No. 1Box Office
Tom Cruise's 'Digger' now tracking to lose $245 million
Warner Bros.' R-rated satire fell 60% in its second weekend, bringing its totals to $14.4 million domestic and $35.3 million worldwide. It is now headed for roughly $50 million globally, and sources say that means a $245 million theatrical loss, up from the earlier $150 million to $200 million estimate. The budget grew from $125 million to between $160 million and $180 million, with another $100 million spent on marketing. Sources put the break-even at $350 million, though Warner says $300 million. Cruise's backend deal means the studio will take even longer to turn a profit. It was Warner's last standalone release before the Paramount merger, and 'Dune: Part III' arrives in December.
Why it mattersYou can see how hard a starry, expensive original is to sell right now, and how much pressure that puts on Warner's year-end slate.
Full story at Variety →No. 2Charts
The Beatles, Drake and Taylor Swift share the Billboard 200 top five
For the first time ever, the three acts with the most No. 1 albums are in the top five together. The Beatles have 19 and Drake and Swift have 15 each. Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' holds No. 1 for a 14th week. Drake's 'HABIBTI' leaps from 116 to No. 2 after a reissue with four extra songs. The Beatles' 'Rubber Soul' re-enters at No. 4 after a deluxe reissue. The chart is dated Oct. 17, and Billboard posts it in full on Oct. 13.
Why it mattersYou get a neat illustration of how deluxe reissues can shake up the top of the album chart.
Full story at Billboard →No. 3Charts
Taylor Swift reaches 100 weeks at No. 1, joining The Beatles
With a 14th week on top for 'The Life of a Showgirl,' Swift has now spent 100 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. That makes her the second act ever to reach that mark. The Beatles lead with 132 weeks, and Elvis Presley is third with 67. Swift's 100 weeks come from 15 chart-topping albums. 'Showgirl' jumped from 21 to No. 1 last week after a Sept. 25 deluxe edition added four unreleased songs, including the Hot 100 No. 1 'Patient Zero.'
Why it mattersYou can file this as a benchmark that only the Beatles had reached before, and Swift is still adding to her total.
Full story at Billboard →No. 4Streaming
'Artemis Fowl' animated series ordered for Disney Channel and Disney+
Author Eoin Colfer announced the greenlight at New York Comic Con's '25 Years of Artemis Fowl' panel. He will executive produce alongside Ben Juwono and Colleen Evanson. The show follows the 13-year-old genius Artemis as he plots to capture a fairy and take its magic to save his ill mother. The books have sold more than 35 million copies and been translated into 48 languages. Disney's 2020 live-action film drew negative reviews and left Disney+ in 2023. The sources give no premiere date.
Why it mattersYou get a sign that Disney is giving a book franchise a second chance in animation after the live-action film flopped.
Full story at Variety → · DeadlineNo. 5Box Office
Domestic box office tops $8 billion two months earlier than 2025
The U.S. and Canada box office passed $8 billion on Friday, after 282 days, the same pace as 2011 and 59 days ahead of last year. Through Oct. 11 the total is $8.07 billion, up 20% from $6.75 billion a year ago. Last year finished at $8.87 billion. Many forecasters expect 2026 to reach $10 billion, with 'Avengers: Doomsday' and 'Dune: Part III' still to come. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' leads the year at $956.8 million, ahead of 'The Odyssey' at $622.9 million and 'Toy Story 5' at $480.2 million.
Why it mattersYou should note that theatrical is having a real rebound even as individual films like 'Digger' fail.
Full story at Deadline →