Disney Leads Way in Stopping Movie Releases in Russia

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 1, 2022

 

The Walt Disney Company announced yesterday (February 28) that it was halting its movie releases in Russia due to that nation’s attack on neighboring Ukraine.

In a release, a Disney spokesperson said, “Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red from Pixar. We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees.”

 

According to CNBC, Warner Bros. and Sony soon followed suit. 

 

As for films being affected by studio decisions to step back from Russia, they include Pixar’s Turning Red, Warner Bros.’ The Batman and Sony’s Morbius (which is a Marvel movie).

 

As for the size of the Russian box office, Reuters noted, “Russia is a significant market for Hollywood, accounting for $601 million in box office in 2021, or about 2.8% of worldwide ticket sales, which totaled $21.4 billion last year, according to Comscore.”

 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Motion Picture Association released the following statement: “The Motion Picture Association stands with the international community in upholding the rule of law and condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On behalf of our member companies, who lead the film, TV and streaming industry, we express our strongest support for Ukraine’s vibrant creative community who, like all people, deserve to live and work peacefully.”

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Get more out of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13^th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” Best MCU Movie Since “Endgame”

 by Ray Keating

Review (SPOILER FREE)

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 23, 2021

 

DisneyBizJournal.com Movie Rating: 4 stars out of 5

DisneyBizJournal.com Box Office Rating:  $$$$ out of $$$$

 

In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has to grow up, and moviegoers are enjoying, and should enjoy, going with Peter Parker on nearly all of the 148 minutes of this journey. In fact, Spider-Man: No Way Home ranks as the best MCU movie since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

 

Unfortunately, given dubious recent endeavors, one has to actually pause to give a thumbs up to the filmmakers – director Jon Watts, and writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers – for simply serving up a blockbuster story that makes sense, and isn’t riddled by story and/or character inconsistencies. 

Thankfully, though, No Way Home goes well beyond such barebones expectations. While the film starts off kind of pokey, moviegoers soon find themselves immersed in a story jammed with consequences, and packed with so many emotional wallops that I eventually lost count. (Writing a spoiler-free review of this movie is a mighty challenge.)

 

Watery eyes and a tear here and there were part of the viewing experience. There’s also a nice amount of humor sprinkled in, but a marked step up in wit and quips from some other recent efforts. Indeed, No Way Home is that rare superhero movie that is rich in both laughs and tears.

 

There’s a lot going on in this film, and that isn’t something to be criticized, but instead, it’s worth savoring.

 

Along the way, there’s plenty of action one expects from a superhero movie, but notably improved upon compared to recent MCU films like Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Unlike those two previous movies, even during times of mayhem the CGI holds up in No Way Home. This is rip-roaring good stuff.

 

No Way Home also rates as a full movie in a way that perhaps some other superhero films come up a bit short, including, to a certain degree, the previous Tom Holland Spider-Man movies – Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far from Home. That is, Peter Parker/Spider-Man goes on a full character arch, with game-changing consequences to decisions and actions along the way.

 

Finally, No Way Home serves up a more traditional – in the best sense of the word – take on superheroes and what they’re supposed to be about, that is, trying to do the right thing, trying to save others, and sometimes having to sacrifice to achieve such lofty goals. Yes, with great power comes great responsibility.

 

As for the business side of No Way Home, this film is turning out to be the biggest box-office hit of 2021. As of this writing (December 23), the film, which was released in the U.S. on December 17, had hit a global box office of $751 million.

 

It looks likely that No Way Home will top $1 billion during the Christmas weekend. That will make it the first and probably the only 2021 release to top the billion-dollar mark – and deservedly so. 

 

With a reported production budget of $200 million, that’s quite a Christmas gift for Sony, as well as for Disney and Marvel in that No Way Home is proving that audiences aren’t growing tired of superhero movies, and specifically, MCU movies. But given the under-performance of Eternals, for example, perhaps audiences are ramping up their demands for higher quality superhero movies. We can all hope that is the case.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

For you and a great gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13^th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

“Venom 2” Assaults Ears, Eyes, Intelligence … and the Box Office

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 4, 2021

 

DisneyBizJournal.com Movie Rating: 1 star out of 5

DisneyBizJournal.com Box Office Rating:  $$$$ out of $$$$

 

Venom: Let There Be Carnage ranks as one of the worst movies I’ve seen … ever. And yet it’s breathing life into the pandemic box office.

 

While the first movie – Venom (2018) – was dull, this sequel is too much of an assault to be boring.  The noise is an assault on the ears. The abysmal special effects are an assault on the eyes. The lackluster, uninteresting characters are an assault on storytelling. And the story, well, is an assault on one’s intelligence. 

There was, however, one blissful moment in the movie after Venom leaves the body of Tom Hardy’s character Eddie Brock. Brock is soothed by the sudden calm and tranquility. I was envious of Eddie at that point. Alas, it was the briefest of periods, as the attacks on the audience quickly resumed.

 

Venom, of course, is a Marvel character, but the movie came from Sony. It has to do with the Marvel-Sony deal made years ago over Spider-Man and related characters. But subsequent deals, of course, brought Spidey into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with, unfortunately, Venom. And there was, in fact, the obligatory mid-credits MCU scene.

 

After seeing Venom: Let There Be Carnage, my initial thought was that Disney probably isn’t going to be pleased. Putting aside the mountain of ills in this film, the tone is strikingly different from MCU movies.

 

But then there are the astounding box office numbers for the opening weekend of this monstrosity of a movie. Venom: Let There Be Carnage broke the pandemic domestic box office record with an opening weekend box office take of $90.1 million. The worldwide box office, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, registered $103.9 million.

 

By the way, Venom: Let There Be Carnage had an opening weekend domestic box office take that was actually larger than the 2018 Venom, a time when the pandemic was not even imagined.

 

What does all of this say about today’s moviegoers? Well, Variety noted, “‘Venom 2’ continued that trend: 62% of ticket buyers were male and 55% were under the age of 25.” Not only is that demographic less concerned about the lingering pandemic, it apparently is far less concerned with some minimal level of quality storytelling as well - at least when it comes to Venom.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Spider-Man Back in the MCU – Told You So

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 27, 2019

Spider-Man is back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with widespread news reports today noting that Disney and Sony have come to an agreement. Told you so.

As the Hollywood Reporter noted, “Terms of the new deal were not revealed, but it will allow Marvel and its chief [Kevin] Feige to produce and run creative point on one more movie that would star Tom Holland, the actor who is the current incarnation of the web-slinging superhero. Depending on how things go, more movies could be in the offing.” In addition, it was noted: “Also as part of the arrangement, Spider-Man will appear in a future Marvel movie.”

The Sony Spider-man movie already has a release date: July 16, 2021.

The strange thing is that this outcome was doubted by so many, with the Reporter’s headline screaming, “Spider-Man Shocker.”

Really? There was nothing shocking about this. It wasn’t a matter of “if,” but only “when.”

Indeed, DisneyBizJournal.com expected this outcome, as I wrote the following when the news of a split first materialized last month: 

Call me a crazy optimist, but I  don’t think Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will be exiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite news that Spidey’s out and the Internet is freakin’ out...

In the end, it’s unclear who needs whom more. I suppose given the MCU track record of success, a case can be made that Sony needs Marvel/Feige more. But in reality, this, again, is a clear case where each company benefits enormously from a partnership. And for that reason, while it might be a rough road along the way, I expect Sony and Disney to arrive at an agreement that results in Spidey remaining in the MCU. So, try to stay calm while these two entertainment companies fight it out over superheroes.

Yeah, I have to say it again: Told you so.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, and other books, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

5) Order my newest book – FREE TRADE ROCKS! 10 POINTS ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW – at Amazon.com for the Kindle or in paperback, or signed books at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/freetrade.

Spidey Back in MCU Quicker Than Anticipated?

by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 22, 2019

In my previous report, I wrote: “Call me a crazy optimist, but I  don’t think Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will be exiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite news that Spidey’s out and the Internet is freakin’ out.” I expected it might be “a rough road,” but that both Disney and Sony had every incentive to make it happen.

Well, rumors are flying that it might happen by this weekend – at least according to a report from ComicBookNews.com. That site is saying that rumors are flying that Disney has offered Sony a deal featuring a 6-picture deal with Holland, with an option for a seventh – four Spider-Man films and two Avengers movies – with Marvel at the helm of the films, and co-financing as well, for a 30 percent take (down from Disney’s rumored demand for 50 percent) In addition, Marvel would do the same for SpiderVerse live action spinoffs, while Sony would be able to do live-action SpiderVerse for television.

Check out the story for more.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

Remain Calm: Spidey-Feige-Sony-Disney Drama Not Likely Over

by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 21, 2019

Call me a crazy optimist, but I  don’t think Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will be exiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite news that Spidey’s out and the Internet is freakin’ out. 

This entire Sony-Disney battle looks like a tough negotiation that somebody decided to take public to gain an advantage. Considering assorted reports, the story goes something along the following lines. Sony achieved great success with the two Holland movies – Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home – that came after a deal between the two companies allowed Marvel’s Kevin Feige (the MCU guru) to produce both movies. (That Marvel-Sony deal came after Sony was disappointed with the Andrew Garfield Spider-Man films.) As for Marvel, Spider-Man entered and is slated for an important role in the MCU. Here was a win-win deal in Hollywood.

But with two more Spider-Man movies supposedly on the way via Sony and more MCU films with Spidey coming, a new deal between the companies was sought. Given that the current deal gives Disney a rather modest 5 percent of the first-dollar gross on Spider-Man movies, along with all merchandise sales (certainly not insignificant), it’s pretty clear that Disney/Marvel was pushing for the new deal. And Disney reportedly wanted a 50-50 split on financing, with Feige staying on in his consulting-producer role, according to Variety.

But as negotiations hit the rocks, Disney seems to have played the “Feige” card, with the company seemingly worried that Feige might be getting spread too thin with all of the movie and streaming projects he’s involved with for Disney.

Sony Pictures then went public with a response. Variety reported:

     In a rare public rebuke to Disney, Sony announced Tuesday night that it was “disappointed” over the decision, highlighting Disney’s refusal to allow Marvel President Kevin Feige to continue as a producer on the projects. It also praised Feige, who teamed with Amy Pascal on “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” which became Sony’s most successful release earlier this week in terms of global box office.

     “Much of today’s news about Spider-Man has mischaracterized recent discussions about Kevin Feige’s involvement in the franchise,” Sony said in a statement. “We are disappointed, but respect Disney’s decision not to have him continue as a lead producer of our next live action Spider-Man film.”

     “We hope this might change in the future, but understand that the many new responsibilities that Disney has given him – including all their newly added Marvel properties – do not allow time for him to work on IP they do not own,” the statement continued. “Kevin is terrific and we are grateful for his help and guidance and appreciate the path he has helped put us on, which we will continue.”

I’m sure Disney will have something to say in response.

Looking at a negotiation like this, the typical question is: Who needs whom more? 

Yes, Feige played a key role in getting Sony’s live-action Spider-Man on track (or back on track as I have great appreciation for the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films). For good measure, Spidey being in the MCU clearly is a big plus for Sony. Of course, there’s no reason why Sony can’t take what Feige has done and run with it, telling some mighty Spidey tales, as basically said in the company’s statement. But that adds risk and uncertainty for a company that has an uneven track record with superhero, including Spider-Man, movies.

Meanwhile, the MCU certainly would survive – and yes, thrive – without Spider-Man. But the loss of that character would still be substantial and disruptive. Spider-Man exiting the MCU adds risk and uncertainty for Disney/Marvel, who already has seen the exit of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.

Nobody likes added risk and uncertainty in Hollywood, an industry drenching in risk and uncertainty.

And by the way, I seriously doubt that Feige’s work on Spider-Man is somehow going to lead to him feeling overworked and his creative output will suffer as a result.

In the end, it’s unclear who needs whom more. I suppose given the MCU track record of success, a case can be made that Sony needs Marvel/Feige more. But in reality, this, again, is a clear case where each company benefits enormously from a partnership. And for that reason, while it might be a rough road along the way, I expect Sony and Disney to arrive at an agreement that results in Spidey remaining in the MCU. So, try to stay calm while these two entertainment companies fight it out over superheroes.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.