The Box Office Podcast

"I didn't know you could get that big...!"

The majority of this 77-minute episode is spent discussing all of the reasons why Tom Holland and Zendaya’s MCU-affiliated Spider-Man: Brand New Day nabbed a record $360 million weekend in North America amid a near-record $912 million worldwide debut. Joining us, once again, is Aaron Neuwirth of The Code is Zeek, Out Now with Aaron and Abe, and 2 Black Guys Talk Godzilla. Among the subjects of discourse… * A few “well, actually” disclaimers related to inflation, early preview showings and Detective Chinatown 3’s $398 million Fri-Sun opening weekend. * Why Brand New Day’s record-high domestic debut is even more impressive in light of COVID-era theater closures and multiplexes not being able to just play Spider-Man 4 on every screen throughout the first few days. * Spoiler talk (with warning beforehand) related to Sadie Sink’s spectacular performance as Red Ghost. * Why Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a comic book superhero movie for today’s kids * Sequel teases and random thoughts on Avengers: Super Smash Bros. Secret Wars * A glass raised to our friendly neighborhood Punisher * Meanwhile, in another universe, The Odyssey barely missed a beat on its way to (very soon) pass $1 billion at the worldwide box office * As Hadestown nears $20 million, a toast to the only movie where “Hey, it only dropped 80% in its second weekend!” can be seen as a legitimate compliment * Indie studios cannot chase trends; they have to start them * Predictions for Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s second weekend grosses * And more!! Recommended Reading/Listening… * Scott Mendelson wondered aloud [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/p/jumanji-versus-dune-versus-avengers-doomsday-christmas-box-office] how Jumanji: Open World will fare in December, playing alongside Avengers: Doomsday and Dune Part Three. * Jeremy Fuster spoke to IMAX executives [https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/christopoher-nolan-keighley-camera-odyssey-imax/] Patricia Keighley and (the late [https://www.instagram.com/p/DanWJvhlMBY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D]) David Keighley to discuss how their 20-year professional relationship with Chris Nolan culminated in The Odyssey becoming the first feature to be shot on IMAX. * Lisa Laman discussed [https://landofthenerds.blogspot.com/2026/08/lisa-lamans-highlights-from-oak-cliff.html] this year’s Oak Cliff Film Festival. * Ryan Scott picks five [https://www.slashfilm.com/2225167/best-star-wars-books-disney-adapt-movies-tv-shows/]Star Wars [https://www.slashfilm.com/2225167/best-star-wars-books-disney-adapt-movies-tv-shows/]novels [https://www.slashfilm.com/2225167/best-star-wars-books-disney-adapt-movies-tv-shows/] that merit getting a movie or show. * Max Deering’s latest Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/episode/348CgOz84IJOcT7EEQuTNZ] episode brings on Patrick R. Young to hype up this month’s fourth-annual Big Bad Film Festival. * Aaron Neuwirth interviews [https://weliveentertainment.com/welivefilm/mortal-kombat-ii-interview-hitting-proper-character-kombos-kombat-environments/] Mortal Kombat II director Simon McQoid. If you like what you hear… Please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, email Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/] and Puck News [https://puck.news/author/scott-mendelson/] * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap [https://www.thewrap.com/author/jeremy-fuster/] * Lisa Laman [https://lisalaman.wixstudio.com/lisaportfolio] - Land of the Nerds [https://landofthenerds.blogspot.com/], Dallas Observer [https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/dallas-forths-best-trans-inclusive-bars-and-businesses-21590543], Pajiba [https://www.pajiba.com/staff/lisa-laman.php], Looper [https://www.looper.com/author/lisalaman/], Autostraddle [https://www.autostraddle.com/author/lisalaman/] * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm [https://www.slashfilm.com/author/ryanscott/], Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/ryan-scott/] and Inverse [https://www.inverse.com/profile/ryan-scott-111725388] * Max Deering - Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/maxwell_deering/] and Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/show/6OWjC2VooChhsCT8UCzDlL] * Aaron Neuwirth - The Code is Zeek [https://thecodeiszeek.substack.com/] and We Live Entertainment [https://weliveentertainment.com/author/aaron-neuwirth/] Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

'The Odyssey' Way Down (To) Hadestown

With little in the way of new releases, although Bleecker Street’s Hadestown triumph gets its flowers and then some, most of this week’s chatter is still about Chris Nolan’s The Odyssey. Nate Rice, of Box Office Watch, returns to help Scott Mendelson, Lisa Laman and Jeremy Fuster dig into a record-small -27% second-weekend drop (for a $100 million-plus opener) and a record-high $289 million ten-day total (for a film opening below $125 million). Among the topics of discourse… * Everyone’s favorite performance in The Odyssey * Hadestown kicks box office ass for Bleecker Street *Spider-Man: Brand New Day won’t stop The Odyssey’s momentum * Sony’s smart marketing choices should prevent Spider-Man 4 from succumbing to “superhero indifference * Whether or not word of The Cinerama Dome (and the Arclight multiplex) reopening in 2028 is more than just wishful thinking * Hollywood should continue Proshot theatrical releases * Fun with math about how high Nolan’s film might soar in the global box office * An unusual number of $1 billion-plus grossers and studios distributing them * The SDCC MCU news, including Ryan Gosling starring in a Shawn Levy-directed Ghost Rider, David Johnnson headlining Ryan Coogler’s third Black Panther movie and all of the Avengers: Doomsday scuttlebutt. * Opening weekend predictions for Spider-Man: Brand New Day * And more! Recommended Reading/Listening… * Scott Mendelson wonders whether Blumhouse [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/p/did-obsession-and-backrooms-make-blumhouse-cool-again] (now, of course, Blumhouse Atomic Monster) is getting its “cool chillers for cool kids” mojo back. * Jeremy Fuster discusses how Chris Nolan has used his capital to reignite interest and excitement [https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/the-odyssey-box-office-success-explained-christopher-nolan-imax-film/] over comparatively old-school filmmaking techniques. * Lisa Laman digs into why the Proshot version of [https://thespool.net/author/douglas-laman/]Hadestown [https://thespool.net/author/douglas-laman/] is so successful at emphasizing what worked so damn well for the stage show. * Ryan Scott’s latest kinda-sorta “Tales from the Box Office [https://www.slashfilm.com/2222194/spider-man-tom-holland-sci-fi-box-office-flop-chaos-walking/]” focuses on Lionsgate’s mostly-forgotten sci-fi Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland-starring flop Chaos Walking. * Max Deering’s latest Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/episode/058r6lFT17VhuuAMPC1O4f]episode is a deep dive [https://open.spotify.com/episode/058r6lFT17VhuuAMPC1O4f] into what I consider the best of Michael Bay’s Transformers movies: 2014’s Age of Extinction. If you like what you hear… Please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/] and Puck News [https://puck.news/author/scott-mendelson/] * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap [https://www.thewrap.com/author/jeremy-fuster/] * Lisa Laman [https://lisalaman.wixstudio.com/lisaportfolio] - Land of the Nerds [https://landofthenerds.blogspot.com/], Dallas Observer [https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/dallas-forths-best-trans-inclusive-bars-and-businesses-21590543], The Spool [https://thespool.net/author/douglas-laman/] * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm [https://www.slashfilm.com/author/ryanscott/], Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/ryan-scott/] and Inverse [https://www.inverse.com/profile/ryan-scott-111725388] * Max Deering - Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/maxwell_deering/] and Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/show/6OWjC2VooChhsCT8UCzDlL] * Nate Rice - Box Office Theory [https://boxofficewatch.com/] Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Sometimes People Deserve to Have Their Faith Rewarded

Original co-host and now semi-regular guest Ryan Scott returns for an old-school “year one”-style episode, as the original core four discusses, well, what else? Yes, we do offer a few notes related to Minions & Monsters, The Invite and other holdovers. However, the bulk of the discourse focuses on The Odyssey and Christoper Nolan’s artistic and commercial track record. Among the highlights… * Favorite performance in a pre-Odyssey Chris Nolan movie. * Warner Bros.’ thus-far lousy year at the box office. * The value of counterprogramming even against would-be titans. * How and why The Odyssey opened so high. * How high The Odyssey might climb, and how little it might dip on weekend two. * Audience demographics and Chris Nolan as a generational movie star. * What If? — What if Tenet had been a global hit (even noting that it only really underwhelmed in North America) and/or opened amid normal circumstances? * The few actors for whom The Odyssey was not their biggest-ever global opening. * Hopes and fears over “InfinityVision.” * Whether most audiences will greet Avengers: Doomsday as another Disney 2010s-era nostalgia sequel, little different from Toy Story 5 or Inside Out 2. And more! Recommended Reading/Listening… * Scott Mendelson discusses Skydance’s horrible, terrible, no good, very bad week, at least as it relates to its attempts to buy Warner Bros. [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/p/skydance-buying-warner-bros-not-inevitable], and argues that the once-inevitable merger now seems noticeably less so. * Jeremy Fuster interviews projectionist Taylor Umphenour [https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/the-odyssey-70mm-alex-theater-los-angeles/], the man in the booth running the 70mm show as the century-old Alex theater re-opened with, of course, The Odyssey. I was actually invited to, and attended, Thursday night’s The Odyssey showing, with my 19-year-old (who loves old-school movie palaces) happily tagging along. She liked both the movie and the theater quite a bit. I hope the same level of care is put into whatever Sony (now officially confirmed) [https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/business/sony-alamo-drafthouse-cinerama-dome/]decides to do with The Archlight’s Cinerama Dome. * Lisa Laman notes that the success of Barbie and The Odyssey shows that whether casting transgender actors [https://landofthenerds.blogspot.com/2026/07/trans-performers-will-not-capsize-your.html?m=1] helps at the box office, it sure as hell doesn’t hurt. * Ryan Scott’s latest kinda-sorta/unofficial “Tales from the Box Office [https://www.slashfilm.com/2217849/matt-damon-heath-ledger-fantasy-box-office-flop-the-brothers-grimm/]” column discusses Terry Gilliam’s The Brothers Grimm. * Max Deering offers up the ten best end credits songs for movies that don’t exist [https://www.neonsplatter.com/mixtapes-a-masterpiece/the-best-end-credits-songs-for-movies-that-dont-existyet], while this week’s [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XB7GmAy42IcRONq185BBo]Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XB7GmAy42IcRONq185BBo] (with Aaron Neuwirth guesting) turns The Odyssey discourse into another episode of Vyce’s War Journal. If you like what you hear… Please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/] and Puck News [https://puck.news/author/scott-mendelson/] * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap [https://www.thewrap.com/author/jeremy-fuster/] * Lisa Laman [https://lisalaman.wixstudio.com/lisaportfolio] - Land of the Nerds [https://landofthenerds.blogspot.com/], Dallas Observer [https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/dallas-forths-best-trans-inclusive-bars-and-businesses-21590543], Pajiba [https://www.pajiba.com/staff/lisa-laman.php], Looper [https://www.looper.com/author/lisalaman/], Autostraddle [https://www.autostraddle.com/author/lisalaman/] * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm [https://www.slashfilm.com/author/ryanscott/], Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/ryan-scott/] and Inverse [https://www.inverse.com/profile/ryan-scott-111725388] * Max Deering - Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/maxwell_deering/] and Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/show/6OWjC2VooChhsCT8UCzDlL] Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Lost At Sea

Pretty cut and dry folks, as Scott, Lisa, Jeremy and Max are joined by Mike Scott (Action For Everyone) and a newbie guest, visual artist, horror nerd and Disney music fan Shondrel Ortiz [https://www.instagram.com/still_shondrel/], all team up in a packed episode to discuss all things Moana and Evil Dead Burn. Among the more specific topics of discourse… * Everyone picks their favorite onscreen musical number (not just the best song) from a Disney animated feature, and then later picks their favorite Evil Dead kill. * Mike Scott notes the lack of romance in Disney’s recent animated films. * While most agree Dwayne Johnson is near the end of his run as a butts-in-seats headliner, Jeremy Fuster argues his next batch of post-stardom roles could be every bit as interesting, if not more so, compared to his more commercial flicks. * Everyone talks s**t (and talks shop) about where Disney does or doesn’t go in relation to further live-action remakes of Mouse House animated features. * The very French Evil Dead Burn and the challenges in selling funny horror… * Everyone takes their shot at predicting where The Odyssey might end up at the end of its domestic opening weekend. Everyone agrees that the film is trading a best-case-scenario opening for longer post-debut legs. * And more! No time for recommended reading this week, but if you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/] and Puck News [https://puck.news/author/scott-mendelson/] * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap [https://www.thewrap.com/author/jeremy-fuster/] * Lisa Laman [https://lisalaman.wixstudio.com/lisaportfolio] - Land of the Nerds [https://landofthenerds.blogspot.com/], Dallas Observer [https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/dallas-forths-best-trans-inclusive-bars-and-businesses-21590543], Pajiba [https://www.pajiba.com/staff/lisa-laman.php], Looper [https://www.looper.com/author/lisalaman/], Autostraddle [https://www.autostraddle.com/author/lisalaman/] * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm [https://www.slashfilm.com/author/ryanscott/], Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/ryan-scott/] and Inverse [https://www.inverse.com/profile/ryan-scott-111725388] * Max Deering - Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/maxwell_deering/] and Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/show/6OWjC2VooChhsCT8UCzDlL] * Mike Scott - Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/show/6OWjC2VooChhsCT8UCzDlL] * Shondrel Ortiz - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/still_shondrel/] Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

More Minions = Less Money?

With Jeremy Fuster and Max Deering both on holiday, it’s a pretty loose, off-the-cuff and unstructured, even by our standards, episode. With Lisa Laman again offering another round of “financial flashback,” this week’s guest is Nathanael Rice, who just four months ago launched a potential rival to the likes of Box Office Mojo and The Numbers. It’s called Box Office Watch [https://boxofficewatch.com/], and while it’s still getting its sea legs, it’s a visually dynamic and user-friendly offering in the realm of sites stuffed with present-and past-tense box office data. Beyond the brief check-ups on Obsession (now past $400 million), Backrooms (now above $355 million), and Disclosure Day (which held well over the holiday and crossed $100 million in North America), the crux of the conversation is about Minions & Monsters. The main topic of discourse is about why Minions 3 opened so much lower than its predecessors, and whether the “mere” $62 million domestic and $162 million worldwide end-of-holiday total matters for an $85 million flick that should, at worst, still earn 6-7x that worldwide. Otherwise, yes, we spend a few minutes on how Young Washington’s $21 million Fr-Sun debut essentially rescued the Independence Day weekend from an otherwise miserable, under-$100 million domestic total. Oh, and in relation to Supergirl’s unheroic plunge, barely crossing $100 million globally at the end of its second weekend? Well, at least it’ll make more than Masters of the Universe? Recommended Reading… * Scott Mendelson details how [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/p/obsession-backrooms-saves-june-box-office-after-masters-of-the-universe-and-supergirl-both-flop] this June’s $1 billion domestic total was mostly dependent on the long legs and big bucks of Obsession, Backtooms and Michael rather than on expected tentpoles like Supergirl and Masters of the Universe. * Jeremy Fuster lays out how [https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/movie-theaters-upgrades-box-office-boom-2026/] theaters are responding to and benefiting from the current box-office upswing. * Lisa Laman discusses the history of [https://landofthenerds.blogspot.com/] big animated releases going head-to-head (or spacing themselves out) over the summer movie season. * Ryan Scott ran down this year’s Fangoria Chainsaw Awards [https://www.fangoria.com/2026-fangoria-chainsaw-awards-best-wide-release-nominees/], specifically discussing the films nominated for Best Wide Release horror movie. If you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/] and Puck News [https://puck.news/author/scott-mendelson/] * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap [https://www.thewrap.com/author/jeremy-fuster/] * Lisa Laman [https://lisalaman.wixstudio.com/lisaportfolio] - Land of the Nerds [https://landofthenerds.blogspot.com/], Dallas Observer [https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/dallas-forths-best-trans-inclusive-bars-and-businesses-21590543] and Looper [https://www.looper.com/author/lisalaman/] * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm [https://www.slashfilm.com/author/ryanscott/], Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/ryan-scott/] and Inverse [https://www.inverse.com/profile/ryan-scott-111725388] * Max Deering - Fangoria [https://www.fangoria.com/authors/maxwell_deering/] and Action For Everyone [https://open.spotify.com/show/6OWjC2VooChhsCT8UCzDlL] * Nathanael Rice - Box Office Watch [https://boxofficewatch.com/] Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe [https://scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]