Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Scores Third-Best Second Weekend in Box Office History with $143M
Spider-Man: Brand New Day dominated the Aug. 7–9 frame with $143 million domestically, achieving the third-best second weekend in Hollywood history behind The Force Awakens ($149.2M) and Avengers: Endgame ($147.3M). Playing across 4,487 theaters, Sony and Marvel’s tentpole pushed its cumulative U.S. total to roughly $507 million, while the worldwide gross crossed $1.15 billion in just its first seven days of release. The Odyssey remained steady at No. 2 with $28.5 million ($458.1M running total). Among newcomers, One Night Only debuted at $6 million and Super Troopers 3 opened to $4 million.
Rockstar Games and Netflix Partner to Premiere GTA 6 Extended Look Before YouTube Release
Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games are deploying an unprecedented streaming strategy for Grand Theft Auto VI: the GTA 6 Extended Look will premiere exclusively on Netflix on August 27 at 3 p.m. ET, then roll out to YouTube six hours later at 9 p.m. ET. The deal represents the first-ever marketing partnership between Rockstar and Netflix, positioning GTA VI less as a video game launch and more as a global entertainment event. GTA 6 is set for a November 19 release and has already logged what Take-Two calls “unprecedented” preorder sales. The move signals deepening convergence between Hollywood studios and the interactive entertainment industry.
Netflix Installs a Live Performer Inside a Sunset Boulevard Billboard to Promote The Last House
Netflix launched one of 2026’s boldest out-of-home marketing stunts this weekend: a live performer sealed inside a furnished billboard above Sunset and Selma Avenue in Los Angeles, recreating the premise of the upcoming thriller The Last House. The Netflix film follows a family of four trapped inside their home, unable to escape a mysterious external threat. The performer—visible through a large bay window built into the billboard, which stands roughly 30 feet above the Sunset Strip—has been interacting with passersby via whiteboard, and was spotted in a bathrobe eating cereal and scanning with binoculars. The film stars Greta Lee and Wagner Moura, directed by Louis Leterrier.
Prime Video’s Ride or Die Targets Golden Globes and Critics Choice as a Comedy Series
Prime Video’s action dramedy Ride or Die is officially entering awards contention, with the streamer submitting the series in the comedy series categories at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer will both compete for Lead Actress in a Comedy, giving the campaign significant star power. Ride or Die has performed strongly since its July 15 debut, landing at No. 1 on Prime Video and earning a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score. The submission signals Amazon MGM’s confidence in positioning the show as a prestige comedy at the top of the 2026 awards race.
Netflix Plans Week of Free Wellness FYC Events in Los Angeles to Drive Emmy Votes for Beef
With Emmy final voting opening August 17, Netflix is hosting a week-long series of free wellness events across Los Angeles from August 10 through August 14 as a FYC campaign for Beef. The activations—spanning massage, relaxation, and wellness experiences at venues throughout the city—are designed to drive Television Academy voter engagement through in-person experiential moments rather than traditional screenings. The Netflix initiative, first reported by Variety, makes wellness activations a centerpiece of the streamer’s Emmy push for the series, with the Primetime Emmy Awards set to air September 14 on NBC and Peacock.
Box Office — Weekend Estimates Aug. 7–9
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | Jul 31 | $143.0M | $507.4M |
| 2 | The Odyssey | Jul 14 | $28.5M | $458.1M |
| 3 | One Night Only | Aug 7 | $6.0M | $6.0M |
| 4 | Toy Story 5 | Jun 16 | $4.3M | $470.8M |
| 5 | Super Troopers 3 | Aug 7 | $4.0M | $4.0M |
| 6 | Minions & Monsters | Jun 28 | $3.7M | $172.3M |
| 7 | Moana | Jul 7 | $3.0M | $121.6M |
| 8 | Ice Cream Man | Aug 7 | $2.0M | $2.0M |
| 9 | The Invite | Jun 23 | $0.6M | $23.4M |
| 10 | Hadestown: The Musical | Jul 21 | $0.4M | $18.7M |
| 11 | Backrooms | May 26 | $0.34M | $197.6M |
| 12 | I Want Your Sex | Jul 31 | $0.20M | $0.8M |
| 13 | Evil Dead Burn | Jul 7 | $0.20M | $31.7M |
| 14 | Obsession | May 12 | $0.17M | $263.0M |
| 15 | Young Washington | Jul 1 | $0.14M | $46.6M |
| 16 | Disclosure Day | Jun 9 | $47K | $116.6M |
| 17 | Mary Oliver: Beauty of the World | Jul 1 | $25K | $0.5M |
| 18 | Her Private Hell | Jul 21 | $25K | $0.9M |
| 19 | Pinocchio Unstrung | Jul 21 | $15K | $0.6M |
| 20 | Supergirl | Jun 23 | $11K | $72.1M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates
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