How Lionsgate’s $60M Fan-Centric Campaign Turned Michael Into a Global Blockbuster

Lionsgate has revealed the inner workings of its record-breaking $60 million marketing campaign for the Michael Jackson biopic, which propelled the film to a $97 million domestic opening—the largest ever for a music biopic. The studio’s “fan-forward” strategy leaned into TikTok-amplified experiential stunts, including flash-mob activations across 20 global markets generating 23.4 million domestic views. A first-of-its-kind HBCU marching band initiative yielded 8.4 million additional social views. The campaign generated 564 million total views across platforms, helping the film surpass $710 million worldwide—now the fourth-highest-grossing biographical film of all time.

Sources: Variety

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Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Eyes $80–$100M Memorial Day Opening as Disney’s Campaign Pivots

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is tracking for an $80–$100 million four-day domestic opening over the Memorial Day weekend as the franchise’s first theatrical release in seven years. Disney retooled its late campaign to position the film as a standalone family adventure accessible without franchise knowledge, driven by concern over narrow general-audience tracking. North American presales stand at $25 million heading into release, ahead of Project Hail Mary at the same point. The global four-day target is $160 million. The opening will serve as a decisive test of whether Disney+ streaming-era properties can sustain theatrical event-film economics.

Sources: Deadline

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Critics Divided on The Mandalorian and Grogu Ahead of Star Wars Theatrical Return

Early reactions to The Mandalorian and Grogu are sharply divided ahead of its May 22 theatrical release. Critics alternately praise the film as “a grin-inducing crowd-pleaser” and condemn it as “one of the weakest Star Wars films.” Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin anchors action-packed sequences, and reviewers universally agree Grogu remains the franchise’s most bankable asset. Supporters call the film a perfect summer blockbuster; detractors say it plays like an extended TV episode. Rotten Tomatoes tracking shows approximately a 60 percent critical score, among the franchise’s lowest, adding uncertainty to an opening Memorial Day weekend watched closely by Disney executives.

Sources: Variety

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WB’s Clockwork Acquires Park Chan-wook’s Western The Brigands of Rattlecreek in Cannes’ Biggest Deal

Warner Bros.’ specialty label Clockwork has closed a North American deal for Park Chan-wook’s highly anticipated revenge Western The Brigands of Rattlecreek, valued in the mid-teen millions against a roughly $60 million budget—among the largest acquisitions of the 2026 Cannes market. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and Tang Wei. Clockwork, led by former Neon executive Christian Parkes, beat out multiple studios in an aggressive bidding process. The deal positions Clockwork as a serious competitor to A24 and Neon at the high end of the specialty market after its April acquisition of Sean Baker’s Anora follow-up Ti Amo!

Sources: Variety

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A24 Wins Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid for $17 Million After Heated Cannes Bidding War

A24 has acquired worldwide rights to Jordan Firstman’s debut feature Club Kid for a reported $17 million following a heated bidding war at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Mubi, Focus Features, Searchlight, Netflix, and Clockwork all competed before A24 prevailed. Firstman, widely known for his viral social content, directs and stars in the dramedy, which follows a party promoter forced to confront fatherhood when a ten-year-old son arrives unannounced. The film was financed by Topic Studios. The acquisition is A24’s largest Cannes buy in recent memory, underscoring the studio’s appetite for personality-driven titles with strong social media crossover potential.

Sources: Variety

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Netflix Grants Fincher–Tarantino–Pitt Film The Adventures of Cliff Booth a Two-Week IMAX Window

Netflix has announced that The Adventures of Cliff Booth—directed by David Fincher, written by Quentin Tarantino, and starring Brad Pitt reprising his Oscar-winning role—will receive a two-week exclusive IMAX theatrical engagement beginning November 25 before streaming December 23. The theatrical window is Netflix’s third IMAX partnership following K-Pop Demon Hunters and the Stranger Things finale event. Set in 1977 Hollywood, the film reunites the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood creative team. The strategy is designed to support awards consideration and to honor a creative pedigree that gives each collaborator significant theatrical leverage in their deals.

Sources: KXEL / comingsoon.net

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Netflix Acquires Cannes Breakout Animated Romance In Waves in Mid-Seven-Figure Deal

Netflix has acquired global rights (outside France) to the animated romance In Waves following a competitive bidding war at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, in a deal valued in the mid-seven figures. Directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen, the film stars Stephanie Hsu and Will Sharpe as young surfers navigating love and loss, adapted from AJ Dungo’s 2019 graphic memoir. The film became the first animated title to open Cannes’ Critics’ Week, generating rave reviews and emerging as the market’s breakout specialty buy. The acquisition extends Netflix’s push into auteur-driven global animation, with a worldwide rollout expected in late 2026.

Sources: Variety

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Cannes 2026 Market Closes: A24 and WB Clockwork Dominate as Hollywood Studios Sit Out

The 2026 Cannes Film Market closed Thursday after a slow opening week gave way to a last-day dealmaking surge that secured its reputation as a net positive for independent cinema. A24’s $17 million Club Kid acquisition and Warner Bros. Clockwork’s mid-teens buy of Park Chan-wook’s The Brigands of Rattlecreek were the defining transactions. Hollywood’s major studios were conspicuously absent from competition for the second consecutive year, ceding space to European auteurs. Netflix and Amazon were the market’s most active streaming buyers. Jury president Park Chan-wook’s sale of his own next film during the festival he presides over drew widespread comment from buyers and press.

Sources: Variety

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