Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Friday, September 4, 2026
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Tracks for Franchise-Record $35M Opening Weekend
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is on track for a franchise-record opening weekend at the U.S. box office, with Thursday tracking placing the domestic debut at a $35 million start, according to Deadline. Sony Pictures is distributing the film, which opens Friday. Deadline box office editor Anthony D’Alessandro reported the picture as one of September’s biggest projected openers based on current tracking data. If the $35 million projection holds, it would represent the strongest domestic opening weekend in Resident Evil franchise history, reflecting the strength of Sony’s pre-release marketing campaign.
The Odyssey Extends IMAX 70MM Run Across 39 Locations Through September
The Odyssey will receive additional showtimes at 39 IMAX 70MM locations throughout September, extending its premium-format theatrical presence, Deadline reported. The extended window allows the film to maintain a large-format presence well into the fall season, capitalizing on continued audience demand for the IMAX experience. Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro reported the news Thursday, noting the film’s continued hold on premium-format screens. The move gives audiences additional opportunities to experience The Odyssey in its IMAX 70MM presentation at venues across North America through the remainder of September. The September extension underscores the film’s sustained commercial appeal.
Wild Horse Nine Canters Into Awards Race With John Malkovich at Venice Film Festival
Wild Horse Nine has entered the awards race following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, with John Malkovich leading the charge for the project, Deadline reported. The Venice debut signals the film’s entry into a competitive awards cycle. Deadline described the project as “cantering into the awards race” with Malkovich leading. The film’s Venice positioning marks a significant moment in the title’s awards campaign, providing high-profile festival exposure at a crucial point in the fall season. Venice remains one of the most prominent launching pads for prestige titles seeking awards recognition.
Lanterns Episode 3 Draws 10 Million Global Viewers on HBO Max, Setting Series High
Lanterns Episode 3 attracted 10 million viewers globally on HBO Max, marking a new series high for the DC drama, Variety reported. The viewership figure represents the strongest episode performance for the show to date. The audience milestone underscores the platform’s investment in the Green Lantern-based property as a flagship streaming title. The episode’s strong performance reflects effective audience-building through HBO Max’s marketing and promotional strategy for the series. Growing week-over-week viewership signals sustained audience engagement with the property. The 10 million figure was reported by Variety on Thursday, September 3.
Danny Boyle’s Ink Drops Trailer at Venice; Netflix Sets December 11 Theatrical Release
Danny Boyle’s Ink, a film charting the rise of a British tabloid, has dropped its trailer at the Venice Film Festival, Deadline reported. Netflix will release the film in cinemas on December 11 before it arrives on the streaming platform on January 8. The Venice debut provides the film with high-profile festival exposure ahead of its dual-window theatrical and streaming release strategy. The trailer launch at Venice positions Ink for the awards season conversation while building audience awareness ahead of the December theatrical window. Netflix confirmed the release dates alongside the Venice trailer debut.
Disney+ Developing Live-Action Kane Chronicles Series From Rick Riordan’s Mythology Universe
Disney+ is developing a live-action series based on The Kane Chronicles, bringing more of Rick Riordan’s expansive mythological universe to life on the streaming platform, Deadline reported Thursday. The Kane Chronicles project expands Disney’s Riordan adaptation slate, which already includes Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Angela Robinson is attached to the production, according to Deadline. The development signals Disney+’s continued investment in the Riordan franchise as a source of ongoing franchise-building content. Deadline reporter Katie Campione broke the news on Thursday, September 3.
Harlequin Takes Over Fenway Park to Celebrate Heated Rivalry, Author Rachel Reid Teases Unrivaled
Harlequin staged a major marketing event at Fenway Park in Boston to celebrate Heated Rivalry, the hockey romance novel by author Rachel Reid, Deadline reported. At the event, Deadline spoke with Reid and Harlequin CEO Craig Swinwood. Reid offered advice for studios looking to adapt romance novels and teased her upcoming title Unrivaled. The Fenway Park takeover demonstrates Harlequin’s investment in large-scale experiential marketing for its romance properties. The event highlights growing Hollywood interest in romance novel adaptations as a source of commercially viable IP for streaming and television.
Chicago Cubs Launch Scripted Sports Romance Microdrama Series on TikTok
The Chicago Cubs have launched a scripted romance series on TikTok, highlighting how mainstream sports brands are embracing the fast-growing vertical drama market, according to Further & Better’s industry roundup. The Cubs’ move into short-form scripted content represents a significant expansion of traditional sports marketing into entertainment storytelling formats. The launch reflects broader industry momentum behind TikTok-native drama series, a format that has drawn increasing investment from brands, studios, and streaming platforms seeking to reach audiences through short-form vertical video. The Cubs join a growing list of major brands experimenting with microseries formats as a marketing tool.
Sources: Further & Better
🎥 Box Office Top 20 — Weekend Aug 28–30, 2026
| # | Title | Weekend | Total | Wks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | $22.5M | $891.8M | 5 |
| 2 | Coyote vs. Acme | $15.9M | $15.9M | 1 |
| 3 | The Odyssey | $14.4M | $563.9M | 7 |
| 4 | Insidious: Out of the Further | $10.2M | $43.7M | 2 |
| 5 | The Dog Stars | $7.7M | $7.7M | 1 |
| 6 | Buddy | $5.5M | $5.5M | 1 |
| 7 | PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie | $5.0M | $43.5M | 3 |
| 8 | The End of Oak Street | $4.9M | $46.0M | 3 |
| 9 | Mutiny | $2.8M | $13.2M | 2 |
| 10 | Tony | $2.2M | $11.1M | 4 |
| 11 | Ghost: 2 Big to Rig | $1.6M | $1.6M | 1 |
| 12 | Spa Weekend | $1.2M | $5.7M | 2 |
| 13 | It Ends | $719K | $809K | 2 |
| 14 | Finding Emily | $709K | $709K | 1 |
| 15 | Idiots | $708K | $708K | 1 |
| 16 | Colony | $677K | $677K | 1 |
| 17 | Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma | $643K | $5.3M | 4 |
| 18 | Legend of the White Dragon | $543K | $543K | 1 |
| 19 | Toxic | $480K | $1.5M | 1 |
| 20 | Toy Story 5 | $433K | $478.8M | 11 |
Source: Box Office Mojo
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