Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Amazon MGM Extends Ali G: Who Iz I? Theatrical Run After Two-Day Stunt Release
Amazon MGM Studios has extended the theatrical run of Ali G: Who Iz I?, the Sacha Baron Cohen comedy that opened Friday for a stint announced as lasting only two days, The Hollywood Reporter reports. The film will continue at a number of Los Angeles area theaters, the AMC Empire 25 in New York City and the AMC South Barrington 24 in the Chicago suburbs. Its worldwide Prime Video debut was set for Wednesday. The studio said the “stunt release delivered against our goals of driving awareness, generating excitement and creating a powerful sense of FOMO” ahead of streaming. Amazon MGM has not reported box office grosses.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
Lionsgate Lets Early Reactions to Sunrise on the Reaping Out Weeks Before Release
Lionsgate is allowing attendees of Oct. 28 screenings to post limited social media reactions to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping well ahead of its Nov. 20 theatrical release, a move The Hollywood Reporter says shows the studio “clearly is feeling very confident.” The film held its London premiere on Wednesday, while full critics’ reviews are not expected until much closer to opening day. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the direct sequel to 2023’s The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, into the Second Quarter Quell. The cast also includes Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning and Maya Hawke.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
Sony Releases New Jumanji: Open World Trailer Ahead of Christmas Day Opening
Sony Pictures has released a new trailer for Jumanji: Open World, which opens Dec. 25 and has been billed as the final installment in the trilogy. In the footage, Dwayne Johnson’s video game avatar is inhabited by the mom of Alex Wolff’s character, while Jack Black’s avatar is taken over by a male restaurant worker. Writer-director Jake Kasdan returns, with Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan also reprising their roles. The story sees the game’s heroes break free of its console and wreak havoc on our world. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle surpassed $950 million globally after its December 2017 release, and the 2019 sequel reached $801 million.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
Watermelon Pictures Waives Theatrical Fees for American Doctor During Election Week
Watermelon Pictures is temporarily waiving its theatrical film rental fees and box office revenue share for the Gaza documentary American Doctor, letting venues offer discounted or free tickets, IndieWire reports. The campaign will span roughly 50 cities from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, the week of the U.S. midterm elections. The film will also stream free for non-subscribers on the company’s Watermelon+ platform from Oct. 30 to Nov. 6, ahead of a video-on-demand release on Nov. 10. Directed by Poh Si Teng, the Sundance documentary follows three U.S.-based physicians who volunteer in Gaza. It has earned more than $500,000 at the domestic box office.
Fully AI-Generated Feature Sanxingdui: Future Past Flops at Chinese Box Office
Sanxingdui: Future Past, a fully AI-generated feature, grossed just RMB1.21 million, about $181,000, in its opening weekend in Chinese theaters, according to producer Bona Film Group, IndieWire reports. It is the first AI feature to get the right to play on Chinese screens. Bona said the film’s budget was 10 million yuan, about $1.5 million, and that it was produced over two years by a team of 70 to 80 people. The project originated as an AI microdrama series that managed nearly 200 million views. Production has already begun on Bona’s second AI-generated feature, Unplanned Operation in the Cold Moon.
PAW Patrol 4 in the Works at Spin Master and Paramount Animation for 2029
Spin Master, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies are teaming on a fourth film in the franchise, currently titled PAW Patrol 4, with a 2029 theatrical release being eyed via Paramount, Deadline reports. Cal Brunker, who helmed the previous films, is back to direct and will co-write with Bob Barlen. The franchise has generated $18 billion in lifetime retail. Spin Master Entertainment EVP and President Vishnu Athreya said the company wants to further expand the PAW Patrol universe through movies, series, specials, short-form video and connected play. The brand’s global reach spans more than 190 territories and 33 languages, with more than 10 million YouTube subscribers.
YouTube Ad Revenue Rises 9% to $11.2 Billion as Alphabet Misses Q3 Targets
YouTube ad revenue grew 9% in the third quarter to $11.2 billion, but shares in parent Alphabet fell 8% in after-hours trading after overall financials undershot Wall Street expectations, Deadline reports. Total revenue rose 25% to $127.6 billion, slightly below the $127.8 billion consensus forecast, while earnings per share of $2.12 missed the $3.01 analyst outlook. Alphabet has surpassed 150 million YouTube Music and Premium subscribers, including trials, up from 125 million as of March 2025. According to Nielsen, YouTube accounted for almost 16% of all viewing via TV screens in the U.S. in September, nearly doubling Netflix’s market share.
New York Production Spend Jumps 87% in Q3 as City Sound Stages Fill Up
Production spend in New York outpaced all other U.S. states in the third quarter, rising 87% to $1.61 billion, according to ProdPro, Deadline reports. California remains No. 1 overall, with spending up 17% to $1.76 billion. Deadline credits a sweetened state tax incentive and faster permitting under New York City Film Commissioner Rafael Espinal. City permit data shows a 21% average increase from January to September compared to 2025. Steiner Studios in Brooklyn is booked through next summer, while Wildflower Studios in Queens has a waitlist. State credits of $5 million or more can now be claimed in full in the first year.
Domestic Box Office Top 20 — Weekend of October 23–25, 2026
| # | Title | Weekend | Total | Wks | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clayface | $24,002,731 | $24,002,731 | 1 | Warner Bros. |
| 2 | You Can See Everything | $19,500,000 | $45,145,476 | 2 | A24 |
| 3 | Wildwood | $12,273,561 | $12,273,561 | 1 | — |
| 4 | Street Fighter | $8,587,187 | $46,925,821 | 2 | Paramount Pictures |
| 5 | Wicker | $5,745,945 | $5,745,945 | 1 | Black Bear |
| 6 | HYBE Cine Fest 2026 | $4,500,000 | $4,500,000 | 1 | Trafalgar Releasing |
| 7 | Other Mommy | $3,903,710 | $51,587,440 | 3 | Universal Pictures |
| 8 | Sense and Sensibility | $3,301,250 | $13,582,895 | 2 | Focus Features |
| 9 | Whalefall | $3,084,163 | $13,957,597 | 2 | 20th Century Studios |
| 10 | Verity | $3,075,675 | $71,543,873 | 4 | Amazon MGM Studios |
| 11 | Resident Evil | $2,903,150 | $153,583,682 | 6 | Columbia Pictures |
| 12 | Heart of the Beast | $2,443,015 | $62,456,192 | 5 | Paramount Pictures |
| 13 | Jailer 2 | $1,160,000 | $7,200,000 | 2 | — |
| 14 | Forgotten Island | $996,765 | $36,766,110 | 5 | DreamWorks |
| 15 | A Talent for Murder | $717,864 | $717,864 | 1 | Bleecker Street Media |
| 16 | Klara and the Sun | $701,059 | $701,059 | 1 | Sony Pictures Releasing |
| 17 | The Devils (2026 Re-release) | $417,574 | $3,146,322 | 2 | — |
| 18 | Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother | $397,218 | $3,171,903 | 5 | Orion Pictures |
| 19 | Primetime | $368,254 | $46,490,843 | 5 | A24 |
| 20 | Fjord | $324,632 | $685,563 | 3 | Neon |
Sources: Box Office Mojo
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