Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Spider-Man Leads Fourth Weekend; Insidious Opens $25M as The Odyssey Sets R-Rated Record
Spider-Man: Brand New Day claimed its fourth consecutive weekend at No. 1 with $39 million, lifting its domestic cumulative to $855 million and worldwide gross to $2.22 billion. Horror sequel Insidious: Out of the Further debuted to $25.3 million domestically and an estimated $60 million worldwide in its opening frame. Holdover The Odyssey crossed $1.352 billion globally, surpassing Deadpool & Wolverine’s $1.338 billion to become the highest-grossing R-rated film in box office history. Jason Statham thriller Mutiny opened sixth with $7.5 million, while A24’s Anthony Bourdain biopic Tony expanded to 1,642 locations, earning $5 million in its third weekend.
Amazon MGM Drops Ali G: Who Iz I? Trailer for October 23 Theatrical Release
Amazon MGM Studios released the trailer for Ali G: Who Iz I? on August 25, targeting an October 23 theatrical opening for the mockumentary. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Sacha Baron Cohen, who stars as the title character and produced the project. Baron Cohen, known for the Borat franchise, brings Ali G back to the big screen under the Amazon MGM banner. The trailer release in late August gives the studio a two-month marketing runway before the film’s theatrical debut, supporting Amazon MGM’s fall theatrical release strategy for the character-driven comedy.
Dolly Parton Dies at 80; CBS and CMT Rush Tribute Specials to Air
Dolly Parton, the country music legend and actress who starred in the 1980 film 9 to 5, died on August 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. CBS aired a one-hour tribute special, “Dolly Parton – An American Icon,” the same evening from 10 to 11 p.m. ET, with the special also streaming on Paramount+. CBS and CMT are both scheduling additional tribute programming following the announcement. A Broadway musical celebrating Parton’s life, Dolly: A True Original Musical, was already set to open January 19, 2027 — what would have been her 81st birthday.
Former NBCUniversal Marketer Kevin Harrington Launches Entertainment Agency Patrick Patrick
Former NBCUniversal marketing executive Kevin Harrington has launched a new entertainment marketing agency called Patrick Patrick, Deadline reported August 25. Harrington previously held a senior marketing role at NBCUniversal before founding the independent shop. Patrick Patrick enters the entertainment marketing space as major studios and streaming platforms continue to rely on specialist agencies for campaign development, creative strategy, and audience targeting. The launch follows a broader wave of veteran entertainment marketing executives departing major networks to build boutique firms dedicated to serving the rapidly evolving film and television marketing sector.
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | Jul 28 | $39.0M | $855.0M |
| 2 | Insidious: Out of the Further | Aug 22 | $25.3M | $25.3M |
| 3 | The Odyssey | Jul 17 | $19.5M | $539.0M |
| 4 | PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie | Aug 15 | $9.1M | $35.4M |
| 5 | End of Oak Street | Aug 15 | $9.0M | $38.0M |
| 6 | Mutiny | Aug 22 | $7.5M | $7.5M |
| 7 | Tony | Aug 8 | $5.0M | $6.6M |
| 8 | Fast & Furious (25th Anniv.) | Re-release | $3.1M | — |
| 9 | Spa Weekend | Aug 22 | $3.05M | $3.05M |
| 10 | Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma | Aug 1 | $1.93M | — |
| 11 | Vishwanath & Sons | Aug 22 | $1.64M | — |
| 12 | Your Name: 10th Anniversary | Aug 22 | $1.58M | — |
| 13 | The Magic Faraway Tree | Aug 22 | $1.36M | — |
| 14 | The Rivals of Amziah King | Aug 22 | $1.027M | — |
| 15 | Hot Spot | Aug 21 | $250K | — |
| 16 | It Ends | Aug 21 | $60K | — |
| 17 | Franz | Aug 22 | — | — |
| 18 | The Marching Band | Aug 22 | $12.2K | — |
| 19 | Hadestown: The Musical | Holdover | — | — |
| 20 | American Pachuco | Holdover | — | — |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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