‘Challengers,’ ‘Abigail’ and This Week’s Best Events

Josh O’Connor, Zendaya, Mike Faist and Luca Guadagnino attend the premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ “Challengers” at Westwood Village Theater on April 16 in Los Angeles.

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Challengers, Abigail, Under the Bridge and Coachella.

PaleyFest

The annual TV festival kicked off on April 12 and runs through the 21st, with events for The Morning Show, Loki, Young Sheldon, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Late Night with Seth Meyers and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Breakthrough Prize

Stars including Jessica Chastain, Glenn Close, Lily Collins, Bradley Cooper, James Corden, Robert Downey Jr., Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys, Brie Larson, Adam Levine, Lizzo, Edward Norton, Katy Perry, Margot Robbie, Zoe Saldaña, Olivia Wilde and Michelle Yeoh joined the likes of Elon Musk and Bill Gates at the Breakthrough Prize on Saturday. Also known as the Oscars of Science, the event celebrates the research achievements of the world’s top scientists, awarding more than $15 million in prizes annually.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare premiere

Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusanmokun, Henrique Zaga, Henry Golding and Cary Elwes walked the red carpet in NYC on Monday in support of their new Lionsgate film.

Under the Bridge premiere

Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough debuted their new Hulu series in Los Angeles on Monday, alongside co-stars Vritika Gupta, Chloe Guidry, Javon “Wanna” Walton, Izzy G., Aiyana Goodfellow and Ezra Faroque.  

Challengers premiere

Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist joined director Luca Guadagnino at the L.A. premiere of Challengers on Tuesday.

Abigail premiere

Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens and Kathryn Newton walked the carpet on Wednesday at the L.A. premiere of their Universal horror film.

TCM Classic Film Festival

John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and Harvey Keitel reunited to celebrate Pulp Fiction‘s 30th anniversary, along with support from Bruce Willis’ wife Emma and daughter Tallulah, for the opening night of the TCM Classic Film Festival on Thursday.

Nylon House

Billie Eilish, Megan Fox, Tyga, Simu Liu, Becky G and Ariana Madix were among the stars who partied at Nylon’s Coachella event, presented by Smirnoff ICE, on April 12.

CELSIUS Energy Cosmic Desert Coachella Event

CELSIUS Energy kicked off weekend one of the festival on April 12 with a Cosmic Desert party that welcomed Barry Keoghan, Megan Fox, Emma Roberts, Halle Bailey and a performance by T-Pain. 

Manolo Blahnik luncheon

Manolo Blahnik hosted an intimate luncheon at Chateau Marmont with friends of the brand Erin Walsh, Gillian Jacobs, Hilary Rhoda, Jamie Mizrahi, Jessica Hart, Jessica Paster, Lily Rabe, Rebecca Rittenhouse and Saniyya Sidney.

Jeopardy!’s 60th anniversary event

In honor of Jeopardy!’s 60th anniversary, Edge at Hudson Yards hosted the inaugural event of Jeopardy!’s nationwide tour on April 12. Special guest appearances were made by super-champs Matt Amodio and Mattea Roach, as well as Celebrity Jeopardy! finalist Katie Nolan.

Dance Theatre of Harlem gala

The Dance Theatre of Harlem hosted its Vision Gala on April 12, honoring Misty Copeland as well as civic leaders and philanthropists Terri Prettyman Bowles and Alvin Bowles. The organization raised $1.3 million to further its mission of providing arts education, maintaining its school and presenting a ballet company of African American and other racially diverse artists.

Interscope and Capitol Records Coachella party

Interscope returned for its annual Coachella celebration, this year alongside Capitol Records, with a private event in Palm Springs on Saturday and guests including Benny Blanco, Reneé Rapp and Simu Liu.

Revolve Festival

Revolve hosted its desert festival for the 7th year on Saturday, featuring performances from Ludacris, T-Pain, Sean Paul and the Ying Yang Twins and attendees including Megan Fox, Emma Roberts, Hailey Bieber, Nina Dobrev, Shaun White, Evan Mock, Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse and Tyga.

Heineken House

Heineken House was home to headliner T-Pain’s sought-after Saturday performance in the desert, as well as performances by Lupe Fiasco, BIA and Channel Tres. Coachella performers Tyler, the Creator and Reneé stopped by throughout the weekend.

Aperol at Coachella

Aperol debuted its Aperol Aperitivo Italiano at the Terrazza at Coachella, with an appearance by Taylor Zahkar Perez and his family.

ZOEasis

BDG, publisher of The Zoe Report, hosted ZOEasis at a private estate outside of Coachella where guests including Saweetie, Ashlee Simpson Ross, Evan Ross and Yellowjackets‘ Samantha Hanratty sipped on cold beverages as DJ Miss Maddi Jean played a special set.

Neon Carnival

Anderson .Paak aka DJ Pee .Wee, social media breakout DJ Hunny Bee and Vanderpump Rules star James Kennedy all performed at Neon Carnival, Coachella’s Saturday night afterparty presented by Liquid I.V. in association with PATRÓN EL ALTO and The Levi’s Brand. Guests included Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Ice Spice, J Balvin, Maluma, Jon Batiste, The Weeknd, Leonardo DiCaprio, Simu Liu, Lili Reinhart, Paris Hilton, Bebe Rexha, Tinashe, Kyle Richards and Kesha.

Loki FYC event

Stars Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino and Owen Wilson joined directors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson and head writer Eric Martin at a FYC event for their Disney+ series on Saturday.

MOCA Gala

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles celebrated the 2024 MOCA Gala at The Geffen Contemporary on Saturday, featuring guests from art, fashion and entertainment including a special performance by St. Vincent and attendees including Ava DuVernay, Kim Gordon, David Alan Grier, Miranda July, Hervé Perrot, Keanu Reeves, Keni Silva and Candy Spelling.

Bluey The Sign premiere event

Wicked director Jon M. Chu, Raven-Symoné, Lisa Ling, Samira Wiley and Tia Mowry were among those who celebrated the new Bluey special on the Disney lot on Saturday.

College Television Awards

The Television Academy Foundation announced the winners of the 43rd College Television Awards, which recognize and reward excellence in student-produced programs from colleges nationwide, at a Saturday night gala at the Saban Media Center.

Maria Bello’s Literary Salon

The veteran actress hosted Kristin Hannah for a reading of her new novel The Women for an intimate gathering of 40 women on Sunday. The event series takes place in a separate space behind Bello’s house where she hosts authors and guests that share a love of reading. Hannah, who does readings for groups that number in the thousands, agreed to do the event after Bello reached out personally to ask. The Women, already optioned by Warner Bros. Pictures, centers on nurses in the Vietnam War. Several of Hannah’s titles were on hand for sale at the event until an anonymous donor generously stepped up to supply for all in attendance. The books were delivered by Jeannine A. Cook, an author, literary artist and owner of Harriet’s Bookshop in Pennsylvania and Ida’s Bookshop in New Jersey. Also in attendance were Bello’s chef fiancée Dominique Crenn, Kim Raver, Los Angeles Times Review of Books’ Medaya Ocher and Kate Wolf, and investor-author Arlan Hamilton, the latter of whom Bello hosted in February for a reading of her book, Your First Million. Pastries were provided by Mwokaji Cakery.

Hillman Honors

Lena Waithe held the first Hillman Honors Women on the Rise brunch and panel celebration on Sunday, where she was joined by moderator Debbie Allen, host Gia Peppers, and panelists AV Rockwell, D. Smith and Jojo T. Gibbs in a discussion.

The Greatest Hits premiere

Lucy Boynton and Nelly Furtado met up at the premiere of Searchlight Pictures’ new film in Los Angeles on Monday.

Stress Positions special screening

John Early and writer-director-star Theda Hammel joined their castmates at a special New York screening of their Neon film on Monday.

National Dance Institute gala

National Dance Institute returned to NYC’s Ziegfeld Ballroom for its annual gala on Monday. This year, the arts organization honored actor Bill Irwin, SHS Foundation president Richard E. Feldman and the late Arnold S. Penner.

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York gala

Megan Thee Stallion and Patricia Arquette were honored at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s annual Spring Into Action gala on Tuesday.

Dinner with the Parents dinner event

The cast and creators of Amazon Freevee comedy series Dinner with the Parents, including Michaela Watkins, Dan Bakkedahl, Carol Kane, Henry Hall, Daniel Thrasher and Jon Glaser, hosted a family dinner on Tuesday at Lawry’s in Los Angeles to celebrate the upcoming premiere.

SignLight International Film Festival opening night

The SignLight International Film Festival, which showcases the work of Deaf filmmakers from around the world, kicked off in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The Big Door Prize photo call

In New York on Tuesday, Apple TV+ hosted a photo call for the second season of The Big Door Prize, with stars Chris O’Dowd, Josh Segarra, Gabrielle Dennis, Ally Maki and creator David West Read.

Audemars Piguet x John Mayer celebration

Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet and its recently appointed Creative Conduit John Mayer hosted a celebratory event at Sky View Estate on Tuesday to honor the launch of their latest collaboration, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” Limited Edition.

We Grown Now screening

Jurnee Smollett and Lil Rel Howery joined director Minhal Baig at a New York screening for their film We Grown Now on Wednesday.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala celebrating Tony Bennett

On Wednesday, Jazz at Lincoln Center hosted its annual benefit gala, which this year celebrated Tony Bennett for his dedication and unique contributions to jazz. Hosted by Josh Groban, the event featured performances by Groban, Bernadette Peters and Kristin Chenoweth.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz screening

Peacock hosted a screening and panel for its upcoming limited series The Tattooist of Auschwitz at the Jewish Heritage Museum in NYC on Thursday, with series star Jonah Hauer-King and director Tali Shalom-Ezer.

The Jinx — Part Two premiere

The team behind the follow-up to The Jinx debuted part two in New York on Thursday, with support from guests including Michael J. Fox, Molly Shannon and Debra Messing.

Helen Keller Achievement Awards

Shawn Levy was honored for his work on Netflix series All The Light We Cannot See by the American Foundation for the Blind at its annual Helen Keller Achievement Awards on Thursday. The awards celebrate and promote the notable achievements of individuals and organizations that have improved the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Hispanic Federation Gala

Jennifer Lopez accepted the Premio Orgullo (Pride Award) at Hispanic Federation’s annual gala in NYC on Thursday. Chaired by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the gala raised more than $3.3 million in support of Latino causes.

Hip-Hop and The White House premiere

Executive producer Jeezy joined the team behind Hip-Hop and The White House for a premiere event in New York on Thursday.

Los Angeles Ballet gala

The Los Angeles Ballet celebrated its season 18 Gala on Thursday, honoring composer/pianist Kris Bowers and accomplished attorney and LAB board chair Jennifer Bellah Maguire.