On paper, 'One Battle After Another' looks exactly like the kind of film that cemented the 'Titanic' heartthrob's status as last decade’s biggest butts-in-seats marquee idol.

I'm old enough to remember when the Democrats got hammered in the press and then in the 2002 midterms over allegedly overpoliticizing a memorial service for a major political figure...

So... I take it somebody watched some random tv documentary about the Chicago Tylenol murders and wasn't paying enough attention?

As DEMON SLAYER INFINITY CASTLE topped $555 million worldwide while THE CONJURING LAST RITES reached $400 million globally, it would seem that, in terms of “butts in seats” value, Jordan Peele as a (genre-specific?) producer is a bigger "movie star" than Margot Robbie as a performer.

Buying one of the five remaining theatrical heavyweights for the purpose of removing what's currently the most aspirational theatrical distributor from the board would be in line with the streamer’s recent history.

The Box Office Podcast, Episode 85: “Slay, Demon, Slay!” Listen Now — Anime goes super-duper mainstream as Sony gets ahead of the curve regarding the whole "declining overseas box office for Hollywood tentpoles" situation.

Welp, this aged well...

Becoming increasingly clear we’re gonna have to build a parallel infrastructure for all the media we really love. The reason all of this is happening under the color of law is hyperconsolidation, dissent being traded straight up for merger approval, or fear of harassment.

Lionsgate is attempting to position Paul Feig's Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried-starring psychological thriller as more than just “not AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH” Christmas 2025 counterprogramming. God, I hope it works…

- Demon Slayer nabs one of Sony’s biggest “No Spider-Man” opening weekends, suggesting a healthier-than-feared Fall. - A delay for Mortal Kombat 2 is good news for One Battle After Another. - Which disappointing Universal summer 2025 sequel earned less? The answer is irrelevant but... *amusing*!

THE PITT: actual television, made in LA, on a yearly schedule. Well deserved! #Emmys

In non-'Demon Slayer’ box office news, it was an (almost) "everybody wins” weekend, even if ‘Conjuring Last Rites’ sadly failed to gross exactly $27.7 million in its second domestic weekend.

DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (2025)

The weekend #BoxOffice is currently thriving thanks to K-pop rock stars, real-life ghostbusters and literal #DemonSlayer (s) doing their best to vanquish otherworldly evil via music, prayer, and/or decapitation.

What would be funnier or more educational? 1. Arranging for Demon Slayer fans to watch Downton Abbey: A Grand Finale 2. Making Downton Abbey fans sit through Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle

This man will not be fired for calling for the murder of American citizens, yet multiple journalists/reporters/teachers lost their job for accurately reporting things Charlie Kirk actually said and stood for. But it’s the “violent left” that’s the problem

Crazy idea -- When you release big(ish) movies aimed at today's kids and/or based on newer franchises that are presently popular with kids, they show up.

Anyone discussing the possibility of Skydance buying Warner Bros. as anything other than an extinction-level event for theatrical distribution is deluding themselves. Also... friends don’t let friends make sequels to decade-old Vin Diesel flops.

Between Nezuko Kamado, Lorraine and Ed Warren and Huntr/x, it's been an uncommonly shitty month for demons...

Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival

Francis Lawrence and JT Mollner’s spectacular adaptation renders an “unfilmable” book vividly cinematic and bitterly relevant, sitting alongside ‘The Life of Chuck’ as one of the best Stephen King films in nearly 20 years.

Amid a generation’s worth of mostly failed attempts to replicate ‘The Avengers,’ why only #TheConjuring, New Line’s low(er)-budget, R-rated and (comparatively) less fantastical horror franchise, emerged unscathed and 100% triumphant.

In seasons of feast or famine, in good times and bad, amid literal plagues, WB and New Line’s one-of-a-kind horror movie franchise never misses... Weekend #BoxOffice Report For #TheConjuringLastRites

Box Office Podcast Episode 83: Generational Troma @lytrules.substack.com and @michellekisner.bsky.social join @scottmendelson.bsky.social, @jeremyfuster.bsky.social and @lisalamanfilmfan.bsky.social to discuss ‘The Toxic Avenger’ arriving just after James Gunn’s confrontationally sincere ‘Superman’.

This is an example of how civil society silences itself under authoritarianism. The West Point alumni group announced the award in June, and then effectively canceled it in September. No explanation, just a vague sense that they are afraid of displeasing the regime.

At least one studio turned a singular smash-hit film about professional ghostbusters into a successful theatrical franchise. Meanwhile, 'Hamilton' nabbed a solid $3.9 million opening day.

The (allegedly) final chapter in New Line’s blockbuster supernatural saga began with its biggest preview grosses ever, setting the stage for what should be a franchise-high opening weekend. (to be read while listening to “Book of Love” or “Time of Your Life”)

The media is going to frame this as part of the horse race, so I think it is worth noting the actual substance of Pritzker's words -that the federal government is actively planning on destabilizing an American city and endangering its inhabitants as a pretext for a military crackdown- is a BFD.

The next episode of The Box Office Podcast will drop early tomorrow, but in the meantime, enjoy this “bonus” 45-minute conversation with writer/director Seth Worley, whose stunningly good debut feature, ‘Sketch,’ is now available for at-home digital viewing following a brief theatrical run.

Well, unlike pretty much every remotely successful franchise and/or cinematic universe from the 2010s, James Wan and friends’ supernatural suspense series (the only unmitigated post-Avengers cinematic universe success story) is hanging up its hat on a high note. For that, it will see heaven…

It enrages me that major outlets won't talk about this. this is why the box office down. Sony’s mainstream movie divisions released eight theatrical films in summer 2013. They only put out three films the entire summer 2025. Combine that with Disney wiping out 20th Century Fox, that's why...

- Bone Temple and Wuthering Heights trailers - Lionsgate positions The Housemaid as this year’s Sisters. - As LL Cool J might say, just call it (Man of Tomorrow) a Superman sequel (cause we’ve been here for years, etc.) - Naked Gun and Freakier Friday both did their part in “saving” the comedy.

Summer 2015 at 10 is in the books! Hear @aaronsps4.bsky.social , @scottmendelson.bsky.social & I reflect, list our 11 favorite films & announce what summer we’ll be covering in 2026! Apple bit.ly/3ARR4Z6 Spotify spoti.fi/40SBUNH YouTube youtu.be/Wp_55uFCK4Y?...

- Can Lionsgate and Sony get their shit together? - Can One Battle After Another actually become a modest hit? - Will Demon Slayer and Gabby’s Dollhouse remind Hollywood to make movies for *today’s* kids? - How will WB survive without their Patrick Wilson Cinematic Universe (RIP 2009-2025)?

The 2025 summer movie season concludes with the lowest-grossing Friday-to-Monday frame for this respective holiday (excluding 2020 and 2022, and not accounting for inflation) since 1995.

As this weekend’s top new release appears to be, uh... JAWS, I discussed how, five years after its Labor Day holiday debut, TENET’s $366 million global #boxoffice total was not enough to “save” movie theaters, but remains one of Hollywood’s top-grossing originals of the last decade.

@charliejane.bsky.social Here it is!! substack.com/app-link/pos...

The third annual #BigBadFilmFest, featuring action movies and action short films, offered plenty to enjoy alongside ample reminders of paradise lost.

New pod: In May, we ranked every big summer movie on the Confidence Scale. So….how’d we do?? With @scottmendelson.bsky.social. Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/7AxX...

The initial version of one of the very first post-'Batman' attempts at a superhero hit A) plays like a dry run at crafting a comic book flick that looks, feels and plays like a “real movie” and B) offers a road not taken for more aspirational superhero stories.

This is it! The last week of movie discussion from @scottmendelson.bsky.social , @aaronsps4.bsky.social & I on The Summer of 2015 at 10! Are any of these 5 Labor Day dump releases worthwhile? Will we survive? Listen in to find out! Ap bit.ly/3ARR4Z6 Sp spoti.fi/40SBUNH YT youtu.be/-n6V7FXRnqw?...

The sing-along success is not the start of Netflix wholeheartedly embracing theatres, but a specific win akin to ‘High School Musical 3’ or ‘The Lion King 3-D.’ Plus, WB’s strong summer, Jackie Chan’s comeback and more, as Demon Hunters rule the domestic box office while Demon Slayers rule worldwide

Action For Everyone’s Mike Scott and Max Deering pop in to discuss the latest 87North theatrical offering. Plus: What movie does Lisa Laman describe as “a Disney Channel movie shot in hell"? Episode 81 - Nobody 2 Would. Nobody 2 Could!

'Weapons' Tops Box Office With $4.7M Friday, 'Fantastic Four' Gets "Terminated" as Both 'Superman' and 'F1' Pass $600M

Listen Now | Action for Everyone's Mike Scott and Max Deering both pop in to discuss the latest 87North theatrical offering. Plus: What movie does Lisa Laman describe as "a Disney Channel movie shot in hell"? The Box Office Podcast Episode 81 - Nobody 2 Could. Nobody 2 Would!

- Blake Lively “Finally” Gets Her Post-IT ENDS WITH US Vehicle. - Can STREET FIGHTER Become a Franchise On The Third Try? - Amazon’s HIGHLANDER Reboot Gets The Best Karen. - KPOP DEMON HUNTERS Nears All-Time Netflix Record. - FUNNY GAMES 4 KIDS Gets Sent to November 2026. - And More!

America’s biggest crime problem is that we have roving bands of masked kidnappers who may or may not be federal agents.

The May-to-August 2025 slate lacked the top-tier events, unexpected sleepers and even high-grossing flops that have kept the box office afloat over the last three summers.

The May-to-August 2025 slate lacked the top-tier events, unexpected sleepers and even high-grossing flops that have kept the box office afloat over the last three summers.

Box Office: 7 Hot Takes as U.S. Weekend Dips Below $100M...