slasher pic, which would have still marked the best three-day launch of the year to date. Tracking was more bullish, with the National Research Group projecting $45 million. As of now, Scream VI, which launched to $44.4 million in March 2023, is the record-holder for the series’ top opener, not adjusted for inflation.

    Scream 7 has another secret weapon in its arsenal — it will be the first installment to play in Imax. It is also booked across all other premium formats. Combined, they are ponying up 40 percent of the grosses. Imax doesn’t generally turn over most of its footprint to a horror title, but the 2026 pipeline to date has been relatively sparse when it comes to event studio product.

    Kevin Williamson, who wrote the script for the original Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 4, directs the seventh installment. The story follows Sidney (Campbell) as she returns to a small town with her daughter (Isabel May), only to soon cross paths with a new Ghostface killer. The girl is named Tatum, the same name as Rose McGowan’s character in the 1996’s Scream, who was murdered.

    A trailer released in October focused on Ghostface targeting Sidney and Tatum, with Sidney teaching her daughter the rules of surviving the brutal killer. Another ad played during the Super Bowl, underscoring how important the franchise is to the new regime at Paramount. In addition to Campbell, original star Courteney Cox returns as reporter Gale Weathers.

    While Campbell’s return marks a highly anticipated moment for fans, two stars of the revival films Scream (2022) and Scream VI will not be back. Melissa Barrera was fired from Scream 7 because of her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war. Jenna Ortega had already left the film voluntarily before the firing, though it was not made public until after. Christopher Landon, who was set to direct the horror sequel, also exited amid intense fan backlash after Barrera’s firing, despite not being the one to fire the actress.

    Other franchise stars returning include David Arquette as Dewey Riley, completing the legacy trio alongside Sidney and Gale. Matthew Lillard, one of the original co-Ghostface killers, is coming back as Stu Macher, as well as Scott Foley, Scream 3‘s Ghostface Roman Bridger — Sidney’s half-brother. Siblings Chad and Mindy, played by Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, are also in Scream 7.

    Among holdovers, Sony Picture Animated’ GOAT looks to gross $11 million to $12 million for a second-place finish as it finally pulls safely ahead of Warner Bros.’ Wuthering Heights, which is aiming for $7 million to $8 million. (Both titles are in their third weekend.)

    After that, it is anybody’s guess where the next four movies will land, since they are all estimated to earn in the $3 million to $3.5 million range: the new concert doc Twenty Pilots: I Can’t Believe This is My Life, which is booked in more than 770 cinemas, including select Imax runs; Amazon MGM’s holdover Crime 101; Lionsgate’s I Can Only Imagine 2; and Baz Luhrmann‘s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.

    From leading indie outfit Neon, Luhrmann’s pic is expanding nationwide this weekend after opening to a strong $3.3 million from 325 Imax runs a week ago. It is now playing in 1,608 locations, and received a coveted A+ CinemaScore from audiences on Friday after already earning glowing reviews. It opens four years after the filmmaker’s acclaimed biopic Elvis, starring Austin Butler, became the talk of the town.

    Feb. 25, 7:20 a.m.: Updated with revised estimates.

    This story was originally published Feb. 27 at 8:59 a.m.

  • Starting 5, Mar. 1: Luka’s B-Day W, Wemby’s surging Spurs start Sunday at MSG, Jamal Crawford answers your questions

    Starting 5, Mar. 1: Luka’s B-Day W, Wemby’s surging Spurs start Sunday at MSG, Jamal Crawford answers your questions

    A game-high 26 points to go with 27 candles.

    Luka (Birthday) Magic helped the Lakers snap their skid.

    Read on for everything to know about this stuffed Sunday of hoops.

    Luka Dončić

    5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

    Mar. 1, 2026

    ABC Doubleheader: Spurs surge into March, MSG; Ant wants the shot in Denver

    Sunday Night Basketball: Will Sixers-Celtics rivalry deliver fourth straight thriller?

    Saturday’s Standouts: Birthday boy Luka helps Lakers snap skid, Adebayo’s Heat handle Rockets

    Roundup: Hornets stay hot, Raptors’ starters roll, Pels take two in Utah

    J-Crossover’s Mailbag: Jamal Crawford answers NBA fan questions

    BUT FIRST … ⏰

    March starts with a monster 11-game slate…

    Scores & Schedule

    A packed Sunday brings 11 games across 10 hours, beginning with ABC’s matinee doubleheader.

    ABC Doubleheader: Wemby and Spurs start the day in New York against the Knicks (1 ET | Tap To Watch), followed by Ant and the Wolves visiting the Nuggets (3:30 ET | Tap To Watch).

    Sunday Night Basketball: With the last three matchups each decided by a single basket, the Sixers and Celtics’ classic rivalry continues to thrill (8 ET on NBC & Peacock | Tap To Watch).

    More Classics On Tuesday: NBC/Peacock throws it back to the 90s for Spurs at Sixers (8 ET), featuring notable NBA On NBC voices from the past: Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello and more.

    1. ON ABC: SPURS SURGE INTO MARCH, MSG; ANT READY TO SHOOT IN DENVER

    Victor Wembanyama

    Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

    The hottest team in basketball tips off the day, and a new month, looking to extend that unbeaten February feeling.

    Spurs at Knicks (1 ET): Winners of 11 straight for the first time in a decade, San Antonio starts ABC’s doubleheader in the second-toughest place to win in the East, New York’s Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks are 22-8 this season.

    It’s Victor Wembanyama’s first game at The Garden since Christmas Day 2024, where he gifted a 1-of-1 statline.

    • Christmas Callback: Wemby logged 42 points, 18 boards, 6 3s and 4 blocks, becoming the only player in NBA history with such minimums in a game
    • The Knicks won that game, with 40 from Mikal Bridges. And while San Antonio has taken the last two regular-season games in the series, Vic is still looking for his first MSG win
    • Growing Together: It’ll be a full team effort to get it, as San Antonio has leveled up offensively to lead the league with 124.8 ppg and 31.6 apg in February
    • “After the All-Star break, we had the conversation with the team of just, every game from now on, it means something,” Julian Champagnie said. “We’re fighting for something. We’re building something.”

    The Knicks spent February doubling down defensively, with last month’s 6th-best defensive rating (108.4) backing up offensive performances like Jalen Brunson’s 22-point 1st quarter Friday.

    San Antonio will counter on the perimeter with Stephon Castle, who’s made things difficult for some of the best in the game.

    Notable opponents’ shooting stats with Castle as the primary defender this season:

    • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 6-19
    • Jalen Williams: 3-10
    • Luka Dončić: 8-21
    • Cade Cunningham: 3-13
    • Devin Booker: 2-9
    • Cooper Flagg: 5-12
    Anthony Edwards

    Justin Tafoya/NBAE via Getty Images

    Wolves at Nuggets (3:30 ET): Anthony Edwards and the Wolves pay a visit to Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets, a familiar foe they’re stalking in the West standings.

    Sharing the same record of 37-23, Denver holds on to the 4-seed with its 3-0 advantage in the season series, which would become a first-round Playoff series if the season ended today.

    And come clutch time in this fierce rivalry, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski writes there’s no question (or debate) who’s getting the ball for Minnesota:

    “In his sixth season in the league, [Ant] has shown a mastery of the moment that rivals anyone else in the NBA. He has a plan now, and there is no stopping him.

    “‘Me and my coach got the best relationship ever,” Edwards said with a smile after scoring 31 points in a 94-88 victory. “He be right most of the time — 98 percent of the time. He told me to pass the ball tonight, and I should have passed it, but I shot the ball instead and it went in. The basketball gods were on my side.’” | Read More

    • Franchise First? Ant (29.6 ppg) is right on the edge of Minnesota’s first 30.0+ ppg scorer in team history
    • Speaking of Christmas: The Nuggets and Wolves last met on Christmas Day, where Joker (56 pts, 16 reb, 15 ast) logged the first-ever 55/15/15 game

    2. SUNDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL: SIXERS-CELTICS RIVALRY COMING UP CLUTCH

    Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown

    David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

    The Sixers and Celtics are tuning up for their 475th all-time meeting tonight on NBC/Peacock’s Sunday Night Basketball (8 ET).

    And through all that history, the rivalry is thriving like no other this season, with the first three games all coming down to the final possession.

    • Game 1, Oct. 22: On Opening Night, VJ Edgecombe (34 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 50.0 FG%) made a statement to the league in his debut, while Tyrese Maxey (6 ast, 54.2 FG%) dropped 40 to lead Philly to the 117-116 win
    • Game 2, Oct. 31: Jaylen Brown nabbed 32 points on Halloween in Philly, and a strong defensive stand late preserved the C’s 109-108 win
    • Game 3, Nov. 11: Maxey (21 pts), Justin Edwards (22 pts, 8-9 FG), and a Kelly Oubre Jr. bucket with 8.7 remaining helped the Sixers take a 2-1 series edge, 102-100

    The regular season’s final entry in this series brings a showdown of top-5 scorers, with Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey each scoring an identical 29.1 ppg.

    • Back From Break: Maxey has been rolling since the All-Star Break, averaging 30.8 points and 7.4 assists in those last five games
    • He’s been that good against Boston this season (29.0 ppg, 58.3 3P%), bolstering his assists to 9.7 over the three games and adding 5.0 boards
    • JB Vs. PHI: Brown has hung with Maxey head-to-head (27.0 ppg, 5.0 reb, 5.0 ast), excelling in efficiency with 54.5/50.0 shooting splits
    • Running Mate: With Joel Embiid (oblique) out for the next three games, Philly will continue to look to Edgecombe for a boost, who’s averaging 20.0 points over his last five games
    VJ Edgecombe

    Emilee Chinn/NBAE via Getty Images

    Roundup: Other East contenders take the court tonight, as the Cavs look to continue their momentum visiting the Nets (3:30 ET) and the top-seeded Pistons hit the road against Magic (6 ET).

    • Bucks at Bulls (3:30 ET)
    • Grizzlies at Pacers (5 ET)
    • Blazers at Hawks (6 ET)
    • Thunder at Mavericks (8 ET)
    • Pelicans at Clippers (9 ET)
    • Kings at Lakers (9:30 ET)

    3. SATURDAY STANDOUTS: LAKERS SNAP SKID ON LUKA’S BIRTHDAY, HEAT HOLD OFF ROCKETS

    Luka Dončić

    On his 27th birthday, Luka Dončić nearly matched his new age in points.

    The best (and maybe only?) gift he got all day was an end to L.A.’s three-game skid.

    Lakers 129, Warriors 101: Dončić (26 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast) led all scorers as the Lakers flew out to a 33-16 lead and never trailed after 2-0. Luka, LeBron (22 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast) and Austin Reaves (18 pts) combined for 66 points and 20 of L.A.’s 29 assists. | Recap

    • “I think today was one of the best games we’ve played together,” Luka said of teaming with James and Reaves. “We’re sharing the ball — we’ve just got to continue like that.”
    • Special Guest: LeBron poured in 20 of his 22 points in the 1st half, his second 20+ half this season, after his warmup partner, daughter Zhuri, got him game-ready
    • Triples King: Sinking four 3s on the night, James joined Kobe as the only Lakers with 1,000+ made 3s. LeBron is the first player ever to hit 1K 3s for multiple franchises
    • Birthday Wishes: A mic’d up Draymond Green wished Luka happy birthday and the Lakers sang to Dončić while unveiling his jersey cake
    • Feeling At-Home: Gui Santos (14 pts) led the shorthanded Warriors on the day he signed a multi-year contract extension
    • Adding Separation: Holding on to the final guaranteed Playoff spot in the West, L.A. moved to 1.5 games up on the 7th-place Suns, and 4.5 ahead of the Warriors

    Bam Adebayo

    A guaranteed Playoff spot is what Bam Adebayo and the Heat want most right now.

    To get there from 8th place, they’ll need more signature wins like the one they got Saturday.

    Heat 115, Rockets 105: After trading early double-digit leads, Miami closed a back-and-forth 2nd half with a 9-2 run, with Adebayo (24 pts, 11 reb, 3 3s) leading the way and Pelle Larsson adding 10 of his 20 points in the 4th. | Recap

    • Kevin Durant (32 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast) led the Rockets with his 432nd 30+ point game, passing Kobe for 5th-most all-time and putting him four away from passing Karl Malone
    • Next Man Up: Tyler Herro (18 pts) made his first start since Jan. 15 (ribs) in place of Norman Powell (groin), and Reed Sheppard (14 pts, 5 ast) started in place of Jabai Smith Jr. (ankle)
    • Aftermath: Houston holds on to 3rd place in the West with a half-game lead over Denver, while Miami sits in 8th in the East, 2 games out of a guaranteed Playoff spot

    “We’re top-5 in offense, top-5 in defense, so we know where we belong, where we should be,” Andrew Wiggins (12 pts, 6 reb) said postgame.

    “We gotta keep putting in the work and be consistent to get there.”

    4. ROUNDUP: HORNETS STAY HOT, RAPTORS STARTERS ROLL, PELS TAKE TWO

    Miles Bridges

    Hornets 109, Blazers 92: Charlotte opened with a 25-12 run and Brandon Miller (26 pts, 8 reb) hit four of his six 3s in the 2nd quarter, as Buzz City never looked back, overcoming 46 combined points from Jrue Holiday (25 pts, 5 reb) and Jerami Grant (21 pts). | Recap

    • Coby White (20 pts) made his home debut for Charlotte in his third game (calf) since arriving at the trade deadline and got a warm welcome from his college coach Roy Williams and his home state’s fans
    • Second Surge? Maintaining Play-In position in 9th, Charlotte has now won four straight and is 14-3 since Jan. 22

    Immanuel Quickley, Saddiq Bey

    Raptors 132, Wizards 125: All five Toronto starters scored at least 18 points, led by Immanuel Quickley (27 pts, 11 ast), who helped flip the lead for good during the Raps’ 11-2 3rd-quarter run to pull away from Will Riley (19 pts) and Washington. | Recap

    • Toronto starters Quickley, Brandon Ingram (24 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast), RJ Barrett (21 pts, 5 reb), Scottie Barnes (18 pts), and Jakob Poeltl (18 pts, 10 reb, 3 stl) combined for 108 of 132 points
    • Family Style: It’s the fourth time this season Toronto has had every starter score 15+ points — its most such games in a season since 2021-22 (6x)
    • Elite Depth: The Raps are one of just two teams this season with four or more games where all five starters scored 15+ points, trailing only the Knicks (5x)
    • In The Mix: Toronto holds steady to 5th place in the East, 1.5 games behind Cleveland, and 1.5 games up on Philly’s final guaranteed Playoff spot

    Pelicans 115, Jazz 105: Saddiq Bey (24 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl) led New Orleans with rookie Jeremiah Fears (18 pts) grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds to secure his second double-double, as the Pels never trailed and swept the two-game series in Utah. | Recap

    5. NBA MAILBAG: JAMAL CRAWFORD ANSWERS FAN QUESTIONS

    Jamal Crawford

    20-year NBA veteran and NBC analyst Jamal Crawford answered over 20 fan-submitted questions on all things basketball ahead of his Sixers-Celtics assignment tonight:

    Will the Celtics be the favorites to win the East if Jayson Tatum comes back? – from Sean in Boston, MA

    “I think the Celtics, the way they’re playing, may be the favorites to win the East, whether he does or does not come back. I don’t think anybody predicted they would be number two in the East with Tatum sidelined. Jaylen Brown is a true MVP candidate…”

    Did you expect Tyrese Maxey to develop like he has (currently 5th in scoring)? What can he do to take his game even higher? – from Marcel in Pittsburgh, PA

    “I did not see him developing into a top‑5 scorer this soon. But I saw the talent, I saw the work ethic, and everybody said he was a great teammate who always works on his game. The next step for him, like all the greats, is to win…”

    What’s been most impressive about Jaylen Brown’s season? – from Mike in Milford, MA

    “His leadership. We always knew he could score and that he was a leader, but now you’re seeing those leadership qualities on the court, too. He’s setting guys up, telling them where to go (things he won’t get credit for) and helping the team succeed…” | Read More