Awkward. www.wsj.com/politics/ele...

Comment from Forrester Research Director Mike Proulx:

Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters on becoming more like Tubi: "A free offering could make sense in some markets... free is something we're going to continue to consider, but we have no near-term plans to launch something."

Microsoft poured $80 billion-plus into its Xbox business to build the Netflix of video games. Now it's laying off 3,200 people and radically restructuring Xbox. What went wrong? Watch our video (featuring, I regret to inform you... me!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpqT...

Data is so annoying. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/o...

I'm no critic, but one thing I want to say is that Chris Nolan loves making his scores indistinguishable from his sound effects and he takes that to the Nth degree in "The Odyssey"

Paramount landed the next "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie because Wes Craven's estate got the rights back from New Line with help from everyone in LA and SF's favorite lawyer, Marc Toberoff. www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

I am fascinated by the magazine in "Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed" where the reporters hack into phones like a scummy British tabloid but there is also a fact-checking department

The creator of Siren Head never made a penny from his viral horror creation despite the deluge of TikTok videos, knockoff Amazon merch, and video games. Now, thanks to the post-"Backrooms" gold rush, Hollywood has made him a millionaire. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Netflix is considering live channels and bundling other SVOD services in its app as executives scramble to turn around an alarming drop in engagement. www.wsj.com/business/med...

There are a million sad things about this, including that people who don't read books are simply missing out on fun. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

Extremely well funded tech startups throwing money at smaller startups to try and lock them in as customers. 🤔 www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-g...

Why is Microsoft's Xbox business in such bad shape? When making investment decisions a few years ago, the company projected Game Pass would currently have 77 million subscribers. The actual number now? About 30 million. www.wsj.com/tech/microso...

This piece on the post-production drama behind "Supergirl" by @boryskit.bsky.social shows how silly it is to blame the screenplay if you didn't like the film. As with most high pressure, big budget movies, they didn't simply take a bad script and make that. www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

Microsoft's Xbox is laying off about 20% of its staff and divesting five studios in a massive restructuring for the struggling videogame business. www.wsj.com/tech/microso...

A few observations on the "Minions & Monsters" opening: -Clearly audience interest in franchises that have been heavily exploited for the past 15 years is declining (see also Marvel, Fast & Furious) -It's going to gross $500M+, which is very good for an animated film (cont'd)

"Minions and Monsters" currently has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than "Toy Story 5." That is all.

The Eggers Horror Cinematic Universe (EHCU) is growing and I'm very here for it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmjp...

Sexism is a real thing. But have audiences for some reason become more prejudiced against female superheroes than in the 2010s? Or are these Rotten Tomato scores relevant? Wonder Woman: 93% Captain Marvel: 79% Wonder Woman 1984: 57% The Marvels: 63% Madame Web: 10% Supergirl: 56%

The great thing about a superhero movie flop is it can confirm fanboys' priors just like the 2024 election did for liberals. Gunn betrayed his stated strategy! His strategy always sucked! The filmmakers misunderstood "Woman of Tomorrow"! They weren't loyal enough to the comic!

"Toy Story 5" has a totally fine, nothing special 56% drop at the domestic box office on its second weekend. But a much smaller 36% drop overseas.

I talked to Josh D'Amaro about his first 100 days running Disney, his fight witth the FCC, his efforts to unite the company around a digital strategy, and why he thinks Disney has what all its rivals want (hint: IP and sports right): www.wsj.com/business/med...

It's only been 19 years since I first wrote about a "Gears of War" movie. They're getting this done just in time. variety.com/2007/digital...

correct framing for the story

Finally, "White House Down" is available to watch at home.

Google is investing about $75 million in "Backrooms" studio A24 as part of a far-reaching and possibly controversial AI research partnership between the two companies. Scoop here: www.wsj.com/tech/ai/goog...

Obviously a very strong opening for "Toy Story 5." But it won't come anywhere close to "Zootopia 2's" $1.87 billion worldwide total. Why?

Something unusual is happening with movie theater operators: For the first time in a long time, they're in a very good mood. www.wsj.com/business/med...

If early returns hold up, "Toy Story 5" is on track for a massive $180 million - $190 million opening weekend, a well informed source tells me. Also the grown man wearing a head-to-toe Woody outfit I saw at an AMC multiplex last night was probably a good sign.

I went to Pixar HQ recently and spoke with Andrew Stanton about what he's learned working on all five Toy Story movies, what parts of him are in Woody, and the inspirations and intentions for no. 5. Watch us! www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRj2...

There's a new generation of filmmakers earning a good living with low-cost, highly-targeted content on free streaming services like Tubi and Roku. I profiled an incredibly interesting guy whose work is making $2M per year with zero help from Hollywood. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Today's episode of The Journal opens with my 14 year-old son begging me to get him into the premiere of "Backrooms" (talk about an entitled L.A. kid!), then schooling me on the deep Internet lore behind it. open.spotify.com/episode/3UeF...

Today's episode of The Journal features me talking about "Backrooms," "Obsession" and Hollywood's excitement about Gen Z packing movie theaters (encouragement or warning? you decide) open.spotify.com/episode/3UeF...

I guess we're just erasing Lady Trieu from history. www.wsj.com/livecoverage...

One thing I will say about "Toy Story 5": It's a fascinating shift to see Jessie/Joan Cusack become the lead character and Woody/Tom Hanks step back in a supporting role.

Honored just to be nominated: "Last year, North Korea built 10,000 new homes in Pyongyang—more than either Los Angeles or Chicago." www.wsj.com/world/asia/n...

Never seen a teaser trailer quite like "Whalefall," which is 95% just one riveting sequence from the movie. (the same sequence Disney played at CinemaCon to a great response) www.youtube.com/watch?v=67ho...

"Backrooms" drops an estimated 68% on its second weekend in theaters while "Obsession" drops just 7% on its fourth. They're virtually tied for #3 at $25.9M and $25.6M respectively. "Obsession" is almost certainly going to end up making a lot more money.

CBS could be making so much money this month by setting up bunch of "Big Brother"-style cameras streaming 24/7 in the "60 Minutes" offices

Europeans' drinking problems always make me feel a little better to be an American. www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...

Is Imax a more meaningful brand for some people than the movies playing on its screens? This is one of the collectable popcorn buckets for "The Odyssey"

Well I got my first email pitch from an AI agent. Allegedly.

"Backrooms" grossed $7.7 million yesterday, virtually tying it with "Michael" for the second biggest Monday of 2026 so far. Behind "Super Mario Galaxy," which was a family movie during spring break.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/b...

Three different CDs for one single song. That's all?

Lots to complain about in politics. But I have to say voting early on a weekend, in my local library, checked in by friendly and knowledgeable teenage volunteers, making my choices on a touch screen that had me double-check them on screen and on paper, was an A+ experience.

Meanwhile, ticket sales for "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" fell 69% -- the biggest ever second weekend drop for a Star Wars film.

I've covered box office results literally hundreds of times in my career. The mind-blowing success of "Backrooms" and "Obsession" this weekend easily ranks in the top 1% as far as long-term significance for the movie business. My story w/ John Jurgensen: www.wsj.com/business/med...

Related to, but not entirely attributable to, the success of "Backrooms" and "Obsession," looks like "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" is dropping around 68% at the box office this weekend. Not a good moment for the old franchise.

Now looking like "Backrooms" will open this weekend to around $85 million. And "Obsession" will gross around $28.5 million, up 19% -- the first wide release to grow its box office two weekends in a row since 1982. What can I say but !!!!!!!