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Thunderbolts, a major Marvel entry, scored a respectable $76 million in North America during its opening weekend this past May. So the fourth chapter in a supernatural gothic horror franchise should punch below that... right? Not always! The Conjuring: Last Rites shocked everyone this weekend, hauling in $83 million at the North American box office, which marks the third-biggest horror opening ever — and a performance well above the film’s pre-release tracking of $50 million to $60 million. “The devil’s always a draw,” says Sean McNulty, who also credits Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema’s success with the Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga thriller to a surprisingly young, female and Latino audience base. Richard Rushfield, on the other hand, has a darker theory: “Is there any possibility that Warners is actually conjuring supernatural forces?” Mike & Pam are on an all-time hot streak, securing their seventh straight over-$40 million opening weekend — not to mention New Line’s third in a row to crack that mark after Final Destination: Bloodlines and Weapons. “This is a streak to rival Disney in 2019,” Richard says. (That record-breaking year for Disney included seven movies that grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.) Elsewhere in today’s Monday Morning QBs: Hamilton’s $10 million bow —which brought the Disney+ film to the big screen for the first time in honor of the Broadway phenom’s 10th anniversary — proves the “genuine sector” behind reverse windows. Plus, high expectations for next week’s Demon Slayer debut, and which upcoming flicks caught Richard’s eye at TIFF. Make sure you’re subscribed to get notified when Monday Morning QBs go live on Mondays, and download the app, where you can also see all of The Ankler’s team posting on Substack’s social feed, Notes. Got a tip or story pitch? Email tips@theankler.com ICYMI from The AnklerThe Wakeup Young Latino crowd powers Conjuring past all expectations Microdrama Boom: Why Your Next Job May Be With a 60-Second Soap Elaine Low and Like & Subscribe’s Natalie Jarvey reveal how legacy TV players are waking up to a $7B opening TIFF Day 4: Portman, Ansari, Luhrmann & The Ankler x Letterboxd Party Don’t miss Richard Rushfield and Katey Rich’s daily reports live on the scene from Toronto! Plus, our shindig was a Sunday night highlight ‘Stuff Is Selling’: Your Fall Guide to What Every TV Buyer Wants Now Netflix, Apple, HBO, Disney: Agents and execs tell Elaine that the market is moving again, but with sharper tastes and fewer slots Indie Intel: Best Advice from Tom Quinn, Roeg Sutherland, Ken Kao & More Revisit their inside scoop as TIFF opens One Big Swing: How Yellowstone Was Born From a Single Gut Call For the first time, former top Paramount exec Kevin Kay reveals how he risked his career on a do-or-die bet on Taylor Sheridan Layoffs to Lost Guilds: Leaders, Pull Your S*** Together 10 man-made disasters coming this fall. It’s time to impeach the idiots, Richard writes WME’s Indie Chief on the New Business Models: ‘Get Every Dollar Out There’ Deborah McIntosh is scoring profit participation (for some) and tells Ashley Cullins about a market where every window is shattered KPop Demon Hunters & the Reverse Window Wake-Up Call Gen Z demand for IRL and millennial nostalgia reshape the box office, Ashley writes, as Disney's Hamilton takes the next swing 🎧 Summer Duds, Fest Buzz: What the Hell is Happening to Movies As box office bombs, prestige takes the stage More from Ankler MediaNew from Natalie Jarvey’s creator economy newsletter: Scoop: Celebrity Memoir Book Club Hosts Unveil Their New Podcast Here First A 60-Min. Microdrama, $100K Budget, $1M Sale? I Got the Scoop on Set Andy Lewis’ latest IP picks: College Football Drama, Goonies for Grownups in 6 Faves Up for Grabs |




