Showbiz Sandbox 536: Blockbuster Box Office Begins Pandemic Recovery
April 14, 2021
After remaining dormant for most of the past year “Godzilla vs. Kong” revived the box office with the best opening weekend since the COVID-19 pandemic bega. The monster movie has taken in over $350 million globally despite being available on HBO Max. in $38 million despite being available on HBO Max. Does this mean big blockbuster movies can open day-and-date and score big even if they’re available online via a streamer? Uh, no.
Meanwhile, politics is stressing out Hollywood. Whether it’s human rights issues in China or voting rights issues in Georgia, Hollywood is not happy about being forced to take sides.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including producer Scott Rudin being exposed as a bully after decades of bad behavior, “Game of Thrones” may be headed to Broadway and singer Lil Nas X stirs up some controversy with his latest chart topper.
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‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Tops $350 Million at Global Box Office
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/godzilla-vs-kong-box-office-1234948917/
China Box Office: ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’ Knocked Down Again by Local Comedy ‘Sister’
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-box-office-godzilla-vs-kong-knocked-down-again-by-local-comedy-sister
Netflix Buys ‘Knives Out’ Sequels for $450m
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/netflix-buys-knives-out-sequels-450-million-1234941995/
DGA Awards: Chloe Zhao Wins for Nomadland
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/dga-awards-winners-list-directors-guild-1234948698/
‘Nomadland’ Wins Big at Diverse BAFTAs
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/11/movies/baftas-winners-nomadland-zhao.html
SAG Awards 2021: ‘Trial of the Chicago 7,’ ‘The Crown,’ ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Win Big
https://www.indiewire.com/2021/04/2021-sag-awards-show-winners-list-1234627755/
Scott Rudin’s Ex-Staffers Speak Out on Abusive Behavior
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/everyone-just-knows-hes-an-absolute-monster-scott-rudins-ex-staffers-speak-out-on-abusive-behavior
After Scott Rudin Bullying Exposé, There Are Mostly Crickets
https://apnews.com/article/business-theater-scott-rudin-50906cef1770db71278220f8565e0a04
‘Coming 2 America’ Repeats as Nielsen Streaming Leader
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/coming-2-america-repeats-nielsen-streaming-leader
Supreme Court Backs FCC, Allows Relaxed Media-Ownership Limits
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-01/supreme-court-rules-fcc-can-relax-media-ownership-rules
Supreme Court Hands Google a Landmark Win — and Hollywood a Huge Concern
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/supreme-court-hands-google-a-landmark-win-and-hollywood-a-huge-concern
Netflix And Sony Break Ground With Film Licensing Deal Replacing Starz Pact
https://deadline.com/2021/04/netflix-sony-pictures-licensing-deal-streaming-starz-spider-man-1234730124/
Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100
https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9551483/lil-nas-x-montero-number-one-hot-100/
Jon Stewart Sets Title, Launch Plans for Apple Series
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jon-stewart-sets-title-launch-plans-for-apple-series-exclusive
‘Game of Thrones’ Play in the Works for Broadway, Will Revive Iconic Characters
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-of-thrones-play-in-the-works-for-broadway-will-revive-iconic-characters-exclusive
Bottega Veneta Ditches Instagram to Set Up ‘Digital Journal’
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/mar/31/bottega-veneta-ditches-instagram-digital-journal-fashion-social-media-issue
Women’s Prize Stands By Its Nomination of Trans Author Torrey Peters After Open Letter
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-04-07/womens-prize-stands-by-nomination-of-trans-author-torrey-peters
Justin Tranter, Emily Warren, More Songwriters Sign Letter Calling for Artists to Stop Demanding Credit for Songs They Didn’t Write
https://variety.com/2021/music/news/pact-justin-tranter-emily-warren-songwriters-letter-1234940341/
A Geopolitical Crisis Cripples H&M. Nike, Adidas, and Visa Could Be Next
https://www.fastcompany.com/90622089/a-geopolitical-crisis-cripples-hm-nike-adidas-and-visa-could-be-next
Xinjiang Cotton: Western Clothes Brands Vanish as Backlash Grows
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56533560
Fearful of Political Criticism, China Won’t Show the Oscars Live
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/03/oscars-china-broadcast-hong-kong-zhao/
ViacomCBS Issues Statement Opposing Georgia Voting Bill; Comcast, AT&T Also Weigh In
https://deadline.com/2021/04/viacomcbs-georgia-voting-bill-1234726035/
Hollywood Studios and Guilds Condemn New Georgia Voting Law
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-studios-begin-to-weigh-in-on-new-georgia-voting-law
New Jersey Attempts to Poach Georgia’s Film Business Amid Backlash to State’s New Voting Law
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-jersey-attempts-to-poach-georgias-film-business-amid-backlash-to-states-new-voting-law
Major League Baseball Pulls All-Star Game From Georgia
https://variety.com/2021/sports/news/major-league-baseball-all-star-game-georgia-voting-rights-1234943349/
Anne Beatts, ‘Saturday Night Live’ Writer and Creator of ‘Square Pegs,’ Dies at 74
https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/anne-beatts-dead-snl-square-pegs-1234947040/
DMX, Top-Selling but Troubled Rapper, Dies at 50
James Hampton, ‘F Troop,’ ‘Longest Yard’ and ‘Teen Wolf’ Actor, Dies at 84
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-hampton-dead-f-troop-longest-yard-teen-wolf-actor-was-84-1266356
Mark Elliott, Iconic Voice of Disney Movie Trailers, Dies at 81
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-elliott-iconic-voice-of-disney-movie-trailers-dies-at-81
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