Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Spielberg Debuts ‘Disclosure Day’ Trailer at CinemaCon, Warns Hollywood Against IP Over Original Stories
Steven Spielberg made his first-ever CinemaCon appearance Wednesday in Las Vegas, debuting a full trailer for Disclosure Day, his first summer blockbuster in over a decade. The sci-fi film, arriving June 12 from Universal Pictures, centres on government concealment of extraterrestrial visitors. Spielberg used the platform to warn exhibitors and executives: “If all we make is known, branded IP, we’re going to run out of gas.” He praised Universal’s decision to extend its theatrical window to 45 days, framing premium-screen exclusivity as essential to the theatrical ecosystem. The trailer drew sustained applause from exhibitors at Caesars Palace.
Amazon MGM Returns to CinemaCon With ‘Project Hail Mary’ at $525M, Previews Original-Driven Slate
Amazon MGM Studios returned to CinemaCon this week with gratitude and ambition. Star Ryan Gosling and directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller thanked exhibitors for supporting Project Hail Mary, which has earned $525 million worldwide and is now Amazon MGM’s highest-grossing film ever, surpassing Creed III’s $276 million global haul. The studio’s presentation spotlighted its upcoming slate, leaning into original, auteur-driven theatrical content. Hail Mary’s success was attributed in part to an IMAX-forward launch across 82 international markets, with the large-format network contributing $27.6 million to its opening-weekend receipts globally.
Sources: The Wrap
How the Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Year-Long Campaign Drove $629M Worldwide
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie crossed $629 million worldwide this week, 2026’s biggest Hollywood film after just two weekends. The campaign included Winter Olympics integrations, a Super Bowl spot, and a March 10 Mario Day activation generating over 160 million media impressions in a single day. RelishMix measured the film’s social media footprint at 775.6 million across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram, 21% above family animated franchise norms. Theater owners eventized the opening with exclusive Bowser and Yoshi popcorn buckets, with Bowser’s cauldron setting a Guinness World Record for smallest popcorn container. Domestic total stands at $308 million.
Sources: Deadline
March for Our Lives Calls A24’s ‘The Drama’ Marketing “Deeply Misaligned” With Film’s School-Shooting Theme
March for Our Lives called the marketing campaign for A24’s dark romantic comedy The Drama “deeply misaligned” with the film’s actual subject matter. The Zendaya and Robert Pattinson–starring film reveals that the bride character had planned a mass school shooting — a detail absent from the film’s promotional materials. The organisation argued studios have a responsibility to surface such themes in their campaigns. A24 had no comment. Tom Mauser, whose son was killed in the 1999 Columbine shooting, called the twist “awful.” Despite the controversy, the film earned $30.8 million domestically through its second weekend.
CinemaCon 2026: Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Dominates Exhibitor Anxiety in Las Vegas
The proposed merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery cast a long shadow over CinemaCon 2026 this week in Las Vegas. Exhibitors and analysts noted the deal’s implications for theatrical windows, release-slate volume, and marketing spend. Insiders told TheWrap that windowing terms would feature in at least one major studio executive’s stage address. More than 1,000 writers, directors, and actors have signed a public letter opposing the acquisition. Both studios are presenting separately at the Colosseum this week. Exhibitors say the uncertainty is complicating forward-booking and co-marketing agreements for the 2026–2027 film calendar.
Prime Video Bundles Apple TV+ With Peacock Premium Plus at $19.99, Reshaping Streaming Aggregation
Amazon’s Prime Video Channels has launched a limited-time bundle pairing Apple TV+ and Peacock Premium Plus for $19.99 a month, nearly $10 less than the combined standalone price. The deal extends Prime Video’s role as a streaming aggregator, positioning Amazon as a connective hub between major streaming libraries. The bundle reflects NBCUniversal’s push to grow Peacock’s subscriber base through third-party distribution after its 2025 carriage pact with Amazon. For Apple TV+, the arrangement broadens its reach beyond its device-driven subscriber base. The tier includes Peacock’s live-sports and originals library alongside Apple’s curated premium slate.
Sources: Deadline
Neon Elevates Joey Monteiro to President of Worldwide Marketing in Leadership Restructure
Neon restructured its marketing leadership Wednesday, elevating Joey Monteiro to President of Worldwide Marketing and Alexandra Altschuler to President of Media. Monteiro, who joined Neon in 2024 from Sierra-Affinity/eOne, will now oversee both domestic and international marketing. Additional promotions include Don Wilcox and Mike Winton each rising to EVP of Marketing, and Cat Fisher joining as EVP from FilmNation Entertainment. Neon CEO Tom Quinn described the moves as recognition of a deep bench of talent. The restructuring comes as Neon’s acquisitions — including Exit 8, opening this weekend to $1.4 million from 495 locations — continue to punch above their weight.
Apple TV+ Opens 2026 Emmy FYC House at Hollywood Athletic Club, Severance and The Studio Lead the Push
Apple TV+ has opened its 2026 Emmy FYC House at the Hollywood Athletic Club, running April 24 through May 21 for Television Academy members. The space features immersive exhibits including costumes from Severance and Your Friends & Neighbors, and a recreation of Lumon’s severed floor from Severance. Panels and appearances include Ben Stiller, Seth Rogen, and Kathryn Hahn. The campaign positions Apple TV+ for a breakout Emmy year, with Severance and The Studio having led industry predictions throughout the season. The FYC push covers comedies Shrinking and Government Cheese, dramas Slow Horses and Bad Sisters, and limited series Presumed Innocent and Dope Thief.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Apr 1 | $69.0M | $308.1M |
| 2 | Project Hail Mary | Mar 14 | $24.5M | $256.6M |
| 3 | The Drama | Apr 3 | $8.7M | $30.8M |
| 4 | You, Me & Tuscany | Apr 11 | $7.8M | $7.8M |
| 5 | Hoppers | Mar 7 | $4.1M | $127.0M |
| 6 | BTS: World Tour ‘Arirang’ | Apr 12 | $2.4M | $2.4M |
| 7 | Face of Death | Apr 11 | $1.7M | $1.7M |
| 8 | Exit 8 | Apr 11 | $1.4M | $1.4M |
| 9 | A Great Awakening | Apr 4 | $1.2M | $3.8M |
| 10 | Reminders of Him | Mar 14 | $1.0M | $18.2M |
| 11 | Scream 7 | Feb 27 | $0.8M | $112.4M |
| 12 | Wuthering Heights | Jan 23 | $0.6M | $90.1M |
| 13 | GOAT | Feb 13 | $0.5M | $77.8M |
| 14 | Send Help | Jan 30 | $0.4M | $56.2M |
| 15 | One Battle After Another | Jan 9 | $0.3M | $34.5M |
| 16 | The Bride! | Mar 7 | $0.3M | $11.3M |
| 17 | Iron Lung | Jan 23 | $0.3M | $38.9M |
| 18 | They Will Kill You | Mar 20 | $0.2M | $9.4M |
| 19 | Ready or Not 2 | Mar 13 | $0.2M | $14.8M |
| 20 | Pegasus 3 | Jan 16 | $0.2M | $78.3M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates · Domestic
Curated by JD · samwise.agency