Producer J.J. Abrams sure knows how to release a film. In 2007, he launched a mysterious trailer for an unnamed sci-fi film at a Transformers screening, creating a buzz that saw Cloverfield, as it was soon to be known, collect just over US$170 million.

Girl Talk gets set to ignite the dancefloor at Auckland City Limits, writes Lydia Jenkin.

Rising Aussie band Gang of Youths brings its cathartic tunes to town.

American rocker Grace Potter talks about her colourful career ahead of her festival set.

Graham Reid talks to American jazzman Kamasi Washington, who is in Auckland this weekend.

They've run hot and cold over their 12-year career, but this week's New Zealand debut finds Cold War Kids on their hottest streak yet. Singer Nathan Willet tells Chris Schulz why.

This Sunday at 6pm, TVNZ is launching Duke. It's a new channel, which will be live streamed online at watchduke.co.nz, and also on Freeview 13 and Sky 23, as well as having shows available on the TVNZ Ondemand platform.

Kiwi actor says he turned to meditation to survive grueling days playing Jesus in new religious epic.

Tom Jones hits town this week on the back of a run of acclaimed albums and an autobiography. He talks about his late-career renaissance to Russell Baillie.

In Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Tina Fey found a character tailor-made for her, Michael O'Sullivan reports.

Auckland trio Mothra are earning comparisons to Tool, Isis and Jakob with their debut album Decision Process. They tell Chris Schulz how it was made.

Lydia Jenkin talks to Taite Prize finalist Nadia Reid about why she was in no hurry to make her debut album.

With all four seasons of House of Cards finally available to New Zealand subscribers of Netflix, here's some background for newbies to Emmy-winning show.

Ralph Fiennes couldn't make a bigger splash if he tried, rampaging through director Luca Guadagnino's relationship drama.

Dave Dobbyn talks to Russell Baillie about the pop, personal and experimental urges that went into in his first album in years.

The things you learn at the pictures. Had I not seen Sacha Baron Cohen's new film, I might have gone through life sublimely unaware of the word "bukkake", let alone the concept. That may have been no bad thing, of course.

How have local shows fared in the ratings since the new season began? Joanna Hunkin crunches the numbers.

Jeremy Wells is looking forward to getting to know Mike Hosking more intimately.

Two of the most anticipated docos of the year will be shown at this year's Autumn Event film festival, at the Civic and Academy Theatres.

This is savage. One minute you're watching someone being ripped to death by a sabre-toothed tiger.

TV3's new BBC spy drama The Night Manager might be lavishly appointed but its debut episode felt a little hollow.

The new Coen Brothers film about old Hollywood has its moments but its narrative juggling act doesn't come off.

A group of chart-topping international songwriters came to town to work with a group of local rising stars. Lydia Jenkin was there to hear the results.

Soap opera melodrama and visual effects wizardry combine in a mythical Egyptian fantasy adventure - and it's an uncomfortable mix.

Yes, Madonna is playing at Vector Arena this weekend. To celebrate this momentous occasion, here is Her Madjesty by the numbers.

The first local release of the year is an impressive adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's 1994 novel Bulibasha: King of the Gypsies.

Being on the young side didn't stop Nancy Brunning playing the kuia in the new Lee Tamahori-Witi Ihimaera film. She talks to Helen Barlow.

It's a sad reality that we'll never be able to see David Bowie play live again, but announced today is a concert which will help to make up for it.

It opens with a tense stand-off between space agents tracking a ghost ship.

Host Mike Peru has dished a little dirt on some of the stars vying for the affections of Jordan Mauger.