Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
“Michael” Opens April 24 With Record Biopic Projections After Hollywood Premiere
“Michael,” the Lionsgate and Universal Michael Jackson biopic, held its star-studded U.S. premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Monday, April 21, with the Jackson family and director Antoine Fuqua introducing lead Jaafar Jackson to a warm reception. The 127-minute film opens wide on April 24. Updated tracking now projects a domestic opening of $55–$70 million, with worldwide estimates reaching $150 million — which would set an all-time record for a music biopic, surpassing Straight Outta Compton’s $60.2 million. The marketing campaign included a Berlin global premiere attended by 300 creator-influencers reaching over 500 million people and early-access premium screenings beginning April 22.
Sources: Hollywood Reporter, Deadline
Weekend Box Office: Super Mario Galaxy Movie Hits $357M with Third Straight No. 1
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie claimed its third consecutive No. 1 weekend, earning $36.5 million (down 46%) and lifting its domestic cumulative total to $356.7 million. Project Hail Mary held at No. 2 with $20.5 million — a remarkably strong –15% hold — pushing its domestic cume to $285.2 million and its global total to $573 million. Lee Cronin’s The Mummy debuted in third with $13.5 million from 3,304 theaters, a soft opening for a horror-action release. The overall domestic weekend grossed $91.2 million across 52 reporting titles, a healthy figure heading into the final stretch before summer tentpole season.
Sources: Hollywood Reporter, The Numbers
Devil Wears Prada 2 Premiere Streams Live on Disney+ and Hulu; Film Eyes $66M–$90M Opening
Disney streamed the world premiere red carpet of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” live on Disney+ and Hulu on Monday, April 20 — a first for a major studio theatrical release — with Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Lady Gaga in attendance. The sequel opens in theaters on May 1 and is now tracking for a $66–$90 million domestic debut, with presales running double those of Wuthering Heights. The final trailer, featuring original song “Runway” by Lady Gaga and Doechii, posted 185 million views in its first 24 hours. First-choice scores among women over 25 trail only Wicked’s benchmark for recent female-skewing releases.
Amazon MGM Pledges 15 Theatrical Films Per Year; Project Hail Mary Extends Its Run
Amazon MGM Studios made a formal commitment at CinemaCon last week to release at least 15 films per year into theaters, framing “Project Hail Mary” as proof of concept. The studio simultaneously announced an extension of Hail Mary’s exclusive theatrical window, with the film returning to IMAX for a limited one-week engagement following co-director Christopher Miller’s confirmation that the film “won’t be on streaming anytime soon.” The move signals a deliberate effort by Amazon MGM head Courtenay Valenti to strengthen relationships with exhibitors after a decade of theatrical ambivalence from the streaming giant. The film has now grossed a cumulative $573 million globally.
How Ryan Gosling and Amazon MGM Built a $573M Box Office Marketing Blueprint
The Hollywood Reporter published a detailed post-mortem this week on what made “Project Hail Mary” a marketing marvel. The campaign leaned heavily on IMAX as a global launch platform, running press tours at science-centric venues including JPL and Griffith Observatory. Amazon cross-promoted via NBA game ads, Twitch streams, and Prime shopping pages, reaching hundreds of millions of subscribers. Ryan Gosling was described as “a hands-on creative leader throughout,” including a surprise theater appearance in New York City that went viral and a bouquet delivery to CinemaCon exhibitors. The piece frames the campaign as “a textbook example” and blueprint for future Amazon MGM theatrical releases.
Sources: Hollywood Reporter
Janet Jackson Declined to Be Portrayed in “Michael” Biopic, Adding Complexity to Campaign
Variety reports that Janet Jackson was approached to be depicted in the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” and respectfully declined, with LaToya Jackson likewise choosing not to appear. The film carries the full backing of the Jackson estate but does not reflect the entire family’s endorsement. The revelation highlights a delicate tension in the film’s marketing: the campaign has leaned on nostalgia and estate-approved materials while carefully avoiding the abuse allegations that led to reshoots earlier in production. The biopic opens nationwide on April 24 and stars Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop.
Sources: Variety
Apple TV+ Launches Emmy FYC Immersive House Featuring Severance and The Studio
Apple TV+ will open a dedicated Emmy FYC activation called “Think Apple TV+” at the Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles from April 24 through May 21, featuring immersive experiences tied to top contenders “Severance,” “The Studio,” and “Shrinking.” Exhibits include costumes from Severance, a replica Lumon severed floor, and photo opportunities from The Studio. Panels will feature Ben Stiller, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Kathryn Hahn, and Bill Lawrence, among others. The activation continues the industry trend toward high-cost, experiential FYC campaigning as streaming platforms compete for TV Academy votes ahead of Emmy nomination voting.
Sources: Hollywood Reporter
Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit Brings Studio Chiefs to L.A. Today
Variety’s annual Entertainment Marketing Summit (presented by Deloitte) convenes today, April 22, in Los Angeles, bringing together senior marketing leaders from the major studios. Speakers include Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Co-Chair Pam Abdy, NBCU Television Chairman Pearlena Igbokwe, and Apple’s Oliver Schusser. Tina Knowles delivers a keynote. A roundtable featuring Paramount Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros. Streaming will address creator partnerships, digital advertising ROI, and the accelerating collapse of linear TV. The summit takes place as creator economy ad spend is projected to reach $43.9 billion in 2026, up 18% year-over-year.
Sources: Variety
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Apr 1 | $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 6 | $3.0M | $161.3M |
| 7 | Normal | Apr 17 | $2.6M | $2.6M |
| 8 | Bhooth Bangla | Apr 16 | $977K | $1.1M |
| 9 | A Great Awakening | Apr 3 | $843K | $6.6M |
| 10 | The Exit 8 | Apr 10 | $721K | $2.9M |
| 11 | The Christophers | Apr 10 | $610K | $717K |
| 12 | Reminders of Him | Mar 13 | $452K | $48.2M |
| 13 | Ready or Not 2: Here I Come | Mar 20 | $313K | $22.7M |
| 14 | Dhurandhar: The Revenge | Mar 19 | $310K | $28.0M |
| 15 | Faces of Death | Apr 10 | $297K | $2.4M |
| 16 | Lorne | Apr 17 | $271K | $271K |
| 17 | Mile End Kicks | Apr 17 | $254K | $254K |
| 18 | Scream 7 | Feb 27 | $194K | $121.8M |
| 19 | They Will Kill You | Mar 27 | $172K | $10.8M |
| 20 | Mother Mary | Apr 17 | $168K | $168K |
Source: The Numbers · Weekend of April 17–19, 2026
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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