1. Paramount-Skydance Eyes Warner Bros Discovery Takeover
Paramount’s partner company, Skydance (led by David Ellison), is preparing a bid to take over Warner Bros Discovery. This potential merger would combine big media assets like HBO, CNN, DC Comics, CBS, and more. Industry watchers are concerned about what this means for media competition and regulatory challenges.
2. Hollywood Filmmakers Boycott Israeli Film Institutions
More than 4,000 filmmakers, including major Hollywood names like Ava DuVernay, Andrew Garfield, and Joaquin Phoenix, have signed a pledge to boycott Israeli film groups. They are protesting what they see as complicity in human rights violations in Gaza. This move is sparking heated debate within the entertainment industry.
3. “The Conjuring: Last Rites” Breaks Global Horror Box Office Record
The latest entry in The Conjuring franchise, Last Rites, made a massive splash at the global box office, earning around $194 million during its opening weekend. This sets a new record for the biggest opening ever for a horror film worldwide, surpassing the 2017 film It.
4. “The Conjuring: Last Rites” Becomes a Hit in India
Alongside global success, The Conjuring: Last Rites has become one of the highest-grossing Hollywood films in India. In just one week, it crossed the ₹100 crore mark, entering the top 5 list of Hollywood films in India’s box office history.
5. TIFF Highlights Struggles of Mid-Budget Films
At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), many filmmakers and critics noted how mid-budget, original films (not tied to franchises or superheroes) are struggling to find screens or audiences. With the dominance of streaming platforms and major studios prioritizing tentpole movies, smaller films are fighting for survival.