"Russian Pirates' Most-Watched Film in April: 'Black Suitcase'"
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Steven Soderbergh's intriguing detective thriller, "The Black Box - Double Game", has taken the crown as the favorite among Russian pirates this April. According to "Kinoprokatchik Bulletin" and data from an F6 study, the film's illegally duplicated copies were leadings stars in the Russian-speaking segment of the internet.
Originally released on March 14, "The Black Box - Double Game" tells the tale of George Woodhouse, a British intelligence agent working to sniff out treason suspects, including his own wife, Catherine. The star-studded cast includes acting heavyweights like Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomi Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan. With a worldwide gross surpassing $39 million, it's no wonder this film has piqued the interest of online thieves.
In the race for second place, Gareth Evans' action-packed "Havoc", starring Tom Hardy, and the sci-fi comedy "Mickey 17" by Bong Joon-ho with Robert Pattinson take the silver and bronze, respectively. Other films dotting the top ten include "North Pole", "Novocaine", "Summer's End", "Lost Lands", "Trap", "Ashes", and "Wish List".
Looking back, the action film "Beekeeper" starring Jason Statham was the most pirated film among Russians in 2024. "Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon" reigned supreme as the most downloaded TV show among pirates. This year, "Mickey 17" claimed the top spot in March.
In today's world of content theft, piracy often thrives through browser extensions and unauthorized access plugins. The "Scallywag" scheme, for example, notoriously offers access to pirated movies and sporting events. Due to inadequate legal frameworks and the ever-evolving nature of these schemes, piracy remains a persistent challenge. However, the growth of over-the-top (OTT) streaming services might shift consumer habits, potentially diminishing the appeal of pirated movies. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the fight against piracy.
New movies-and-tv entertainment offerings have always been alluring targets for pirates, and this trend continues in the Russian-speaking segment of the internet. For instance, the latest releases such as "The Black Box - Double Game" by Steven Soderbergh, "Havoc" by Gareth Evans, and "Mickey 17" by Bong Joon-ho remain new favorites among pirates. With the rise of over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, it remains to be seen if the appeal of pirated movies will wane in the near future.
