"Incredibles 2" opens to strong advance ticket sales

Jun 15, 2018
The sequel to the animated superhero film “The Incredibles” opens in movie theaters across the country today. The original film came out in 2004, grossing $633 million worldwide. So with those kind of numbers, why did it take 14 years to make a sequel? Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

Black Panther misses merchandise bonanza

Mar 9, 2018
The Black Panther phenomenon continues. The Marvel — really, the Disney — blockbuster opened in China today, bringing its estimated box office to $920 million worldwide. It’s the perfect time for retailers to cash in on the movie’s success with a slew of Panther-themed merchandise: toys, t-shirts, tote bags and more. Turns out, though, that […]

Did superheroes kill all the other movies?

Mar 5, 2018
No major movie studio would make an Academy Award-winning movie like Rain Man today, says Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Fritz: “It’s an original idea. It’s driven by movie stars. It’s a domestic film.”  In his new book, “The Big Picture: The Fight for the Future of Movies,” Fritz writes about the rise of the […]

Will “Black Panther” be a game changer?

Feb 23, 2018
“Black Panther” moves into its second weekend in theaters having already posted half a billion dollars at the box office. Sure, it’s a Disney film based on a Marvel comic book, but could it also be a game changer for how Hollywood looks at mostly black casts and distinctly African narratives?  Click the audio player […]

What TV can teach the movie business about diversity

Feb 16, 2018
How cable networks are cashing in on diverse audiences.
Actor Melissa Barrera, left, and executive producer/creator Tanya Saracho of "Vida" speak onstage during the Starz portion of the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington in January in Pasadena, California.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Clue, Battleship, Ouija and now...Catan? Hollywood tries its luck on board games

Jan 16, 2018
Popular German board game Catan may be headed to the big screen.
Players trade resource cards to build roads, cities and settlements in the German board game Catan.
Andreas Reeg/Marketplace

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Is "Black Panther" a billion-dollar movie?

Jan 11, 2018
The new Marvel superhero movie “Black Panther” is breaking records — and it’s not even out yet. Fandango says the first 24 hours of advanced ticket sales beat the sales for “Captain America: Civil War,” thus setting a new bar for Marvel. Disney, which owns Marvel, has been promoting the movie heavily. But there’s also […]

How movies and TV are capitalizing on your holiday cheer

Dec 22, 2017
Are you the type of person who during the holidays wants to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” or debate which version of “A Christmas Carol” is the best? Or are you lining up to watch the new “Star Wars” movie for a second or third time in theaters? Either way, you’re benefiting from a concerted effort […]