Focus features chairman talks ‘Nosferatu,’ ‘Conclave’ and Sundance
Before getting into the main topic of this week’s newsletter, we have to acknowledge the story dominating our region. Wildfires have devastated Southern California since…
You survived ’til 2025. Here are the big Hollywood business stories to watch for
Covering the entertainment business is never boring, and 2025 is already shaping up to be another banger as business models that have been around for…
Box office bombs. Cable’s collapse. What went wrong for Hollywood in 2024
Note: The Wide Shot newsletter will be off next week.When chronicling what went wrong in Hollywood in 2024, it’s hard to narrow down the list…
Hollywood year in review: Who won in 2024?
There were plenty of things that went wrong for Hollywood in the year 2024. There were box office flops (sorry, “Joker: Folie à Deux” and…
The 5 best episodes of ‘My So-Called Life’ on Hulu
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who grew up with Angela Chase, Rickie Vasquez and Jordan Catalano. To mark the 30th anniversary of…
The secrets behind ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’s’ suburban At Attin
This story contains spoilers for “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” Episode 3.There’s more to At Attin than meets the eye.The peaceful and orderly planet introduced in…
How YouTube and Netflix are changing the business of kids’ shows
It’s 7 a.m. Do you know what your kids are streaming?Although the splashiest shows of the direct-to-consumer video era tend to target grownups, children —…
Disney and Bob Iger reached a pivotal stage in streaming. What’s next?
It took billions of dollars in losses, a company-wide overhaul, cost-cutting and price hikes to get there, but Bob Iger and Walt Disney Co. appear…
Stormtrooper helmet from original Star Wars film sells for eye-watering sum
A STORMTROOPER helmet from the original Star Wars film has sold for £325,000.It featured in the Jedi mind trick scene from 1977 movie, later renamed…
Hollywood execs salivate over dealmaking under Trump. Should they?
To much of Hollywood’s decidedly liberal base, Donald Trump is truly the enemy from within, a former reality show host who used the power of…
Warwick Davis begs ITV bosses to bring back Tenable after shock axe
WARWICK Davis has begged TV bosses to bring back his gameshow, Tenable.ITV previously cancelled the popular format earlier this year in a move which shocked…
California’s film and TV tax credit boost. What are the pros and cons?
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to more than double the size of California’s film and television tax credit program won’t fix all of the Golden State’s…
How ‘Smile 2’ director Parker Finn created a Hollywood horror franchise
Parker Finn’s filmmaking career blew up in 2022 with the release of “Smile,” a breakout horror hit for Paramount Pictures about a woman plagued by…
Wanda exited Legendary and AMC. But China’s Hollywood legacy endures
Legendary’s deal, announced Monday, to buy out the remaining stake owned by Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, marks the start of a new era for…
Is streaming a ‘terrible business?’ Not for Netflix
One question this column frequently asks is: Is streaming a good business?The answer depends on whom you ask. Craig Moffett, a prominent Wall Street media…
Box office momentum, AI hype and more Hollywood business storylines to watch
Here are some signs that disruption may be coming to an industry near you. Power consolidated and dominated by a few major players. Tepid decision-making…
What’s behind Hollywood’s latest wave of layoffs?
Editor’s note: Wide Shot will be off next week, with Hollywood Inc. senior editor Ryan Faughnder taking vacation. Last year, Hollywood braved the summer of…
The hootin’-hollerin’ allure of Knott’s Berry Farm’s Ghost Town Alive!
“Have you ever pickpocketed?” No, I have not. At Knott’s Berry Farm, it was suggested I give it a try. Thieving, the man gushed, is…
D23 Expo: Disney is betting its future on sequels and Baby Yoda
If there’s one thing Disney knows how to do, it’s put on show.The various arms of Walt Disney Studios — including Disney Animation, Pixar, Lucasfilm…
Attica Locke left Hollywood for fiction writing. Now she’s bringing her book to the screen
A great crime novel doesn’t just tell a story of wrongdoers being forced to answer for their misdeeds. It doesn’t stop at the whodunit aspect…