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 [...]

Less than three months after the signing of the definitive agreement at the end of February, the mega‑acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance has accelerated and is moving toward closing much faster than expected. On April 23, Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved the transaction, confirming Paramount Skydance’s victory over rival bidders – including Netflix, which withdrew at the end of February. The 31‑dollar‑per‑share offer values WBD at around 81 billion dollars in equity, or 111 billion including debt. [...]

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved one of the most significant regulatory revisions in recent years for the Oscar race, introducing changes that will also directly impact the International Feature Film category. The new rules will take effect with the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 14, 2027. The most significant development for international cinema concerns the expansion of eligibility criteria for the International Feature Film category. Until now, each country could submit only one title [...]