Cast & Crew Blog

This Week's Handful of Must-See Headlines

Written by Cast&Crew | Jul 28, 2023 4:30:00 PM

Movie Theaters

IMAX Boost: Company Reports a Strong Second Quarter
IMAX revenue soared to $98 million last quarter, representing an impressive 38% increase from Q2 last year. This success was fueled by blockbuster hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, both now the highest-grossing animated films on IMAX screens. The strong momentum continues into Q3, with highly anticipated movies Oppenheimer and Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 set to drive further growth. 

 

DEI

Venice Film Festival: Women Make History in Competition Selection 
The 8th edition of the Venice Film Festival's lineup has been unveiled, shattering records with the inclusion of five female filmmakers. Among them, Ava DuVernay makes history as the first African American woman in this prestigious selection. The festival's competition features a total of 23 films, with other notable women directors like Sofia Coppola, Agnieszka Holland, Malgorzata Szumowska, and Fien Troch. 

 

Film

Toys, Toys, Toys: Mattel CEO Confirms More Potential Movies 
After the box office success of Barbie, Mattel aims to build its own cinematic universe around existing IPs. The company is already working on multiple projects with A-list partners, including films about Polly Pocket, Barney, American Girl, Hot Wheels, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Magic 8 Ball, and more. 

 

International

The Instrumented Auditorium: New Cinema in the U.K. to Measure Audience Reactions 
The University of Bristol's new Instrumented Auditorium, launching in May 2024, will capture audience reactions in partnership with BBC, Watershed cinema, Aardman, and Netflix. The 36-person theater will record audience data and biometric responses to on-screen content, offering valuable insights to productions for informed decision-making. 

 

Streaming

Mobile App Updates: Netflix Unveils New Features To Ease Streaming 
Netflix introduced a "My Netflix" tab on all iOS devices, enhancing the personalized experience. The tab serves as a central hub for downloads and makes it convenient to resume content. Initially available on mobile devices, the company plans to extend this feature to connected TVs in the future. 

 

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