Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Sunday, July 19, 2026
The Odyssey Opens to $120.5M Domestic, $257.8M Global — Nolan’s Best-Ever Launch
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey delivered the director’s best-ever opening, launching to $120.5 million domestically and $257.8 million worldwide across its debut weekend. Starring Matt Damon and Zendaya, the Universal epic played in 3,919 theaters and earned an A CinemaScore from audiences. The result ranks as the #3 domestic opening of 2026, trailing only Toy Story 5 ($159.6M) and Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131.7M). Exit polls showed 59% male turnout, with 51% of attendees citing Nolan as their primary reason for attending. The film also posted Universal’s best-ever opening in 11 international markets.
Universal’s IMAX-First Strategy Drives 52% of The Odyssey’s Opening Weekend Revenue
Universal’s decision to shoot The Odyssey entirely in IMAX and lean into a premium-format release strategy paid off decisively. The film generated approximately $40 million in advance ticket sales, with IMAX 70mm screenings at select venues selling out a full year ahead of release. On opening weekend, 52% of box office revenue came from IMAX and premium large-format screens — 25% IMAX digital and 27% PLF. All of the film’s top-10 highest-grossing individual theaters featured either IMAX or 70mm capability. TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood led all single locations with $242,500, underscoring the format’s decisive pull on prestige-film audiences.
DGA, WGA and SAG-AFTRA Protest Emmy Decision to Drop Five Categories from NBC Telecast
The DGA, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA have issued a joint statement protesting the Television Academy’s plan to remove five Emmy categories from the September 14 NBC telecast. The moved categories include Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series, Writing and Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series, and Writing for a Variety Series, all relocating to the Creative Arts ceremony the prior weekend. The guilds called the decision a devaluation of “the talented people the Academy is meant to honor.” At stake financially: guilds waive hundreds of thousands of dollars in clip residuals contingent on minimum category counts per field.
Apple TV+ to Make First-Ever Hall H Appearance at Comic-Con with Matchbox, Widow’s Bay, Silo and Mayday
Apple TV+ will make its first-ever appearance in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con International, with a two-hour panel scheduled for Saturday, July 25. The lineup includes horror comedy Widow’s Bay (which landed 19 Emmy nominations), John Cena Mattel action film Matchbox (Oct. 9), Ryan Reynolds spy thriller Mayday (Sept. 4), Dark Matter, and Silo Season 3. Hall H holds 6,500 attendees and has historically been reserved for Marvel, DC, and major studio franchises. Apple’s debut there marks a significant escalation in its event-marketing ambitions, positioning the streamer alongside theatrical studios in the convention’s most prestigious venue.
Netflix: Enola Holmes 3 Opens Softly at 20.3M Views as I Will Find You Rockets to 74.1M in 18 Days
Netflix’s latest viewership data reveals a tale of two titles. Enola Holmes 3 launched to a soft 20.3 million views in its debut week, underperforming relative to the franchise’s prior entries. By contrast, the thriller I Will Find You has proven a breakout, accumulating 74.1 million views in just 18 days and approaching Netflix’s all-time performance list. The results underscore a persistent paradox in streaming strategy: established franchises are no guarantee of audience draw, while original titles with strong word-of-mouth can outperform marquee IP. The data adds pressure on Netflix to refine how it markets franchise sequels versus original event programming.
Tyler Perry Studios Partners with Synapse to Launch Virtual Production Soundstage in Atlanta
Tyler Perry Studios has signed a multi-year deal with Synapse Virtual Production to convert an existing stage on its 365-acre Atlanta campus into a virtual production facility. The stage will feature LED volume technology, real-time 3D environments via Unreal Engine, and advanced camera tracking, with operations expected by end of 2026. Perry framed the investment as preserving crew jobs while embracing new tools. In 2024, Perry paused an $800 million TPS expansion amid concerns about AI’s impact on production. Synapse already operates a stage at LA Center Studios; its next facility will be in New York. The Atlanta soundstage will be open to third-party productions.
Colman Domingo in Talks to Co-Write Live-Action Princess Tiana Film for Disney
Two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo is in early talks to co-write a live-action feature centered on Princess Tiana for Disney. The project, developed alongside Tony-nominated director Robert O’Hara, is framed as a spinoff of Disney’s 2009 animated The Princess and the Frog rather than a straight remake, similar in approach to the studio’s in-development Gaston project. Deals are still being finalized. Domingo holds double Emmy nominations in 2026 for The Four Seasons and Euphoria, and wrote the book for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Other Disney live-action projects in development include Tangled, Stepsisters, Lilo & Stitch 2, and Impossible Creatures.
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Odyssey | Jul 17 | $120.5M | $120.5M |
| 2 | Moana | Jul 10 | $18.8M | ~$61.8M |
| 3 | Minions & Monsters | Jul 3 | $14.0M | – |
| 4 | Toy Story 5 | Jun 19 | $13.8M | – |
| 5 | Evil Dead Burn | Jul 10 | $4.8M | – |
| 6 | Young Washington | Jul 3 | $3.7M | – |
| 7 | The Invite | Jun 26 | $3.5M | – |
| 8 | Obsession | May 15 | $2.4M | – |
| 9 | Supergirl | Jun 26 | $1.4M | – |
| 10 | Disclosure Day | Jun 12 | $1.25M | – |
| 11 | Backrooms | May 29 | ~$840K | ~$195M |
| 12 | Gail Daughtry… (Sex Pass) | Jul 10 | ~$494K | – |
| 13 | Jackass: Best and Last | Jun 26 | ~$421K | – |
| 14 | Scary Movie | Jun 5 | ~$228K | – |
| 15 | Michael | Apr 17 | ~$117K | – |
| 16 | Masters of the Universe | Jun 5 | ~$141K | – |
| 17 | Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu | May 22 | ~$102K | – |
| 18 | Maddie’s Secret | Jun 19 | ~$93K | – |
| 19 | Leviticus | Jun 19 | ~$65K | – |
| 20 | The Devil Wears Prada 2 | May 1 | ~$40K | – |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates; positions 11–20 and cumulative (–) extrapolated from prior weekend data
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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