|
Movie
Box Office
Movie
Box Office (North America)
June
7, 2026
(In
Case You Missed It)
1.
Scary Movie - $55m
2.
Masters of the Universe - $29.3m
3.
Backrooms - $25.9m
4.
Obsession - $25.6m
5.
The Amazing Digital Circus - $11.6m
6.
Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu - $10m
7.
Michael - $7.7m
8.
The Breadwinner - $3.4m
9.
Pressure - $3m
10.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $2.8m
others
...
The
Sheep Detectives
Passenger
Mortal Kombat II
I Love Boosters
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Project Hail Mary
Top Gun
In the Grey
Is God Is
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft
Hokum
Deep Water
Animal Farm
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie:
Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)
May
31, 2026
1.
Backrooms - $81.5m
2.
Obsession - $26.4m
3.
Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu - $25m
4.
Michael - $11.7m
5.
The Breadwinner - $7.5m
6.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $5.9m
7.
Pressure - $5.8m
8.
The Sheep Detectives - $4.6m
9.
Passenger - $2.6m
10.
Mortal Kombat II - $2m
others
...
I
Love Boosters
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Project Hail Mary
Top Gun
In the Grey
Is God Is
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft
Hokum
Deep Water
Animal Farm
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie:
Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)
May
24, 2026
1.
Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu - $82m
2.
Obsession - $22m
3.
Michael - $20m
4.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $12.6m
5.
The Sheep Detectives - $9m
6.
Passenger - $8.7m
7.
Mortal Kombat II - $6.2m
8.
I Love Boosters - $3.7m
9.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $3.2m
10.
Project Hail Mary - $2.7m
others
...
Top
Gun
In the Grey
Is God Is
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft
Hokum
Deep Water
Animal Farm
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie:
Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)
Movie
Box Office (North America)
May
17, 2026
1.
Michael - $26.1m
2.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $18m
3.
Obsession - $16.1m
4.
Mortal Kombat II - $13.4m
5.
The Sheep Detectives - $9.3m
6.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $4.5m
7.
Project Hail Mary - $4m
8.
Top Gun: - $3.1m
9.
In the Grey - $3m
10.
Is God Is - $2.2m
others
...
Billie
Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - $7.5m
Hokum - $3.3m
Deep Water - $780,000
Animal Farm - $664,000
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie:
Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)
Movie
Box Office (North America)
May
10, 2026
1.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $43m
2.
Mortal Kombat II - $40m
3.
Michael - $36.5m
4.
The Sheep Detectives $16m
5.
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - $7.5m
6.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $6.6m
7.
Project Hail Mary - $6.1m
8.
Hokum - $3.3m
9.
Deep Water - $780,000
10.
Animal Farm - $664,000
others
...
Lee
Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie:
Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)
Movie
Box Office (North America)
May
3, 2026
1.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $77m
2.
Michael - $54m
3.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $12.1m
4.
Project Hail Mary - $8.6m
5.
Hokum - $6.4m
6.
Animal Farm - $3.4m
7.
Lee Cronin's The Mummy - $2.2m
8.
Deep Water - $2.15m
9.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie:
Tears of the Azure Sea - $1m
10.
The Drama -$908,000
others
...
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, research and historical)
April
26, 2026
1.
Michael - $97m
2.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $21.2m
3.
Project Hail Mary - $13.2m
4.
Lee Cronin's The Mummy - $5.6m
5.
The Drama -$2.6m
6.
Hoppers - $1.9m
7.
You, Me & Tuscany - $1.5m
8.
Over Your Dead Body - $1.4m
9.
Mother Mary - $1.3m
10.
American Youngboy - $1.2m
others
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang
Busboys
Bhooth Bangla
Faces of Death
Exit 8
A Great Awakening
Reminders of Him
They Will Kill You
Dhurandhar The Revenge
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Undertone
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)
News
Movie
Box Office (North America)
April
19, 2026
1.
Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $35m
2.
Project Hail Mary - $20.5m
3.
Lee Cronin's The Mummy - $13.5m
4.
The Drama -$4.8m
5.
You, Me & Tuscany - $3.8m
6.
Hoppers - $2.9m
7.
Norman - $2.7m
8.
BTS World Tour Arirang - $1.8m
9.
Busboys - $1.7m
10.
Bhooth Bangla - $950,000
others
...
Faces
of Death
Exit 8
A Great Awakening
Reminders of Him
They Will Kill You
Dhurandhar The Revenge
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Undertone
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)
Movie
Box Office (North America)
April
12, 2026
1.
Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $69m
2.
Project Hail Mary - $25m
3.
The Drama -$8.7m
4.
You, Me & Tuscany - $8m
5.
Hoppers - $4.1m
6.
BTS World Tour Arirang - $2.4m
7.
Faces of Death - $1.7m
8.
Exit 8 - $1.4m
9.
A Great Awakening - $1.3m
10.
Reminders of Him - $1m
others
They
Will Kill You
Dhurandhar The Revenge
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Undertone
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)
April
5, 2026
1.
Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $131m
2.
Project Hail Mary - $31m
3.
The Drama -$14m
4.
Hoppers - $5.8m
5.
Reminders of Him $2.2m
6.
A Great Awakening - $2.1m
7.
They Will Kill You - $1.9m
8.
Dhurandhar The Revenge - $1.82m
9.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come - $1.82m
10.
Undertone - $1.1m
others
...
Scream
7
GOAT
Forbidden Fruits
News
The
Lead Up
(For
educational, reference and historical purposes)
Movie
Box Office (North America)
March
29, 2026
1.
Project Hail Mary - $55m
2.
Hoppers - $12.2m
3.
They Will Kill You - $5m
4.
Dhurandhar The Revenge - $4.75m
5.
Reminders of Him - $4,7m
6.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come - $4m
7.
Scream 7 - $2.6m
8.
GOAT - $2.2m
9.
Undertone - $1.7m
10.
Forbidden Fruits - $1.2m
others
...
Wuthering
Heights
Avatar:
Fire and Ash
News
Lead Up (For reference, historical and educational
purposes)
March
22, 2026
1.
Project Hail Mary - $80.6m
2.
Hoppers - $18.m
3.
Dhurandhar The Revenge - $9.6m
4.
Ready or Not: Here I Come - $9.1m
5.
Reminders of Him - $8m
6.
Scream 7 - $4.3m
7.
GOAT - $3.5m
8.
Undertone - $3m
9.
Wuthering Heights - $475,000
10.
Avatar: Fire and Ash - $280,000
others
...
Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Crime
101
The
Bride!
Kiki's
Delivery Service
News
The
Lead Up (For reference, historical and educational
purposes)
March
15, 2026
1.
Hoppers - $28.5m
2.
Reminders of Him - $18.3m
3.
Undertone - $9.3m
4.
Scream 7 - $8.4m
5.
GOAT - $4.7m
6.
The Bride! - $2.1m
7.
Kiki's Delivery Service - $1.668m
8.
Wuthering Heights - $1.665m
9.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the
Ooze - $1.5m
10.
Crime 101 - $1.1m
others
...
Send
Help
Can Only Imagine 2
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Demon Slayer
News
The
Lead Up
News
Flashback
(For
Reference, Historical and Educational Purposes)
March
8, 2026
1.
Hoppers - $46m
2.
Scream 7 - $7.3m
3.
The Bride! - $7.3m
4.
GOAT - $7.3m
5.
Wuthering Heights - $3.8m
6.
Crime 101 - $2.1m
7.
Send Help - $1.6m
8.
I Can Only Imagine 2 - $1.5m
9.
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert - $1.5m
10.
Demon Slayer - $1.3m
others
Solo
Mio
Zootopia 2
Avatar: Fire and Ash
The
Lead Up
News
Flashback
(For
Reference, Historical and Educational Purposes)
Movie
Box Office (North America)
February
22, 2026
1.
GOAT - $17m
2.
Wuthering Heights - $14.2m
3.
I Can Only Imagine 2 - $8m
4.
Crime 101 - $5.8m
5.
Send Help - $4.5m
6.
How to Make a Killing - $3.6m
7.
Elvis Presley in Concert - $3.3m
8.
Solo Mio - $2.6m
9.
Zootopia 2 - $2.3m
10.
Avatar: Fire and Ash - $1.8m
others
...
Good
Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
Iron Lung
Dracula
News
The
Lead Up (for historical, reference and educational
purposes)
February
15, 2026
1.
Wuthering Heights - $34.8m
2.
GOAT - $26m
3.
Crime 101 - $15.1m
4.
Send Help - $9m
5.
Solo Mio - $6.8m
6.
Zootopia 2 - $3.8m
7.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die - $3.6m
8.
Avatar: Fire and Ash - $3.33m
9.
Iron Lung - $3.3m
10.
Dracula - $3
others
...
The
Strangers: Chapter 3
Shelter
Melania
Mercy
*correct
at time of publication to best of knowledge
News
The
Lead Up (For historical, educational and reference
purposes)
Movie
Box Office (North America)
February
8, 2026
1.
Send Help - $10m
2.
Solo Mio - $7.2m
3.
Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience - $5.6m
4.
Dracula - $4.5m
5.
Zootopia 2 - $4m
6.
Avatar: Fire and Ash - $3.5m
7.
The Strangers: Chapter 3 - $3.5m
8.
Shelter - $2.4m
9.
Melania - $2.38m
10.
Mercy - $2m
others
...
Iron
Lung
The Housemaid
Marty Supreme
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
News
The
Lead Up (for historical, reference and educational
purposes)
February
1, 2026
1.
Send Help - $20m
2.
Iron Lung - $18m
3.Melania
$8m approx
(MGM)
4.
Zootopia 2 - $5.8m
5.
Shelter - $5.5m
6.
Avatar: Fire & Ash - $5.5m
7.
Mercy - $4.7m
8.
The Housemaid - $3.5m
9.
Marty Supreme - $2.9m
10.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - $1.6m
Media
Man: *more numbers and details within 24 hours. Not
100 percent accurate at time of publication. Confirming
stats with bean counters and those in the know! Let's
go Melania and Let's go Sydney Sweeney! Beats critics
to punch! Well done ladies.
News
Flashback
January
2026
(In
Case You Missed It)
(For
historical, data and reference purposes)
Jan
25
1.
Mercy - $11.1m
2.
Avatar: Fire and Ash: $7m
20th Century Studios/Lightstorm Entertainment
3.
Zootopia 2 - $5.7m
4.
The Housemaid -$4.2m
Lionsgate
5.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - $3.6m
Sony Pictures
6.
Marty Supreme - $3.5m
7.
Return to Silent Hill - $3.3m
8.
Hamnet - $2m
9.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings
- $2m
10.
Primate - $1.6m
others
Greenland
2
Anaconda
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
News
The
Lead Up
Last
Week
Jan
18
1.
Avatar: Fire and Ash: $13.3m
20th Century Studios/Lightstorm Entertainment
2.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - $13m
Sony Pictures
3.
Zootopia 2 - $8.8m
4.
The Housemaid - $8.5m
Lionstate
5.
Marty Supreme - $5.5m
6.
Primate - $5m
7.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- $3.5m
8.
Greenland 2 - $3.4m
9.
Anaconda - $3.2m
10.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants - $2.3m
Media
Man: *We have been getting a range of numbers from
various (unnamed sources) for the past 12 hours. As
far as we know the above numbers are correct (but
we haven't seen the real books)!!!
News
The
Week Before
Movie
Box Office (North America)
January
2026
Jan
11
1.
Avatar: Fire and Ash - $21.3m
2.
Primate - $11.3m
3.
The Housemaid - $11.2m
4.
Zootopia 2 - $10.1m
5.
Greenland 2 - 8.5m
6.
Marty Supreme - $7.6m
7.
Anaconda - $5.1m
8.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants - $3.8m
9.
David - $3.1m
10.
Song Sung Blue - $3m
others
...
Wicked:
For Good
Five
Nights at Freddy's 2
Media
Man Int
X
News
June
2026
George
Miller Pitches Final Mad Max Film After Warner Bros.
Passes
Warner
Bros. turned down Miller's pitch for a new Mad Max
movie and potential TV spinoff, citing the recent
box-office shortfall of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which
earned $174 million worldwide against a $168 million
budget despite strong reviews. Now, Amazon MGM Studios,
Universal Pictures, and Sony Pictures are interested
in picking up the rights, possibly for a prequel called
Mad Max: The Wasteland centered on Max Rockatansky's
early wanderings. Fans are buzzing with excitement,
pleading for one more high-octane adventure from the
director who redefined action with Fury Road's practical
stunts and Oscar wins. (Mefia Man Peg-On): The legend
of Mad Max and Dr George Miller will live on forever!
News
Papa
Johns Recreates Pizza Planet for Toy Story 5 Hype
Papa
Johns turned a West Hollywood storefront into the
retro-futuristic pizzeria from the 1995 Toy Story,
open for one day on Friday with themed pizzas like
Space Ranger Roni and photo booths stocked with Toy
Story 5 merchandise. Timed tickets sold out quickly,
but walk-ins kept crowds coming to see the yellow
delivery truck and neon Mission Control projections.
This is one of four global pop-ups in London, Seoul,
and Madrid, building excitement for Toy Story 5, where
Woody, Buzz, and Jessie tackle kids' love for tech
toys, directed by Andrew Stanton and hitting theaters
June 19.
News
24
Years Since Live-Action Scooby-Doo Hit Theaters
The
live-action Scooby-Doo, directed by Raja Gosnell and
written by James Gunn, starred Freddie Prinze Jr.
as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Matthew
Lillard as Shaggy, and Linda Cardellini as Velma.
They reunite on Spooky Island to solve a haunted resort
mystery with possessions and demons, grossing over
$275 million despite mixed reviews and a 32% Rotten
Tomatoes score. Matthew Lillard's manic Shaggy stole
the show, turning the film into a cult favorite that
fans still quote and rewatch for its Y2K vibes and
self-aware laughs.
News
The
Batman Part II Begins Filming with First Clapperboard
Shot
Production
on The Batman: Part II started after years of delays
from strikes and script work, with Robert Pattinson
returning as Batman alongside Colin Farrell, Andy
Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, and newcomers like Scarlett
Johansson and Sebastian Stan. The sequel builds on
the 2022 film's $770 million success and noir style
in Matt Reeves' standalone Gotham vision, separate
from the main DCU, and arrives in theaters October
1, 2027. Rehearsals kicked off in London, and early
excitement from the cast and crew has fans eager for
more details on the grounded story penned with Mattson
Tomlin.
News
Fans
Celebrate 13th Anniversary of Man of Steel
Zack
Snyder's 'Man of Steel' hit theaters on June 14, 2013,
rebooting Superman's origin story with Cavill as Clark
Kent facing General Zod's invasion, alongside Amy
Adams as Lois Lane and Russell Crowe as Jor-El. The
movie grossed $670 million worldwide, wowed audiences
with Hans Zimmer's score and groundbreaking action,
though critics gave mixed reviews for its grim tone.
Today, fans highlight Cavill's intensity, emotional
moments like young Clark hearing his mother's voice,
and its lasting cult status in the Snyderverse, even
outgrossing James Gunn's 2025 Superman.
News
IGN
Ranks The Mandalorian and Grogu Near Bottom of Live-Action
Star Wars Films
IGN's
new ranking tops with The Empire Strikes Back, followed
by A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, down to The
Mandalorian and Grogu at number 10—above only
Attack of the Clones and The Rise of Skywalker. Critics
gave mixed reviews at 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, calling
it mediocre with a thin plot despite strong visuals
and Pedro Pascal's charm, while audiences loved it
at 88%, the highest for Disney-era Star Wars. The
film earned $300 million worldwide against a $165
million budget after a soft $81 million domestic opening,
splitting fans who praised the fun action and father-son
bond between Mando and Grogu. (Media Man Peg-On):
Opinion by IGN. Not forcing the issue. The Star Wars
Universe can decide.
News
X-Men'97
The
future of X-Men '97 is just getting started. Brad
Winderbaum teases two more seasons of Marvel Animation's
#XMen97 at Tribeca Festival alongside executive producers
Julia Lewald, Eric Lewald, and Larry Houston. (Credit:
Marvel). (Media Man Peg-On): Marvel vs DC/Warner Bros!
We choose both. Can we say a tie?! Pop Culture Dream
Match: Stan Lee vs Mr Warner! Fantasy Booking in alive
in the Superhero Universe via the Media Man Group.
News
Pro
Wrestling
Killer
Kross Submits Matt Riddle to Retain MLW World Heavyweight
Title
Killer
Kross, with Scarlett Bordeaux at his side, defended
his MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Matt
Riddle in the main event of Fusion from Chicago's
Cicero Stadium on Saturday night. The violent clash
ended with Kross' 'jacket' submission, mirroring their
first encounter where he also made Riddle tap. Earlier,
Kushida retained the World Middleweight Title over
Alan Angels, and Josh Bishop delivered chaos in a
Chicago Street Fight against Matt Justice. With Alex
Hammerstone lurking for a title shot, Kross' reign
strengthens amid rising rivalries. (Media Man Peg-On):
This is Pro Wrestling and This Is Cinema! The Killer
vs The Riddler, in the Squared Circus. Kross Club!
News
Media
Man
The
Late Mail
‘Disclosure
Day’ Beams Up $6.5M in Previews
Full
report and updated numbers within 24 hours
Media
Man
Best Gangster Movies Of All Time; The Godfather Still
Rules The Mob
From
Bondi Beach, to Blacktown, all the way to Hollywood,
Cannes and Italy (we can't forget the Mafia connection),
gangster movies are as cool as ever. In Australia
we have to settle for Underbelly, Underbelly Razor
(now in an Uncut DVD set), and then there was Dirty
Deeds (collecting money from pokie dens et al) from
a few years ago on TV (soon to be released). Gangster
movies serve as history, entertainment and commentary.
With a combination of violence, betrayal, power and
family, it is no surprise gangster movies are so popular.
Here's our Top 5 Gangster Movies of all time.
5.
Scarface
Oliver
Stone wrote the screenplay and Brian De Palma directed
this movie that reflected the violent chaos that cocaine
brought to Miami in the late 70s and early 80s. Al
Pacino gave an epic performance as Cuban immigrant
turned drug lord, Tony Montana. Lots of violence,
done in a way that makes the movie even better.
4.
Casino
“Casino”
was written by Nicholas Pileggi and directed by Martin
Scorcese. It is based on the real life story of Frank
"Lefty" Rosenthal, but the protagonist’s
name was changed to Sam "Ace" Rothstein.
Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone give excellent
performances and Robbie Robertson did an excellent
job providing the music for the movie. You don't have
to be a fan of gambling to appreciate this classic
movie.
3.
The Godfather
Directed
Francis Ford Coppola and written by Coppola and Mario
Puzo, “The Godfather” is an epic tale of
the fictitious Corleone mafia crime family and their
struggles. Marlon Brando gives the performance of
a lifetime and Al Pacino is amazing in his break out
role.
2.
Goodfellas
Nicholas
Pillegi wrote and Martin Scorcese directed this real
life story of mafia affiliate, Henry Hill. With its
raw depiction of criminal life, “Goodfellas”
takes away whatever romance and glamour that other
movies have attributed to mob life.
1.
The Godfather II
Again
written by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford
Coppola, “Godfather II” expands on the original
by both going forward and backward, covering the origins
of the original Godfather, Vito Corleone. The epic
tale shows how crime took down Cuba and features great
performances by Pacino and DeNiro as well as Lee Srassberg
who played the Meyer Lansky based character, Hyman
Roth.
Flashback
News
Update...
The
Godfather Movie Franchise Turns 40...
Francis
Ford Coppola's The Godfather turned 40 this past weekend,
a surprisingly ripe old age for a movie that hasn't
aged a bit.
One
of the great American movies, The Godfather hasn't
stopped influencing popular culture since the day
it was released.
Martin
Scorsese owes much of his career to it, The Sopranos
wouldn't have made sense without it, and VH1's reality
show Mob Wives is a winking travesty of it.
The
film's alluring portrait of the mob as Old World charmers
with ice-cold hearts appears again and again in crime
films, comedies, video games, comic books, hip-hop
videos - the list goes on. In fact, nearly anything
that focuses on organized crime, corporate gamesmanship
or the glories of patriarchy - from HBO's The Wire
to AMC's Mad Men - seems unable to escape the long,
broad-shouldered shadow of The Godfather. You can
even play The Godfather online slot game at Bwin.Party
Digital Entertainment owned PartyCasino.com Tell 'em
the Media Man sent you.
But
for all its heavy themes (immigration, politics, business,
the American dream), The Godfather is also vastly
entertaining. It's a grand, macho soap opera full
of unfettered ids, violently settled scores and men
wearing enviable suits. And talk about a bromance:
Have you ever seen so many guys hugging and kissing
in a Hollywood movie?
Robert
De Niro; King Of Gangster Movies Flys Into Perth:
Visits Burswood Casino...
The
general public might have guessed a president were
in Perth a few days ago if they been near the Burswood
Entertainment Complex.
Legendary
actor Robert De Niro is Hollywood personified and
as you might expect he got the super VIP treatment
at James Packer's Crown Perth.
Speaking
at the launch of his restaurant Nobu Perth on Sunday,
De Niro was friendly, relaxed and "slightly scruffy"
(said The West Australian). The voice and intense
stare was true to form.
De
Niro said he was planning to make the most of his
whirlwind visit.
"I
just got here last night, in the middle of the night,"
he said. "We have a list of things to do and
see, so we are on it.
"I
want to see as much as I can."
The
New York native said he had "no expectations"
of what to expect on his first visit to Perth, but
wanted to explore the sights before he leaves tomorrow.
"I'm
very curious about the west coast of Australia and
my impressions are that it is somewhat like LA, but
I could be wrong about that," he said.
Perth's
social set jumped at the opportunity to rub shoulders
with the star of such films as The Godfather: Part
II, Goodfellas, Raging Bull and Taxi Driver.
The
68-year-old and his wife Grace Hightower De Niro,
56, joined his business partners of almost two decades,
acclaimed chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa and
movie producer Meir Teper, along with Burswood owner...
king of the castle James Packer and wife Erica for
the event, which followed in the tradition of Nobu
openings around the globe with a sake ceremony.
Premier
Colin Barnett and wife Lyn, Seven West Media chairman
Kerry Stokes and Christine Simpson Stokes, Adam and
Mel Gilchrist, Patti Chong, Janet Holmes a Court and
Denise Satterley were in the mix of the 280 guests
who walked a red carpet into the beautiful restaurant.
Former
boxer turned actor Rai Fazio was quite likely the
most excited guest of all.
"I
got a call this afternoon saying Mr De Niro requests
your company at Nobu tonight," he said.
Fazio
met De Niro a year ago in West Hollywood, after they
hit it off famously.
That's
it fans. Stay tuned to Media Man for more entertainment
news and scoops daily.
Movies
and Streaming Connection
Can movie theatres and online streaming live side
by side?
It’s been a tough time for movie theatres around
the world with a number of factors contributing to
the decline in the number of people heading to the
cinema to watch movies. In a world that is embracing
digital technologies, the movie industry is in danger
of getting left behind unless they quickly embrace
the technologies available that will get people excited
to return to movie theatres and get the enjoyment
of the cinema experience once again.
The
rise of the video game industry
Whilst
there are plenty of factors that are influencing people’s
decision to visit the cinema, there is no doubt that
the rapid rise of the online video game industry is
a large contributing factor. People are starting to
look elsewhere for their entertainment and online
video gaming provides a lower-cost alternative to
a trip to the cinema.
A
report by MarketWatch in 2020 found that the video
game industry is now bigger than the sports and movie
industry combined. Just take a minute to digest that.
Bigger than movies and sports - that’s big.
The
news outlet reported that global video game revenue
is expected to increase 20% in 2020, making $179.7
billion, according to data from IDC.
The
biggest gain is expected to come from mobile gaming,
according to the news outlet, which is expected to
surge 24% to $87.7 billion. Part of this is due to
China recently lifting a ban on gaming consoles.
Game
console revenue is expected to soar to $52.5 billion
this year, while PC and Mac games are expected to
make $39.5 billion.
In
their most recent report, MarketWatch
reported that whilst overall revenue was expected
to grow by 11% in 2021 to $251.39 billion, the forecast
for 2022 is just a 2% growth and a flattening out
of that rapid growth over the past two years.
Is
this a potential opportunity for cinemas to reclaim
some of that lost audience share?
Early
signs look good for cinemas in 2022
If
the latest movie releases in 2022 are anything to
go by, it looks as though the movie theatre industry
is not ready to give up just yet. Spider-Man: No Way
Home became the biggest
grossing movie of the past two years, grossing
over $US1 billion ($1.38b) in the first two weekends.
It is the second-fastest film ever to reach the $1
billion mark and suggests that this could be a big
year for cinema-goers.
Following
in its footsteps is another 2022 release, The
Matrix Resurrections, a movie that grossed $US12
million in its opening weekend.
Whilst
this is a great start to the New Year for movie theatres
around the world, it remains to be seen whether this
is a trend that continues throughout the year. With
a number of high profile movies due for release in
2022, this could be a time for cinemas to really cash
in.
The
impact of streaming and long-form content
It
is unlikely that cinemas will have it all their own
way in 2022. Whilst it is great to see people returning
to movie theatres to watch the latest releases on
the big screen, there is no question that home viewing
is here to stay.
As
more studios and media distributors are developing
their own direct-to-consumer streaming services, this
starts to eat into the revenue of major studios.
Studios
derive almost half of their revenues from theatrical
releases. Although the average number of movie tickets
purchased by Americans each year has declined from
4.2 in 2009 to 3.4 in 2019 (Source: Deloitte),
studio revenues are driven more by box office tickets
now than they were 20 years ago.
Streaming
is having the biggest impact on people going to the
movies. As televisions have improved, where you can
now watch movies at home in 4K high-definition on
screens with sizes up to 100”, with surround
sound, people have become more willing to wait for
the latest release movies to become available on streaming
services including Netflix,
Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Stan.
Another
major impact on the cinema industry is the consumer
switch to long-form content in the form of series.
Many people feel there is more depth to a series that
contains anywhere from six episodes upwards. Game
of Thrones was one of the groundbreaking series to
really capture the audience’s attention, however,
there are so many amazing series now that it is becoming
more difficult for movies to compete with the depth
and the character development that a series can bring.
Huge
series like Breaking Bad, The Sopranos and more recently,
Succession,
have really captured the attention of audiences around
the world and this is something movie producers need
to consider.
The
entertainment factor
It’s
not just video games and streaming that are competing
for people’s attention. Another industry embracing
technology is the online casino and betting sector.
Here, we have seen huge advancements in the way people
are able to game online. One company leading the way
in the sector is Betway, “Developed by our exceptionally
talented people, Betway
creates market-leading, cutting-edge interactive gaming
experiences. We bring people closer to the action
– putting them at the centre, making them feel
a part of it.”
From
the introduction of in-game betting to the development
of new and exciting interactive games, these online
gaming sites are leading the way when it comes to
embracing new technologies that can lead to better
experiences for customers.
The
movie industry is at a real crossroads. With competition
coming from every direction within the entertainment
industry, studios and distributors need to find a
way to either a) get more people back into movie theatres
or b) look at alternative ways to ensure that movies
can compete with online gaming, live sports streaming
and online casinos for a share of customer eyeballs.
News
Movie
Box Office (North America)
May
4, 2025
1.
Thunderbolts* - $76m
2. Sinners - $33m
3. A Minecraft Movie - $13.7
4. The Accountant 2 - $9.5m
5. Until Dawn - $3.8m
6. The Amateur - $1.8m
7. The King of Kings - $1.7
8. Warfare - $1.3m
9. HIT: The 3rd Case - $955,000
10. Guru Nanak Jahaz - $685,000
*correct
at time of publication to best of knowledge
Others
...
Hell
of a Summer
The Fiend
Captain America Brave New World
News
Box
Office Movie News
Thunderbolts
Kicks Off Summer Strong: Marvel’s Thunderbolts,
starring Florence Pugh, opened with a solid $76 million
domestically and $162 million worldwide, marking a
robust start to the 2025 summer movie season (May
through August). Despite a modest $10.4 million debut
in China amid trade tensions, it outperformed last
year’s summer opener The Fall Guy. Analysts see
this as a positive sign for Hollywood’s most
profitable season.
Sinners
Continues to Shine: The R-rated vampire thriller Sinners,
directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan,
is 2025’s breakout success. With a global gross
of $236 million, including $181 million domestically,
it’s defying typical horror genre drops, holding
a record-low 6% second-weekend decline. It’s
projected to hit a $33 million third weekend, outpacing
many blockbusters.
A
Minecraft Movie Dominates: Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft
Movie remains a juggernaut, grossing over $900 million
globally and ranking among the top 20 highest-grossing
live-action films domestically. It’s the highest-grossing
domestic film of 2025, boosted by strong family appeal
and Weta FX’s visual effects.
Lilo
& Stitch and Mission: Impossible Eye Record Memorial
Day: Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch is
tracking for a $120 million opening, while Mission:
Impossible – The Final Reckoning aims for $80
million, potentially making the 2025 Memorial Day
weekend the biggest ever with a combined $200 million-plus
domestic haul.
2025
Summer Outlook: After a sluggish Q1 with only $1.31
billion domestically, the summer season is poised
to rebound. Upcoming releases like Superman, The Fantastic
Four: First Steps, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Avatar
3 are expected to drive massive buzz. Family films
(Smurfs, Elio), horrors (M3GAN 2.0, 28 Years Later),
and comedies (Freakier Friday) round out a diverse
lineup. Analysts predict a record-breaking May.
Bollywood
Highlights: In India, Raid 2 scored a strong ?19.25
crore opening, the second-highest of 2025 behind Chhaava’s
?31 crore. Positive word-of-mouth could push it higher.
Struggles
and Bombs: Disney’s Snow White crossed $200 million
globally but remains unprofitable against its $240-270
million budget, hurt by controversies and mixed reviews.
2024’s biggest flops, like Joker: Folie à
Deux and Megalopolis, underscore the risks of high-budget
misfires.
The
2025 box office is gaining momentum, driven by blockbusters
and unexpected hits like Sinners, with the summer
season expected to be a critical turning point for
Hollywood’s recovery.
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