Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’ Opens to Disappointing $42 Million, Well Below $60M Target
Disney’s live-action musical remake of Moana opened to an estimated $40 million to $45 million domestic this weekend, falling well short of its $60 million–plus pre-opening target. The film, starring Dwayne Johnson as Maui and newcomer Catherine Laga’aia in the title role, launched in 3,875 theaters and collected $4.5 million in Thursday previews. Critics scored the remake at 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, lower than live-action remakes including Snow White (39%) and Aladdin (57%). Industry observers point to franchise fatigue — Moana 2 grossed over $1 billion just two years ago — and audience reluctance toward remakes of films that remain widely available on Disney+.
Neon Drops Full Trailer for Na Hong-jin’s Korean Sci-Fi Epic ‘Hope,’ Sets September 9 North America Release
Distributor Neon has released the full trailer for Hope, South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin’s sweeping sci-fi thriller set along the Korean DMZ, setting a North American release date of September 9. The ensemble cast includes Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander as alien lifeforms, alongside Hoyeon, Taylor Russell, and Hwang Jung-min. The film received a standing ovation at its Cannes premiere and was separately acquired by Mubi for multiple international territories. The trailer showcases blockbuster-scale creature sequences, suggesting Neon is positioning Hope as a genre event release heading into fall awards season.
Netflix Challenges French Content Investment Rules, Calls for Cap on Spending Obligations
Netflix this week challenged expanded French content investment obligations, calling for a cap on required local spending and filing an appeal over theatrical windowing rules. Netflix France chief Pauline Dauvin criticized new “diversity” sub-quotas that would double investment requirements in animation, documentaries, and live performance, arguing the rules prioritize regulatory compliance over editorial decisions. Netflix also objects to its 15-month theatrical window in France — longer than the nine-month window Disney+ secured — despite the platform’s comparatively high investment in French local content. Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video face similar disputes under EU streaming regulations enacted in 2022.
Paramount+ Moves ‘Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender’ Film to July 25, Drops First Trailer
Paramount+ has moved the animated film Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender to a streaming premiere of July 25, accelerating a release originally planned for October theatrical rollout. The film was pulled from theatrical distribution in December 2025 and placed on Paramount+, and a leak of the complete film online in April is believed to have hastened the streaming premiere date. Paramount also released the film’s first official trailer and confirmed an appearance at San Diego Comic-Con. The story follows Avatar Aang on a global quest to find an ancient power before it can threaten the peace achieved at the end of the animated series.
Toy Story 5 Surpasses $808 Million Worldwide, Third-Biggest Hollywood Release of 2026
Toy Story 5 has surpassed $808.6 million at the global box office, reaching $381 million domestically and $427 million internationally after three weekends in release. Disney/Pixar’s sequel, which shattered the franchise opening record with a $160 million domestic debut in June, is now the third-largest Hollywood release of 2026, trailing only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($1.009 billion) and the Michael Jackson biopic ($991 million). The film is tracking toward the $1 billion mark, which would make it the highest-grossing Toy Story installment, surpassing 2019’s Toy Story 4 ($1.07 billion).
A24’s Record-Breaking ‘Backrooms’ Arrives on Digital July 14 After Just 46-Day Theatrical Window
A24’s record-breaking horror phenomenon Backrooms will be available for digital purchase and rental starting Tuesday, July 14, completing one of the year’s shortest major theatrical windows at just 46 days. Directed by Kane Parsons, the 20-year-old YouTube filmmaker, the film grossed $192.3 million domestically and more than $361 million globally after opening to an A24-record $81.4 million in late May. The accelerated window follows a mid-run re-release in late June that added 15 minutes of bonus footage, extending the film’s theatrical engagement before the transition to home video.
Meta Pulls ‘Muse Image’ AI Feature After CAA and SAG-AFTRA Backlash Over Opt-Out Consent Policy
Meta suspended its new “Muse Image” AI feature on Instagram Friday after a joint backlash from CAA and SAG-AFTRA over its opt-out consent model. The tool allowed users to generate images by tagging any public Instagram account, meaning actors’ and creators’ likenesses could be used without explicit permission. CAA declared that “true innovation puts creators first,” while SAG-AFTRA urged all members to immediately opt out to protect their likenesses. Meta acknowledged it “missed the mark” and pulled Muse Image within days of launch. The episode adds fresh urgency to Hollywood’s ongoing effort to establish enforceable AI consent standards across platforms.
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moana (Disney, live-action) | Jul 10 | $42.0M | $42.0M |
| 2 | Toy Story 5 (Disney/Pixar) | Jun 19 | $22.0M | $381.0M |
| 3 | Minions & Monsters (Universal) | Jul 1 | $18.5M | $87.5M |
| 4 | Evil Dead Burn (WB/New Line) | Jul 10 | $14.8M | $14.8M |
| 5 | Young Washington (Angel Studios) | Jul 3 | $5.2M | $28.2M |
| 6 | Obsession (Focus Features) | May 15 | $4.1M | $163.4M |
| 7 | Backrooms (A24) | May 29 | $3.2M | $192.3M |
| 8 | The Invite (A24) | Jul 10 | $3.1M | $3.1M |
| 9 | Disclosure Day (Universal) | Jun 5 | $2.8M | $107.5M |
| 10 | Scary Movie (Paramount) | Jun 12 | $2.6M | $101.8M |
| 11 | Supergirl (WB/DC) | Jun 27 | $2.0M | $51.2M |
| 12 | Masters of the Universe (Sony) | Jun 12 | $1.7M | $60.3M |
| 13 | The Mandalorian & Grogu (Disney) | May 22 | $1.4M | $162.8M |
| 14 | Hoppers (Disney/Pixar) | May 23 | $1.3M | $158.6M |
| 15 | Michael (Lionsgate) | Apr 10 | $0.9M | $480.1M |
| 16 | The Drama (WB) | Apr 10 | $0.7M | $74.2M |
| 17 | Amazing Digital Circus (Universal) | May 29 | $0.5M | $23.8M |
| 18 | The Furious (Lionsgate) | Jun 12 | $0.4M | $18.3M |
| 19 | Stop! That! Train! (indie) | Jun 19 | $0.3M | $10.1M |
| 20 | Couture (Vertical) | Jun 26 | $0.2M | $2.1M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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