Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Friday, September 18, 2026
Resident Evil Opens to Franchise-Record Thursday Night Previews
Resident Evil launched to franchise-record Thursday night previews of $8 million to $9 million, according to Deadline, ahead of its wide release today across North America. Directed by Zack Cregger, the live-action adaptation of the long-running video game series is tracking to debut at No. 1 at the domestic box office this weekend. AwardsRadar praised Cregger’s approach, declaring he has “finally cracked the video game movie code” in a review that calls the film one of fall’s marquee theatrical releases. The preview total represents the biggest Thursday night in the franchise’s theatrical history.
Macro Acquires AllBlk Streaming Service from AMC Global Media
Macro, the production company founded by Charles D. King, has acquired AllBlk from AMC Global Media, marking the company’s first major move into direct-to-consumer streaming, according to Deadline. AllBlk is a streaming service featuring Black film and television content. Financial terms were not disclosed. As part of the deal, AMC Networks will retain an equity stake in Macro and has signed a new content licensing agreement with the company. The acquisition gives Macro a direct distribution channel and expands its footprint across both production and streaming in the entertainment industry.
Roku Adds 30 New Bundle Offerings to Its Premium Subscriptions Platform
Roku has added 30 new bundle offerings to its Premium Subscriptions platform, combining services including AMC+, Fox One, and Starz into discounted packages accessible through the Roku ecosystem, according to Deadline. The expansion represents a significant push by Roku to position its marketplace as a single central hub for streaming subscriptions, directly competing with similar bundle programs from Amazon, Apple, and other major platform aggregators. The move reflects the streaming industry’s accelerating shift toward bundled distribution as a primary strategy for subscriber acquisition and retention in an increasingly crowded market.
Lionsgate, TikTok, Spotify and Pinterest Execs Discuss Creator-Driven Film Marketing at Variety Summit
Marketing executives from Lionsgate, TikTok, Spotify, Pinterest, and AMC Global Media gathered at this week’s Variety Entertainment Marketing Summit to discuss how creator-driven platforms are reshaping film and television campaigns. Lionsgate global head of digital marketing Briana McElroy said the studio now hires fans directly to create TikTok content for its titles, citing co-creation as a key competitive differentiator in reaching younger audiences. TikTok’s Dawn Yang noted the platform generates over 12 million TV and film posts daily from users worldwide. Executives agreed Gen Z is not averse to long-form content but demands authenticity, with Pinterest and Spotify cited as increasingly important channels for building sustainable entertainment fandom.
Noah Baumbach Signs First Look Deal at Warner Bros. With New Film Set at Clockwork Label
Noah Baumbach has signed a first look deal with Warner Bros., setting up a new theatrical feature at the studio’s specialty label Clockwork, according to an exclusive report from Variety. The arrangement gives Warner Bros. priority rights to Baumbach’s upcoming projects. A specific new film is already in development at Clockwork under the deal. The move represents a significant realignment for the acclaimed filmmaker, who joins a growing roster of auteur directors entering exclusive studio arrangements as major studios invest in prestige theatrical content ahead of the fall awards season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Surpasses The Force Awakens as Top-Grossing Domestic Film
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially surpassed Star Wars: The Force Awakens to become the highest-grossing domestic release in box office history, Deadline confirmed this week. The film’s North American cumulative total reached $936.7 million, eclipsing The Force Awakens’ long-standing domestic record of $936.66 million. The milestone marks a landmark achievement for Sony’s sustained theatrical marketing campaign, which has kept audiences returning well into the film’s extended run. Brand New Day’s domestic performance underscores the Spider-Man franchise’s remarkable ability to maintain box office momentum across multiple months of theatrical exhibition, setting a new benchmark for studio marketing campaigns.
TIFF and NYFF Set the Stage as International Oscar Race Heats Up
The Toronto and New York film festivals have produced a competitive field of early Oscar contenders, with international entries drawing particular attention as countries finalize their submissions for Best International Feature Film, according to Deadline. Spain has submitted “La Bola Negra,” the Cannes breakout from directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, while France selected Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Cannes Grand Prix winner “Minotaur” and Indonesia submitted Kamila Andini’s “Four Seasons in Java.” Studios and streamers are now accelerating their awards season marketing campaigns following the fall festival circuit, with distributors positioning titles for the critical October–December window.
Box Office Top 20 — Weekend of September 12–14, 2026
| # | Title | Weekend | Theaters | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Practical Magic 2 | $30,002,526 | 4,146 | $30,002,526 |
| 2 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | $8,410,743 | 3,303 | $935,181,631 |
| 3 | The Odyssey | $7,592,750 | 1,983 | $600,700,025 |
| 4 | Runner | $6,462,290 | 2,568 | $6,462,291 |
| 5 | Coyote vs. Acme | $6,400,295 | 3,355 | $47,925,213 |
| 6 | Buddy | $3,619,422 | 1,720 | $21,386,670 |
| 7 | Insidious: Out of the Further | $3,403,587 | 2,353 | $60,583,358 |
| 8 | The Uprising | $3,311,085 | 2,068 | $3,311,085 |
| 9 | Hope | $3,228,335 | 1,560 | $4,925,135 |
| 10 | By Any Means | $2,481,232 | 2,903 | $13,468,996 |
| 11 | Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger | $1,380,015 | 1,225 | $1,380,015 |
| 12 | PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie | $1,253,658 | 1,606 | $51,503,529 |
| 13 | Cars (2006 re-release) | $1,232,956 | 2,500 | $254,528,899 |
| 14 | The End of Oak Street | $1,072,443 | 1,253 | $53,381,105 |
| 15 | The Fix | $726,161 | 1,205 | $726,161 |
| 16 | Fall 2: Deadpoint | $617,168 | 1,024 | $4,635,207 |
| 17 | Tony | $496,113 | 380 | $14,713,791 |
| 18 | Akira (1988 re-release) | $310,569 | 629 | $4,322,196 |
| 19 | Onslaught | $267,731 | 1,252 | $3,041,101 |
| 20 | The Dog Stars | $257,548 | 1,030 | $14,785,507 |
Source: The Numbers — Weekend of September 12–14, 2026
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency