Two first-time feature directors. A combined budget of under $11 million. Over $260 million at the worldwide box office. Summer 2026 has barely started, and the indie sector is already rewriting the rules. Backrooms, A24's adaptation of Kane Parsons' viral YouTube series, crossed $100 million domestically in just six days, a milestone that most arthouse releases never reach across their entire theatrical run. The film opened to $81.4 million over Memorial Day weekend, more than tripling A24's previous opening record, [...]

The "Produced By" Conference is the annual gathering organized by the Producers Guild of America, held this year on the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles, a facility running entirely on renewable energy. A full day of panels, networking, and conversations among the leading voices of the American film and television industry. Among those in attendance was the Italian Trade Agency, which closely followed two of the most significant sessions of the conference: the fireside chats with Tom Quinn, CEO [...]

Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, is one of the most authoritative voices in the global entertainment industry. In a recent wide-ranging interview with Variety, he outlined a clear picture of where Amazon is headed — and why its strategy matters closely to European markets as well. The starting point is the Prime membership program, which counts hundreds of millions of subscribers worldwide — with growth increasingly driven by markets outside the United States. It is [...]

Rome's MIA, the International Audiovisual Market in Rome, used Cannes to announce one of the most significant structural evolutions in its twelve-year history. The message to the international industry is clear: Italy is open for business, and it wants partners at every stage of the value chain. The announcement came on May 18 at the Italian Pavilion at the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, covered the same day by both Variety and Deadline. The 12th edition of the market returns to [...]

Two first-time feature directors. Two micro-budget horror films. Over $200 million combined at the domestic box office. The summer of 2026 has barely started, and the indie sector is already rewriting the rules. Backrooms, A24's adaptation of Kane Parsons' viral YouTube series, crossed $100 million domestically in six days — a milestone that most arthouse releases never reach in their entire theatrical run. The film opened to $81.4 million over Memorial Day weekend, more than tripling A24's previous opening record, [...]

The Memorial Day holiday weekend has long served as Hollywood's unofficial starting gun for the summer season — and the 2026 edition delivered results that warrant close attention from industry stakeholders. The numbers tell a story not just about individual films, but about a fundamental shift in how audiences are engaging with theatrical entertainment. The 2026 Memorial Day weekend is on track to give the industry its first $1 billion May since the COVID-19 pandemic, placing this summer well ahead [...]