Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Disney’s Live-Action Moana Opens to Disappointing $43M Debut, Faces $100M–$125M Loss
Disney’s live-action remake of Moana opened to $43.1 million from 3,875 North American theaters during the weekend of July 10–12, well below the studio’s target of $60 million-plus. The film’s global debut reached $95 million—a dismal figure for a production that cost $250 million to make, before marketing. Critics rejected the film, which holds a 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, though audiences rewarded it with an A− CinemaScore. Analysts pointed primarily to the remake’s proximity to the billion-dollar-grossing Moana 2, released just 20 months prior, as the central cause of audience fatigue. Projections suggest the film could lose between $100 million and $125 million in its theatrical run.
Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer Scores $74M China Debut, Riding World Cup Wave
Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer opened to $73.6 million (RMB 500.3 million) in its first two days at the China box office, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the nation’s total ticket sales during the July 11–12 weekend. Beijing-based ticketing platform and distributor Maoyan timed the release to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Chow’s original Shaolin Soccer and enthusiasm for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The spin-off—Chow’s first feature in seven years—stars Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Lay Zhang as an all-female martial arts soccer squad. Maoyan’s algorithm now forecasts a $369 million (RMB 2.5 billion) cumulative gross.
Letterboxd Auction Heats Up as Community Group Challenges Netflix and Studio Giants
A grassroots collective called the Intrinsic Entertainment Collaborative has entered the bidding war for Letterboxd, the social film-discovery platform whose auction is managed by boutique investment firm Liontree. Corporate bidders include Netflix, Paramount, and Sony Pictures, with the platform valued at approximately $250 million—roughly five times its 2023 valuation when Canadian holding company Tiny acquired a 60% stake. The community group has opened investment via Wefunder, arguing that major studio ownership would create inherent conflicts of interest, given that Letterboxd has become a key tool in film discovery and marketing campaign amplification.
Apple TV+ Launches ‘Lucky’ With Weekly Episode Rollout, Starring Anya Taylor-Joy
Apple TV+’s new crime drama Lucky, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as a con artist forced on the run after a multi-million-dollar heist goes wrong, debuted its first two episodes on July 15 following a world premiere at the Directors Guild of America theater. The series, based on the novel by Marissa Stapley, will roll out one new episode each Wednesday through August 19. Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter executive produce alongside Taylor-Joy, who also serves as executive producer. Co-showrunners Jonathan Tropper and Cassie Pappas developed the adaptation, which also stars Drew Starkey, Annette Bening, and Timothy Olyphant.
Guadagnino’s ‘Artificial’ to Skip Festival Circuit as Neon Commits to Oscar Campaign
Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial, the controversial biopic starring Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman, is not expected to follow the traditional fall festival circuit despite distributor Neon’s commitment to mount a full Oscar campaign. Neon acquired the film without a minimum guarantee, covering prints-and-advertising costs through a straight distribution deal—bypassing the typical Cannes, Venice, or Telluride launch strategy. Amazon had originally backed the project before stepping away after striking a $50 billion partnership with OpenAI in February. Neon indicated the film could still appear at a festival in some capacity, but without the full press junket and red carpet treatment.
Laid-Off Marvel Art Director Shares Final Character Designs for Avengers: Doomsday
Andy Park, who served as Director of Visual Development at Marvel Studios for 16 years and led visual development on 15 films, has shared a commemorative illustration revealing character designs from Avengers: Doomsday—his final complete project at the studio before his role was eliminated in Disney’s April 2026 layoffs. Park posted the artwork on Instagram, offering the first official look at key characters in the upcoming ensemble superhero film, including Doctor Doom’s mask and assembled X-Men. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for theatrical release on December 18, 2026.
Alternativa Distribution Launches to Connect Global South Films With TV and Streaming Platforms
Alternativa Distribution, the new commercial arm of not-for-profit organization Alternativa, has launched with a 10-film slate aimed at connecting impact-driven titles from the Global South with TV broadcasters and streaming platforms. The venture is led by Avital Lavi, a former executive at yesDocu and TikTok. The inaugural slate includes A Poet, directed by Simón Mesa Soto and winner of the Cannes Jury Prize, alongside Zoljargal Purevdash’s If Only I Could Hibernate and Antoinette Jadaone’s Sunshine. The company pays filmmakers minimum guarantees upfront and covers dubbing costs, with the aim of making Global South films accessible to international audiences.
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moana | Jul 10 | $43.1M | $43.1M |
| 2 | Minions & Monsters | Jul 3 | $21.2M | $108.9M |
| 3 | Toy Story 5 | Jun 19 | $19.0M | $404.3M |
| 4 | Evil Dead Burn | Jul 10 | $13.7M | $13.7M |
| 5 | Young Washington | Jul 3 | $6.9M | $33.6M |
| 6 | Obsession | May 15 | $3.8M | $253.4M |
| 7 | Supergirl | Jun 26 | $3.8M | $66.2M |
| 8 | Disclosure Day | Jun 12 | $3.4M | $111.5M |
| 9 | Backrooms | May 29 | $1.5M | $194.2M |
| 10 | Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass | Jul 10 | $0.9M | $0.9M |
| 11 | Jackass: Best and Last | Jun 26 | $0.8M | $17.3M |
| 12 | The Invite | Jun 26 | $0.6M | $7.4M |
| 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: The Mandalorian and 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 | $0.1M | $220.4M |
| 20 | Night Nurse | Jul 10 | $0.1M | $0.1M |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates · Jul 10–12, 2026
Curated by JD · samwise.agency