Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Becomes 2026’s Highest-Grossing Film at $1.15B in Seven Days
Spider-Man: Brand New Day surpassed Toy Story 5 to become 2026’s highest-grossing film after just seven days, with $1.155 billion worldwide in total grosses including $449 million domestic and $706.3 million international. Sony Pictures and Marvel’s web-slinging sequel opened to a domestic record $360 million in its debut frame — the second-largest global opening in box office history with $932 million — and became the second-fastest film to cross $1 billion, doing so in six days. The film also set all-time records for Monday ($47 million) and Tuesday ($42 million) domestic grosses. Tom Holland and Zendaya star.
Disney CEO Says Spider-Man’s Record Opening “Bodes Well” for Avengers: Doomsday
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro used the company’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call to congratulate Sony Pictures on Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s record-breaking opening, calling the result “one more example that audiences will turn out in force for great theatrical experiences.” D’Amaro added that the debut “bodes well” for Disney’s forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday, the franchise’s first installment since 2019, slated for release on December 18, 2026. The diplomatic nod carried a self-promotional undercurrent: while Sony holds Spider-Man’s distribution rights, the film is produced by Disney’s Marvel Studios, meaning both companies benefit from the superhero’s continued box office dominance.
Disney and TikTok Announce First-of-Its-Kind Global Content Partnership
The Walt Disney Company and TikTok announced a first-of-its-kind global deal allowing fans and creators to use Disney film and show footage in short-form content. Creator videos featuring characters from Disney’s brands — including Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and FX — will appear on both TikTok and the Disney+ app in a new curated vertical. Internal TikTok data shows fans shared an average of 6.5 million film- and TV-related posts daily in 2025, with nearly half of surveyed viewers going on to stream a title after discovering it on TikTok. A joint Disney Creator Ambassador Program will offer top contributors exclusive rewards, event access, and career development pathways.
Disney Sells Out Super Bowl LXI Ad Inventory as Record Upfront Season Closes
Disney has sold out its ad inventory for Super Bowl LXI, scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, CFO Hugh Johnston announced on the company’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call. The Super Bowl will be the first to air on ESPN, in a simulcast with ABC, drawing 58 brands across 34 categories, including nine first-time Super Bowl advertisers. Reports have placed 30-second ad spots at $8 million to $9 million. The company’s 2026–27 upfront process wrapped with total volume commitments up double digits year-over-year. Disney’s marketing blitz will culminate in an “ESPN Beach” activation at the Santa Monica pier in February.
The Five Star Weekend Renewed for Season 2 at Peacock After Record Viewership
Peacock has renewed The Five Star Weekend for a second season. The Elin Hilderbrand adaptation is now Peacock’s No. 1 scripted series of all time in overall reach, logging 2.1 billion minutes watched since its July 9 premiere. Originally announced as a limited series, the show had options in place for continuation. Jennifer Garner, D’Arcy Carden, Regina Hall, and Chloë Sevigny have options to return for Season 2; Gemma Chan is not included, reflecting her character’s arc in the finale. A Season 1 finale hint suggests Greece as the next destination. The series was created by Bekah Brunstetter and is produced by Universal Global Television.
Box Office — Weekend of July 31–August 2, 2026
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | Jul 31 | $360.1M | $360.1M |
| 2 | The Odyssey | Jul 17 | $51.0M | $395.6M |
| 3 | Toy Story 5 | Jun 19 | $6.8M | $462.2M |
| 4 | Minions & Monsters | Jul 3 | $6.0M | $168.6M |
| 5 | Moana | Jul 10 | $5.6M | $115.1M |
| 6 | Hadestown: The Musical | Jul 24 | $2.0M | $18.2M |
| 7 | The Invite | Jun 26 | $1.2M | $22.8M |
| 8 | Evil Dead Burn | Jul 10 | $751K | $31.5M |
| 9 | I Want Your Sex | Jul 31 | $635K | $635K |
| 10 | Young Washington | Jul 3 | $506K | $46.4M |
| 11 | Obsession | May 15 | $503K | $262.8M |
| 12 | Backrooms | May 29 | $332K | $197.3M |
| 13 | Motor City | Jul 24 | $272K | $2.6M |
| 14 | Disclosure Day | Jun 12 | $176K | $116.6M |
| 15 | Supergirl | Jun 26 | $96K | $72.1M |
| 16 | Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World | Jul 3 | $70K | $430K |
| 17 | The Samurai and the Prisoner | Jul 31 | $64K | $64K |
| 18 | Her Private Hell | Jul 24 | $55K | $861K |
| 19 | Sheep in the Box | Jul 24 | $53K | $90K |
| 20 | Pinocchio: Unstrung | Jul 24 | $51K | $614K |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates
Every newsletter preserved and searchable
Curated by JD · samwise.agency