🎬 Things Are Getting Heated 🥵

LAST WEEKEND’S
BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN 🎟️

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning 💣 The sequel brought in a total of $80M in five days, a cool 3% more than its 2018 predecessor, Fallout. Globally, it hit $235M. Considering it cost $300M before marketing, the sequel has fallen short of expectations. Sorry, Tom.

Sound of Freedom: 🙏 The faith-based action drama that's definitely making some noise! Starting off midweek with a $19.6M weekend, it surged 37% in its second week to earn $27M.

Insidious: The Red Door: 🚪 Sony's horror sequel scared up a cool $33M in its opening weekend, sliding to $13M in the second weekend. Despite the drop, with a total of $58M in just 10 days, it's hanging in there compared to the previous Insidious movies. Its global total of $122.6M is already creeping up on earlier franchise installments!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: 🤠After a 55% drop in its second week, it stumbled another 56% in the third week to $12M. Globally, it's clocked up $302.4M, looking like it’s gonna break even.

Elemental: 🍃 This Disney/Pixar animation might have had a shaky start, but it's finding its footing with just a mild 13% drop to $10M in its fifth week. With a total of $125.2M in 31 days, it's keeping pace with other similar Pixar films. Globally, it's captured $311.7M, already surpassing 2022's Lightyear's final total.

Joy Ride: 🚗 Sadly, this R-rated comedy's journey has been a bit bumpy, opening with just $5.8M and then dropping 56% to $2.5M in its second weekend. Looks like this joy ride might need some gas! ⛽

Theater Camp: 🎭 In limited release, this comedy debuted with a promising $270K from just six theaters, making it the 4th highest per-theater average of 2023. Keep your eyes peeled for this one as it expands for a wider release.

Strike Update
The Latest on Dual SAG and WGA Strike

SAG-AFTRA Strike Guidelines

Actors are being given a comprehensive set of rules on what they can and can't do. The memo outlines the dos and don'ts, and it's mainly don'ts. Beyond any on-camera work, actors are barred from promotional activities for past, present, or future projects covered by the union's agreements. This includes premieres, festivals, conventions, social media promotion, and even interviews. The strike's impact on upcoming events like the Emmys and fall festivals is causing uncertainty in the industry.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher expressed disappointment in the lack of progress during negotiations and emphasized the importance of fighting for what members deserve.

Bob Iger Takes Heat

Disney CEO Bob Iger had some 'unique' thoughts to share about the strike, calling it "disturbing" and "unrealistic," which is not sitting well with a lot of people, especially since he made these comments just after renewing his hefty $25 million a year contract. 🤑 Not great timing, Bob. While he's saying actors' demands for fair pay and protection are "unrealistic," he's raking in a pretty penny himself. I'd say, it's no surprise he's facing some heat for his words. 👇🏻

The Battle Over AI & Actors’ Rights

In a shocking announcement, SAG revealed the controversial AI proposal put forth by the AMPTP during negotiations. The proposal suggests scanning background actors and granting perpetual ownership of their image and likeness, with no consent or compensation… 🤯

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, a SAG leader, passionately denounced the idea, highlighting the exploitative nature and the potential for studios to manipulate actors' scans in future projects. This represents a larger issue of AI encroaching on the jobs of working-class professionals in various industries.

Christopher Nolan Shows Support

Christopher Nolan is showing his support for actors and writers as the dual strike continues. During the London premiere of his new film, the cast left before the screening in solidarity with the SAG.

Nolan emphasized that the strike is a crucial moment for the relationship between working people and Hollywood, highlighting the need for protection against artificial intelligence and better residual structures in the streaming era.

At the premiere, he acknowledged the cast's departure and commended their commitment to the cause, stating that they were off to write picket signs for the imminent strike. Watch the clip below👇🏻

🗒️ DEVELOPMENT NOTES 🗒️

• Check out our Twitter thread on the best way to experience Oppenheimer here! 👈

• Jane Birkin dies at 76. (more)

• Miyazaki Hayao’s final Studio Ghibli movie, The Boy and the Heron sets North America Release. (more)

• LA Mayor Karen Bass weighs in on SAG strike calling both sides to come back to the table to reach an agreement. (more)

• Disney’s Haunted Mansion premier is the first major event impacted by SAG strike. (more)

• Stars cancel their trips to San Diego for this year’s Comic-Con amid SAG and WGA strike. (more)

• Deadpool 3, Mission: Impossible 8, and Venom 3 among the first films to halt production amid strikes. (more)

• Christopher Nolan expressed concern about the lack of accountability for the use of AI and what that means for the future. (more)

• Prime Video released Season 2 of its hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty.

• Barry Diller, former head of ABC, said that Hollywood’s “most-paid” actors should take a 25% pay cut. (more)

• Warner Bros Discovery refuses to drop lawsuit against Paramount Global and South Park creators over streaming rights. (more)

🎞️ ROLL THE TRAILERS 🎉