“Supergirl” star Milly Alcock is already facing pushback after preemptively blaming potential criticism of the film on misogyny. 
The remarks have drawn comparisons to Rachel Zegler&#8217;s pre-release comments ahead of Disney&#8217;s &#8220;Snow White,&#8221; which sparked similar backlash.
Fans are calling out Alcock for her recycled feminist arguments after her recent <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/milly-alcock-vanities">interview</a> with Vanity Fair. 
“It definitely made me aware that simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on,” the 25-year-old actress said when asked about the “inevitable backlash” she’d face. 
“We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies. I can’t really stop them. I can only be myself,” Alcock added.
Alcock assumed people wouldn’t like the movie because she’s a woman, but her description of the plot points to a different criticism fans have raised. She said her character, Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, is “given this incredible responsibility and doesn’t know how to deal with it.” 
“She’s not trying to save the world—she’s just trying to save her own,” Alcock told Vanity Fair. “This film is an excellent reminder that the world can be crumbling around you, but you can be the hero of your own story.”
The interview inspired many negative reactions on social media, with critics calling out Alcock for complaining about backlash that hadn’t even happened yet.
“These movies are so bad that they have to start attacking the fans before the movie even comes out,” one person <a href="https://x.com/newspolitics/status/2039035489760460880?s=43">observed</a>.
“Actors really need to go back to just promoting the movie and staying away from anything else, because this type of discourse does nothing but harm its chances,” another person <a href="https://x.com/reviewsdino2/status/2039357302365446654">agreed</a>.
“I suspect she&#8217;ll face backlash about ‘simply existing’ in a movie that doesn&#8217;t look interesting and which is part of a cinematic universe that&#8217;s already struggling with the disinterest of general audiences following a lackluster Superman and various TV shows that few people even noticed happened… but saying it&#8217;s ‘simply existing as a woman’ certainly works better for generating some sort of buzz,” a third commenter <a href="https://x.com/HarfangDneiges/status/2039323848621916611">wrote</a>. 
Another comment <a href="https://x.com/RecruitBoss/status/2039048717525762381">noted</a>, “This is called pre-release critical armor. Any criticism of this movie will be branded as sexist or misogynistic. They use race and gender as critical armor to protect their poorly written scripts from legitimate criticism.”
Zegler became a legend following the disastrous release of Disney&#8217;s &#8220;Snow White&#8221; in 2025. The movie was bad, but additionally, the lead actress made it all worse by disparaging fans and the original storyline ahead of its release. The negative press for Zegler is believed to have contributed to the abysmal box office results.
The “Supergirl” description from Warner Bros. says, “When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.”
The film opens in theaters nationwide on June 26.

Milly Alcock

Another ‘Snow White’? The Fight Superhero Star Picks With Fans Before Movie Hits Theaters

Box Office

Celebrities

Entertainment

Feminism

Movies

Warner Bros

“Project Hail Mary” is the hottest ticket in town, and it’s got the receipts to prove it.
The Ryan Gosling-led film about a middle school science teacher sent to outer space to save humanity is breaking records right and left. “Project Hail Mary” raked in $80.5 million domestically and more than $140 million worldwide during its opening weekend, making the biggest opening ever for Amazon MGM.
The incredible reviews and word of mouth recommendations helped the film, which is based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, outperform high expectations. Currently, the movie has a 95% critic’s rating and 96% audience score on review aggregator <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/project_hail_mary">Rotten Tomatoes</a>.
Fans are especially excited that the non-franchise film is heartwarming, family friendly, smart, non-woke, original, and reminiscent of how movies used to be.
Amazon MGM took a real gamble on this one, building physical sets and using a real rock-shaped puppet rather than relying on green screens and CGI to create the look and feel. This all meant spending a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/drew-goddard-project-hail-mary-high-potential-1236540318/#:~:text=Project%20Hail%20Mary%20came%20with,down%20swinging%20with%20this%20movie.%E2%80%9D">reported</a> $248 million, the most on any of the studio’s films to date. But it was worth it and audiences are responding to that authenticity in a big way.
“Project Hail Mary” was the first live-action project in 12 years for directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who were famously fired from the “Star Wars” spinoff “Solo.”
“It did seem like a crazy idea to make a movie with the hunkiest actor of his generation and a rock puppet,” Lord <a href="https://www.audacy.com/kcbsradio/entertainment/ap-ent-film-project-hail-mary-1st-ld-writethru">said</a> in a joint interview with Miller. “I guess we’re interested in difficult things.”
Screenwriter Drew Goddard was nominated for an Oscar for his adaptation of Weir’s other sci-fi novel “The Martian” (2015).
Part of “Project Hail Mary” gaining so much traction so quickly comes from social media recommendations, which were going strong all weekend.
“Took the wife and kids to see Project Hail Mary. We all really enjoyed it,” Daily Wire podcast host Matt Walsh <a href="https://x.com/mattwalshblog/status/2035403288154120599?s=43">said</a> of the film. “Its greatest achievement is that it’s an actual family movie. Not too babyish for adults and not too grown up for the kids. Reminds me of the PG movies they used to make all the time in the 80s and 90s. Very much a spiritual descendent of ET. Maybe Hollywood will take the hint and start making real family films again.”

Project Hail Mary

Non-Woke ‘Project Hail Mary’ Blasts Off With Massive Opening Weekend

Amazon

U.S.

Hollywood is still in denial that &#8220;Melania,&#8221; a documentary about first lady Melania Trump and wife of President Donald Trump, is outperforming expectations, floating conspiracy theories that include claims the film&#8217;s positive audience reviews are fake. But the owner of Rotten Tomatoes says those glowing fan responses are 100% real.
“There has been no bot manipulation on the audience reviews for the ‘Melania’ documentary,” Versant, the parent company of the popular review aggregator, said in a <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/melania-rotten-tomatoes-audience-score-bots-1236654401/">statement</a> to Variety. “Reviews displayed on the Popcornmeter are VERIFIED reviews, meaning it has been verified that users have bought a ticket to the film.”
“Melania” currently has one of the largest disparities between critics’ and audience scores on the site, with reviewers <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/melania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">giving the film</a> a 7% rating and moviegoers giving it a 99% rating. About 75% of the audience was women aged 55 and older. 
Avowed leftist late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is one of Hollywood’s most perplexed, as he mentioned during his monologue on Wednesday. 
“As of tonight, Melania has a score of 5% on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics. That is very low. To put that in perspective, that is 1% lower than ‘Gigli.’ The audience score for ‘Melania’ is 99% positive, which is 1% higher than ‘The Godfather.’ And I’m sure Donald J. Corleone had nothing to do with that at all,” he said. 
“We need to get to the bottom of this,” Kimmel went on. “Send in Tulsi Gabbard and the FBI! Seize the ticket machines, the popcorn buckets, the box office receipts, at every multiplex in America!”
Movie industry insiders projected an abysmal opening weekend for “Melania,” but were quickly proven wrong when it raked in around $7 million.
At the premiere in Washington, D.C. last week, Melania told reporters that success, to her, didn’t depend on box office numbers.
“I’m very proud of the film, so people may like it, may [not] like it, and that’s their choice,” the first lady told CNN.
“We achieved what we want to achieve,” Melania later added. “For myself, it’s already successful. I’m very proud of what we did.”
“Melania” is directed by Brett Ratner, who is best known for the “Rush Hour” franchise. The documentary provides a glimpse into Melania&#8217;s behind-the-scenes world during the 20 days leading up to her husband&#8217;s second inauguration.
The verified reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes had plenty of positive things to say. 
“An inside look at inaugural preparations, done in style,” one verified reviewer wrote. “Also getting to know our First Lady in a more personal way. The lady who is smart, elegant, stylish, beautiful &amp; someone who loves this country &amp; appreciates all that it offers.”
“Wow. Thought I may like it for the fashion take on it. But it was so much more. Absolutely loved it. Regardless if you like her or not- this documentary was really, really good,” another moviegoer agreed.

Melania

Rotten Tomatoes Confirms ‘Melania’ 99% Audience Score Is Real, Not Bots

Documentaries

Hollywood

Melania Trump

The first lady debuted her new autobiographical film, “Melania,” at the Trump-Kennedy Center on Thursday night, saying she already considers it a success regardless of critical reception or box office performance.
“I’m very proud of the film so people may like it, may don’t like it, and that’s their choice,” Melania Trump told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/29/politics/melania-trump-documentary-premiere-red-carpet">CNN</a> outside the premiere. “We achieved what we want to achieve,” Melania added later. “For myself, it’s already successful. I’m very proud of what we did.”
President Donald Trump also attended the premiere, walking a red carpet that was black to match the film’s black-and-white aesthetic. 
“She’s very smart, very measured — sometimes, when I’m not so measured, she measures you,” Trump said to one reporter about his wife of more than 20 years. 
“I think they knew she was smart, but perhaps, maybe they’ll get her to see something that elevates her above just the word ‘smart,’” the president said at another point, as the Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/2026/01/29/melania-trump-documentary-premiere-kennedy-center/">reported</a>. “She’s got a lot of high quality.”
“It really brings back a glamour that you just don’t see anymore,” he told the outlet. “Our country could use a little bit of that.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="MELANIA | Official Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dxXJAqOU00g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The media were not invited to view the film, but several government officials in attendance had glowing things to say about the first lady. 
“She’s one of the most gracious people,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said of Melania.
“She’s not the caricature that we’ve been fed,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. agreed.
Melania signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Amazon MGM Studios and served as executive producer on the project. Filming began in December 2024 and documents the 20 days leading up to her return to the White House.
“Melania” is directed by Brett Ratner, who is best known for the “Rush Hour” franchise.
The first lady previously mentioned the inspiration for the documentary while accepting Fox Nation’s “Patriot of the Year” award.
“A first of its kind, capturing the 20 days of my life before the inauguration, 20 intense days of transformation from private citizen to first lady, balancing my business, my philanthropy, fostering the future, building my East Wing team and the White House staff, and, of course, caring for my family,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-documentary-trailer-promises-inside-look-at-the-first-ladys-return-to-the-white-house">said</a> at the time.
“Melania” began screening in theaters nationwide on Friday.

First Lady Says ‘Melania’ Documentary Is ‘Already Successful’

First Lady Says 'Melania' Documentary Is 'Already A Success' 

Donald Trump

The Bible-based animated film “David,” which was released on December 19 by Angel Studios, has surpassed box office expectations and shattered records for an independent film.
Angel Studios reported on Sunday that “David” earned $22 million over the opening weekend at the domestic box office, per <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/12/21/david-opening-sets-new-record-for-faith-based-angel-studios/">Forbes</a>. This broke the studio’s record set by the hit film “Sound of Freedom” (2023), which earned $19.6 million during its opening, and the animated “The King of Kings” from earlier this year, which raked in $19.4 million.
&#8220;David&#8221; also has the &#8220;highest-grossing faith-based animated theatrical opening of all-time,&#8221; according to a press release from Angel Studios.
The huge results also put “David” second overall at the box office this week, behind only James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
“King David – one of the greatest stories ever told – is powerfully reimagined for the big screen with this epic family musical,” 2521 Entertainment co-founder and Chief Creative and Content Officer David L. Hunt said in a statement. “Kids will grow up fondly remembering how their parents took them to the theater to experience this film. Moments like these become family memories that can last a lifetime.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="DAVID | Final Trailer | In Theaters This Christmas | Angel" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gWgyI6_lR0A?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“Families are searching for values-driven films that honor hope, and our Angel Guild members embraced David from the very beginning,” Angel Studios’ theatrical head Brandon Purdie said. “We greatly value the support of our outstanding exhibitors and look forward to a robust, extended theatrical run as this popular animated musical continues to warm hearts and inspire families this Christmas.”
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“David” tells the familiar bible story of David and Goliath. As the film description says, “From the songs of his mother’s heart to the whispers of a faithful God, David’s story begins in quiet devotion. When the giant Goliath rises to terrorize a nation, a young shepherd armed with only a sling, a few stones, and unshakable faith steps forward. Pursued by power and driven by purpose, his journey tests the limits of loyalty, love, and courage — culminating in a battle not just for a crown, but for the soul of a kingdom.”
The movie currently has a 68% critic’s score and 98% audience score on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/david_2025">Rotten Tomatoes</a>.

David

Bible-Based Film ‘David’ Smashes Box Office Records

Biblical Based Film 'David' Smashes Box Office Records

Angel Studios

Bible

Christianity

A recent article in The New York Times puzzles over the bad news at the Hollywood box office. An occasional hit like “Wicked: For the Good” may keep the industry afloat, but for the most part, no one’s going to the theater.
“25 Movies, Many Stars, 0 Hits: Hollywood Falls to New Lows,” says the Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/business/media/box-office-collapse-hollywood.html?searchResultPosition=6">headline</a>. And the subhead: “It has been a brutal three months for dramas and comedies.”
The article goes on to blame the pandemic, the internet, streaming, and so on. My witty friend Stephen Green over at PJMedia made a better <a href="https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2025/11/17/dear-hollywood-have-you-tried-not-sucking-n4946090">suggestion</a>: “Dear Hollywood. Have you tried not sucking?”
Stephen’s right, of course. But The New York Times can’t see the problem, because The New York Times embodies the problem.
An example.
Another friend of mine, the very talented rebel writer-director Cyrus Nowrasteh, recently directed the film “Sarah’s Oil,” which he co-wrote with his also talented wife, Betsy. Based on a true story, the film tells the tale of a black girl in Jim Crow Oklahoma fighting against bigotry to find and keep the oil on her land. The picture is well-made, touching, and inspiring.
Given a smallish release, the film surprised the industry by doing excellent business. It has an 83% fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a stunning 98% rating from actual human beings.
But here’s an excerpt from one of its few bad reviews in — you guessed it — the New York Times. Natalia Winkelman writes:
<blockquote>Sarah’s Oil is a movie that will surprise nobody. Viewers might even make out a regressive strain reinforcing the feel-good mood: Let alone the incidental worship of fossil fuel… the movie’s emotional core is a Black girl’s belief in her white protector.</blockquote>
Horrors!
Could there be a more small-minded, small-souled reaction to a poignant story of a child’s triumph over prejudice? Miss Winkelman could just as easily have written: “No opinions allowed in the arts but my opinions! No ideas but those approved by the cultural establishment!”
<a href="https://thenewjerusalem.substack.com/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-1010467 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/New-Jerusalem-slug-1024x191.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="191" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/New-Jerusalem-slug-1024x191.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/New-Jerusalem-slug-300x56.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/New-Jerusalem-slug-768x143.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/New-Jerusalem-slug.jpg 1100w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
But those ideas are not just anti-art, they’re anti-human. No women who act like feminine women. No men who act like manly men. No stories that explore themes of freedom, individualism, traditional marriage, motherhood, fatherhood or faith.
As a result, you get films like “Nosferatu,” a gorgeous and talented remake that falls apart because it can’t include the God who makes vampire stories make sense; “Frankenstein,” a gorgeous and talented remake that falls apart because it can’t stick to Mary Shelley’s superior plot and its theme of rebellion against God and womanhood; “Running Man,” a gorgeous and talented remake that falls apart because it can’t point to what’s ailing society because imagine what Miss Winkelman would say about that!
No new stories. Just good old stories ruined by bad new ideas. The human spirit yearns to hear tales of freedom and male-female love and faith. The querulous clerisy only wants to wallow in their own dyspeptic imaginations.
You want good movies? Break these losers’ monopoly on the arts.
* * *
This article was originally posted on “<a href="https://thenewjerusalem.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New Jerusalem</a>” on Substack.
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fifth installment, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-That-Cameron-Winter-Mysteries/dp/1613166869/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EGZUC370LG46&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y_NI0mDOKeowShheDQTVx5NH-fAeimJoCD56_T0Acpl8C0mup7uJf-nGGSRLEItaaekoDnvS2vWLMa4Zd2UBXQ8Y-g-P502jOWz-Y8IX3ZQsdlO7WMLrg1xIhNoKmjCorSWUR4C2l_RbiZ7apJ1MfPzGOrrEf7AdAXX6xwnJRVP_XqUfWuMuVthTWscaU3P4vgmS86-96n-721enHfX12CFQWTajqFbVnrsDkexfUf4.6_gTH6h1Bb9Pn375QdF_VAVZSayDvjQBBKGXE-MTiFo&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=klavan&amp;qid=1754049918&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C80&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">After That, The Dark,</a> is NOW AVAILABLE. Follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/andrewklavan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@andrewklavan</a>
The views expressed in this satirical piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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Why Hollywood Sucks

Andrew Klavan

Film Reviews

The New York Times

After a string of high-profile failures, Disney finally scored a win with the animated sequel “Zootopia 2” over Thanksgiving weekend.
The movie broke records for the House of Mouse. It raked in over $559 million globally since its premiere on Wednesday, earning the highest international earnings ever for an animated film, and the highest international earnings for a sequel. “Zootopia 2” also earned the fourth-highest earnings among all films, according to <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/11/zootopia-2-box-office-records-1236631348/">Deadline</a>. 
The animated sequel boasted a $156 million estimated gross total domestically over the five-day holiday, putting it second in line behind “Moana 2,” which earned $225 million domestically in 2024. 
“Disney has made it an event that comes virtually every year over the Thanksgiving holiday,” Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, said of the results, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/30/business/zootopia-sequel-thanksgiving-box-office">CNN</a>. “Families just embraced (‘Zootopia 2’) in such a profound way.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Zootopia 2 | Final Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5AwtptT8X8k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The analyst noted that the second-highest earner, “Wicked: For Good,” also performed strongly for its second week.
“They did not really detract at all from each other … This performance was born out of having a perfectly curated, perfectly strategized release of these two movies,” Dergarabedian added.
The original “Zootopia” was released in 2016. The story follows a bunny cop, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), who must work with sarcastic con artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to solve a mystery in a city full of talking animals. In the follow-up, Nick is Judy’s partner as they take on another case.
While Disney has been pushing the envelope with leftist themes and LGBT storylines, it’s worth noting that “Zootopia 2” didn’t necessarily follow that script. While some viewers pointed out how the plot of both movies could be seen as taking a progressive stance on topics such as racism and colonialism, there are no same-sex kissing scenes or LGBT-identifying characters. 
The film currently has a 91% critic score and 96% audience score on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zootopia_2">Rotten Tomatoes</a>. 
“‘Zootopia 2’ is pure delight, every bit as exciting and heartwarming and imaginative as the Oscar-winning original and maybe even funnier,” said film critic Nell Minow of RogerEbert.com.

Zootopia 2

Disney Rebounds With ‘Zootopia 2,’ Breaking Box Office Records

Disney Rebounds With 'Zootopia 2' Bringing In $156M At Box Office

Animation

Disney

Hollywood movies just had their worst performing summer season since 1981 when adjusting for inflation and excluding the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, the movies released during this time brought in $3.67 billion, the lowest total not counting 2020 and 2021, and adjusting numbers for inflation. 
The summer began on a high note with a strong Memorial Day weekend performance led by “Lilo &amp; Stitch” and “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.” But by summer’s end, the momentum was gone, and Labor Day weekend was a disaster from a financial standpoint.
Entertainment commentators are blaming this on a whole host of problems, with none agreeing on a single cause. But one thing that’s not up for debate is that lately, the movie industry is struggling in a big way.
Underperforming titles released this summer, which The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/business/media/box-office-collapse-hollywood.html">described</a> as playing to “near empty auditoriums,” include “After the Hunt,” starring Julia Roberts, Sydney Sweeney’s boxing biopic “Christy,” and “Die My Love,” led by big-name stars Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson.
These movies aren’t just bombing with fans &#8212; they’re also costing the studios millions. “After the Hunt” cost $70 million to make and brought in a paltry $3.3 million, the outlet noted. “Christy” also flopped hard with an abysmal $1.3 million opening weekend. The sports film had a more modest budget of $15 million, but after <a href="https://ew.com/sydney-sweeney-christy-sets-record-for-worst-drop-in-second-weekend-11853251">dropping to 900 screens</a> in its second week and collecting a $90-per-theater average, it’s safe to say the film won’t be recouping even that.
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A lot of the blame is being put on a shortened theater-to-streaming timeframe, which is currently 17 days compared to the old standard of 90 days. This disincentivizes moviegoers to visit theaters, especially for genres like comedy and romance that don’t require large screens and surround sound to get the full effect.
While audiences complain at the overabundance of remakes, franchise films, and superhero movies, which on the whole aren’t performing as well as they used to, industry insiders point to the numbers as proof of why these are still being made. Original films are some of the worst performing of the bunch. This makes it a risky proposition for studios to even try.
One Variety critic <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/where-have-all-the-indie-hits-gone-bugonia-after-the-hunt-1236570489/">mentioned</a> some other factors, like Netflix “rob[bing]” theaters of films which could have potentially drawn people to theaters and television shows taking the place of indie movies.
In August, an unnamed studio executive <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/global-summer-box-office-overseas-2025-domestic-1236357631/">told</a> The Hollywood Reporter they are “very, very nervous for the future” of the industry based on the results and said they “don’t think there is enough of an audience” for future theater openings.

Spilled popcorn on floor in cinema

Hollywood Just Had Its Worst Summer Box Office In Over 40 Years

Movie Theaters

Before director James Cameron became <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/james-cameron-reflects-king-of-the-world-titanic-oscars-speech-2023-3">&#8220;king of the world&#8221;</a> he sat on the hottest of hot seats.
Cameron’s 1997 film “Titanic” arrived with enough bad buzz to sink a battleship. Time magazine ran a cover story on the bloated, $200 million affair with the words, <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/titanic-trailer-james-cameron-bad-buzz-blockbuster-1236552019/">“Glub, Glub, Glub” as the tag line.</a>
All signs suggested the headstrong director behind “Terminator” and “True Lies” had bitten off far more than he could chew, and Hollywood was ready to rub his nose in an epic failure.
What happened next? “Titanic” became the biggest blockbuster of all time, at least up until he dethroned himself (twice) with 2009’s “Avatar” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022).
One man is responsible for three of the most popular American films in U.S. history. This Cameron fella knows what he’s doing and, more importantly, what moviegoers crave. He better, since Hollywood is banking on his latest film to give theaters one last jolt before 2025 wraps.
And, up until now, it hasn’t been a blockbuster year for movies. Can Cameron save Hollywood with “Avatar: Fire and Ash?”
The December 19 release is the third film in the enviro-friendly franchise. Once again, Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang bring the world of Pandora to life, along with endless zeroes and ones. The CGI-heavy franchise slathers recognizable stars with endless digital effects.
<div id="attachment_1000779" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1000779" class="size-large wp-image-1000779" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-1024x425.jpg" alt="“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” 2025. Sam Worthington. Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB." width="1024" height="425" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-1024x425.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-300x125.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-768x319.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-1536x638.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS &#8211; Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB.</div>
The latest “Avatar” installment finds the Sully clan dealing with a new threat along with a familiar foe. A violent Na’vi faction dubbed the Ash People has aligned with the evil Colonel Quaritch (Lang), setting up more action-packed sequences in the bustling saga.
That’s roughly all we know about the film. Team Cameron knows less is more when it comes to movie marketing.
Plenty is riding on the film, including the saga’s future. Cameron has said if “Fire and Ash” underperforms, <a href="https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/10/3/james-cameron-says-avatar-3-has-to-make-a-lot-of-money-for-the-franchise-to-continue">parts 4 and 5 could be in jeopardy</a>. He’s betting “Fire and Ash” will come close to replicate his past successes, partially based on early box office predictions. The film is expected to rake in <a href="https://boxofficetheory.com/6-week-box-office-tracking-wicked-for-good-and-zootopia-2-check-ins-plus-other-updates/">at least $110 million</a> in its opening frame.
He’s not alone in wishing for the best.
The box office isn’t the same as it once was, not even when “The Way of Water” helped theaters bounce back from the pandemic shutdowns three years ago. For every “A Minecraft Movie” or “Sinners,” there are many 2025 films that either flopped or dramatically underperformed in 2025.
“Christy.” “The Alto Knights.” “Good Fortune.” “Snow White.” “Elio.” “Tron: Ares.” Even some hits have been misses. “One Battle After Another” is approaching $70 million at the U.S. box office, but the film’s price tag (a reported $130 million) means it’ll lose plenty for Warner Bros.
One report suggests <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/one-battle-after-another-lose-100-million-dollars-theaters-1236552914/">that figure could be $100 million.</a>
Variety reports that this year is <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/october-box-office-record-low-ticket-sales-smashing-machine-tron-ares-flop-1236567987/">currently 2.9 percent ahead</a> of 2024, hardly a boastful account. Stateside revenues are still more than 22 percent behind 2019. That’s the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered movie houses and sent patrons scrambling to streaming services.
That, plus the continued rise of social media, video games, and streaming platforms, leaves cinema uniquely vulnerable as 2026 approaches.
<div id="attachment_1000763" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1000763" class="size-large wp-image-1000763" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-1024x424.jpg" alt="“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB." width="1024" height="424" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-1024x424.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-300x124.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-768x318.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-1536x636.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS &#8211; Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB.</div>
There’s something else about Cameron’s “Avatar” franchise that isn’t discussed enough. Do people actually care about the saga and its heroic figures? How many Halloween costumes have been inspired by the series? Does “Avatar” merchandise sales spike when a new film hits theaters?
Comic-Con Nation genuflects to “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” the MCU, and other geek-friendly IPs. Does “Avatar” hold sway over that demographic in a similar fashion? Are names like Neytiri, Jake Sully, and Miles Quaritch as recognizable as Han, Luke, and Leia? What about Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy?
Hardly.
Cameron has spent much of his career defying the odds, and his “Avatar” films do so in another remarkable way. The phrase, “get woke go broke” finally pierced the Hollywood bubble in recent years. The industry has dialed back on its progressive messaging, realizing audiences would rather be entertained than lectured.
Yet the “Avatar” saga is unabashedly pro-environment and, on more than a few occasions, anti-human. We’re meant to root for the Na’vi, not Colonel Quaritch and his human foot soldiers.
<div id="attachment_1000753" style="width: 792px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1000753" class="size-large wp-image-1000753" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-782x576.jpg" alt="“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, James Cameron. Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB." width="782" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-782x576.jpg 782w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-300x221.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-768x566.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-1536x1131.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 782px) 100vw, 782px" />Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS &#8211; Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB.</div>
The director’s green activism infects every frame of his “Avatar” films, and he makes no apologies about it. That hasn’t impacted the franchise’s box office receipts, though. Not yet, at least.
Cameron’s undeniable skills can take eco-lectures and dress them up in clear-eyed action sequences and relatable themes. The pro-family sentiment of “The Way of Water,” for example, was impossible to miss.
Look past the director’s progressive streak and you’ll find a populist lurking in plain sight.
And while most filmmakers have wisely left 3D technology behind, Cameron clings to the format while pushing cinema technology forward. Each new “Avatar” film represents a leap in what’s possible on the big screen.
Who knows what “Fire and Ash” will deliver come December.
Boy, could the industry use another Cameron miracle to christen the New Year’s box office dreams and, in theory, prove the “rising tide lifts all boats” axiom anew. It wouldn’t be the first time Cameron defied the odds, but they haven’t been stacked so tall in ages.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

“L’Art De James Cameron – The Art Of James Cameron” Exhibition At La Cinematheque

Can James Cameron Save Hollywood Again?

actors

Film

James Cameron

Actress Ruby Rose, who was allegedly passed over for the lead role in the boxing biopic “Christy,” came out swinging with a derogatory social media post against Sydney Sweeney.
The sports drama about competitive boxer Christy Martin was a massive flop at the box office, earning just $1.3 million from 2,011 theaters.
“The original Christy Martin script was incredible. Life changing. I was attached to play Cherry,” Rose <a href="https://www.threads.com/@rubyrose/post/DQ5-UJnDSE7">posted</a> on Threads. 
“Everyone had experience with the core material. Most of us were actually gay. It’s part of why I stayed in acting. Losing roles happens all the time,” the “Orange is the New Black” star went on. 
“For her PR to talk about it flopping and saying SS did it for the ‘people’. None of ‘the people’ want to see someone who hates them, parading around pretending to be us. You’re a cretin and you ruined the film. Period. Christy deserved better.”
Rose was referencing comments Sweeney made following the film’s lackluster opening weekend. The actress defended the film being a flop, saying she was still “proud” of her work and insisting that art films didn’t need to make a lot of money.
“[T]hank you to everyone who saw, felt, and believed and will believe in this story for years to come. if Christy gave even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded,” Sweeney <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sydney_sweeney/p/DQ4OYqPEeN1/">wrote</a> on Instagram Monday. 
“So yes I’m proud. why? because we don’t always just make art for numbers, we make it for impact. and christy has been the most impactful project of my life. thank you Christy. i love you,” she concluded.
Sweeney recently made <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sydney-sweeney-praised-for-keeping-her-cool-as-gq-reporter-tries-to-shame-her?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Sydney+Sweeney+Praised+For+Keeping+Her+Cool+As+GQ+Reporter+Tries+To+Shame+Her">headlines</a> for refusing to take the bait when a liberal journalist tried to force her into apologizing for how her viral American Eagles ad campaign was perceived.
“I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear,” the actress said, shutting down the conversation. 
It was also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-delighted-to-learn-sydney-sweeney-is-a-republican-now-i-love-her-ad">reported</a> this summer that Sweeney is a registered Republican.

Ruby Rose and Sydney Sweeney

Gay Actress Who Lost Role In Boxing Biopic Lashes Out At Sydney Sweeney, Calls Her A ‘Cretin’

Actress Who Lost Role In Boxing Biopic Lashes Out At Sydney Sweeney, Calling Her A 'Cretin'

Sydney Sweeney

Mainstream critics have been falling all over themselves to praise the political action thriller “One Battle After Another,” but their fawning hasn’t been enough to help the film break even at the box office.
Many conservatives balked at the storyline, especially as instances of real-life violence against federal immigration agents continue.
“One Battle After Another” stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson, a former far-left revolutionary living off-grid in a state of stoned paranoia, but he is forced to return to his old lifestyle when his daughter disappears. Bob teams up with his old crew of comrades to save his daughter and the world from a cabal of right-wing antagonists portrayed as racists. The leftists resort to violence in their mission, raising questions about whether their actions reflect genuine heroism or simply serve as a vehicle for political messaging.
The film is loosely based on Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, per <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-15175073/leonardo-dicaprio-one-battle-woke-flop.html">The Daily Mail</a>.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson, an 11-time Oscar nominee, went all in with the budget, spending a whopping $175 million to bring the story to life. But so far it’s only earned back $100 million and came in second place last weekend behind Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl: The Official Release Party.”
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“This movie has a chance of getting to profitability if it lasts long enough in theaters and/or overperforms abroad,” David A. Gross, head of box office intelligence firm Franchise Entertainment Research, <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/box-office-one-battle-after-another-opening-weekend-leonardo-dicaprio-1236533304/">told</a> Variety.
“It&#8217;s going to get a lot of award nominations, but that&#8217;s two to three months away and unlikely to help this immediate release,” he added.
This is despite “One Battle” having a 95% critical rating and 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. While major critics gush that the movie “represents a cinema of big swings and bold statements,” many conservatives are saying it’s just more left-wing propaganda from Hollywood. 
“You can make excuses for it, but basically the [film is] an apologia for radical left-wing terrorism, that’s what it is,” Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro said, also predicting it will win “all the Academy Awards” because of who it presents as heroes and villains.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Ben Shapiro Reviews One Battle After Another" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F8Y68-mfTiA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“It has the subtlety of a brick … The basic suggestion is a conspiracy theory in which the United States is run by white supremacist Christian nationalists and all people of color and a few nice incompetent fellow travelers like [DiCaprio’s character] are going to take on that entire system,” Shapiro went on. 
“And that system must be taken on at the cost of family, at the cost of friendship, at the cost of decency, at the cost of basic human capacity for success. It is better, in other words, to be a complete loser who wastes your life bombing things randomly in order to free illegal immigrants to run willy-nilly across the border than to be a productive citizen.”

One Battle After Another

Leo’s Latest Is A Woke Fever Dream – And A Box Office Nightmare

Ben Shapiro

Leonardo DiCaprio

Politics

Tom Cruise had an enthusiastic reaction to his latest film, “Mission: Impossible &#8211; The Final Reckoning,” helping to make Memorial Day weekend 2025 break records at the box office.
The success of “Mission: Impossible 8,” which raked in $341 million worldwide, and Disney’s latest live-action remake, “Lilo &amp; Stitch,” which earned $200 million, gave the movie business a much-needed boost after a sluggish start to the year. 
“This weekend was one for the history books!” Cruise wrote in a note he shared with followers on his social media platforms. “Congratulations and thank you to every filmmaker, every artist, every crew member and every single person who works at the studios.&#8221;
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<a href="https://t.co/zkf0sr7zuI">pic.twitter.com/zkf0sr7zuI</a>
&mdash; Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCruise/status/1927346598029217940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“To every theater and every employee who helps bring these stories to audiences, thank you,” the message continued.  “To everyone that works at Paramount Pictures and Skydance, thank you for your many years of partnership and unwavering support.”
“And most of all, THANK YOU to audiences everywhere for whom we all serve and for whom we all LOVE to entertain. Sincerely, Tom.”
“Mission: Impossible &#8211; The Final Reckoning” earned $63 million domestically, a record for the long-running “Mission: Impossible&#8221; franchise, over the three-day weekend alone, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/tom-cruise-reacts-mission-impossible-8-box-office-record-1236410669/">Variety</a>. The film brought in an estimated $77 million at the domestic box office during the four-day holiday.
“A record opening on the eighth iteration is remarkable. It speaks to the longevity of the franchise,” Paramount’s distribution chief Chris Aronson said. “The spectacle of what Tom and McQ [director Christopher McQuarrie] put on screen is one-of-a-kind in today’s marketplace.”
The success comes after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-reviews-are-in-for-tom-cruise-and-mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning">early reviewers</a> gave high praise to the action film. 
“[‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’] is whip-smart and razor-sharp, this tense eighth entry in one of the most exhilarating franchises of all time is another winner. With sphincter-tightening set pieces, blockbusters do not get much better than this. Cruise &amp; [director Christopher] McQuarrie nail it!” one reviewer wrote. 
The “Mission: Impossible” franchise, which began in 1996 and is based on the 1960s television series, has evolved into a high-energy action filmography featuring Tom Cruise’s death-defying stunts and intricate espionage plots. The films have grossed more than $4 billion worldwide, with the most successful being “Fallout” (2018).

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Shares Thank-You Note After ‘Mission: Impossible 8’ Record Opening

Tom Cruise Reacts To 'Mission: Impossible 8' Helping Set Memorial Day Box Office Record

Memorial Day

Mission Impossible

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