Week of May 4, 2026

Academy Cinema List, Hasbro AI Studio, Sports Upfront Market, Ad-Supported Streaming Hits 48%, Scorsese Joins AI Firm (June 1–5, 2026)

In this week’s Friday Five: The Academy launches a global cinema recognition program (Screen Daily [https://www.screendaily.com/news/academy-launches-michelin-guide-for-cinemas/5217311.article]), Hasbro debuts an AI studio for licensed character experiences (The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/hasbro-launching-ai-studio-license-characters-interactive-1236612854/]), sports continues to dominate the TV upfront market (Variety [https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/tv-networks-sports-upfront-advertsing-budgets-cut-1236765405/]), ad-supported streaming approaches half of all US subscriptions (The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ad-supported-streaming-half-of-us-market-1236611672/]), and Martin Scorsese joins an AI company as an adviser (Variety [https://variety.com/2026/film/news/martin-scorsese-ai-film-future-takeaways-1236766046/]), alongside other key developments shaping the entertainment industry.

Indie Film Financing, Lionsgate on Movies Anywhere, ‘Stranger Things’ Ratings, Germany Production Incentives & Horror Box Office Record (May 25–29, 2026)

In this week’s Friday Five: Western Alliance Bank’s Melanie Krinsky unpacks what makes indie films bankable (Media Services) [https://www.mediaservices.com/blog/what-makes-your-film-bankable-with-melanie-krinsky/], Lionsgate adds its library to Movies Anywhere (Deadline [https://deadline.com/2026/05/lionsgate-movies-anywhere-michael-1236929087/]), “Stranger Things” leads the 2025–2026 TV season rankings (Variety [https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/most-popular-tv-shows-2025-26-ratings-stranger-things-1236760828/]), Germany boosts production incentives and moves toward investment obligations (ScreenDaily [https://www.screendaily.com/news/germany-boosts-production-incentives-to-250m-and-paves-way-for-investment-obligation/5217235.article]), and “Obsession” delivers a record-breaking second-weekend box office surge (The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-obsession-second-weekend-spike-1236606229]), alongside other key developments shaping the entertainment industry.

Week of May 18, 2026

In this week’s Friday Five: Spain celebrates a historic three-film presence in Cannes competition, Lionsgate’s “Michael” moves toward $1B worldwide, and we cover other key developments shaping the entertainment industry.

Week of May 11, 2026

In this week's Friday Five: UK and Ireland box office is forecast to rise 10%, UK and French unions launch a joint campaign at Cannes against long working hours, and we cover other key developments shaping the entertainment industry.

Week of May 4, 2026

In this week’s Friday 5: SAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative four-year agreement with studios, and thousands of filmmakers call on the EU to safeguard cinema funding. We also cover other key developments shaping the entertainment industry this week.