Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Saturday, April 25, 2026
“Michael” Shatters Music Biopic Record With $85 Million U.S. Opening
“Michael,” the Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and co-released by Lionsgate and Universal, opened to an estimated $85 million domestically in its debut weekend, shattering the all-time music biopic record previously held by Straight Outta Compton ($60.2 million in 2015). Worldwide tracking projects a $150 million global launch for the film. The rollout—anchored by a world premiere in Berlin where 300 creators attended—generated more than 500 million social impressions. Audience reception proved strong: a 96% Rotten Tomatoes audience score and a CinemaScore of A– from preview crowds who paid $12.6 million on Wednesday and Thursday alone.
Sources: Deadline
A24’s “The Drama” Crosses $100 Million Worldwide
A24’s romantic thriller “The Drama,” starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, crossed $100 million worldwide this week, becoming just the fifth A24 title in the studio’s 13-year history to reach that threshold. The $28 million Kristoffer Borgli film opened April 3 and has surpassed Zendaya’s previous non-IP title, Challengers, which grossed $96.1 million globally in its full run. Women comprised 60% of the audience and 80% were under 35. The milestone arrives as scrutiny from March For Our Lives over the film’s marketing approach—which concealed a school-shooting plot twist behind wedding-themed romantic content—continued to generate significant media attention.
Sources: Deadline
Mortal Kombat II Tracks for $50 Million Opening on Back of Record Red-Band Trailer Campaign
New Line Cinema is tracking “Mortal Kombat II” for a $50 million U.S. opening when the Simon McQuoid-directed sequel arrives May 8. The campaign was anchored by a red-band trailer that debuted in 2025 and set a format record with 106.8 million global views in 24 hours across 68 countries and 47 languages. A secondary faux trailer featuring Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage character added 22.2 million views in its first day. The film tests strongly with men in both the under-25 and over-25 demos, outscoring comparables including Scream 7, Final Destination: Bloodlines, and Predator: Badlands on first-choice metrics.
Sources: Deadline
Contenders Television 2026 Opens Emmy FYC Season at DGA Theater
Deadline’s Contenders Television 2026 showcase opened today at the Directors Guild of America Theater in Los Angeles for a two-day run through April 26, marking the formal launch of the Emmy awards campaign season. The event convenes showrunners, stars, and network executives for back-to-back panels before Television Academy voters. Saturday’s lineup features talent from Chad Powers, Pluribus, Half Man, Fallout, Shrinking, and Scrubs, among others. Separate documentary panels ran earlier in the week at the PMC Theater, presenting nonfiction titles from Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Hulu ahead of the June nomination-round voting window.
Sources: Deadline
Sci-Fi Thriller “April X” Lands Theatrical and HBO Distribution Deal
The psychological sci-fi thriller “April X,” starring Connor Storrie (Heated Rivalry) and Lilly Krug, secured a combined theatrical and HBO distribution deal in the U.S., announced today. North American rights acquired by Sunrise Films will place the film in more than 500 theaters in late September 2026. Storrie, who recently signed with CAA, plays one of twin siblings at the center of the near-future cyberpunk story. A companion deal for an Australian theatrical run further expanded the film’s global footprint. The announcement positions the project for a late-season awards push, with HBO providing a premium streaming window after the theatrical run.
Sources: Deadline
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | 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 | $4.9M | $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 | BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Japan: Live Viewing | Apr 17 | $1.8M | $1.8M |
| 9 | Busboys | Apr 17 | $1.7M | $1.7M |
| 10 | Bhooth Bangla | Apr 17 | $1.0M | $1.0M |
| 11 | A Great Awakening | Apr 3 | $843K | $6.6M |
| 12 | Exit 8 | Apr 10 | $721K | $2.9M |
| 13 | The Christophers | Apr 10 | $610K | $717K |
| 14 | Reminders of Him | Mar 13 | $452K | $48.2M |
| 15 | Ready or Not 2: Here I Come | Mar 20 | $313K | $22.7M |
| 16 | Dhurandhar: The Revenge | Mar 20 | $310K | $28.0M |
| 17 | Faces of Death | Apr 10 | $297K | $2.4M |
| 18 | Lorne | Apr 17 | $271K | $271K |
| 19 | Mile End Kicks | Apr 17 | $264K | $264K |
| 20 | Scream 7 | Feb 27 | $194K | $121.8M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend of Apr 17–19, 2026 (most recently completed weekend)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency