Showbiz Sandbox 649: Hollywood’s Superhero Movie Problem
February 27, 2024
The superhero movie is facing its biggest enemy yet – audience indifference. “Madame Web” is just the latest superhero flick to open to poor reviews and/or bad box office. Entertainment journalist Geoff Boucher, who has covered the comic book world for over two decades and is a bigwig at ComicCon, discusses the declining popularity of superhero films and his belief that there are better times ahead for the genre.
Meanwhile, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are facing their own existential threats, especially when it comes to their declining ad revenue, soft earnings and overwhelming debt.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Beyoncé making history on the country music charts, revenues soar for concert promoter Live Nation thanks to some big tours and artificial intelligence upends the expansion of Tyler Perry’s studio.
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‘Bob Marley: One Love’ Still On A High At $121M WW, ‘Anyone But You’ Romps To $200M Global & ’Poor Things’ Nears $100M; Korea’s ‘Exhuma’ Has Scary Good Opening
https://deadline.com/2024/02/bob-marley-one-love-anyone-but-you-poor-things-exhuma-global-international-box-office-1235837454/
Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ Jams Past $120M Globally, ‘Madame Web’ and ‘Drive-Away Dolls’ Spin Out
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bob-marley-one-love-box-office-drive-away-dolls-madame-web-1235834503/
Atlantic Theater Workers Vote Overwhelmingly to Join IATSE
https://iatse.net/a-growing-movement-off-broadway-atlantic-theater-workers-vote-overwhelmingly-to-join-iatse/
Is Hollywood Sleepwalking Toward Strike Three?
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-strikes-crew-people-better-deal-1235830684/
Hollywood Musicians Reach Tentative Deal With Major Studios in ‘Watershed Moment for Artists’
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-02-23/afm-amptp-deal-reached-hollywood-musicians
Sam Mendes, Sony & Apple Corps Set Four Beatles Theatrical Movies On Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison & Ringo Starr
https://deadline.com/2024/02/beatles-movies-sam-mendes-paul-mccartney-john-lennon-george-harrison-ringo-starr-1235831317/
Live Nation Had Another Record Year as Its Business Went Global & Fans Continued Flocking to Shows
https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/live-nation-earnings-record-revenue-artist-tours-fan-demand-high-1235612747/
Warner Bros. Discovery Shares Drop 10% as Company Misses Estimates, Warns of 2024 Cash Flow Headwinds
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/23/warner-bros-discovery-wbd-earnings-q4-2023.html
Warner Bros. Discovery Becomes First Hollywood Conglomerate to Turn Full-Year Streaming Profit, Hitting $103M
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warner-bros-discovery-streaming-profit-2023-q4-earnings-report-1235832538/
HBO Delaying ‘Last Week Tonight’ Segments on YouTube
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hbo-holding-back-last-week-tonight-clips-youtube-1235829969/
Walmart Acquires Smart TV Firm Vizio For $2.3B, Altering Streaming Ad Landscape
https://deadline.com/2024/02/walmart-acquires-smart-tv-firm-vizio-streaming-advertising-1235831495/
Peacock NFL Playoff Game Led Biggest Streaming Day Ever, Nielsen Says
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/peacock-nfl-playoff-game-biggest-streaming-day-ever-1235830023/
Disney Strikes Deal for Sony to Take Over Its DVD, Blu-ray Disc Business
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/disney-sony-pysical-media-dvd-blu-ray-disc-business-1235917294/
It’s Alive! EC Comics Returns
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/19/arts/ec-comics-oni-press.html
How Marvel Is Quietly Retooling Amid Superhero Fatigue
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvel-fantastic-four-avengers-movies-1235830951/
Marvel Studios’ Quiet Reset Is a Perfect Chance to Act Like Doctor Doom Was Always the Plan
https://www.avclub.com/marvel-studios-quiet-reset-doctor-doom-kang-1851274503
‘The Fantastic Four’ Could Be the Fresh Start Marvel Needs, From an Epic Cast to a (Possible) 1960s Setting
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/fantastic-four-cast-1960s-setting-marvel-fresh-start-1235911587/
Kenneth Mitchell, ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Actor, Dies at 49
https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/02/26/kenneth-mitchell-death-star-trek-discovery-marvel/
Matt Sweeney, Oscar-Nominated Visual Effects Artist on ‘Apollo 13,’ Dies at 75
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/matt-sweeney-dead-apollo-13-vfx-1235832686/
Kent Melton, Disney And Laika Maquette Maker, Dies At 68
https://www.cartoonbrew.com/rip/kent-melton-disney-and-laika-maquette-maker-dies-at-68-238476.html
Ameen Sayani, Pioneering Radio Star in India, Dies at 91
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/world/asia/ameen-sayani-dead.html
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