Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Michael Opens to $97.5M, Shatters Music Biopic Record
Lionsgate’s Michael, director Antoine Fuqua’s biographical musical drama starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, opened to an estimated $97.5 million domestically over the April 24–26 weekend, shattering the record for the best debut by a music biopic. The previous benchmark was set by Universal’s Straight Outta Compton at $60.2 million in 2015. Internationally, Universal reported $111.4 million from 82 territories, pushing the global total to $206.4 million — the year’s largest worldwide live-action launch. The film earned $39.5 million on opening day from 3,955 North American theaters, the biggest biographical film opening day in domestic history, with a 96 percent Rotten Tomatoes audience score.
Sources: Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
Behind Michael’s Record Opening: 417M Followers, Berlin Premiere, and a Viral Teaser
Lionsgate’s record-breaking launch of Michael was backed by one of the most ambitious marketing campaigns in music biopic history. Social analytics firm RelishMix measured 417.9 million Michael Jackson followers across TikTok, YouTube, X, Facebook, and Instagram — 2.2 times above genre norms and more than double the pre-opening social footprint of Elvis. The global premiere ran April 10–12 in Berlin, featuring 300 invited creators with a combined reach over half a billion and a moonwalk station where fans could perform alongside star Jaafar Jackson. The campaign’s November 2025 teaser became the most-viewed music biopic trailer in history, clocking 116.2 million views within 24 hours of release.
Spider-Noir Trailer Debuts at CCXPMX26; Nicolas Cage Series Premieres May 27 on MGM+
MGM+ and Prime Video debuted the official trailer for Spider-Noir at CCXPMX26 in Mexico City on Saturday, offering the first full look at Nicolas Cage as aging private eye Ben Reilly in the live-action Spider-Man variant series. Cast members Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Jack Huston, and Karen Rodriguez joined creator and co-showrunner Oren Uziel at the fan convention. The black-and-white-tinged 1930s New York thriller premieres on MGM+ and Prime Video on May 27. Debuting the trailer at a major Latin American fan convention rather than a traditional Hollywood press event reflects a deliberate strategy to build international audience awareness ahead of launch.
Sources: Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter
2026 Peabody Award Winners Announced: HBO Leads With Six, Amy Poehler to Receive Career Honor
The 86th Annual Peabody Awards announced its 34 winners on Saturday, with HBO leading all networks with six prizes across documentary and entertainment categories. Entertainment honorees included HBO’s Heated Rivalry, The Pitt, and The Rehearsal; documentary winners covered The Alabama Solution, Pee-wee as Himself, and Thoughts and Prayers. Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and PBS each earned two awards. Special honorees include Amy Poehler, who receives the Career Achievement Award at the May 31 ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, alongside trailblazer honoree Sterlin Harjo and inaugural Industry Icon James L. Brooks. Disney+’s Andor also claimed a prize.
Deadline Contenders Television 2026 Opens Emmy FYC Season With Packed Talent Roster
Deadline’s annual Contenders Television showcase opened its two-day run Saturday at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, officially kicking off the 2026 Emmy FYC season. Day one brought talent from a range of contenders: Rhea Seehorn and Karolina Wydra represented conspiracy thriller Pluribus; Nick Offerman appeared for Margo’s Got Money Troubles; Michael Urie for Shrinking; and Richard Gadd presented limited series Half Man. Saturday Night Live cast members Ashley Padilla and Marcello Hernández, Elsbeth star Carrie Preston, and Task’s Tom Pelphrey also participated. The Deadline event is regarded as a key bellwether for Emmy momentum, with inclusion signaling a show’s viability in a crowded race.
Sources: Deadline
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael | Apr 24 | $97.5M | $97.5M |
| 2 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Mar 27 | $20.5M | $385.7M |
| 3 | Project Hail Mary | Mar 6 | $12.1M | $304.3M |
| 4 | Lee Cronin’s The Mummy | Apr 17 | $5.1M | $22.9M |
| 5 | The Drama | Apr 3 | $2.6M | $44.6M |
| 6 | Hoppers | Mar 6 | $1.8M | $163.1M |
| 7 | You, Me & Tuscany | Apr 10 | $1.9M | $16.4M |
| 8 | Desert Warrior | Apr 24 | $1.5M | $1.5M |
| 9 | Normal | Apr 17 | $1.3M | $3.9M |
| 10 | Fuze | Apr 24 | $1.0M | $1.0M |
| 11 | A Great Awakening | Apr 3 | $0.46M | $7.1M |
| 12 | The Exit 8 | Apr 10 | $0.36M | $3.2M |
| 13 | Reminders of Him | Mar 20 | $0.25M | $48.5M |
| 14 | Ready or Not 2: Here I Come | Mar 27 | $0.16M | $22.9M |
| 15 | Faces of Death | Apr 17 | $0.15M | $2.6M |
| 16 | Scream 7 | Feb 27 | $0.10M | $121.9M |
| 17 | They Will Kill You | Apr 3 | $0.09M | $10.9M |
| 18 | GOAT | Feb 20 | $0.06M | $103.3M |
| 19 | Bridesmaids | Apr 17 | $0.06M | $169.6M |
| 20 | Dhurandhar: The Revenge | Mar 27 | $0.06M | $28.0M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates (positions 1–6 confirmed; 7–20 estimated)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency