🎬 Fight for Survival

👋 Good morning! As the U.S. gets ready for today’s total solar eclipse, here’s a fun fact: Did you know that for the movie ‘Barabbas’ (1961), Director Richard Fleischer delayed shooting for weeks to film the crucifixion of Christ during a real eclipse? The result is stunning.

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🎞 Here’s what’s on the reel today:

• 2024’s Box Office Blues

• AMC’s Fight for Survival

• ’Quiet on Set’ Drops Final Episode

• Last Looks: 👀 Bite-sized scoops on developing stories/projects

• Video Village: The latest trailers

• Martini Shot 🍸

But first, let’s take a look at what happened at the box office this past weekend!

LAST WEEKEND’S
🎟️ BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN 🎟️

1. 🦖 Godzilla X Kong: Takes the top spot with $31.7M domestic and $361.1M global in its second weekend.

2. 🐒 Monkey Man: Grabs $10.1M domestic, with a global reach of $12.7M. A promising start for Patel's venture.

3. 👻 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: $9M domestic in its third weekend, accumulating $88.8M.

4. 😱 The First Omen: Conjures $8.4M domestic and $17.5M global, but struggles to resurrect the franchise's glory.

5. 🐼 Kung Fu Panda 4: $7.85M domestic, total $166M.

6. 🏜️ Dune: Part Two: Secures $7.2M domestic, towering at $264.8M total. The saga continues strong.

7. ❤️ Someone Like You: Opens with $3M domestic, romantic prospects on the rise.

8. 🐶 Arthur the King: Snags $1.54M domestic, $22.2M total. The underdog persists.

9. 🙏 Immaculate: Earns $1.4M domestic, total $14.1M.

10. 😈 Late Night with the Devil: Makes $1.1M domestic, $8.4M total.

📉🎬 2024’s Box Office Blues: The box office is gearing up for a bumpy ride in 2024, according to a revised report from Gower Street Analytics. While the initial forecasts are optimistic, predicting global revenue at $32.3B (a notch up from the $31.5B earlier estimate), it’s still trailing behind last year’s $33.9B. The strikes in Hollywood are partly to blame, slowing down production and pushing big titles’ releases into the future. International markets, minus China, are the silver lining, expected to perform better than anticipated. But, with a projected 5% dip from 2023 and lingering 18% below pre-pandemic levels, it’s clear the industry is still finding its footing post-COVID. The revised numbers, while better, won’t be breaking out the champagne just yet, as distributors brace for the first post-pandemic year-on-year decline.

🍿📽️ AMC's Fight for Survival: Meanwhile, the spotlight turns to AMC, the king of movie theaters, currently entangled in a $4.8B mountain of debt. Despite much doomsday chatter predicting AMC’s collapse, the giant is far from throwing in the towel. With the industry buzzing about potential bankruptcies among mid-level players, AMC, led by CEO Adam Aron, remains a beacon of resilience. The company's stock, once a meme sensation, has stabilized, reflecting a cautious yet stable outlook. As blockbusters like ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ loom on the horizon, AMC's strategy of premium experiences and alternative content, like Taylor Swift's concert film, could yet see it through the storm.

🎬’Quiet on Set’ Drops Final Episode: A new, final episode has dropped for the much-talked-about series ‘Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.’ If you haven’t heard, the documentary series is a deep dive into the murky waters of children’s television, particularly under Dan Schneider’s reign at Nickelodeon. The series has been pivotal in exposing the exploitation and abuse within the industry. Earlier in the series, a significant revelation came from Drake Bell, who discloses his own experience of abuse by a Nickelodeon insider, casting a stark light on the toxic environment. In the latest installment, hosted by Soledad O’Brien, the narrative deepens, featuring introspective dialogues with Bell and fellow Nickelodeon alums. The series has been a catalyst for introspection across the entertainment world, with figures like Bell emphasizing the long-lasting effects of early fame and advocating for systemic changes to create a more supportive and responsible environment for young entertainers.

Development 🗒️

• Disney schedules 2026 releases for 'The Mandalorian & Grogu,' 'Toy Story 5,' and a live-action 'Moana.’ (more)

• Beau Willimon teams up with James Mangold to script 'Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi.’ (more)

• Peter Dager lands co-lead opposite Owen Wilson in an Apple TV+ golf comedy series. (more)

• HBO's 'Game of Thrones' prequel 'The Hedge Knight' casts Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell in the lead roles of Dunk and Egg. (more)

• Sandra Oh joins the star-studded cast of Aziz Ansari’s Lionsgate comedy 'Good Fortune,' alongside Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves, and Keke Palmer. (more)

• Roadside Attractions secures U.S. rights to 'Summer Camp,' a comedy featuring Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, and Alfre Woodard, set to release on May 31. (more)

✅ Renewed & Canceled ❌

• ‘Quantum Leap’ is cancelled after S2 at NBC. (more)

Other News 🚨

• CinemaCon begins today. (more)

• IATSE Local 871 strikes a tentative deal on craft-specific issues with studios and streamers after three days of talks, fueling momentum in broader union negotiations. (more)

• Disney CEO Bob Iger announces Disney+ will initiate a paid password sharing plan in June. (more)

• Prime Video extends WNBA streaming rights. (more)

• Scammers posed as ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ staff, luring guests with fake paid opportunities and prompting an internal investigation. (more)