Showbiz Sandbox 543: Amazon Grabs a Lion’s Share of MGM
June 1, 2021
In a move that had been rumored for weeks, Amazon became the first tech company to purchase a Hollywood movie studio in an $8.45 million deal. The acquisition will arm Amazon with over 4,000 movies like the Bond Franchise, “The Pink Panther” and “Robocop,” not to mention upwards of 17,000 television episodes. The real question is why did it take so long for a tech giant to buy a movie studio?
Meanwhile, a holiday weekend helped spark the post-pandemic North American box office as movies that were originally scheduled for release last year opened in theaters. Some new titles like “Cruella are also available on VOD at the same time. Is day-and-date releases hurting the box office prospects of such films?
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including the Academy Awards returns to its normal schedule, HBO Max is moving into Latin America and why “Friends” was censored in China.
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How Paramount Resurrected Moviegoing With ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ $57M Opening; ‘Cruella’ Dazzles With $27M
https://deadline.com/2021/05/a-quiet-place-part-ii-cruella-memorial-day-weekend-box-office-1234766021/
‘A Quiet Place Part II’ Shouts To $70M+ Global Debut; ‘Cruella’ Fashions $37.4M WW; ’F9’ Races To $230M Offshore
https://deadline.com/2021/05/a-quiet-place-part-2-cruella-opening-weekend-f9-demon-slayer-china-global-international-box-office-1234766618/
AMC, Regal, and Cinemark No Longer Require Masks If You’re Vaccinated
https://www.slashfilm.com/masks-at-theaters/
Cannes Travel: U.K. Visitors With Special Certificate Can Enter, But Mandatory Quarantine Still in Place For Now
https://variety.com/2021/film/global/cannes-u-k-visitors-quarantine-1234985393/
Rich Greenfield Explains His 1-Cent AMC Entertainment Price Target
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/rich-greenfield-explains-his-1-cent-amc-entertainment-price-target-1030475359
Oscars 2022 Ceremony Moves to Late March, Keeping Pandemic Qualifying Rules and Standard Calendar Year
https://variety.com/2021/awards/awards/academy-awards-2022-oscars-dates-eligibility-1234982854/
Charlie Hanson Removed As Producer On Netflix’s ‘After Life’; Ricky Gervais “Shocked & Appalled” By Misconduct Allegations
https://deadline.com/2021/05/charlie-hanson-removed-after-life-suspended-bafta-netflix-1234766445/
Kelly Clarkson to Take Over Ellen DeGeneres’ Daytime Slot
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/kelly-clarkson-take-over-ellen-degeneres-daytime-slot-1234959428/
Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 2021’s Biggest Week
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9580294/olivia-rodrigo-sour-billboard-200-debut-2021-biggest-week/
‘Friends’ Reunion Is Censored in China, Cutting BTS and Lady Gaga
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/business/friends-reunion-china.html
Amazon to Buy MGM, Bagging a Lion to Help Wage Streaming Battle
https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-to-buy-hollywood-studio-mgm-for-8-45-billion-with-debt-11622033315
Jerome Hellman Dies: Oscar-Winning Producer Of ‘Midnight Cowboy,’ ‘Coming Home’ Was 92
https://deadline.com/2021/05/jerome-hellman-dies-oscar-winner-producer-midnight-cowboy-coming-home-age-92-1234765899/
Eric Carle, Writer and Illustrator Who Gave Life To “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” Dies at 91
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/eric-carle-dead/2021/05/26/cbb39414-2234-11e4-8593-da634b334390_story.html
Samuel E. Wright, Voice of Sebastian the Crab in ‘The Little Mermaid,’ Dies at 74
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/samuel-wright-dead-sebastian-crab-little-mermaid-1234959014/
Gavin MacLeod, ‘Mary Tyler Moore’ and ‘Love Boat’ Actor, Dies at 90
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/29/arts/television/gavin-macleod-dead.html
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