Tag

Universal Pictures

All articles tagged with #universal pictures

DreamWorks’ 'Forgotten Island' Fails to Break Even Despite High Ratings
box-office11 days ago

DreamWorks’ 'Forgotten Island' Fails to Break Even Despite High Ratings

DreamWorks Animation’s 'Forgotten Island' opened with $12.8 million, a significant underperformance for a major studio release. The film, which blends Filipino mythology with a buddy-comedy plot, received high audience ratings but failed to attract sufficient ticket sales to justify its wide release. Critics noted the film’s frenetic pacing and lack of emotional depth, while industry observers pointed to strong competition from re-releases like 'Avengers: Endgame' and new thrillers. Despite the box office disappointment, the film’s cast, including H.E.R. and Dave Franco, and its cultural focus on Filipino folklore, have generated positive buzz among niche audiences.

Universal Pictures Hits $5 Billion Global Milestone, Led by Nolan’s 'The Odyssey'
box-office14 days ago

Universal Pictures Hits $5 Billion Global Milestone, Led by Nolan’s 'The Odyssey'

Universal Pictures has become the first studio to surpass $5 billion in global box office revenue for 2026, marking the third time in its history to reach this threshold. The milestone was achieved with $1.788 billion in domestic sales and $3.218 billion internationally. This performance is 29% ahead of the studio’s 2025 total and is driven by three of the only five films to exceed $1 billion worldwide this year: 'The Odyssey,' 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,' and 'Michael.'

Universal Becomes First Studio to Surpass $5 Billion in 2026 Global Box Office
box-office14 days ago

Universal Becomes First Studio to Surpass $5 Billion in 2026 Global Box Office

Universal Pictures has become the first studio to exceed $5 billion in global box office revenue for 2026, reaching the milestone with $1.788 billion domestic and $3.218 billion international. This marks the third time in the studio's history it has surpassed $5 billion in a single calendar year, following 2015 and 2017. The achievement is 29% ahead of its 2025 total of $3.89 billion. Key contributors include Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' ($1.73B+), 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' ($1B), Lionsgate's 'Michael' ($656.4M international), Focus Features' 'Obsession' ($519M), and Illumination's 'Minions & Monsters' ($523.6M). Universal topped the global weekend box office 11 times this year, and five of its films rank among the top 10 worldwide earners.

Universal Keeps International Release Plan Alive for Gibney’s Musk Doc
film-news21 days ago

Universal Keeps International Release Plan Alive for Gibney’s Musk Doc

Universal is continuing with the international release of Alex Gibney’s nearly four-hour Elon Musk documentary Musk, despite Musk’s legal threats. North American release is Oct. 9 via Bleecker Street, with the film headed to HBO for a Q1 2027 streaming debut; no overseas date has been announced yet. After its Venice premiere, Musk criticized the film, and his attorney warned of defamation action over its contents, while Universal remains enthusiastic about international distribution.

Universal Reconsiders Elon Musk Documentary After Backlash, Eyes Overseas Release
entertainment22 days ago

Universal Reconsiders Elon Musk Documentary After Backlash, Eyes Overseas Release

Universal Pictures is weighing how to release Alex Gibney’s four-hour Musk documentary after backlash from Musk’s camp; HBO holds North American rights, while Universal negotiates overseas release plans and could keep the project, according to insiders. If Universal drops it, a kill fee would be owed and Gibney’s team would shop the film elsewhere. Musk has described the film as a hit piece, and his lawyers have sent formal notice.

Universal Reconsiders Releasing Elon Musk Doc Amid Political Headwinds
entertainment23 days ago

Universal Reconsiders Releasing Elon Musk Doc Amid Political Headwinds

Universal Pictures is reportedly having second thoughts about releasing Alex Gibney’s Elon Musk documentary, with no release date set and rights outside North America potentially being returned to the filmmakers. While the film premiered to a positive reception at Venice and was slated for U.S. release via Bleecker Street and a London Film Festival run, Universal has not announced concrete plans, reflecting the current political sensitivity around Musk. HBO holds North American TV rights, and if Universal drops the project, filmmakers could receive a kill fee and shop the film elsewhere.

Universal and Blumhouse Snag Joshua Giuliano’s Slasher River After TIFF Debut
entertainment25 days ago

Universal and Blumhouse Snag Joshua Giuliano’s Slasher River After TIFF Debut

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster are closing a deal to buy Joshua Giuliano’s TIFF‑debut horror River, reportedly for north of $10 million, making it one of TIFF’s biggest sales. The film, produced by Independent Film Company and Shudder, was written and directed by Giuliano and stars Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe, Max Mattern, and Dane DiLiegro. Producers include Nick Antosca, Alex Hedlund, and Steven Schneider, with executive producers Roy Lee, James Wan, and Jason Blum among others. The plot follows three estranged siblings who scatter their father’s ashes along a rural waterway and are stalked by a masked serial killer. The deal signals a major win for Giuliano and underscores Blumhouse/Atomic Monster’s track record of backing rising horror talent, following their ongoing collaboration on Occupant and other projects.

Odyssey Tops Universal's All-Time Box-Office Record
entertainment26 days ago

Odyssey Tops Universal's All-Time Box-Office Record

Universal's The Odyssey, Nolan's latest, has climbed to $1.684 billion to become the studio's highest-grossing film ever, surpassing Jurassic World as Nolan shifted his output from Warner Bros. after Tenet’s streaming push; the piece also highlights Paramount’s antitrust merger filings, a Sarah Jessica Parker holiday sequel The Families Stone, and A24’s SCP Foundation adaptation facing licensing disputes.

Nolan’s Odyssey Sets Universal’s Box-Office Milestone
entertainment27 days ago

Nolan’s Odyssey Sets Universal’s Box-Office Milestone

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has surpassed Jurassic World to become Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing film ever, with a global box office around $1.684 billion (about $601.2 million domestic), ranking No. 12 on the all-time worldwide chart and as the third-highest-grossing non-franchise title, while setting record openings for Imax 70mm and an R-rated title and helping Universal cross $4 billion worldwide for 2026 (with year-end projections near $4.92 billion).

Odyssey Tops Global Box Office, Ousting Spider-Man in Weekend Race
entertainment1 month ago

Odyssey Tops Global Box Office, Ousting Spider-Man in Weekend Race

Universal’s Odyssey led the global box office this weekend with about $46 million, edging Sony/Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s roughly $44 million frame; Odyssey’s international run brings its worldwide total to about $1.63 billion (domestic around $585 million) and includes a strong Imax showing in Japan, while Brand New Day sits at about $2.4 billion globally with roughly $923 million domestic, cementing its status as one of the top-grossing films ever.