Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Monday, July 27, 2026
Nolan’s “The Odyssey” Banks $87M Second Weekend, Sets Director Record
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey earned $87 million in its second domestic weekend, declining just 30 percent from its $124.5 million opening — the third-best hold on record for a film that opened to more than $100 million, behind only Wicked and Top Gun: Maverick. The milestone marks a Christopher Nolan record for a second weekend and ranks as the second-best Weekend 2 total ever for an R-rated film, trailing only Deadpool & Wolverine’s $97 million. The Universal epic has now grossed $286 million domestically in ten days, with all enhanced formats — IMAX, PLF, and 70mm — continuing to drive substantial premiums.
Sources: Deadline
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Warner Bros. Discovery Sues Amazon Over Hire of HBO Max Marketing Chief Pia Barlow
Warner Bros. Discovery filed suit against Amazon MGM Studios in California Superior Court on July 21 over the hire of Pia Barlow, EVP Originals Marketing for HBO Max, who was announced as Amazon’s new VP and Head of Series Marketing on July 27. WBD alleges Amazon “illegally” persuaded Barlow to leave more than 16 months before her employment contract — which runs through October 31, 2027 — was set to expire. The lawsuit alleges intentional interference with contractual relations, breach of contract, and unfair competition. Barlow, a 17-year HBO veteran, is slated to begin at Prime Video on August 3.
Sources: Deadline
“Hadestown: The Musical” Opens to $9.7M, Second-Biggest Live-Capture Debut Since “Hamilton”
Bleecker Street’s event cinema release of Hadestown: The Musical debuted to $9.7 million on 1,949 screens — the second-biggest opening for a live show capture since Hamilton — earning a No. 4 spot on the domestic weekend chart. The distributor’s new Crosswalk label, partnered with LD Entertainment, announced an expansion of the initial five-day run due to “extraordinary response and demand.” The film carries a 99 percent audience score and is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The stage production — written by Anaïs Mitchell and directed by Rachel Chavkin — won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical, and the 2020 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.
Sources: Deadline
Paramount+ Drops First “Avatar: Seven Havens” Teaser at Comic-Con, Sets October 9 Premiere
Paramount+ unveiled the premiere date and first teaser for Avatar: Seven Havens at San Diego Comic-Con, setting an October 9 debut for the animated sequel series. Created by original Avatar: The Last Airbender duo Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the series centers on a young Earthbender who discovers she is the new Avatar after Korra, in a world shattered by a sweeping cataclysm. The show is structured as two books of 13 episodes each. The teaser, revealed during Paramount’s Comic-Con panel, positions the series as a major fall launch for the streamer ahead of a crowded fourth-quarter slate.
Sources: Deadline
Apple TV+ Debuts “Matchbox: The Movie” Trailer in Inaugural Comic-Con Hall H Appearance
Apple TV+ released the first full trailer for Matchbox: The Movie during the platform’s inaugural San Diego Comic-Con Hall H appearance — a two-hour Saturday panel that also showcased Mayday, Silo, and Widow’s Bay. Starring John Cena alongside Jessica Biel, Arturo Castro, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, and Danai Gurira, the Mattel-based action film follows undercover CIA agent Sean, whose return to his hometown embroils childhood friends in a global pursuit. Directed by Sam Hargrave, the film arrives on October 9. Apple’s Hall H debut signals the streamer’s sharpened investment in marquee tentpole marketing.
Sources: Deadline
Emmy Telecast Shake-Up Divides Hollywood as Five Categories Move Off NBC Primetime
The Television Academy’s vote to shift five categories off the September 14 NBC primetime telecast — including supporting acting and writing awards for limited series, plus variety series writing — has divided Hollywood. The main ceremony, hosted by Mariska Hargitay at the Peacock Theater, will now present 19 awards rather than 26, with freed time reserved for performances and comedic segments. The DGA, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA issued a joint statement arguing the move “devalues the contributions” of nominees already notified of their nominations. Analysis notes the Academy is attempting something bold, but whether relegating five categories to the September 5–6 Creative Arts nights will revitalize the telecast remains uncertain.
Sources: Variety
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Odyssey | Jul 17 | $87.0M | $286.4M |
| 2 | Moana | Jul 10 | $10.5M | $102.5M |
| 3 | Toy Story 5 | Jun 19 | $10.0M | $448.6M |
| 4 | Hadestown: The Musical | Jul 24 | $9.69M | $9.69M |
| 5 | Minions & Monsters | Jul 1 | $9.6M | $155.4M |
| 6 | The Invite | Jun 26 | $2.64M | $19.8M |
| 7 | Evil Dead Burn | Jul 10 | $2.61M | $29.2M |
| 8 | Young Washington | Jul 3 | $1.99M | $45.0M |
| 9 | Motor City | Jul 24 | $1.63M | $1.63M |
| 10 | Obsession | Apr 14 | $1.50M | $261.4M |
| 11 | Jana Nayagan | Jul 22 | $0.74M | $1.35M |
| 12 | Disclosure Day | Jun 12 | $0.65M | $116.0M |
| 13 | Supergirl | Jun 26 | $0.63M | $71.5M |
| 14 | Her Private Hell | Jul 24 | $0.53M | $0.53M |
| 15 | Backrooms | May 28 | $0.33M | $196.8M |
| 16 | Scary Movie | Jun 5 | $0.13M | $108.2M |
| 17 | Jackass: Best and Last | Jun 26 | $0.09M | $18.2M |
| 18 | Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu | May 21 | $0.07M | $177.7M |
| 19 | Mary Oliver: Saved by Beauty of World | Jul 3 | $0.05M | $0.28M |
| 20 | Reading Lolita in Tehran | Jul 10 | $0.05M | $0.07M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates, Jul 24–26
Curated by JD · samwise.agency