Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Other Mommy Heads to $28 Million Opening While Sorkin’s Social Reckoning Stumbles
Universal’s horror film Other Mommy grossed $12.6 million Friday, including Thursday previews, and is heading to around $28 million for its opening weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That would top the studio’s projected $20 million debut for the $19 million-budgeted film from director Rob Savage, starring Jessica Chastain. Word of mouth may not help: audiences gave it a D+ CinemaScore, the lowest grade for a film since Megalopolis in September 2024. Sony’s The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin’s Facebook-focused feature, notched $2.1 million Friday for a start of roughly $6 million, slightly below the $7 million the studio expected for the $30 million-budgeted film.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
Prime Video Unveils Blade Runner 2099 Trailer at New York Comic-Con
Prime Video released key art and a new trailer for Blade Runner 2099 on Saturday at New York Comic-Con, ahead of the eight-episode limited series’ full premiere on Nov. 25. Created by Silka Luisa with Amazon MGM Studios and Alcon Television Group, the series is set 50 years after the events of Blade Runner 2049, in a Los Angeles that has been reborn, just not by humanity. Hunter Schafer plays Cora, a fugitive who takes on one last identity as a Blade Runner, forced to partner with Olwen (Michelle Yeoh), a Replicant days from dying. Jonathan van Tulleken directed the first two episodes.
Nicolas Cage Says He Refused Amazon’s AI Waiver for Spider-Noir
Nicolas Cage said he will likely not work with Amazon again after refusing to sign an AI waiver for Spider-Noir, the recently canceled Prime Video series, TheWrap reported. Speaking at New York Comic Con’s Spotlight panel Saturday, Cage told the crowd that Amazon is “a very AI-friendly company, to the tune of $50 billion invested in OpenAI,” adding, “I am not an AI-friendly actor.” Prime Video canceled the series last month, days before it received 11 Emmy Award nominations; it drew 2.6 billion minutes viewed in its first six weeks. Cage also said he might do a season of True Detective.
Brad Bird Explains Taking Ray Gunn to Skydance Ahead of Netflix Debut
Director Brad Bird told Variety he never pitched Ray Gunn at Pixar because it “wasn’t in Pixar’s wheelhouse exactly,” instead making the noir detective caper with Skydance Animation. The film premieres at the BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 10 and hits Netflix on Dec. 18. Bird said making animated films for teenagers and adults “shouldn’t be a controversial decision.” Sam Rockwell voices the title detective, who uncovers a plot involving Venus Nova, a superstar singer voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Composer Michael Giacchino scored the film, his sixth project with Bird. Bird is returning to Pixar for a third Incredibles movie.
U.K. Picks Iran Documentary Rehearsals for a Revolution as Oscar Entry
The U.K. has selected Pegah Ahangarani’s Rehearsals for a Revolution, which won the L’Oeil d’Or for best documentary at Cannes, as its entry for best international feature film at the 2027 Oscars. The film traces more than 40 years of Iran’s history through Ahangarani’s personal experiences of exile, drawing on personal archives, home videos and footage of street protests. Sony Pictures Classics will hold Oscar-qualifying runs in New York and Los Angeles in December before opening the film at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre and Film Forum on Jan. 8, 2027. The Academy will announce its 15-film shortlist on Dec. 15.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
In a Violent Nature: Part 2 Sets Valentine’s Weekend Theatrical Release
Actor Ry Barrett announced Saturday at New York Comic-Con that In a Violent Nature: Part 2, the Independent Film Company/Shudder slasher sequel, will premiere in theaters on Feb. 12, 2027, Valentine’s Day weekend. Barrett reprises his role as Johnny, the undead, mask-clad killer, who continues his rampage at an Ontario summer camp where a young outcast camper is forced to spend the night with his counselor sister and her friends at their annual end-of-season party. The sequel follows the original’s breakout in Sundance’s Midnight program in 2024. It is co-directed by Nate Wilson and Chris Nash, who wrote the script.
Bob’s Burgers Sets December 7 Hulu Premiere for Holiday Short
A clip from Bob’s Burgers’ Hulu-exclusive holiday short, “On the Fort Day of Christmas,” was unveiled Saturday at New York Comic-Con. The short premieres Monday, December 7, exclusively on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S., and on Disney+ internationally in most markets. Its synopsis: “A record-breaking Christmas snowstorm means one thing to the Belcher kids — a record-breaking Christmas snow fort.” The clip was presented during a panel with executive producer Loren Bouchard and stars H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Dan Mintz and Larry Murphy.
Domestic Box Office Top 20 — Friday, Oct. 9, 2026
Single-day grosses, including Thursday previews where applicable. Release dates are first day in release.
| # | Title | Distributor | Released | Friday | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other Mommy | Universal | Oct. 9 | $12,600,000 | $12,600,000 |
| 2 | Verity | Amazon MGM | Oct. 2 | $4,007,321 | $46,386,372 |
| 3 | Resident Evil | Columbia | Sep. 18 | $2,325,000 | $132,500,408 |
| 4 | The Social Reckoning | Sony | Oct. 9 | $2,150,000 | $2,150,000 |
| 5 | Heart of the Beast | Paramount | Sep. 25 | $1,965,000 | $44,526,661 |
| 6 | Primetime | A24 | Sep. 25 | $1,259,295 | $38,712,925 |
| 7 | Forgotten Island | DreamWorks | Sep. 25 | $1,110,000 | $26,882,330 |
| 8 | Digger | Warner Bros. | Oct. 2 | $975,000 | $12,207,754 |
| 9 | Angel and the Badman | — | Oct. 9 | $935,341 | $935,341 |
| 10 | Pan’s Labyrinth (20th Anniversary) | — | Oct. 9 | $738,094 | $738,094 |
| 11 | The Odyssey | Universal | Jul. 17 | $520,000 | $621,492,790 |
| 12 | Practical Magic 2 | Warner Bros. | Sep. 11 | $365,000 | $66,274,177 |
| 13 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | Sony | Jul. 31 | $365,000 | $955,730,567 |
| 14 | Avengers Endgame: Encore (2026 Re-release) | Disney | Sep. 25 | $350,000 | $38,034,355 |
| 15 | Daniel and the Fiery Furnace | EKKL Entertainment | Sep. 18 | $55,000 | $7,900,032 |
| 16 | 9 to 5 (2026 Re-release) | 20th Century | Oct. 9 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| 17 | Insidious: Out of the Further | Sony | Aug. 21 | $42,000 | $65,902,365 |
| 18 | Portrait of an Artist: Stephen Curry | Disney | Oct. 9 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| 19 | Musk | Bleecker Street | Oct. 9 | $27,574 | $27,574 |
| 20 | Misty Green | A24 | Oct. 9 | $27,200 | $27,200 |
Source: Box Office Mojo (data as of Oct. 11)
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