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Box Office
Predator: Badlands Breaks Records
Predator: Badlands stunned the industry with a $40 million domestic debut, marking the biggest opening in franchise history. The surprise surge helped revive a slow box office and signaled strong momentum heading into November’s major releases.
Film Market
AFM Returns to Los Angeles With Positive Buzz
The American Film Market’s move back to Los Angeles is earning praise for a better venue and a stronger slate of projects. Exhibitors still point to challenges with rising costs, scattered buyers, and a difficult indie theatrical market, but the overall reception is notably more optimistic.
Streaming
Streaming Platforms Expand “Pause Ads”
Streaming services are ramping up their use of interactive, full-screen pause ads. These shoppable spots appear only when viewers stop playback, and platforms are betting they’ll become a major new revenue stream as more services shift toward ad-supported tiers.
Digital
Vertical Microdramas Surge, Stirring Debate
Vertical microdramas, the ultra-low-budget, cliffhanger-driven shorts exploding on apps like DramaBox and ReelShort, have become a surprising haven for actors. The rapid growth is creating fresh opportunities but also raising tensions over guild rules, low pay, and whether SAG-AFTRA should step in.
International
A New Wave Redefines Egyptian Cinema
At this year’s Cairo International Film Festival, a new generation of Egyptian filmmakers is reshaping the country’s cinematic voice with bold, personal, politically charged stories. Their work positions the industry not as a revival of the past, but as a reclamation of its future.
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