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Film & TV

What studios and streamers greenlight, buy and release, how films and shows perform, and the deals reshaping Hollywood.

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Reported layoffs at Comcast put restructuring back in focus, while Peacock claimed a strong scripted debut for Crystal Lake.

Film & TV6 items

Elsewhere, Hoorae’s microdrama audience and a weak opening for an AI-generated feature offered contrasting signals for emerging production formats.

New5

Box office & ratings

AI-generated Sanxingdui: Future Past opens to $181,000 in China

Fully AI-generated feature Sanxingdui: Future Past earned $181,000 in its opening weekend in Chinese theaters against a $1.5 million budget.

Why it matters: The weak opening provides a concrete caution for producers weighing theatrical investment in fully AI-generated films.

Business

Hoorae’s microdramas reach 580 million views

Issa Rae’s Hoorae team highlighted 580 million views for its microdramas at IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking Summit, making a case for vertical storytelling and getting filmmakers back into production.

Why it matters: The audience scale makes vertical storytelling worth tracking, even as its production economics remain unsettled.

Deals & development

Hasbro sets October 30 launch for Play-Doh with Margo

Hasbro’s weekly preschool YouTube series Play-Doh with Margo launches October 30, with 42 episodes planned in five languages. Each episode combines a host-led modeling-compound segment with an animated short story.

Why it matters: The multilingual rollout adds a substantial branded preschool slate to YouTube.

Follow-ups1

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Recent briefs

  1. Tue, Nov 38 itemsSony is joining Lionsgate’s live-action Naruto adaptation, while Universal’s The Odyssey has set a new international box-office record for the studio. Netflix is testing AI-powered discovery and expanding its YA slate with Prep.
  2. Mon, Nov 28 itemsNetflix acquired Joel Coen’s Jack of Spades for a 2027 release that includes theaters, while Lionsgate partnered with Meta on theatrical 3D conversion and a subsequent VR release for its Hunger Games prequel. California’s proposed film and TV tax-credit expansion also puts production competitiveness in focus.
  3. Sun, Nov 13 itemsZach Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot reached $400 million worldwide, becoming the franchise’s highest-grossing installment. Specialty releases expanded their theatrical footprint, while Godzilla Minus Zero screened in Tokyo ahead of its Japanese release.
  4. Sat, Oct 318 itemsA24’s You Can See Everything and Warner Bros.’ Clayface are in a close Halloween box-office race, while Japan’s anime industry reached a record $28 billion in 2025. Elsewhere, The Celebrity Traitors set a BBC audience record and The Smurfs secured 52 new episodes.
  5. Fri, Oct 307 itemsSAG-AFTRA members ratified animation contracts with higher wages and stronger AI protections, while Hello Sunshine cut half its staff following its buyback. Paramount+ added Moonbug programming and set an end for Criminal Minds: Evolution; theatrical distribution and fresh audience figures also stood out.
  6. Thu, Oct 298 itemsThe combined Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery is offering voluntary exits ahead of expected layoffs and a companywide office return. Elsewhere, Hunger Games tracking points to a $60 million-plus domestic opening, while digital-first production and French animation labor demands highlight changing production economics.
  7. Wed, Oct 286 itemsReported layoffs at Comcast put restructuring back in focus, while Peacock claimed a strong scripted debut for Crystal Lake. Elsewhere, Hoorae’s microdrama audience and a weak opening for an AI-generated feature offered contrasting signals for emerging production formats.

Who and what it tracks

  • NetflixCompany14
  • UniversalCompany6
  • ParamountCompany5
  • Warner Bros. DiscoveryCompany3
  • Amazon MGM StudiosCompany1