Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Disney’s Live-Action Moana Opens to Disappointing $43M, Could Lose Up to $125M on $250M Budget
Disney’s live-action “Moana” opened to a disappointing $43 million in North America this weekend from 3,827 theaters, far below the studio’s projected $60–65 million domestic debut. The remake carries a $250 million production budget, and with a global launch of $95 million, analysts estimate the title could lose between $100 million and $125 million in its first cycle. Disney’s own internal competition—including the still-performing “Toy Story 5”—and the film’s proximity to the animated sequel “Moana 2,” released less than two years prior, are cited as key factors in the underperformance. The release underscores the strategic risks in Disney’s live-action remake pipeline.
“Michael” Crosses $1 Billion Worldwide, Becomes Lionsgate’s First $1B Film and the Highest-Grossing Biopic Ever Made
“Michael,” Lionsgate’s Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as his real-life uncle, has crossed $1 billion worldwide after 12 weekends in release—the studio’s first film ever to reach that milestone. The tally stands at $1.001 billion globally, with $371.8 million domestic and $629.8 million international. The achievement surpasses both “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($911 million) and “Oppenheimer” ($975 million) to make “Michael” the highest-grossing biographical film ever made. Lionsgate’s $60 million marketing campaign leaned on nostalgia and fan community outreach, including claiming the @michaelmovie social account before releasing a single piece of creative, accumulating 20,000 followers organically.
A24’s Record-Breaking “Backrooms” Arrives on Digital Today, 46 Days After Its $81M Theatrical Opening
“Backrooms,” the A24 horror film from Kane Parsons—the 20-year-old director who adapted his own YouTube series—arrives on digital sales and rental platforms on July 14, marking a 46-day theatrical-to-digital window. The film generated $192.3 million domestic and over $361 million globally, becoming A24’s highest-grossing title ever with an $81.4 million domestic opening. Before its digital bow, A24 released an extended “Everything Must Go Edition” with 16 minutes of additional footage last weekend. The digital release arrives as Backrooms continues to play on 1,262 domestic screens, earning $1.49 million in its most recent weekend.
Warner Bros. Drops First “Digger” Trailer as Tom Cruise Stars in Iñárritu’s $125M Absurdist Disaster Comedy
Warner Bros. released the first full trailer for “Digger,” director Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s absurdist political comedy starring Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a billionaire whose company may have triggered a nuclear-scale ecological disaster. The film, described as “a comedy of catastrophic proportions,” marks Iñárritu’s first English-language feature since 2015’s “The Revenant” and carries a $125 million production budget. Shot over six months in the U.K. with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki using VistaVision, the title opens October 2. The ensemble cast includes Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Riz Ahmed, Sophie Wilde, and Emma D’Arcy.
Peacock Releases First “Crystal Lake” Trailer, Sets October 15 Premiere for the Friday the 13th Prequel Series
Peacock released the first full trailer for “Crystal Lake,” the prequel series to the Friday the 13th franchise, alongside first-look photos and a confirmed premiere date of October 15. The series stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees, a grieving single mother whose young son Jason drowned in the lake the prior year. The show follows Pamela before the events of the original 1980 slasher film, with a storyline centered on her inability to escape her grief. Sky has acquired international rights for the series across its territories. The trailer opens with a creepy children’s chorus chanting before introducing Cardellini in the central role.
Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Soccer” Opens to $73.6M in China in Two Days, Maoyan Projects $369M Total
Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Soccer,” a spin-off of 2001’s “Shaolin Soccer,” scored a $73.6 million (RMB 500.3 million) two-day opening at the China box office on July 11–12, marking Chow’s first directorial effort in seven years. The film follows an all-female soccer squad who incorporate martial arts techniques during a major tournament and has earned a 9.4 rating on the Maoyan ticketing platform, which is projecting a $369 million (RMB 2.5 billion) final gross. The two-day tally accounted for nearly three-quarters of all ticket sales in China that weekend, nine times the take of its nearest competitor. Encore Films holds international rights outside China.
Paramount+ Sets “Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender” for July 25 Streaming Debut After April Leak Hastened Release
Paramount+ will debut “Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender” globally on July 25, confirmed alongside the release of a first trailer and first-look images. The animated film was originally slated for a theatrical release on October 9 before Paramount shifted it to streaming in December 2025; the studio later investigated when the entire film leaked online in April 2026. The film stars Eric Nam as Aang, with Dave Bautista, Steven Yeun, Jessica Matten, and Dionne Quan in supporting roles. An appearance at San Diego Comic-Con is planned ahead of the July 25 launch.
Box Office — Currently in Theatres (Weekend Jul 11–13)
| # | Title | Release | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moana | Jul 11 | $43.1M | $43.1M |
| 2 | Minions & Monsters | Jul 1 | $21.2M | $108.9M |
| 3 | Toy Story 5 | Jun 19 | $19.0M | $404.3M |
| 4 | Evil Dead: Burn | Jul 11 | $13.7M | $13.7M |
| 5 | Young Washington | Jul 3 | $6.9M | $33.6M |
| 6 | The Invite | Jun 26 | $5.7M | $7.4M |
| 7 | Obsession | May 15 | $3.8M | $253.4M |
| 8 | Supergirl | Jun 26 | $3.8M | $66.2M |
| 9 | Disclosure Day | Jun 12 | $3.4M | $111.5M |
| 10 | Backrooms | May 29 | $1.5M | $194.2M |
| 11 | Gail Daughtry … | Jul 11 | $0.9M | $0.9M |
| 12 | Jackass: Best and Last | Jun 26 | $0.8M | $17.3M |
| 13 | Scary Movie | Jun 5 | $0.4M | $107.5M |
| 14 | Michael | Apr 24 | $0.3M | $371.9M |
| 15 | Masters of the Universe | Jun 5 | $0.3M | $64.5M |
| 16 | Star Wars: Mandalorian & Grogu | May 22 | $0.2M | $177.3M |
| 17 | Maddie’s Secret | Jun 19 | $0.2M | $0.8M |
| 18 | Leviticus | Jun 19 | $0.1M | $7.0M |
| 19 | The Devil Wears Prada 2 | May 1 | $0.09M | $220.4M |
| 20 | Night Nurse | Jul 11 | $0.07M | $0.07M |
Source: The Numbers / Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates Jul 11–13, 2026
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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