Hollywood
Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai win Despicable Me 4 early access voting frenzy!
Mumbai: Minion mayhem is about to erupt across India, but moviegoers in Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai are in for a special treat! These three cities have emerged victorious in a thrilling online voting battle for the PVR INOX Early Access Show of the highly anticipated animated film, Despicable Me 4. With a staggering 25,000 fans participating Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai secured the highest number of votes, granting them the exclusive privilege of an early screening on 30 June 2024. The winning cities were determined through an intense online voting process conducted on the PVR and INOX apps and websites. This innovative approach by PVR INOX reflects the high level of enthusiasm and participation among Despicable Me fans across India.
Starting today, June 26, movie lovers in Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai can secure tickets for this special Early Access Show. Don’t miss this chance to be among the first in India to witness the return of Gru, his loyal Minions, and the whole Despicable Me crew! To commemorate this victory and heighten the excitement, PVR INOX is offering additional perks for moviegoers in the winning cities. Every ticket holder for the Early Access Show in Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai will receive a complimentary popcorn tub, adding a delightful touch to their movie experience. Additionally, a select group of lucky attendees will be randomly chosen to win exclusive Despicable Me 4 merchandise, taking home a cherished memento of this special event.
PVR INOX Ltd CEO – revenue & operations Gautam Dutta expressed his excitement about the Early Access Show and the voting process: “With the Early Access Show, we’re putting the power back in the hands of our audience. This isn’t just a movie screening; it’s a celebration of the magic of cinema and the immense love for the Despicable Me franchise! The voting battle was a thrilling experience, and around 25,000 fans participated, one of the highest participation for any film contest so far. We’re ecstatic to bring the Early Access Show to Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai on June 30.”
PVR INOX’s Early Access Show breaks new ground, empowering audiences and shaking up the traditional movie experience. Through real-time polling on the PVR and INOX apps and websites, fans actively influenced which cities received early screenings for select films. This innovative approach not only caters directly to movie lovers’ desires by giving them a say in the release schedule but also generates significant pre-release buzz and excitement for the film itself.
The Despicable Me franchise stands as a titan in the animation industry. It holds the prestigious title of the highest-grossing animated film franchise of all time, solidifying its place among the top 15 highest-grossing film franchises overall and one of the highest-grossing media franchises ever. The secret to its success lies in its unique blend of heartwarming moments, side-splitting humour, and a cast of unforgettable characters, including the ever-popular Minions, that have captivated audiences worldwide.
Despicable Me 4 serves as the highly anticipated sequel to Despicable Me 3 (2017), marking the fourth instalment in the main series and the sixth film overall. Fans can expect the return of the delightful mix of mischief and mayhem that has become synonymous with the franchise and some exciting new surprises.
After narrowly escaping incarceration, the villainous Maxime Le Mal and his accomplice, Valentina, seek revenge on Gru and his family, including his newborn son, Gru Jr. This looming threat forces Gru to relocate his family for their safety. In their new neighbourhood, they encounter the Prescotts and their daughter, Poppy. Gru and his mischievous Minions form an unexpected alliance with Poppy to counter the formidable duo of Maxime and Valentina. With a dynamic plot, beloved characters, and the ever-entertaining Minions, Despicable Me 4 promises to be a hilarious and heartwarming addition to the Despicable Me saga.
Hollywood
Remembering Chuck Norris: the man, the myth, the legend at 86
From martial arts legend to internet folklore, fans honour his final level up
KAUAI: The world lost a legend on 19 March 2026, when Chuck Norris died aged 86. For a man long treated as immortal in internet folklore, the news felt almost unreal. Yet in true Norris fashion, the farewell has been less about mourning and more about myth-making.
Just days before his passing, on his 86th birthday, Norris shared a video from Kauaʻi, Hawaii, showing him sparring under the sun. His caption was characteristically wry: “I don’t age. I level up.” It now reads like a final wink to fans who had spent years elevating him to near-superhuman status.
His death followed a sudden medical emergency while on holiday. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, who described him not just as a global symbol of strength, but as a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
Online, grief quickly gave way to tribute in the language Norris helped popularise. Social media filled with one last wave of “Chuck Norris Facts”, the tongue-in-cheek myths that turned him into a digital demigod. The jokes wrote themselves, as always. Death did not take Norris, it finally dared to meet him.
Behind the humour, however, lies a formidable real-world legacy.
Long before the memes, Norris was Carlos Ray Norris, a decorated martial artist. After serving in the US Air Force, he rose to become a six-time world professional middleweight karate champion. His on-screen duel with Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon remains one of cinema’s most iconic fight sequences.
Through the 1980s, he became the face of action cinema with films such as Missing in Action and The Delta Force, embodying a stoic, no-nonsense hero. In the 1990s, he reached living rooms worldwide as Cordell Walker in Walker, Texas Ranger, blending Western grit with martial arts flair.
Off-screen, his work carried equal weight. His foundation, Kickstart Kids, continues to teach martial arts to at-risk youth, focusing on discipline and self-worth. He also founded Chun Kuk Do, a martial arts system that trained thousands.
What made Norris unique was not just his strength, but his willingness to laugh at it. When the internet transformed him into an exaggerated symbol of invincibility, he embraced the joke. In doing so, he bridged generations, from cinema-goers to meme-makers.
His passing marks more than the loss of an action star. It signals the fading of a rare cultural crossover, where genuine athletic prowess met Hollywood heroism and early internet humour.
For many, remembering Chuck Norris means recalling a time when heroes were simple, punches were decisive and the internet still felt like a playground of shared jokes.
And if the myths are to be believed, this is not quite the end. It is simply Chuck Norris moving on to his next level.
