All articles tagged with #franchise
MTY Group announced it will close 45–50 Papa Murphy’s locations over the next six to nine months after a performance review found the take-and-bake chain underperforming, a move meant to reduce losses and refocus resources on stronger brands. The closures come as MTY manages a large portfolio and Papa Murphy’s US presence has fallen from 1,168 stores in 2023 to 1,014 in 2025, with further shutter plans possible.
Minions & Monsters is tracking to a $64.5 million five-day opening over the July 4 weekend (about $39.5 million across the three-day frame), topping the box office but well below Despicable Me 4’s $120 million five-day start and Minions: The Rise of Gru’s $122 million. Toy Story 3 remains No. 2 with around $32 million, and overseas for Minions & Monsters is projected around $87 million. The film is the latest spin-off in the Despicable Me franchise, opening to strong audiences (A cinemascore and roughly 90% on Rotten Tomatoes) with critics praising its satirical humor and dense visual gags.
Toy Story 5 is forecast to open domestic around $140M and global about $275M, likely setting a franchise-opening record. The 4,425-theater release starts previews Thursday in the U.S. and Canada, with roughly $25M in presales and an 87% international footprint including China. The film skewing female aims to sustain strong hold over Father’s Day weekend, with Japan and Germany opening later; it’s positioned against other summer titles and counterprogramming as Pixar continues its franchise comeback with Jessie-centered storytelling.
Paramount’s Scary Movie opened to a franchise-best $55 million, topping the weekend as Masters of the Universe debuted to $29.3 million; Backrooms followed in third with $25.9 million, Obsession in fourth with $25.6 million, and The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act in fifth with $19.4 million, signaling a horror-heavy start to summer and underscoring the franchise/nostalgia pull at the box office.
A CGI teaser for the upcoming PS5 RPG Dawnwalker hints that the franchise is planned to expand far beyond the first game, with future installments spanning centuries, continents, and cultures; the initial title is set for September release, while developers promise a broader arc for the Dawnwalker saga.
CBS is developing an untitled Edgewater Medical Drama to expand the Fire Country/Sheriff Country universe, centered on a medical team in Edgewater, California; it's in an ultra-early stage and may weave into Sheriff Country’s Season 2, with executive producers Matt Lopez, Max Thieriot, Joan Rater, Tony Phelan, and Jerry Bruckheimer Television’s Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed attached, though no writer or formal pitch has been set.
Scream 7 opened with a franchise-record $64.1 million domestic debut and has grossed about $97.2 million globally on a $45 million budget, aided by Neve Campbell’s return; despite mixed reviews (34% Rotten Tomatoes, B- CinemaScore), the film beats Scream VI’s previous opening and signals solid profitability amid a competitive weekend and Paramount/Spyglass’s broader strategic context.
Paramount’s Scream 7 opened to $64.1M over 3 days across 3,540 screens, a February franchise-record that helped the weekend’s total climb to about $110.9M and lift year-over-year gains to 50.9%; international launch added $33.1M for a global start of $97.2M. The film drew a 54% male, 46% female audience with 62% over 25, and IMAX accounted for about $5.5M domestically. Avatar: Fire and Ash led domestically with $401.2M, while next weekend brings Pixar’s Hopper and The Bride!.
The New England Patriots were ranked 26th among 32 NFL teams in the NFLPA's 2026 report card, with bottom-five marks in travel, weight room, training room and practice facilities, but improved from last year and are set to open a new facility in 2026, while Mike Vrabel earns praise for culture and organization.
Box-office previews expect Scream 7 to deliver the year’s top opening, aiming for about $40–45 million domestic and around $60 million globally; it will be the franchise’s first IMAX release, stars Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox, and follows Scream VI’s record domestic ($108.4M) and global ($166.6M) performance. The film’s cast and crew changes include Melissa Barrera being fired and Jenna Ortega leaving, with director Christopher Landon also exiting amid backlash; reported budget is about $45 million.
The Seattle Seahawks are set to be sold with 100% equity on the open market; industry expectations put the final price between $9 billion and $11 billion, far above book value, driven by rising NFL franchise valuations and league-wide revenue. Past deals have shown valuations climbing, and the highest bidder will win in what could be a record-setting sale.
Sony Pictures has hired Pete Chiarelli to script a new Charlie’s Angels film, with Deadline confirming the hire. Plot details and producers are not yet announced. This marks another effort to revive the franchise after the 2019 Elizabeth Banks-directed film underperformed at the box office, and it follows the series’ history from the 2000 hit and its 2003 sequel to the 2011 TV revival. Chiarelli, noted for The Proposal and involvement in Crazy Rich Asians, will write the new installment as Sony pursues a fresh take on the property.
Universal has set Fast & Furious 11, now titled Fast Forever, for March 17, 2028, with Louis Leterrier returning to direct. It will be the 11th (and main) entry and the franchise’s final chapter, though plot details remain undisclosed. The release was delayed from a previously targeted 2025, and the series has grossed over $7 billion worldwide to date.
Despite being the most derided film in the Fast & Furious franchise, 2 Fast 2 Furious is praised for its tangible textures, vibrant visuals, and the chemistry between Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson, making it arguably the best in the series despite its reputation as the franchise's ugly duckling.
Sprinkles Cupcakes, a popular bakery chain known for its cupcake vending machines, has abruptly closed all company-owned stores after 20 years, with no clear reason provided by the owner or the parent company, KarpReilly. It is uncertain if franchise locations will remain open.