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Live-Action Moana Opens Soft with $18M, Signaling Slower Disney Start
3 days ago•Source: WDW News Today
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2.475 min•5 days ago
Moana Live-Action Criticized as a Rehash Ahead of July 10 Release
Disney's live-action Moana opens July 10 to heavy critical backlash, currently at 31% on Rotten Tomatoes from 48 reviews with remarks that it lacks inventiveness and largely mirrors the 2016 film; audiences have not yet weighed in, while the film is projected to debut around $85 million domestically.
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Swift's Toy Story 5 Anthem Breaks Streaming Records
WDW News Today•1 month ago
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Taylor Swift Drops 24-Hour Toy Story 5 Collector’s Vinyl for New Song
WDW News Today•1 month ago
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Swift Sparks Toy Story 5 Buzz with Cryptic Billboard Tease
A Chicago billboard teasing Taylor Swift's involvement in Toy Story 5 has reignited fan speculation about the singer’s role in the Pixar sequel. The teaser echoes Swift’s “Shake It Off” and comes after an April website countdown that sparked rumors. Directors say the ending song is not Swift’s, but the collaboration would be an honor, and Toy Story 5 remains slated for a June 19, 2026 release with a PG rating.
Mandalorian and Grogu Poised for Memorial Day Box Office Boom
The Mandalorian and Grogu are projected for a strong Memorial Day debut, aiming for about $80 million domestic and around $160 million worldwide; North American pre-sales are near $25 million, while early reviews sit around 60% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Muppet Labs Sign Reappears in Sabrina Carpenter’s Muppet Show Revival
A Muppet Labs sign from MuppetVision 3D was reused in The Muppet Show revival special with Sabrina Carpenter, which aired on ABC and Disney+. The prop, 'Muppet Lab Techs Only,' appears in the Muppet Labs skit and was once outside the MuppetVision 3D theater. Muppets Courtyard closed last year and is being redeveloped into a Monsters, Inc.-themed land. The special celebrates The Muppet Show’s 50th anniversary and has earned strong Rotten Tomatoes scores, fueling talk of a broader revival.
"Speculations Rise Over Potential Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger and Its Impact on Entertainment Giants"
Paramount Global's future is uncertain as industry giants and investors, including Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Skydance Media's David Ellison, and billionaire Warren Buffett, show interest in acquiring the storied studio. With Paramount's valuation dropping from $30 billion to below $10 billion, and the company facing challenges in the streaming market, a potential sale orchestrated by controlling shareholder Shari Redstone could reshape the media landscape. Paramount's strategic moves, such as cutting dividends and investing in streaming, have attracted attention from various moguls and investors, each with their own vision for the company's future.
"Streaming Shake-Up: Industry Giants Pursue Profits Amid Rising Prices and 2024 Revamp"
Hollywood's final earnings season of 2023 showed signs of progress towards streaming profitability, with most companies reporting reduced losses compared to 2022. Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall suggested it might be a fundamental moment for media investment. Only Warner Bros. Discovery reported a streaming profit for the first nine months of 2023. Disney cut its losses and grew Disney+ subscribers, while Comcast's Peacock and Paramount Global also saw improvements. However, analysts remain cautious, with MoffettNathanson declaring Netflix the winner of the streaming wars. Despite this, Ampere Analysis predicts that major studio streaming services will reach consistent profitability within the next 18 months, with Disney potentially leading the way by early 2024.