Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
The Odyssey Posts $20M Tuesday, Eyes Second Weekend That Could Beat Nolan’s Dark Knight Films
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is on track for a $20 million Tuesday, which would rank as Nolan’s best-ever Tuesday domestically, ahead of The Dark Knight’s $20.86 million in 2008. The Universal epic—starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, and Zendaya—is now eyeing a second weekend in the $61.8M–$74M range as it holds all IMAX and premium large-format screens. No major studio scheduled a wide competing release this weekend, leaving the frame to The Odyssey before Sony and Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives July 31 and is expected to surpass The Odyssey’s record $123.5 million live-action domestic opening.
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The Odyssey’s Opening Cements Nolan as Bankable Auteur Brand, Makes Universal Envy of Industry
Universal Pictures’ $264.1 million global opening for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey—Nolan’s biggest worldwide debut ever—is drawing industry attention for the marketing strategy that powered it. The studio spent $125 million on global marketing, centering the campaign on IMAX: tickets went on sale a full year before the premiere and sold out within hours, while a six-minute prologue was screened in IMAX 70mm ahead of competing releases last December. IMAX contributed $51.8 million—23% of the opening weekend gross—across 41 worldwide 70mm theaters. PostTrak surveys found Nolan was cited as audiences’ top reason for attending; analysts now project a $1 billion global run.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Final Trailer Drops With Hulk Battle Footage Ahead of July 31 Opening
Sony Pictures released the final trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day on Tuesday, showcasing Tom Holland’s Peter Parker narrating his journey alongside new footage of Zendaya’s MJ swinging through the city and fight sequences against Mark Ruffalo’s returning Hulk. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton with a screenplay by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, the film opens July 31. It follows Peter Parker living in a world that has forgotten him while an invisible threat endangers those he loves. The cast includes Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, and Tramell Tillman. The film is tracking to open above The Odyssey’s record $123.5 million live-action domestic debut.
Sony in Talks to Reopen Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Multiplex, Shuttered Since 2020
Sony is in talks with Robertson Property Group to lease and reopen the Cinerama Dome and Hollywood ArcLight multiplex at 6360 Sunset Boulevard, shuttered since Covid struck in 2020. Sources indicate Sony’s Alamo Drafthouse dine-in chain would play a role in operating the iconic venue. Pre-pandemic, the Cinerama Dome and ArcLight were among the ten highest-grossing multiplexes on any given weekend and served as a critical launchpad for indie and awards-season films from A24, Searchlight, and others. The Forman family wishes to retain ownership, and due to Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings the ArcLight name cannot be used in any future iteration of the property.
Disney Cuts Several Hundred Jobs Across Pixar, National Geographic, and ESPN
Walt Disney Co. cut several hundred positions on Tuesday, with Pixar and National Geographic among the most affected divisions. Pixar saw approximately 100 positions eliminated—high single-digit percentage of its 1,100-person staff—across production and operations, despite the studio’s Toy Story 5 and Hoppers combining for close to $1.4 billion worldwide this year. National Geographic absorbed under 100 cuts within Disney Entertainment Television, primarily in editorial and operations. Separate ESPN layoffs tied to a new NFL network deal resulted in the departure of longtime SportsCenter anchor Karl Ravech and analyst Ryan Clark. CEO Josh D’Amaro was not expected to issue additional communication following Tuesday’s notifications.
Sports Micro-Influencer Agency SGG Media Expands Hollywood Footprint With Major Studio Clients
SGG Media, founded by 28-year-old Troy Paul, is routing Hollywood marketing campaigns through a network of roughly 3,000 micro-influencers with a combined estimated reach of 270 million users. More than half of the agency’s accounts focus on sports—its philosophy being that sports culture is pop culture—and its studio clients now include Amazon MGM, A24, Universal, Paramount, Lionsgate, and Sony Pictures on titles including The Odyssey and Anaconda. The agency’s “clipping” model surfaces the most engaging content segments to account networks that do not self-promote, targeting Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences that, per Screen Engine CEO Kevin Goetz, are “cynical” toward traditional paid advertising.
Black Bear Releasing Names Neon Veteran Bianca Parkes Head of Marketing, Heather Phillips Head of Publicity
Independent distributor Black Bear Releasing has named Bianca Parkes Head of Marketing and Heather Phillips Head of Publicity. Parkes joins from Neon, where as EVP and Executive Creative Director she led campaigns for Best Picture winners Parasite and Anora, along with hits including Longlegs and Anatomy of a Fall. Phillips spent nearly a decade at 20th Century Fox overseeing publicity and awards campaigns for Bohemian Rhapsody and the Deadpool franchise, then led communications at 101 Studios for the Yellowstone franchise. Together the duo has worked on campaigns earning more than 50 Academy Award nominations and will report to President of U.S. Distribution Benjamin Kramer.
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Odyssey | Jul 17 | $123.5M | $123.5M |
| 2 | Moana | Jul 10 | $17.9M | $81.0M |
| 3 | Toy Story 5 | Jun 19 | $13.8M | $429.9M |
| 4 | Minions & Monsters | Jul 4 | $13.6M | $136.4M |
| 5 | Evil Dead Burn | Jul 10 | $4.7M | $23.9M |
| 6 | The Invite | Jun 26 | $3.9M | $15.0M |
| 7 | Young Washington | Jul 3 | $3.6M | $40.9M |
| 8 | Obsession | May 15 | $2.4M | $258.4M |
| 9 | Supergirl | Jun 26 | $1.5M | $69.9M |
| 10 | Disclosure Day | Jun 12 | $1.3M | $114.6M |
| 11 | Backrooms | May 29 | $715K | $196.0M |
| 12 | Scary Movie | Jun 5 | $241K | $108.0M |
| 13 | Jackass: Best and Last | Jun 26 | $231K | $18.0M |
| 14 | Michael | Apr 24 | $143K | $372.2M |
| 15 | Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu | May 22 | $115K | $177.5M |
| 16 | Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass | Jul 10 | $111K | $1.3M |
| 17 | Masters of the Universe | Jun 5 | $104K | $64.7M |
| 18 | Maddie’s Secret | Jun 19 | $81K | $1.0M |
| 19 | Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World | Jul 3 | $50K | $171K |
| 20 | The Devil Wears Prada 2 | May 1 | $36K | $220.5M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates July 17–19, 2026
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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