Matt Belloni

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE has declined to a projected $33M opening this weekend, per NRG, while SCARY MOVIE is up to $47M. The divergence seems like it'll end up even greater.

What I’m Hearing: Saudi Shuffles & Ellison’s Debt Blockbuster

The new head of 60 Minutes still owes Disney a screenplay and could soon be simultaneously producing a gangster movie with The Rock. Details ⬇️⬇️ puck.news/newsletter_c...

Peter Chernin on ‘Backrooms’ and Where the Smart Money Is Going in Hollywood

New pod: It’s Peter Chernin! The media mega-investor and ex-Fox head on Hollywood’s path to rebound, why he sold his production company, Fox post-Rupert, where he’s investing, the YouTuber filmmake...

News: Finally a big studio deal out of the Cannes film market. Paramount is paying $36M for North American rights to The Midnight Library, based on the book, which will star Florence Pugh and be directed by Garth Davis. Multiple studios chased.

IMAX Suitors and Why Netflix Put Fincher in Theaters

New pod: Who will buy IMAX? Probably not who you think. With @lucasshaw.bsky.social Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/0hjD...

CBS's morning show didn't cover the big Stephen Colbert finale, and it's because the CBS News boss thought Colbert “kicked colleagues when they were down.” Details ⬇️⬇️ puck.news/newsletter_c...

What I’ve Heard: Five Years of Hollywood Disruption

Five years ago yesterday, I sent the first issue of @PuckNews What I'm Hearing. As a thank you to the tens of thousands of subscribers, I asked about 100 of them what's changed most in Hollywood si...

Spencer Pratt, Karen Bass, and Why California Politicians Suddenly Love Hollywood

New pod: LA and California politicians have long ignored Hollywood, and vice versa. Why the total 180 this year? Plus: The industry Dems backing @spencerpratt.bsky.social and why. With @peterhamby....

Netflix dominoes are falling, David Fincher is now getting the “Greta deal” (the first deal) and will debut Cliff Booth movie in IMAX theaters globally over Thanksgiving and then on Netflix for Christmas. AMC facilitating this despite the short window.

Hollywood’s Inevitable Pivot to Vertical Video Is Here

New pod: Hollywood studios want a piece of the $100B “vertical video” market dominated by Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, but how? With analyst Hernan Lopez. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episo...

The Hollywood Jealousy Draft: What Each Studio Would Steal From Its Rivals

New pod: You run one of the five Hollywood studios. Which ONE asset do you steal from a rival?? It’s the Jealousy Draft! With No. 1 pick @lucasshaw.bsky.social. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/epis...

The Hollywood C.E.O. Gluttony Index

New @puck.news: As the wages of workers remain stagnant, a handful of entertainment CEOs have extracted more than $1 billion in compensation packages from their companies, according to a new analys...

Who Won (and Lost) TV’s Annual Billion-Dollar Cash Grab

New pod: Warners’ funeral, “full funnels,” unneeded celebrities, and YouTube’s NFL whiff….it’s the biggest takeaways from the TV Upfronts! With @richlightshed.bsky.social. Listen! Watch! open.spoti...

What Makes Good TV Writers (and Execs), With David E. Kelley

New pod: It’s David E. Kelley! Why he still writes on a legal pad and avoids going to his sets, and the one streamer where he had a terrible experience. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/59k9...

Oscars ratings hit a 4-year low…..so let’s run it back!

Disney vs. Trump in the D’Amaro Era Looks Different

New pod: Has Disney’s tolerance for political fights changed under a new CEO? With post-redeye @lucasshaw.bsky.social. Listen! Watch! open.spotify.com/episode/6UGB...

Disney’s Josh D’Amaro Manifesto Translator

More layoffs are coming to Disney this summer. That and many important things new CEO Josh D'Amaro DIDN'T say in his debut earnings call: ⬇️⬇️ puck.news/disney-ceos-...

Hell Has Frozen Over: Netflix To Release Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Exclusively in Theaters

New pod: How NARNIA got its full wide global release, and who’s next for the “Greta deal”? With @lucasshaw.bsky.social. Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/1LT9...

Despite all the original shows on Disney+, the 11 Star Wars movies generated more viewing time on streaming in ‘25, per Nielsen #MayTheFourthDay

The #Michaelmovie dropped only 44% domestic in its second weekend, it’s now at $424M worldwide with Japan yet to open. $1 billion now seems very possible.