Super Bowl Trailer Recap | SIRĀT Director Óliver Laxe
•February 12, 2026
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Why It Matters
Super Bowl trailers act as a high‑stakes barometer for upcoming box‑office performance, guiding exhibitor bookings and signaling which franchises will dominate the next fiscal quarter.
Key Takeaways
- •Super Bowl ad slot showcased major franchise trailers, signaling studio confidence.
- •Scream 7 trailer drove strong pre‑sales, targeting $30‑40 M opening.
- •Project Hail Mary positioned as adult‑friendly space comedy, boosting Amazon MGM prospects.
- •Pixar’s new original “Hoppers” aims for March release to revive box‑office momentum.
- •Absence of MCU teasers highlighted Disney’s cautious Super Bowl marketing strategy.
Summary
The podcast episode recaps the Super Bowl commercial break, focusing on the slate of movie trailers unveiled to a massive audience. Hosts Chad Kenner and Rebecca Polly dissect each spot, from legacy horror to animated family fare, while noting the strategic absence of certain blockbuster franchises. Key insights include Paramount’s Scream 7 trailer sparking robust pre‑sales that could net $30‑40 million opening weekend, and Amazon MGM’s Project Hail Mary being framed as a popcorn‑ready, space‑buddy comedy rather than a prestige adaptation. Disney’s Minions 3 teaser hinted at a darker tone, while Pixar’s original “Hoppers” targets a March release to rejuvenate its original‑IP box‑office track record. Other highlights were the Super Mario Galaxy tie‑in with NBC’s Olympic coverage and a dog‑centric Supergirl promo that leverages emotional branding. Notable moments feature Chad’s quip about “dark magic” in the Minions trailer, Rebecca’s observation that the Hail Mary spot feels more like a Lord Miller film than Ridley Scott’s vision, and the recurring theme of studios using the Super Bowl platform to test audience appetite for sequels versus new IP. The discussion also touched on the ongoing debate about streaming platforms respecting theatrical windows, underscoring industry tension. The implications are clear: a well‑executed Super Bowl ad can drive early ticket momentum, influence exhibitor confidence, and shape release strategies. Studios are balancing franchise fatigue with fresh content, while exhibitors watch pre‑sale data to gauge risk. The lack of MCU announcements suggests Disney is conserving its marquee moments for other windows, leaving room for mid‑tier franchises to capture audience attention.
Original Description
This week on the Boxoffice podcast, co-hosts Daniel Loria, Rebecca Pahle, and Chad Kennerk discuss all the Big Game trailer spots from Super Bowl LX. Then in the feature segment, Rebecca speaks with Sirāt director Óliver Laxe about the impact of the film on audiences and the importance of the theatrical experience.
01:33 Super Bowl Trailer Roundtable Begins
03:19 Major Trailer Omissions (Spider-Man, Avengers)
04:00 Scream 7 Big Game Spot & Presales
05:29 Super Mario Galaxy Marketing Push
06:06 First Look at Supergirl
07:28 Amazon MGM’s Project Hail Mary Trailer
10:26 Pixar’s Hoppers Original IP Test
14:20 Minions and Monsters Title Reveal
16:20 First Footage: The Mandalorian & Grogu
23:37 Spielberg’s Disclosure Day Wins the Game
25:36 Kevin James Viral Marketing for Solo Mio
27:05 Weekend Box Office Recap
27:49 Stray Kids Event Cinema Breakout
30:38 Netflix’s Adventures of Cliff Booth Debate
32:18 Transition to Oliver Laxe Interview
33:47 Interview: Cinema as Catharsis
35:53 Why SIRĀT Must Be Seen Theatrically
37:22 Warning About Streaming-First Deals
38:39 Early Cinema Memory: The Bear
39:18 The Sacred Energy of Theaters
41:16 Making a Radical Film Popular
42:10 Reaching Younger Audiences
44:00 “Bitter Medicine with Honey”
45:18 Influences from 1970s American Cinema
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