The Box Office Podcast

Hosted by Scott Mendelson

Business ArtsInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

142

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

A weekly conversation about the weekend box office between myself (Scott Mendelson) and a few younger (Jeremy Fuster), hipper (Ryan Scott) and cooler (Lisa Laman) entertainment journalists. Spoiler: I am what they grow beyond. scottmendelson.substack.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 14, 20261 hr 25 min

Doing What Only a 'Spider-Man' Can

Pardon the delay, but it was worth the wait. I won’t spend too much time on a recap, since it’s pretty much what you’d expect. Somehow, Chrissi Michael returned, and the occasion was Will Gluck’s attempt to replicate his lightning-in-a-bottle magic of Sony’s ‘Anyone But You’ with Universal’s (very) high-concept One Night Only. Alas, watching Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell cosplay Much Ado About Nothing seems to have been more appealing than watching Monica Barbaro and Callem Turner try to find love and romance in the time of The Handmaid’s Tale. Yes, there is much discussion about how One Night Only was both a movie we don’t need right now and failed to impress compared to titles like Amazon’s Off Campus, Netflix’s Voicemails from Isabelle, Magnolia’s I Want Your Sex, and A24’s The Invite. On the plus side, Universal’s The Odyssey is now Chris Nolan’s biggest global grosser ever, while Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day is legging out closer to Ant-Man and the Wasp than Black Widow. Will each of us open the show by picking our favorite moments from a Spider-Man movie? Well, to quote everyone’s favorite deleted scene from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, isn’t that the question of the day?Oh, and we have thrown our Box Office Podcast hats into the ring for contention to be among the onstage panels chosen for next year’s SXSW Film Festival. SXSW chooses which panels actually make it to the festival based on which ones get the most online support. So, please do click on this link to go to our SXSW PanelPicker page and give us a heart. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring some of that “Rango magic” and/or “Beatrice at Dinner whimsy” to Austin, TX, at SXSW 2027 next March! If selected, I, Scott Mendelson, promise to go full Silver Shamrock!Recommended Reading/Listening… * Scott Mendelson discussed the “coincidental” timing of Netflix’s announcement that its Charlie Vs. the Chocolate Factory would be going to theaters next year amid a slew of underwhelming debuts for its summer slate of original movies.* Jeremy Fuster discusses the possible civil war (of words, natch) among theater chains and exhibitors over whether to support (or even condone) David Ellison’s attempt to buy Warner Bros. barely a year after his Skydance bought Paramount.* Lisa Laman dug into what films performed best in August of 2006.* Ryan Scott’s kinda-sorta “Tales from the Box Office” discussed how Hell or High Water turned Taylor Sheridan into a bankable name and, eventually, maybe the most powerful showrunner of the streaming era.* Max Deering offers a gameplay preview of Wych Elm Games’ upcoming horror video game Silver Pines. * Chrissi Michael offers a slightly skewed take on the whole “let people enjoy this” discourse, including a dozen or so of her most prized (my words, not hers) “comfort watch” movies.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 and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Autostraddle* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Chrissi Michael - c(ine)m(a) studies Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

August 6, 20261 hr 8 min

"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 how Jumanji: Open World will fare in December, playing alongside Avengers: Doomsday and Dune Part Three.* Jeremy Fuster spoke to IMAX executives Patricia Keighley and (the late) 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 this year’s Oak Cliff Film Festival.* Ryan Scott picks five Star Wars novels that merit getting a movie or show.* Max Deering’s latest Action For Everyone episode brings on Patrick R. Young to hype up this month’s fourth-annual Big Bad Film Festival.* Aaron Neuwirth interviews 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 and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Autostraddle* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Aaron Neuwirth - The Code is Zeek and We Live Entertainment Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

July 30, 20261 hr 25 min

'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 (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 over comparatively old-school filmmaking techniques.* Lisa Laman digs into why the Proshot version of Hadestown 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” focuses on Lionsgate’s mostly-forgotten sci-fi Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland-starring flop Chaos Walking.* Max Deering’s latest Action For Everyone episode is a deep dive 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 and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, The Spool* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Nate Rice - Box Office Theory Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

July 22, 20261 hr 35 min

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., and argues that the once-inevitable merger now seems noticeably less so.* Jeremy Fuster interviews projectionist Taylor Umphenour, 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) 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 helps at the box office, it sure as hell doesn’t hurt.* Ryan Scott’s latest kinda-sorta/unofficial “Tales from the Box Office” column discusses Terry Gilliam’s The Brothers Grimm.* Max Deering offers up the ten best end credits songs for movies that don’t exist, while this week’s Action For Everyone (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 and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Autostraddle* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

July 16, 20261 hr 38 min

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, 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 and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Autostraddle* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Mike Scott - Action For Everyone* Shondrel Ortiz - Instagram Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

July 6, 20261 hr 26 min

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, 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 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 theaters are responding to and benefiting from the current box-office upswing.* Lisa Laman discusses the history of 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, 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 and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer and Looper* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Nathanael Rice - Box Office Watch Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

June 30, 2026Episode 1271 hr 31 min

Maybe It's Time to Let The Old Ways Die...

As Bradley Charles Cooper once sang, it takes a lot to change your plans, and a train to change your mind. Yes, Chrissi Michael is back to chat about Supergirl and all the fortune and glory it most certainly did not achieve. Alas, with $40 million in North America and $68 million worldwide as of Monday, this wasn’t quite the upbeat episode we were perhaps expecting up until a month or two ago. Much of the conversation centers on the artistic choices this new DC Studios flick did and didn’t make, making it almost irrelevant to current generations of general moviegoers.Yes, it’s still beyond diabolical that Hollywood waited until near the tail-end of the superhero domination era to start diversifying the DC/Marvel line-ups. No, online troll farms (the ones who do it for money and those who do it for sport) didn’t move the needle among anyone who doesn’t live online.However, it’s beyond odd that Supergirl feels less like the next chapter of a new DC cinematic universe than a (comparatively so-so… Aquaman or Wonder Woman this was not) relic of the prior one.Jeremy Fuster is in London but, like Bill Murray in the 2016 Ghostbusters remake, pops by for an extended, momentum-destroying cameo. That’s a joke, although I forgot to answer the weekend’s intro question about the best comic book superhero movie needle drops.For the record, it’s What’s Up Danger” from Into the Spider-Verse, followed by the cut-to-credits smash-cut to “All the Stars” from Black Panther (so much so that I don’t really care for either of that film’s otherwise harmless credit cookies).Jeremy focuses on the macro implications of a shiny new DC box-office flop in the shadow of Skydance’s attempts to buy Warner Bros. and, presumably, make its properties its own. And he does this while standing next to Big Ben**, like the show-off that he is.That said, between Lisa not watching Amazing Digital Circus and Chrissi not yet getting around to Voicemails For Isabelle***, I’m starting to doubt their commitment to The Box Office Podcast. The other subjects of discourse are:-- The challenges in adapting an acclaimed comic story in which Supergirl was not the arc’s primary character-- Too much Lobo, not enough Comet--Why (most of) James Gunn’s MCU/DC song cues work-- Why today’s youth (understandably) doesn’t give a damn about, in the abstract, comic book superhero movies-- The challenges of and opportunities for comedies (romantic or otherwise) in a laugh-starved ecosystem-- Why horror movies are more relevant to the kids than rom-coms, capers, melodramas or almost any other genre--Apparently, I should be watching Off Campus?And more!!** Speaking of Big Ben, by sheer coincidence, this Thursday marks the 40th anniversary of the very best Walt Disney animated film of the 1980s, The Great Mouse Detective. Sure, The Little Mermaid is fine, but does that Katzenberg-era smash hit feature TWO karaoke-friendly supervillain songs?Why yes, Aaron, I AM a big fan of big movies that climax with a big fight in Big Ben, which ends with the big bad guy suffering from a fatal case of “too much gravity.”*** Between Voicemails for Isabelle, Minions & Monsters and Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass (which… my god, there were spots where — while sitting in a theater watching it solo — I almost fell out of my chair in laughter), Zoey Deutch is having a very not-so-bummer summer.Recommended Reading…Not doing a recommended reading/listening list this week, if only because (as a consequence of posting this episode earlier after having dropped the last one later in the week) there isn’t much “new” from our participants.That said, as always, 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 us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com.* Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper and Autostraddle* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Chrissi Michael - c(ine)m(a) studiesAnd if you are able and willing, please consider donating to a GoFundMe related to a Dallas local trying to raise the necessary funds to escape an abusive and homophobic living situation. — URGENT: Help A Lesbian Find Safe Housing Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

June 24, 2026Episode 11 hr 22 min

To Infinity And Beyond... Again!

With Jeremy Fuster having to bow out for the week, Caroline Siede, she of The AV Club, the podcast Role Calling (each episode is “a five-film retrospective starring an actor they love”), stops by to discuss all things Toy Story 5, with a few brief notes related to Obsession’s ridiculous legs, hopes and fears for Supergirl and last weekend’s other three releases (The Death of Robin Hood, Leviticus and Girls Like Girls). Among the subjects of discourse…* All of the reasons (some less obvious than others) that Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story remains a top-tier artistic and commercial franchise* The miracle that is Jessie, beginning as a supporting character in Toy Story 2 and then almost immediately becoming a co-lead going forward* Why you can’t make a Toy Story movie without Woody or Buzz* Whether any franchise can match Toy Story’s artistic batting average* The value of keeping theatrical IP almost exclusive to theatrical release* How A24 has positioned itself, whether it works each time out, as a genuine brand name for moviegoers* The commercial value of LGBTQIA-friendly movies during Pride Month* To what extent Taylor Swift gave the film a commercial boost or merely hitched her wagon to a preordained blockbuster (and why WB should have offered up Supergirl trailers and TV spots featuring modern music*)* And more…!*Okay, so WB eventually did exactly as hoped, natch…Recommended Reading/Listening…* Scott Mendelson went long on how the wave of youth-skewing sleeper hits, alongside older franchise flicks breaking out partially because they are attuned to today’s kids, is reminiscent of the great box office readjustment of 2001.* Jeremy Fuster goes deep into attempts to pitch the federal government (the executive and legislative branches) on a federal film tax credit.* Lisa Laman offers her picks for the best neo-westerns of all time.* Ryan Scott dug into the commercial failure and complicated post-debut legacy of what is technically the first Black superhero movie (at least of remotely modern times), Robert Townsend’s The Meteor Man.* Caroline Siede explained, quite correctly, I might note, how and why The Adventures of Robin Hood (or, as I call it, the best Hollywood action movie up until, I dunno, From Russia with Love) is the ideal gateway drug to get kids (and adults) into classic cinema.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 (which I finally fixed so that it’ll forward to my personal business email, natch).* Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Autostraddle* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Caroline Siede - GirlCulture, The AV Club and Role Calling Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

June 19, 20261 hr 31 min

'Disclosure' Yay!

This won’t exactly be the most hard-hitting critical discussion about Disclosure Day. I probably liked it least among the four of us, and yet my thumb is still firmly pointing upward. Nonetheless, Aaron Neuwith, fresh from a trip to Japan with 2 Black Guys Talk Godzilla co-host Terrance Johnson, returns to the fourth chair to discuss The Furious (since he ended up quoting in the trailer and on the film’s German poster) and — of course — the $44 million domestic/$94 million worldwide opening weekend for Steven Spielberg’s latest sci-fi thriller.The curtain-raiser question is everyone’s pick for their favorite performance in a Steven Spielberg movie, after which the subjects of discourse are…* The $2.75 million domestic and $17 million worldwide debut for The Furious and how that compares to recent overseas action movies and (offhand) the late-90s run of English-dubbed, domestically-targeted Jackie Chan releases.* The big drops for Scary Movie 6 and Masters of the Universe, although obviously one is more problematic than the other. One question is whether we get a Scary Movie 7 before we get a Scream 8.* Whether the social media divisiveness over Disclosure Day will prove indicative of general audiences’ sentiment or merely an online-specific back-and-forth.* How the film was marketed, whether it was or wasn’t indicative of the film itself, while noting that it clearly worked in terms of opening weekend interest.* That a new Spielberg film succeeded on its own terms, right alongside massive overperformances from the likes of Obsession and Backrooms, is actually the best-case scenario. * The usual “Spielberg makes movies good, actually” conversation, which is still always worth reiterating.* Spielberg’s willingness and seeming desire to work with newer and younger onscreen talent.* And more, including opening weekend predictions for Toy Story 5.Recommended Reading/Listening…* Scott Mendelson went long and annoying over Amazon, trying to spin Masters of the Universe’s poor box office as an irrelevant trivia point.* Jeremy Fuster noted that AMC’s previously scheduled series of concert films, set for this summer, has been canceled because the box office is so damn healthy that the theaters don’t need them right now. * Lisa Laman offers her picks for the five most underrated Pixar flicks.* Ryan Scott offers a retrospective on one of the biggest box-office bombs of all time, the mostly-forgotten Warren Beatty/Diane Keaton comedy Town & Country.* Max Deering couldn’t make this episode’s recording, but this week’s Action For Everyone features an extensive interview with The Furious director Kenji Tanigaki.* Aaron Neuwirth and Terence Johnson took a detour with an episode centered on director Shusuke Kaneko’s late-1990s trilogy of Gamera movies. I actually saw (the genuinely awesome) Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris in a movie theater with my parents while visiting Japan in early 1999. Sure, the episode is a delight, but you’re only delaying the inevitable. Dread it, run from it… Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla still arrives all the same.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 (which I finally fixed so that it’ll forward to my personal business email, natch).* Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Aaron Neuwirth - The Code is Zeek and We Live Entertainment Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

June 10, 2026Episode 1241 hr 28 min

Masters of the Scary Circus

As expected, Masters of the Universe became the latest example of “good movie, don’t care” IP adaptation in the tradition of Power Rangers, Transformers One, and (at least overseas) Predator: Badlands. And, as somewhat expected, Scary Movie 6 was a nostalgia-skewing relaunch that successfully played to the kids. At the same time, The Amazing Digital Circus was the latest example of a YouTube-created IP successfully transitioning from streaming to cinema.Luke Y. Thompson, as a lifelong He-Man fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of the nearly 45-year-old franchise, still has much to say about the decades-in-development franchise reboot that ended up with an opening weekend that was barely above the second weekend for Backrooms and the fourth frame for Obsession. Meanwhile, Jeremy Fuster goes long on the frustrating double standard often applied to mega-budget theatrical flops released by “money doesn’t matter” tech giants. At the same time, everyone remembers to give Paramount its Scary Movie 6-specific flowers.Also on the docket is discourse related to Dan Lin’s “filmmakers who want theatrical releases can buzz off” New York Times article, favorite Regina Hall roles, whether the YouTube-to-cinema pipeline will have a quality curve, Jared Leto’s inconveniently excellent performance as Skeletor and my personal annoyance over Masters of the Universe’s false-hope mid-credit cookie.Recommended Reading…* Scott Mendelson discussed the reasons why Chris Nolan likely had little issue with convincing Universal to let The Odyssey go out with an R-rating.* Jeremy Fuster digs into what companies might be making a play to buy IMAX.* Lisa Laman notes the four actors who were previously cast/almost cast as He-Man in various previous unmade iterations of Masters of the Universe.* Ryan Scott kicks yet more sand in the face of Desert Warrior.* Luke Y. Thompson uses the new “Action Man” figure to discuss the ins and outs of toys that resemble actors and movie stars.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 (which I finally fixed so that it’ll forward to my personal business email, natch).* Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News* Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap* Lisa Laman - Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper and Autostraddle* Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm, Fangoria and Inverse* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone* Luke Y. Thompson - Mortal Cinema, TV Line and SlashFilm Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing

More Business podcasts

MACRA

MACRA Website

Business

The Box Office Podcast

About the show

Listen to episodes

Doing What Only a 'Spider-Man' Can

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

'The Odyssey' Way Down (To) Hadestown

Sometimes People Deserve to Have Their Faith Rewarded

Lost At Sea

More Minions = Less Money?

Maybe It's Time to Let The Old Ways Die...

To Infinity And Beyond... Again!

'Disclosure' Yay!

Masters of the Scary Circus

Is this your show?

More Business podcasts

One moment, please...

One moment, please...

Swallow Your Pride Podcast

One moment, please...

One moment, please...

MACRA