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The movie is projected to debut with a modest $31 million to $41 million this weekend in the U.S., according to the Box Office Pro website. That is well shy of the recent $120.5 million haul for Sony’s critically acclaimed animated hit "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Pixar is looking to rebound from the box office disappointment of 2022 release "Lightyear," the origin story of "Toy Story" hero Buzz Lightyear. "Judging Pixar on the recent past, history would not be kind," said SVB MoffettNathanson media analyst Michael Nathanson. But the move dealt a blow to creatives who had hoped their films would be seen on the big screen, according to one Pixar director who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Persons: Athie, Leah Lewis, Pete Docter, Denise Ream, Peter Sohn, Adele Exarchopoulos, Vincent Lacoste, Jim Morris, Read, Buzz Lightyear, Pixar, Michael Nathanson, Sohn, Mario, Shawn Robbins, Robbins, Bob Chapek’s, Luca, creatives, Sohn’s, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Nathan Frandino, Kenneth Li, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Cannes Film, Pixar Animation Studios, Box, Pixar, Reuters, Walt Disney Co, Reuters Television, Comcast, Universal Pictures, Mario Bros, Sony Pictures, Pro, Disney, U.S, Cannes, Rotten, Thomson Locations: U.S, City, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Miller portrays Barry Allen who, as superhero the Flash, uses his superspeed to travel back through time to try to prevent his mother’s death. Miller plays both The Flash and his younger self throughout the film. The Flash gets stuck in the past with Supergirl portrayed by Sasha Calle and Batman played by the original cinematic Batman, Michael Keaton. "Really it's a beautiful moment for me," Miller told Warner Bros at the premiere. Ben Affleck, who portrays Batman in some scenes, told Warner Bros it was "nice" to play a wiser character with something to impart on younger characters.

Persons: Ezra Miller, James Gunn, Miller, Barry Allen, Supergirl, Sasha Calle, Batman, Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Ezra, David Rooney, Mario, Rollo Ross, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Warner Bros, Flash, Reuters, Rotten, Hollywood Reporter, Thomson Locations: ANGELES

LOS ANGELES, June 4 (Reuters) - Audiences swung into theaters for “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," giving the animated film a hefty $120.5 million in its domestic box office debut, the second-biggest opening weekend of the year. Behind only “The Super Mario Bros” film that garnered $146 million, the movie’s box office performance surpassed Sony Pictures Animation's and the BoxOffice Pro’s estimates of $75 million to $115.5 million over its first three days of release in the U.S. and Canada from Pro. The sequel, “Across the Spider-Verse," which premiered in theaters on June 2, brought in three times the revenue in its opening weekend. Producer Amy Pascal announced during the film's Los Angeles premiere that there are more Spider-Verse projects on the way. Reporting by Danielle Broadway in Los Angeles; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mario Bros, Oscar, Amy Pascal, “, ”, Morales, Mario, Danielle Broadway, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Sony Pictures, Pro, Rotten, Universal Pictures, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, U.S, Canada, Angeles, Los Angeles

☆ 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' opens to $120.5 million, second-highest debut of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Spider-Man returned to the big screen this weekend, webbing up an estimated $120.5 million at the domestic box office. Sony's "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," the much anticipated sequel to the Academy Award-winning "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," had the second-biggest opening of 2023, just behind Universal's "Super Mario Bros. The film also marks the third-best opening weekend for any Spider-Man film, animated or live-action. The film has secured $186.2 million in domestic ticket sales and stands at $326.7 million globally. Additionally, Disney's "The Boogey Man" opened to $12 million in domestic ticket sales and Universal's "Fast X" added $9.24 million in ticket sales over the weekend, bringing its domestic haul to $128.4 million.

Persons: Universal's, Mario, Paul Dergarabedian, Shawn Robbins, Robbins Organizations: Academy, Mario Bros, BoxOffice.com, Disney, Guardians, Galaxy, Comcast, CNBC Locations: EntTelligence, NBCUniversal

LOS ANGELES, June 1 (Reuters) - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is returning for an as yet untitled “Fast & Furious” movie as Luke Hobbs, the actor announced on Twitter on Thursday, after bowing out of the successful franchise in 2021 due to differences with star Vin Diesel. loading“Hobbs is back in the Fast and Furious franchise,” Johnson said in a video message from Hawaii, wearing a lei. “The next Fast & Furious film you’ll see the legendary lawman in will be the HOBBS movie that will serve as a fresh, new chapter & set up for FASTX: Part II,” he added. The "Fast & Furious" franchise has collected more than $7 billion at global box offices, making it the fifth-highest-grossing franchise of all time. We’ll lead with brotherhood and resolve - and always take care of the franchise, characters & FANS that we love,” he said in his post.

Persons: Dwayne, Johnson, Luke Hobbs, Vin Diesel, Hobbs, ” Johnson, HOBBS, Diesel, Jason Momoa, Mario, We’ll, ”, Moana, Chris Morgan, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Twitter, FASTX, Mario Bros, Diesel, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Hawaii

☆ Japan stocks are on fire this year. Here are 3 reasons why the rally could have 'staying power'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Since then, Japanese equities have rallied. Even so, Strategas Securities' Chris Verrone has remained optimistic on Japanese equities, saying this week that the rally is not yet overbought. Meanwhile, JPMorgan chief market strategist Marko Kolanovic said in a note, also on Tuesday, that the rally in Japan still has "staying power." For international investors, those remarks signaled that Japanese companies may be more transparent with shareholders in the future. Investors can also take a company-specific approach, according to Diamond Hill's Mohanraj, who favors Japanese companies that boast differentiated products.

☆ ‘Movie Theaters Are the Marketplace of Free Ideas’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It was not a big surprise to us that the “Super Mario Bros. Movie” was going to do an extraordinary amount of business. Is there an awareness that there are issues with going to the movie theater? Now that the business is coming back, the theater owners have already started to continue to innovate and improve the experience so that it’s always better than the home. In both Los Angeles and New York, quite a few prime theaters that catered to independent film have shut down. One company, Pacific Theaters, which ran the ArcLight, is the only company in the country who filed Chapter Seven bankruptcy.

☆ Sony eyes finance unit listing, doubles down on entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sony said it is considering a time frame of two to three years to spin off Sony Financial Group - whose operations include life insurance and banking - with an eye to listing the business and retaining a stake of slightly under 20%. The conglomerate is pursuing synergies between its business lines, which include video games, music and movies. A partial spin-off of Sony Financial, which the group said was made possible by changes in tax rules, would allow the newly listed business to retain Sony branding. The finance business reported a 5% fall in revenue to 1.45 trillion yen ($10.74 billion) in the year ended March. Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said he recently watched the movie in Tokyo and used to play "Super Mario" too.

☆ At Cannes, independent film firms optimistic as streamers stumble
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Miranda Murray | Thomson Reuters | Speed Editor On The Berlin Hub Who Provides General Coverage On Everything Politics To Energy In Germany | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

CANNES, May 17 (Reuters) - Independent film companies facing a market upended by the entry of streaming services are showing some optimism heading into this year's Cannes Film Festival as the Netflix era has begun flattening out and audiences start trickling back into cinemas post-pandemic. Cannes may make headlines for its glitz and glamour, but as the world's largest event for buying and selling movie rights, its importance to the industry is unparalleled. "It's a transitional time on the business side as the traditional business model that independent buyers use sees lessened value," said O'Shea. The similarity among much of the content offered on streaming platforms leaves theatre audiences wanting something different, an unmet appetite that independent companies could fulfil, he said. "Something good is happening, and I'm sure other streaming services will follow suit," Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux said in an interview with Le Film francais magazine in April.

☆ Disney CEO Bob Iger praises rival Universal's 'Super Mario Bros. Movie'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chris Pratt and Charlie Day voice Mario and Luigi in Universal and Illumination's "The Super Mario Bros. Disney CEO Bob Iger used part of his opening remarks during an earnings call Wednesday to praise rival Universal Studios' "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and its success at the global box office. "Allow me to digress for a moment to congratulate Universal for the tremendous success of 'Super Mario Bros.'" Iger said. Others said Disney has done a poor job marketing its animated films to the public. The widespread success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" could pave the way for Disney's upcoming releases, which include Pixar's "Elemental" and the Thanksgiving release "Wish."

☆ Disney boss races to hold back the dam
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

How that unfolds is in the hands of Comcast (CMCSA.O) boss Brian Roberts, whose cable operator owns the studio behind the cinematic video game hit as well as one-third of Hulu. The shift is understandable, however, considering what Disney is up against. In the quarter ended April 1, the division that houses Disney+ narrowed its operating loss from a year earlier, but subscribers also fell 2% to 158 million compared to the previous quarter. A rare bright spot was the theme parks, particularly overseas, but Iger has a growing number of holes to plug to ensure the dam holds. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ The streaming wars are over, and it's time for media to figure out what's next
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The race between the biggest media and entertainment companies to add streaming subscribers, knowing consumers will only pay for a limited number of them, is finished. Disney announced its flagship streaming service, Disney+, lost 4 million subscribers during the first three months of the year, dropping the company's total streaming subscribers to 157.8 million from 161.8 million. Disney on Wednesday announced streaming losses narrowed to $659 million from $887 million. NBCUniversal's Peacock gained 2 million subscribers last quarter, giving it 22 million subscribers. Paramount Global added 4.1 million subscribers in the quarter, putting it at 60 million subscribers.

☆ Theaters Need a Wider Slate of Blockbusters This Summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tom Cruise’s ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ racked up a global box office of nearly $1.5 billion. Photo: Paramount/Everett CollectionTom Cruise saved movie theaters last summer. As the summer movie season kicks off, hopes are high for a box office that looks much closer to the prepandemic norm. 3” gave the actual season a decent start with a $114 million domestic debut this past weekend. Taking in the most recent weekend’s tally, the domestic box office this year is tracking about 25% below the same point in 2019, according to Box Office Mojo.

☆ Nintendo expects to sell 15 mln Switch consoles this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, May 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) on Tuesday said it expects to sell 15 million Switch game consoles in the financial year to end-March 2024, compared with 17.97 million the previous year. The Kyoto-based gaming firm posted operating profit of 504.38 billion yen ($3.73 billion) in the year ended on March 31, beating estimates, compared with profit of 592.76 billion yen a year earlier. Nintendo is facing slowing demand for its aging Switch console in its seventh year on the market, even as supply chain snarls have eased and the company bolsters its games lineup. On Friday Nintendo launches "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom", one of the most widely anticipated games of the year. Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ AMC earnings a hit on Wall Street as 'Ant-Man' attracts more moviegoers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 5 (Reuters) - AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (AMC.N) beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter revenue on Friday, as a string of hit films including the latest installment of Marvel's "Ant-Man" drove more moviegoers to theaters. Shares of the Leawood, Kansas-based company, which operates over 900 theaters globally, rose nearly 4% in trading before the bell. AMC has been trying different combinations to attract audiences to its theaters, including options where moviegoers can choose different seating options to meet their viewing preferences. Revenue for the quarter was $954.4 million, compared with analysts' expectation of $948.5 million, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta and Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Summer movie preview 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Most moviegoers can pinpoint one summer movie – or perhaps, a summer of movies – in their formative years that really and truly cemented their love for going to the cinema, whether it be 1975’s “Jaws,” “E.T. And while streaming has clearly siphoned off part of the audience, particularly for more serious films, what we think of as “summer movies” still have the potential to rake in cash just like the old days. (CNN and DC are both part of the same parent company, Warner Bros. Courtesy Warner Bros. PicturesInitially meant for streaming platforms, this vehicle will herald the cinematic arrival of DC Studios’ first Latino superhero, played by Xolo Maridueña of “Cobra Kai” and “Parenthood” fame. If the fast-paced trailer is any indication, the movie looks sure to whisk those dog days of summer doldrums away quite nicely.

☆ ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Becomes the First Billion-Dollar-Plus Film of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Rolfe Winkler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ had the biggest-ever global opening weekend for an animated title. Photo: Nintendo and Universal Studios/Associated Press“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” surpassed $1 billion in estimated global box office receipts on Sunday, the first movie to do so in 2023, according to research firm Comscore . Through Sunday the film has grossed $490 million domestically and $532 million internationally. Only five films have crossed the billion-dollar mark since the onset of the pandemic, according to Box Office Mojo: “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jurassic World: Dominion.”

☆ ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Crosses the $1 Billion Mark
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The animated film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” crossed the $1 billion box-office threshold on Sunday, making it the fifth movie to do so since the start of the pandemic and the surest sign yet that the theatrical movie business is on the rebound after a prolonged downturn. Of the five films to cross the $1 billion mark since the pandemic began, “Super Mario” is the first animated one. In fact, “Super Mario” helped push the April domestic box office up 11.5 percent compared with prepandemic levels, according to the box office analyst David A. Gross called the stat “a breakthrough” since it marks the first month that has surpassed its prepandemic average. The 2023 year-to-date box office deficit is now down 21.8 percent compared with that average.

☆ The first movie to cross $1 billion so far this year wasn't a superhero movie — it's 'The Super Mario Bros.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Will Gendron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' continues to dominate the global box office. It has become the first movie of 2023 and the first video game movie ever to reach this benchmark. Over the weekend, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" officially surpassed the $1 billion mark at the global box office. It grossed more than double the box office of the second highest-grossing movie of the year, Marvel's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," per Box Office Mojo. Meanwhile, "The Super Mario Bros." has a tight run time of just 92 minutes.

☆ Bank of America upgrades Comcast, saying it is 'poised for a strong turnaround'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bank of America is upbeat on shares of legacy media company Comcast as its latest quarter provided evidence that a turnaround is nearing. Bank of America analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich highlighted the resilience of the company's media segment as a factor contributing to her upgrade. CMCSA YTD mountain Comcast could add another 18% upside for investors after gaining as much from the start of the year, according to Bank of America. "...Film is on fire, with animation exceptionally strong, which will especially benefit Peacock (where losses are peaking), but also support Theme Parks," Reif Ehrlich said. Meanwhile, Comcast's strong balance sheet remains noteworthy, Reif Ehrlich added.

☆ ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ set to become 10th animated film to cross $1 billion at the global box office
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Nearly one month after “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” premiered with an impressive opening weekend at the box office, the animated film is expected to hit another major milestone. The movie is set to cross $1 billion at the global box office on Sunday, according to a news release from Universal, continuing to break box office records as it remains in the No. “Super Mario Bros.” will become the 10th animated film in history to cross $1 billion, making it the 10th biggest animated movie of all time globally, beating out the $942.5 million that “Minions: The Rise of the Gru” grossed in 2019. “Super Mario Bros.” surpassed Marvel’s “Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” at the time, which brought in $225.3 million globally during its February opening. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” follows Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi as they’re transported down a mysterious pipe while working underground to fix a water main.

Giant screen options include pioneer IMAX and various premium large formats (PLF) created by theater chains. For Missouri-based B&B Theatres, about half of a multiplex's grosses now come from premium formats, compared with 30% before the pandemic, said Chief Content, Programming and Development Officer Brock Bagby. B&B operates 531 screens in 14 states and offers large format screens with heated recliners, 270-degree Screen X screens, immersive audio and MX4D seats timed to rumble with the action. "Post-COVID, our premium screens are selling better than ever," Bagby said. As a sign of its importance, Universal's Orr and other studio distribution executives said they consult Gelfond about IMAX screen availability before setting movie release dates.

☆ How the Music of ‘Super Mario Bros.’ Became a Smash Hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Ben Cohen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Illustration: Nathan HackettWhen the Library of Congress recently enshrined the latest collection of music into the National Recording Registry, there was something for everyone on the list of hits: “Imagine” by John Lennon, “Like a Virgin” by Madonna, “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. But perhaps the most recognizable of the tunes was one with an unrecognizable title, written by someone whose name you probably haven’t heard, even though billions of people might be familiar with his work.

LONDON, April 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Film and TV adaptations of video games have a chequered history. But Nintendo’s “Super Mario”, along with HBO’s “The Last of Us”, is flipping the script. Jefferies analysts estimate that the “Super Mario” movie could add $350 million to Nintendo’s operating profit – equivalent to around 8% of its total for the year ending March 2022. The success of recent adaptations may lead media giants like Walt Disney (DIS.N), Comcast and Netflix to wonder what other goodies lie in video game companies. Follow @olivertaslic on TwitterCONTEXT NEWS“The Super Mario Bros. Movie”, an animated film co-financed by Nintendo and Universal Pictures, was released in North America on April 5.

☆ The Fed warned of a looming credit crunch. Americans say it’s already arrived.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

We just saw a more extreme distribution play out in the stock market, too. Just 20 names drove 90% of the gains in the S&P 500 over the first three months of the year. The Fed has been warning of tightening credit conditions since last month's handful of bank failures, but policymakers spoke as if it were some future event. Remember, a so-called credit crunch means lenders raise the bar for borrowers, and people have to meet stricter parameters to get a loan. "The credit crunch has started," Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, said in response to the report.

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