Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Friday, May 8, 2026
Paramount Bets on Cameron Pedigree as Billie Eilish Concert Film Opens in 3D
Billie Eilish’s concert film “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)” opens in theaters today via Paramount Pictures, marking a convergence of pop marketing and prestige filmmaking. Co-directed by Eilish and James Cameron, the film documents her 2025 world tour, captured in Manchester. Premiering at the Westwood Village Theatre on May 6, the project earned an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score ahead of release. The Cameron collaboration—announced midway through her tour in a surprise reveal—signals how major studios are betting on A-list director pedigree to elevate concert films as must-see theatrical events beyond the core fanbase.
Sources: Variety
Paramount and Warner Music Group Ink Deal to Develop Music Biopics From WMG Catalog
Paramount Pictures and Warner Music Group have closed a multi-year first-look deal to develop and produce theatrical films based on the label’s vast artist roster. WMG’s production arm Unigram, led by Amanda Ghost and Gregor Cameron, will develop each project with artists or their estates, spanning scripted features and animated films. No projects are yet in development. WMG’s roster includes legends David Bowie, Cher, Led Zeppelin, and Aretha Franklin alongside contemporary acts like Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, and Charli xcx. The deal arrives as music biopics cement their commercial power—Michael earned a $97 million domestic opening in late April.
Disney Leads Golden Trailer Award Nominations With 144 Nods; IT: Welcome to Derry Tops Field
The 26th Golden Trailer Awards released its full nominations list Thursday, spotlighting the campaigns that defined this season’s theatrical slate. Disney leads all studios with 144 nominations, powered by a broad release schedule; IT: Welcome to Derry tops all individual projects with nine nods, recognizing the horror franchise’s trailer campaign for HBO Max. Among films, Wuthering Heights and Sinners each earned seven nominations. Warner Bros. Discovery tallied 79 nominations overall, with Netflix third at 62, led by seven for Stranger Things. The ceremony is scheduled for May 28 at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills.
Sources: Deadline
A24’s Backrooms Tracks to $20M-Plus Debut on Strength of Viral Internet IP
A24’s horror film Backrooms is tracking for a $20 million-plus domestic opening when it releases on May 29, according to new projections. The film adapts the viral online concept created by YouTube filmmaker Kane Parsons, whose original series amassed 190 million views, marking Parsons as A24’s youngest feature director. Tracking reflects strong stickiness among under-25 audiences who grew up with the Backrooms mythos—a horror universe that spread from 4chan to Reddit and spawned games on Roblox and Minecraft. The studio’s social-first campaign emphasizes the IP’s organic internet roots over traditional marketing.
Sources: Deadline
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Devil Wears Prada 2 | May 1 | $77.0M | $77.0M |
| 2 | Michael | Apr 24 | $54.4M | $175.0M |
| 3 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Mar 20 | $12.1M | $401.8M |
| 4 | Project Hail Mary | Mar 20 | $8.6M | $318.7M |
| 5 | Hokum | May 1 | $6.4M | $6.4M |
| 6 | Animal Farm | May 1 | $3.4M | $3.4M |
| 7 | Deep Water | May 1 | $2.2M | $2.2M |
| 8 | That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime | May 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M |
| 9 | You, Me & Tuscany | Apr 3 | ~$1.2M | ~$17.0M |
| 10 | Wuthering Heights | Feb 13 | ~$0.8M | ~$82.0M |
| 11 | Scream 7 | Mar 27 | ~$0.6M | ~$71.0M |
| 12 | GOAT | Feb 13 | ~$0.5M | ~$43.0M |
| 13 | How to Make a Killing | Mar 6 | ~$0.4M | ~$32.0M |
| 14 | One Battle After Another | Jan 9 | ~$0.3M | ~$49.0M |
| 15 | Ready or Not 2 | Mar 20 | ~$0.3M | ~$25.0M |
| 16 | Obsession | May 1 | ~$0.3M | ~$0.3M |
| 17 | Crime 101 | Feb 13 | ~$0.2M | ~$9.0M |
| 18 | Desert Warrior | Apr 24 | ~$0.2M | ~$1.5M |
| 19 | Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft | May 8 | Opening | Opening |
| 20 | The Drama | Mar 13 | ~$0.1M | ~$22.0M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates (May 2–4) · Positions 1–8 confirmed; 9–20 estimated from available tracking data
Curated by JD · samwise.agency