Showbiz Sandbox 544: The Existential Crisis Facing Theatrical Movie Releases

June 8, 2021

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Anne Thompson, the editor at large at IndieWire, believes “a lot of things have to go right for the two-hour movie theatrical release to endure.” Thompson said as much in an opinion column she recently wrote for the New York Times. In a detailed opinion column for the New York Times. In a detailed conversation she explains four key challenges movie theaters face as they revive their business after the pandemic, including whether North American box office will ever again reach $11 billion.

One theatrical release that is doing better than some expected is Disney’s “Cruella.” The live-action spin-off has been popular enough for Disney to release a fashion line inspired by the outfits Oscar winning costume designer Jenny Bevan created for the film. They probably should have told her first since the Costume Designers Guild is none too pleased.

Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including the big winners at the BAFTA TV awards, how SpongeBob SquarePants is able to avoid paying taxes and the Russian comedy that is getting lots of local language remake love.


The Latest ‘Conjuring’ Chapter Outscares ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ For The Top Spot At The Domestic Box Office With $24 Million
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed258999300/

Reign Of Horror: ‘Conjuring 3’ Leads Weekend As Global Cume Hits $57M; ‘Quiet Place 2’ Grows To $139M WW
https://deadline.com/2021/06/quiet-place-part-ii-conjuring-3-f9-cruella-demon-slayer-china-global-international-box-office-1234770121/

AMC’s Wild Week Ends With Nearly 85% Gain in Renewed Meme Stock Craze
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amc-falls-6-after-second-share-sale-this-week-2021-06-04/

Alamo Drafthouse Emerges From Bankruptcy, Plans to Open Five New Theaters
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/alamo-drafthouse-bankruptcy-end-1234985368/

‘Cruella’ Designer Snubbed Over Licensing, Costume Designers Guild Decries ‘Unfair Practices’
https://variety.com/2021/artisans/global/cruella-costume-designers-licensing-disney-jenny-beavan-1234986629/

Canceled ‘Jupiter’s Legacy’ Opens as Top Original Series in Nielsen Streaming Charts
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jupiters-legacy-nielsen-streaming-ratings-1234962632/

‘SpongeBob’ and ‘Transformers’ Cost U.S. Taxpayers $4 Billion, Study Says
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/01/business/media/viacom-cbs-tax-scheme.html

BAFTA TV Awards Winners: ‘I May Destroy You’ Triumphs
https://deadline.com/2021/06/bafta-tv-awards-full-winners-list-1234769349/

‘Holby City’: Stalwart BBC Medical Drama Canceled After 23 Years
https://deadline.com/2021/06/holby-city-cancelled-bbc-23-years-1234767733/

Sony Pictures Nabs Remake Rights to Russian Blockbuster ‘Son of a Rich’
https://variety.com/2021/film/global/sony-pictures-international-son-of-a-rich-1234986493/

Four Ways This Summer Is a Huge Test for Movie Theaters
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/04/opinion/movie-theaters-box-office.html

How This Summer’s Blockbusters Are Rewriting the Future of the Movie Business
https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/summer-box-office-conjuring-hbo-max-release-1234989711/

Sony’s Tom Rothman: The Film That Lit My Fuse & Why Moviegoing Will Survive Streaming And Roar Back
https://deadline.com/video/tom-rothman-sony-pictures-entertainment-influences-the-film-that-lit-my-fuse-video/

Robert Hogan, Actor on ‘Peyton Place,’ ‘The Wire’ and Tons More TV Shows, Dies at 87
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/robert-hogan-dead-peyton-place-the-wire-1234961610/

F. Lee Bailey Dies: O.J. Simpson Trial Lawyer Who Also Defended Other High-Profile Clients Was 87
https://deadline.com/2021/06/f-lee-bailey-dead-oj-simpson-trial-lawyer-1234768963/

Clarence Williams III, ‘The Mod Squad’ and ‘Purple Rain’ Star, Dies at 81
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/clarence-williams-iii-dead-dies-mod-squad-purple-rain-1234989765/

A Colonoscopy Alternative Comes Home
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/health/colonoscopy-health-home-testing.html

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