The Wakeup

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Entertainment and Media industry analysis and conversations from The Wakeup columnist Sean McNulty with folks inside Hollywood and the many smart folks who write about them.

Episodes

35 minutes ago

PARAMOUNT's Tough Settlement Route, 'Insidious' Keeps Summer Horror Strong

35 minutes ago

25 min

PARAMOUNT got dealt another setback to start off the week, with initial trial settlement talks with the state AGs called off on the morning they were supposed to start. Dive into the dueling tactics afoot, and PAR's tall order in finding solutions to avoid a trial.

Then, dive into how SONY is ruling the Q3 box office, as 'Insidious' tops August openers and it's looking like SONY has the big movie for September as well.

PLUS: 'The Odyssey' keeps shifting IMAX distribution decisions as another pic seemingly suffers in the wake of Nolan's epic actually increasing its revenue in its 6th weekend.

AND: The latest box office demo datapoint showing that moviegoing activity is dominated by people under 40 ... although you wouldn't know that from the September release schedule -- why is Hollywood not making more movies with specific appeal for the audiences that engage most with its product?

Christoper Rosen from The Ankler joins WAKEUP host Sean McNulty to dive into all of above and more.

Read THE WAKEUP here at The Ankler:

https://theankler.com/the-wakeup/

35 minutes ago

25 min

Aug 17, 2026

Hollywood's 80s Nostalgia Problem, 2026 Box Office Finally Matching Pre-Covid

Aug 17, 2026

23 min

The Ankler's Christopher Rosen joins to look at the achievements and records that the consistently written-off theatrical movie business is hitting in summer 2026 ... before a questionable fall box office season begins.

Plus, a debate over whether Hollywood's Gen X executives are dipping back into their 1980s nostalgia well too often for moviegoers in the mid 2020s -- a time period where the average moviegoer wasn't even alive -- as the latest entry from WB, "The End of Oak Street" seemingly does not enthrall moviegoers to a notable degree.

Also, fall film festival season is now on the horizon -- take a look at what's ahead in the current calm before the storm.

Read PRESTIGE JUNKIE here:

https://theankler.com/prestige-junkie/

Read THE WAKEUP here:

https://theankler.com/the-wakeup/

Aug 17, 2026

23 min

Aug 10, 2026

How Big Can 'Spider-Man' Get, UNI's 'Odyssey' IMAX Long Game Strategy

Aug 10, 2026

31 min

The Bulwark's Culture Editor Sonny Bunch joins to dive into the massive 'Spider-Man' revenue at the box office and just how big it could get, as well as a look at what Hollywood has ahead for moviegoing this fall after this huge 1-2 summer Spidey / Odyssey punch -- will momentum continue?

Plus, an intriguing idea for Nolan's next movie, sex purges and the prospects for the theatrical rom-com, David Ellison's latest 30-movie deal with theater owners and much more.

Check out Sonny's column and podcast here:

https://www.thebulwark.com/s/screentime

Read The Wakeup column here:

https://theankler.com/the-wakeup/

Aug 10, 2026

31 min

Aug 3, 2026

Inside the 'Spider-Man' Box Office Record, Why 'Odyssey' Isn't Playing IMAX Longer

Aug 3, 2026

18 min

The Ankler's Christopher Rosen rejoins host Sean McNulty to dive into the record Spider-Man: Brand New Day opening weekend, how it did it without IMAX and how the rules of the superhero movie market have shaken out now that the post-2010s MARVEL boom mostly busted in the past 2-3 years.

Then, a look at IMAX's new record Odyssey numbers and why the pic isn't going to continue to play in those theaters for most of August, plusa look at which films are going to try and continue the momentum.

You can read Sean's Wakeup breakdown of the entire Top 10 at the box office this weekend here at The Ankler.

https://theankler.com/spider-man-brand-new-day-box-office-records-comps/

Aug 3, 2026

18 min

Jul 27, 2026

Is NETFLIX Underpriced, Alan Ritchson, Movie Star?

Jul 27, 2026

43 min

As Wall Street contemplates PARAMOUNT's big move to essentially go to trial in the WARNAMOUNT deal in the U.S. -- what questions arise for the debt given the accompanying payments to WBD shareholders? Also, given that NETFLIX stock has taken a tumble this summer, is it underpriced?

MOFFETT NATAHANSON Sr. Research Analyst Robert Fishman joins host Sean McNulty to give his insight into the biggest questions in Hollywood M&A as summer enters its final stretch ... and takes a look at what the soon to be publicly traded NBCU's numbers showed us in its Q2 2026 earnings report last week.

Plus, THE RINGER's Sean Fennessey joins the pod to try and comp the moment Christopher Nolan is having right now with The Odyssey, and shares some thoughts as to why Hollywood studios haven't really come calling for Reacher's Alan Ritchson for a theatrical film, as his new indie Motor City hit theaters this weekend.

Check out Sean Fennessey's newsletter Projections here:

https://seanfennessey.substack.com/

Read Sean McNulty's Wakeup column here:

https://theankler.com/the-wakeup/

And check out Fennessey's podcast with Amanda Dobbins, The Big Picture, wherever you listen to pods.

Jul 27, 2026

43 min

Jul 20, 2026

How 'The Odyssey' Conquered the Box Office, What's Driving AMC Theaters' Record Q2

Jul 20, 2026

25 min

AMC Theaters chose 'Odyssey' Monday to report its financials from Q2, and announced a record revenue quarter . . . while still not clearing a net profit. I dive into the transformation behind the theatrical business model that has taken place at America's biggest movie theater chain since Covid, alongside The Ankler's Christopher Rosen, and what it signals for the industry in the late 2020s.

Plus, FANDANGO's director of movie analytics Shawn Robbins joins to break down just how 'The Odyssey' succeeded at exceeded everyone's expectations, some curious revenue comps to 'Oppenheimer,' if Hollywood is missing an opportunity in not counterprogramming this time out and more.

You can read my full box office analysis from the weekend here

https://theankler.com/uni-odyssey-smash-by-the-numbers/

You can find Shawn's newsletter here:

https://boxofficetheory.substack.com/

Jul 20, 2026

25 min

Jul 13, 2026

Netflix's Next Big Strategy Pivots, Disney's 'Moana' Opening Missteps

Jul 13, 2026

39 min

As Netflix seems to be hitting its next big strategy pivot moment since 2022's introduction of the Ad Tier -- the WSJ's Jessica Toonkel joins The Wakeup's Sean McNulty to dive into both the strategies it has implemented this year and is discussing behind closed doors.

Plus, what deals are out there on the horizon to potentially help the stock come out of its doldrums and shake up the marketplace.

Then, Fandango's Shawn Robbins joins to dive into where 'Moana' went awry, how the 'Minions' magic hit a rough spot in 2026 and the state of the "Summer Movie for Adults" genre with The Invite at A24.

You can find and subscribe to Shawn's newsletter at https://boxofficetheory.com/

And read The Wakeup at The Ankler at:

https://theankler.com/the-wakeup/

Jul 13, 2026

39 min

Jul 6, 2026

Why 'Minions & Monsters' Fizzled, World Cup TV Audience Changes

Jul 6, 2026

30 min

Typically July 4th weekend is a high point of the theatrical moviegoing calendar -- not so much this year. The Ankler's Christopher Rosen joins host Sean McNulty to dive into the mashup of factors that caused a nearly 25% drop in box office revenue YoY this weekend.

At least Toy Story is still drawing crowds, and we look at the atypical audiences that showed up for the new George Washington pic from ANGEL which also proved to be a potent draw.

Plus, the key changes to note in TV audience metrics around the World Cup that aren't being noted, and what to expect from Emmy nominations this week -- and its pending rights deal no one is really talking about.

Check out The Wakeup at https://theankler.com/the-wakeup/

Jul 6, 2026

30 min

Jun 29, 2026

NBCU's Growth Potential Outside COMCAST and WB's ‘Supergirl’ Folly

Jun 29, 2026

33 min

Another Monday, another huge deal in Hollywood.

WSJ's Ben Fritz joins the pod as COMCAST announces it's fully exiting the entertainment business, spinning off another division, consisting of NBCU & SKY, as its own publicly traded company as of summer 2027 and joining VERSANT outside of the COMCAST gates.

Dive into the strategy afoot, how Wall Street is driving this, the challenge at COMCAST after the spin and the opportunities ahead for NBC UNIVERSAL on its own.

Then, take a look at DISNEY's digital future redux under Josh D'Amaro and a look at this weekend's box office with perhaps some strategy errors at WB on its new expensive bust with DC in 'Supergirl'.

Plus, PARAMOUNT goes back into the 'Jackass' well one too many times, and the curious Tom Cruise push afoot for his new original movie this fall.

You can read Ben's profile of Josh D'Amaro here:

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/disney-ceo-josh-damaro-100-days-0b98897f

And as always, subscribe to The Wakeup here, either via an Ankler subscription or on its own (just scroll to the bottom of the page for that option):

https://theankler.com/subscribe/

Jun 29, 2026

33 min

Jun 22, 2026

How 'Toy Story 5' Set Box Office Records In Its 4th Decade

Jun 22, 2026

22 min

Sonny Bunch, Culture Editor at the Bulwark joins pod host Sean McNulty to dive into how Toy Story reached new box office heights in the 5th edition of the franchise.

Plus, how audiences are reacting in weekend 2 of Disclosure Day seems to say a lot about its reception, Obsession's latest jaw-dropping accolades and more.

Also -- a look at how the World Cup is really scoring for PEACOCK at NBCU in the early rounds of the tournament.

You can find Sonny's great podcast and columns here https://www.thebulwark.com/s/screentime

Jun 22, 2026

22 min