Scott Mendelson
Box office/industry analyst (Puck, The Outside Scoop); data‑driven analysis of grosses, release strategies, and theatrical economics.
Sequels Dominate Box Office; Originals Become Long‑term Bets
As long as sequels like 'Zootopia 2' (which just passed 'Minecraft' to become 2025's top domestic grosser) are nabbing sky-high box office, the likes of 'Hoppers' and 'Encanto' can be viewed as long-term investments.
Disney Pitches Mandalorian as IMAX-Friendly, All-Ages Pulp Adventure
Disney is (correctly) selling Lucasfilm’s #TheMandalorianAndGrogu as an IMAX-friendly, mythology-lite all-ages pulp adventure, even while this summer’s streaming-to-cinema follow-up still must help re-establish #StarWars as a must-see-in-theaters franchise.
Mummy Teaser Leans on Cryptic Question, Not Visuals
Save for one spoiler-y (and unconvincing) image, the second tease for the latest 'Mummy' hopes a tantalizing question will entice audiences for an otherwise cryptic concoction.
Sony's GOAT Pulls $7M, Defying Non‑Disney Expectations
Sony’s GOAT scored a solid (especially for a non-Disney original toon) $7 million on Friday, as Amazon’s Crime 101 continued the curse of the Chris Hemsworth movie, and Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die opened pretty well by Briarcliff standards....
Overseas Audiences Expected to Offset Soft NA Opening
A softer-than-hoped opening day in North America will hopefully be of less consequence for ‘Wuthering Heights’ as overseas audiences, who consistently embrace big-deal erotic thrillers and dramas, pick up the slack in the coming weeks. Plus, a quick history on...
Indie Studios Hit Box‑Office Peaks as Hollywood Pauses
With Tinseltown mostly taking a holiday, the likes of Angel Studios, Vertical, and Bleecker Street soared to comparative commercial highs. (The new release Super Bowl weekend box office report)