Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Monday, September 7, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Becomes Second Film to Cross $900M Domestically
Spider-Man: Brand New Day became only the second film to cross $900 million domestically, earning $18 million over the Labor Day weekend for a $923 million North American total through 38 days in theaters. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Tom Holland, the sequel is also the fastest-ever domestic release to reach that milestone. Globally, the film has earned $2.4 billion, cementing it among the highest-grossing releases ever. The film’s 20% hold reflects exceptional audience retention and strong ongoing marketing driving continued engagement heading into the fall season.
Widow’s Bay Leads All Programs With Eight Wins on Creative Arts Emmy Night 2
Apple TV+’s Widow’s Bay dominated Night 2 of the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday, September 6, collecting eight wins to lead all programs. Apple TV+ accumulated 18 total wins across the night, outdistancing rival streamers. HBO’s DTF: St. Louis added six trophies, with David Harbour taking Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series. Spider-Noir earned wins despite its cancellation, while Betty Gilpin won for Widow’s Bay and Rob Reiner received a posthumous Emmy for guest actor in The Bear. The main Primetime Emmy ceremony is scheduled for September 14.
Apple TV+ Leads HBO 19-16 Heading Into Emmy Night 3 Showdown
Heading into the final stretch of Emmy season, Apple TV+ holds a 19-to-16 advantage over HBO following two nights of Creative Arts ceremonies, positioning itself for what could be its first-ever first-place finish in total Emmy wins. Widow’s Bay leads all programs with eight wins heading into the main Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on September 14. HBO’s The Pitt is considered the frontrunner for Outstanding Drama Series, with Noah Wyle favored for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Netflix sits third with 13 wins as the Apple–HBO competition defines the 2026 Emmy marketing season.
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Tracking for Franchise-Record Opening Weekend
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is tracking toward a $35–$50 million domestic opening weekend when it debuts in theaters on September 18, which would set a new franchise box office record. The previous best North American opening in the series was the $26.6 million debut of 2010’s Resident Evil: Afterlife. The Sony production stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier dispatched to Raccoon City, and was co-written by Cregger and Shay Hatten. The director’s genre pedigree following his Oscar-winning blockbuster Weapons has generated strong advance ticket sales and franchise-wide marketing momentum heading into release.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Extends IMAX 70mm Run Through September 30
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has extended its IMAX 70mm run through September 30 at 39 auditoriums worldwide, building on an already record-breaking large-format performance. The film has accumulated $457 million in IMAX ticket sales globally, making it the highest-grossing IMAX release in history. Domestically, The Odyssey has earned $584 million through seven-plus weeks in release, while its global cumulative total stands at $1.55 billion. The extended engagement arrives as Universal, which distributed the film, became the first studio to cross $4 billion worldwide in 2026, with The Odyssey as its flagship title.
Danny Boyle’s Ink Earns Five-Minute Venice Ovation as Trailer Drops
Danny Boyle’s Ink, a drama charting Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of British tabloid The Sun, received a five-minute standing ovation when it opened the 2026 Venice Film Festival on September 2 and its official trailer debuted in the days that followed. The film stars Jack O’Connell as Sun editor Larry Lamb and Guy Pearce as Murdoch, with Claire Foy as Jules Davies. Written by James Graham from his Tony-nominated stage play, the project is set for theatrical release on December 11 before landing on Netflix on January 8, generating early awards campaign buzz ahead of its wide release.
China’s $300M Hit Dear You Opens Wide in North America
Dear You, a Chinese-language family drama that earned nearly $300 million in China on a production budget of approximately $2 million, began a wide North American theatrical release on September 4 through Well Go USA Entertainment. The film, directed and co-written by Lan Hongchun and told in the minority Teochew dialect, is screening at major chains including AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Harkins, and Cineplex venues across the United States and Canada. A multi-generational story of love and loyalty, Dear You is one of China’s biggest breakout films of 2026 and an example of Chinese cinema building international theatrical reach.
Weekend Box Office Top 20 — September 4–6, 2026
| # | Title | Weekend | Chg | Thtr | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | $18.0M | -20% | 3,520 | $917.8M |
| 2 | The Odyssey | $13.0M | -9% | 2,312 | $584.8M |
| 3 | Coyote vs. Acme | $11.3M | -29% | 3,727 | $33.8M |
| 4 | By Any Means | $7.4M | NEW | 2,903 | $7.4M |
| 5 | Insidious: Out of the Further | $6.5M | -36% | 2,897 | $54.1M |
| 6 | Cars (re-release) | $6.1M | NEW | 2,900 | $250.2M |
| 7 | Buddy | $5.7M | +5% | 1,771 | $14.3M |
| 8 | PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie | $3.3M | -34% | 2,613 | $48.5M |
| 9 | The End of Oak Street | $2.9M | -41% | 2,202 | $50.6M |
| 10 | The Dog Stars | $2.7M | -65% | 3,330 | $13.0M |
| 11 | Akira (re-release) | $2.7M | NEW | 787 | $2.7M |
| 12 | Fall 2: Deadpoint | $2.3M | NEW | 1,704 | $2.9M |
| 13 | Onslaught | $1.9M | NEW | 1,918 | $1.9M |
| 14 | Tony | $1.1M | -49% | 773 | $13.5M |
| 15 | Mutiny | $865K | -69% | 1,380 | $15.3M |
| 16 | Toy Story 5 | $693K | +60% | 1,100 | $479.7M |
| 17 | Spa Weekend | $385K | -68% | 521 | $6.6M |
| 18 | Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma | $343K | -47% | 229 | $6.1M |
| 19 | Finding Emily | $261K | -63% | 586 | $1.4M |
| 20 | Minions & Monsters | $195K | -42% | 220 | $183.1M |
Source: The Numbers — September 4–6, 2026 weekend results. Total weekend: $88.5M (35 films reporting).
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency