Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Tops Third Weekend as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Opens to $13.5 Million
Universal Pictures’ The Super Mario Galaxy Movie held the top spot at the domestic box office for its third consecutive weekend, earning $36.5 million and lifting its North American cumulative total to $356.7 million. The animated sequel faced new competition from Warner Bros.’ Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, which opened to $13.5 million from 3,304 theatres to claim third place. Amazon MGM’s Project Hail Mary maintained a strong second with $20.5 million in its fifth week, pushing its domestic total past $285 million. The April 17–19 weekend marked another solid session for the exhibitor community heading into the summer corridor.
Sources: Deadline
Paramount CEO David Ellison Commits to 45-Day Theatrical Window at CinemaCon, Promises 30 Films Annually Post-Merger
In a surprise appearance at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas, Paramount Pictures CEO David Ellison committed the studio to a 45-day theatrical window immediately, with films moving to streaming no sooner than 90 days post-release. Ellison also pledged that, once the proposed merger with Warner Bros. is complete, the combined entity will produce a minimum of 30 theatrical films per year across both studios. Addressing exhibitors directly, Ellison declared “The Paramount lot is alive again.” The announcement reinforced a broader CinemaCon theme of studios recommitting to cinemas amid ongoing streaming competition and consolidation.
Netflix CEO Sarandos Holds Rare Meetings With Theater Owners at CinemaCon, Weighs Extended Theatrical Windows
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos held private meetings with leading theater operators at CinemaCon 2026, signalling a possible shift in the streamer’s long-standing opposition to extended theatrical windows. Sarandos met separately with AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron and Cinemark CEO Sean Gamble, with discussions described as “hopeful.” No firm commitments were announced, but Sarandos acknowledged that some films may perform better with longer exclusive theatrical runs. The meetings follow Netflix’s pivot after exiting the Warner Bros. acquisition race, during which Sarandos signalled openness to a 45-day window for future productions, a significant reversal from the streamer’s traditional two-to-three week stance.
Warner Bros. Unveils Clockwork Specialty Label at CinemaCon; Sean Baker’s Ti Amo! Is Debut Acquisition for $22 Million
Warner Bros. Pictures unveiled a new specialty distribution label, Clockwork, at CinemaCon, tapping former Neon CMO Christian Parkes to run the division. Its inaugural acquisition is Ti Amo!, the eagerly anticipated follow-up to Oscar winner Anora from director Sean Baker, secured for $22 million excluding French distribution rights. Baker described Ti Amo! as “my love letter to the Italian sex comedies of the ’60s and ’70s.” The deal gives Baker a single distributor overseeing global release and marketing for the first time in his career. The film is targeted for a 2027 theatrical release.
Sony Pictures Chief Urges Exhibitors to Cut Pre-Show Ad Time at CinemaCon: ‘Get Off the Ad Crack’
Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Tom Rothman delivered blunt advice to theater owners at CinemaCon 2026, urging exhibitors to significantly reduce the advertising and trailer time before feature films. Rothman called for exhibitors to “get off the ad crack,” warning that pre-shows stretching as long as 30 minutes of commercials and trailers are eroding audience patience and weakening the moviegoing experience overall. The remarks highlighted growing tension between studios and exhibitors over pre-show content length. Rothman’s candor was notable: few studio chiefs speak this bluntly to exhibitors about a revenue stream they depend on.
Variety Entertainment Marketing Summit Convenes Tomorrow in Los Angeles With Studio and Platform Leaders
The annual Variety Entertainment Marketing Summit convenes on April 22 in Los Angeles, drawing a high-profile roster of brand and studio leaders to explore marketing strategy in an evolving media landscape. Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chair Pam Abdy and activist and designer Tina Knowles headline the programme alongside NBCU Television Chairman Pearlena Igbokwe and Apple VP Oliver Schusser. Panel sessions will cover AI integration in advertising, creator economy marketing, experiential strategy, and brand storytelling. The summit, presented by Deloitte, has become a key annual gathering for the film and television marketing community.
Amazon MGM Commits to 15 Theatrical Films Per Year at CinemaCon, Bringing Michael B. Jordan and Rick Moranis
Amazon MGM Studios used its CinemaCon 2026 presentation to commit to releasing at least 15 films per year in cinemas, as studio head Mike Hopkins sought to reassure exhibitors of the streamer’s theatrical intentions. The presentation featured Michael B. Jordan teasing his upcoming directorial debut, The Thomas Crown Affair, with a score from Jon Batiste, and a rare public appearance from Rick Moranis. Amazon previously committed to an extended exclusive theatrical window for Project Hail Mary, which has grossed more than $285 million domestically and nearly $600 million worldwide, underscoring the commercial viability of the studio’s theatrical strategy.
30th Annual Webby Awards Announce Winners Today, With Netflix, Disney, and Apple Among Most-Nominated Platforms
The 30th Annual Webby Awards announced its winners today, April 21, with a ceremony to follow on May 11 in New York City hosted by comedian Josh Johnson. Organisers received more than 13,000 entries from over 70 countries, with the entertainment sector well represented. Among the top corporate nominees by volume: Google led with 46 nominations, followed by PBS (29), Apple (23), The Walt Disney Company (23), NBCUniversal (22), and Netflix (22). The expanded 2026 edition featured new categories for AI, creators, podcasts, and social media, reflecting the broadening scope of digital entertainment marketing across platforms.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap
Box Office — Weekend of April 17–19, 2026
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Apr 3 | $36.5M | $356.7M |
| 2 | Project Hail Mary | Mar 20 | $20.5M | $285.2M |
| 3 | Lee Cronin’s The Mummy | Apr 17 | $13.5M | $13.5M |
| 4 | The Drama | Apr 3 | $4.8M | $39.7M |
| 5 | You, Me & Tuscany | Apr 10 | $3.9M | $14.5M |
| 6 | Hoppers | Mar 5 | $3.0M | $161.3M |
| 7 | Normal | Apr 17 | $2.6M | $2.6M |
| 8 | BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Japan: Live Viewing | Apr 18 | $1.8M | $1.8M |
| 9 | Busboys | Apr 17 | $1.7M | $1.7M |
| 10 | Bhooth Bangla | Apr 17 | $0.95M | $0.95M |
| 11 | A Great Awakening | Apr 3 | $0.84M | $6.6M |
| 12 | Exit 8 | Apr 10 | $0.72M | $2.9M |
| 13 | The Christophers | Apr 10 | $0.61M | $0.72M |
| 14 | Reminders of Him | Mar 13 | $0.45M | $48.2M |
| 15 | Ready or Not 2: Here I Come | Mar 20 | $0.31M | $22.7M |
| 16 | Dhurandhar The Revenge | Mar 20 | $0.31M | $28.0M |
| 17 | Faces of Death | Apr 10 | $0.30M | $2.4M |
| 18 | Lorne | Apr 17 | $0.27M | $0.27M |
| 19 | Mile End Kicks | Apr 17 | $0.26M | $0.26M |
| 20 | Scream 7 | Feb 27 | $0.19M | $121.8M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates
Curated by JD · samwise.agency