ICYMI: Barbenheimer at the Gates

Catch up on our recent best

(Illustration by The Ankler/ Fiordaliso)

In a bit of much-needed good news, omg, Barbenheimer worked! The event of the year feels like it came, Hollywood-style, just in the nick of time to remind an industry of why it exists and what it does best. Congratulations to everyone involved. Sean McNulty will explain the spectacular numbers in tomorrow’s Wakeup, but for now, it’s absolutely worth reading what Sean said in his Friday newsletter:

While the “future” of our business may be Streaming… Hollywood needs to remember that what it does best is create cultural events - something that perhaps has gotten lost in this new age of “Watch when ya like, we don’t care” of the Streaming era... Events are what make Sports, and Hollywood used to do a lot more of this head-to-head eventizing too - demand people’s attention at a certain time and place. Please don’t let the talk of the town in this regard become relegated to just Earning Season calls. Please...

☀️ BARBENHEIMER Lessons to Remember; Meet Showrunner AI

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Meanwhile…

One smash weekend, another 51 to consider… This week, we underscored the urgent need to create and sustain a fair and thriving business on the other side of this dual strike — and reveal what happens if we don’t:

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Transcript here

Listen here: Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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Transcript here

Listen here: Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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Say Hi to Claire 👋

We announced our newest Ankler-ite, Claire Atkinson, this week…

Claire Atkinson Joins The Ankler as a Contributing Editor

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🪧 Strikegeist

Find reporter Elaine Low out on the pickets as she writes her daily coverage of our industry’s dual strike. Also, please contact her at Elaine@theankler.com.

• Q&A: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland on AI, Revenue Sharing and Stalled Talks

• Tree-gate Frontlines: a Strike Captain Speaks

• Netflix's Ted Sarandos, Union Son, Says He's 'Super Committed' to Ending the Strike

• Great Divide: SAG vs. Studio Breakdown Points Made Public

• Heat Is On: Actors, Writers Erupt Outside Hollywood Studios

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☀️ 5 Days of The Wakeup

Stay tuned for Sean to walk you through earnings season (this week: Comcast’s, Charter, Verizon/Fios, Spotify, Snap and more) in addition to his usual delivery of the best (and most entertaining) daily analysis of this business:

☀️ BARBENHEIMER Lessons to Remember; Meet Showrunner AI

☀️NETFLIX puts Q2 Strike 💰 Bonanza into... Stock Buybacks

☀️ NETFLIX kills US Basic plan; Preview of Q2 Earnings Expectations

☀️PEACOCK Hikes Price, as Streaming ‘saves’ Fall Broadcast TV

☀️ MI:7 opens... fine, as Jim Caviezel has Summer's massive sleeper hit 🤯

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🎧 This Week in Podcasts

If you like our shows, please remember to subscribe to them on the podcast app of your choice. It’s the fastest and easiest way to hear our series, and helps us grow our audience. Thank you!

The Porn Bellwether

Transcript here

Listen here: Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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Netflix's Soft Earnings and the 'Barbenheimmer' Juggernaut

Listen here: Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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🔎 The Optionist

Two non-franchise movies owned the weekend! And a third if you count Sound of Freedom. Andy Lewis’ IP newsletter is filled with delicious, compelling and available IP to find your next great project. This week's recommendations are pure summer fun ready-made for the screen…

• IP Picks🔎: Locked-Room Murder Mysteries and Deceit Galore! Plus, a satirical road-trip and the con man who became America's most successful undercover drug agent