Showbiz Sandbox 624: Hollywood Is Bungling Its Barbenheimer Momentum
August 2, 2023
The idea of counter-programming the simultaneous global release of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” over the same summer weekend always seemed like a gamble. But somehow Greta Gerwig’s comedy about a popular toy doll and a Christopher Nolan’s biopic of the renowned nuclear physicist wound up becoming a worldwide phenomenon breaking all sorts of box office records over its first two weeks. Now, instead of capitalizing on this success, Hollywood studios are determined to drag out a dual strike with writers and actors which shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
Having joined the Writers Guild of America on the picket lines, SAG-AFTRA continues to make its case in the court of public opinion. Unfortunately, producers (meaning studios, streamers and networks) aren’t ready to start negotiating a compromise.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including country music’s big moment, why Disney CEO Bob Iger called in some former senior executives to consult with the company and how video streaming is hitting new heights.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
‘Barbie’ Pirouettes To Powerhouse $781M Global, ‘Oppenheimer’ A Phenom At $406M WW Through Sunday
https://deadline.com/2023/07/barbie-oppenheimer-barbenheimer-second-weekend-global-international-box-office-1235450844/
‘Haunted Mansion’ Spooked, ‘Barbie’ Scores Record $93M Second Weekend in U.S.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/haunted-mansion-box-office-opening-barbie-oppenheimer-1235547428/
Warner Bros. Apologizes After ‘Barbenheimer’ Posts Spark Criticism From Studio’s Japan Unit
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/warner-bros-japan-criticizes-barbie-twitter-barbenheimer-posts-1235683885/
China Box Office: ‘Barbie’ Gains Foothold, Crosses $25M
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/china-box-office-barbie-1235547738/
AMC Theatres to Pivot Away From Sightline at AMC Following the Completion of the Pilot Test of the Program
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/amc-theatres-to-pivot-away-from-sightline-at-amc-following-the-completion-of-the-pilot-test-of-the-program-new-type-of-front-row-seating-will-be-tested-instead/
Bethenny Frankel Calls for Reality Stars Union: ‘Networks and Streamers Have Been Exploiting People for Too Long’
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/bethenny-frankel-reality-union-strike-1235674531/
Documentary Workers Union Ratifies Groundbreaking Contract With International Documentary Association
https://deadline.com/2023/07/documentary-workers-united-ratifies-groundbreaking-contract-with-international-documentary-association-1235445737/
SAG-AFTRA Strike: AI Fears Mount for Background Actors
https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/sag-aftra-background-actors-artificial-intelligence-1235673432/
How TV Writing Became a Dead-End Job
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/business/economy/writers-strike-hollywood-gig-work.html
CMT Pulls Jason Aldean’s Controversial ‘Try That In a Small Town’ Video
https://www.billboard.com/music/country/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-video-pulled-cmt-1235373842/
Country Star Jason Aldean Criticised for Anti-protest Song
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/19/country-star-jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-song
Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That in a Small Town’ Tops Hot 100, As Country Hits Rank at Nos. 1, 2 & 3 for First Time
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-number-one-hot-100-country-hits-top-three-1235382220/
SAG-AFTRA Reveals What It Claims Were Unresolved Negotiation Issues With Studios
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/actors-strike-sag-aftra-proposals-studios-streamers-1235534950/
Rising Ticket Prices are Costing Australians More Than Just Money
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jul/17/rising-ticket-prices-are-costing-australians-more-than-just-money-our-cultural-climate-is-in-crisis
American Theater Is Imploding Before Our Eyes
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/opinion/theater-collapse-bailout.html
Theaters in Crisis: Layoffs, Cost Cuts Imperil Nonprofit Stage Companies Across U.S.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/theaters-layoffs-cost-cuts-1235544048/
Theatre in Crisis: What We’re Losing, and What Comes Next
https://www.americantheatre.org/2023/07/24/theatre-in-crisis-what-were-losing-and-what-comes-next/
Spotify Is Raising Its Price in the US and 52 Other Markets. How Much Money Will That Make the Music Industry?
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotify-is-raising-its-price-music-industry/
Iger Brings Back His Old Heirs Apparent
https://puck.news/iger-brings-back-his-old-heir-apparents/
Young Viewers Help Streaming Hit High in June Platform Rankings
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/kids-streaming-june-2023-nielsen-tv-platform-rankings-1235538481/
Angus Cloud, ‘Euphoria’ Star, Dies at 25
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/angus-cloud-dead-1235684089/
Actor Paul Reubens,Who Created Pee-wee Herman, Dies at 70
https://www.npr.org/2023/08/01/1191242224/actor-paul-reubens-who-created-pee-wee-herman-dies-at-70
Ray Price, Independent Film Innovator Behind the Scenes, Dies at 75
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ray-price-dead-independent-film-innovator-1235540985/
Randy Fullmer Dies: Disney Animation Veteran On ‘Lion King’, ‘Beauty And The Beast’ & More Was 73
https://deadline.com/2023/07/randy-fullmer-dead-disney-animator-lion-king-beauty-and-the-beast-1235447827/
Bill Cunningham Dies: CESD Talent Agency Founder Was 96
https://deadline.com/2023/07/bill-cunningham-dead-cesd-talent-agency-founder-1235449090/
Randy Meisner, a Founding Member of the Eagles, Dies at 77
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/arts/music/randy-meisner-dead.html
Bo Goldman, Oscar-Winning Writer of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Script, Dies at 90
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/bo-goldman-dead-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-1235681100/
Sinéad O’Connor Obituary: A Talent Beyond Compare
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35031186
Tony Bennett, Jazzy Crooner of the American Songbook, Is Dead at 96
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/arts/music/tony-bennett-dead.html
Comments