☀️NETFLIX Gen X Movie Star Stable Grows
AMAZON gets Seyfried series / F1 goes out strong on ESPN / SUGAR23 sets departures, re-org
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, December 12, 2025.
Where META added a “Your Algorithm” function in INSTA so you can see what it thinks you’re into (and why it keeps showing you Barry Manilow videos from that one time you were searching for a clip for your mom).
It also allows you to adjust it so you get more of the things you’re (theoretically) into. Ok fine, yes — the Barry Manilow search was for me.
AND: While Trump signed a new Executive Order kinda blocking states from enforcing their own AI laws (it instructs the attorney general to set up an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state laws, and yes, will likely be challenged in courts) — NY passed one requiring advertisers to disclose if AI-generated performers were used in an ad, and another one requiring consent to be ascertained from an heir or executors before using a dead person in an ad.
OMG: FIFA is apparently gouging people for men’s World Cup tickets this summer. Look — peace prize trophy’s this classy and handcrafted don’t come cheap.
ALSO: The movie studio trade organization MPA had $83M of revenue and a loss of -$854k in 2024. CEO Charlie Rivkin’s pay package rose to $4.56M.
$65M of revenue comes from studios’ membership dues.
HMM: Let the Spielberg campaign begin . . .
WELL: You can’t say the folks at the SEC rest on their laurels — here is your fall 2026 SEC football schedule.
GOOD NEWS: If you bought CISCO stock in March of 2000 — you’re finally breaking even! The stock finally rose to the same price it was at 25 years ago. Enjoy your big $3T 2026 IPO boom, everyone!
EH: I’m sure JP MORGAN’s recent finding that 40% of Americans lack basic digital skills needed for jobs should only help the economy going forward.
THANKS!: To the folks at FOCUS for the invite to check out Song Sung Blue last night in NYC — a great movie for a welcome reprieve from the industry tumult this week, and any Christmas break tumult to do with the adult family.
NEW POD
KUDOS: To HBO on putting together a nice “yearender” spot (as we called them when I worked in the Marketing group, and spent . . . you don’t wanna know how much time on them to create). This one really looks forward to a lotta things coming in 2026!
FINALLY: Totally forgot to add this in yesterday (where was the AI on that one, eh?), but this is also a great laugh to get a Friday going.
🎥 THE SILVER SCREEN
Over the course of NETFLIX’s journey into significant original film production over the past 7 or 8 years — the data-rich company has really dialed into what works . . . and it seems to be very good for Gen X employment.
For all of the movie volume that NETFLIX has done — it has really only minted one big new movie star organically in its universe (who also stars in one of its most popular shows ever) with maybe 1 other name in the mix who’s had a few hits now.
But in a nod to why NETFLIX is so interested in WBD — it’s a lot easier to buy stars elsewhere, as it’s very costly to build them yourself . . . with no real guarantee of success.
I’ll make my plea again that as much as great movies make new movie stars — marketing spends really make movie stars . . . and I hope NETFLIX understands this as it looks at those WB PICTURES “SG&A” costs (where Marketing is housed) in a WB deal.
So, here’s the newest addition and the growing coterie of folks that NETFLIX loves being in business with.