American film studio; flagship of Paramount Skydance.
The U.S. Department of Justice has approved Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after an eight‑month probe, concluding the merger is unlikely to harm competition in streaming, linear TV or theatrical film markets. The transaction still faces reviews by U.K. and EU regulators and possible lawsuits from state attorneys general.
Toy Story 5 has opened to record franchise returns, grossing roughly $312m worldwide and dominating ticket sales. Low‑budget horror films made by online creators — notably Obsession, Backrooms and Iron Lung — have posted surprise gains. By contrast, DCilms' Supergirl has underperformed, opening far below studio expectations and drawing poor reviews.
AP and Guardian reviews converge on Jackass: Best and Last as a farewell that leans on familiar stunts and nostalgia, with a few fresh twists but less novelty than earlier entries.
BBC and Independent report that Netflix’s Wonka’s Golden Ticket uses an AI-generated voice resembling Gene Wilder in a new reality competition. Fans say the move is disrespectful and lacking emotion; Wilder’s estate consent is cited. Series is set to release Sept. 23 with AI voiceover in the trailer.
A licensing change at Reading Festival could allow main-stage music on Thursdays and extend alcohol hours from 2027, amid ongoing festival format tweaks and high-profile headliners for Reading and Leeds.
Ofcom has found 26% of UK viewers now turn to Netflix first when choosing what to watch, narrowly ahead of the BBC on 25%, while ITV is first for 15%. YouTube viewing has surged: TV viewing of YouTube has doubled since 2022 to 19 minutes a day and total daily YouTube time is 41 minutes. Traditional broadcasters’ weekly reach has fallen to 70%.
A coalition of 12 U.S. states has secured a 14-day pause on Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, pending a ruling on a preliminary injunction. The deal remains under antitrust review globally as regulators weigh competition, pricing, and content implications for theaters, networks, and streaming platforms.
Broadcasters weigh airing a primetime Trump speech on election security as FCC investigations loom; several networks have limited or preempted coverage, while others are airing clips or streaming live updates.
The CBS News program 60 Minutes is undergoing a major personnel shakeup. Nick Bilton has announced five new hires, including Ross Douthat and Norah O’Donnell, along with Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni and Trevor Phillips, to join as correspondents or contributors. The changes follow previous layoffs and leadership shifts under Bari Weiss’s editorship.
The European Commission has cleared Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery’s merger after Paramount agrees to terminate a distribution joint venture with Universal in Europe and to refrain from joint distribution deals with Universal or Disney for 10 years. The approval comes with a 13-month unwind window for the Universal arrangement. US regulators remain weighing the merger, with a court pause and potential injunction ongoing.
Paramount+ is rolling out a free, ad-supported tier and testing micro dramas as part of a broader product revamp. The moves are designed to attract new users, boost engagement, and drive future subscriptions, while streaming peers remain constrained by antitrust scrutiny over Paramount’s potential WBD acquisition.
States have secured a temporary pause on the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger as a multistate antitrust lawsuit challenges its terms. A 14-day restraining order prevents closing, with a hearing set for August 3 to decide on a longer injunction. The dispute centers on competition and market power in film and cable.
Tomi Adeyemi has shared on TikTok that filming for a Paramount adaptation of her novel was marked by severe distress. She says she left the set “hyperventilating and sobbing,” with witnesses present, and that she has faced ongoing antagonism behind the scenes. The author is not planning to discuss further details publicly.
China’s coast guard activities and disputed claims in the South China Sea continue to heighten regional tensions. The United States and Philippines reaffirm support for freedom of navigation as ASEAN accelerates talks on a binding code of conduct. New rules around Scarborough Shoal and demonstrations of maritime enforcement are intensifying the arguments over sovereignty and security in the region.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has opened with a record domestic debut, while The Odyssey leads the global box office, underscoring a year of mega releases. The industry is buoyed by premium formats and high ticket prices, even as overall audiences lag behind pre-pandemic levels.
Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery has been paused amid a flurry of antitrust challenges from U.S. states and industry groups. CEO David Ellison has publicly defended the deal, arguing independence for CNN and CBS News, and detailing commitments to keep production flowing if the deal proceeds.
Cyberattacks targeting water systems in multiple states have been linked by security researchers to Iran‑affiliated groups. Officials warn the threat is ongoing and could widen, with misleading claims about responsibility surfacing in political discourse.
Phoebe Bridgers’s Lost Weekend chronicles personal loss and public life, blending Americana with electronic textures. The album addresses her father’s death, a high-profile breakup, and a year of upheaval, while underscoring her status as a leading songwriter.
The Trent Park House of Secrets museum now commemorates a World War II intelligence operation at Trent Park, where German generals were secretly observed by a team of listeners. Transcripts and artifacts reveal how bugs and voices helped shorten the war, with lingering questions about the ethics and lasting impact of this intelligence work.
The UK has cleared Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, subject to legally binding commitments to preserve Channel 5’s independence and the UK’s editorial boundaries. The CMA and DCMS say the deal will not lessen competition and will protect UK content; a US antitrust challenge remains pending.
Netflix has placed an actor inside a furnished billboard on Sunset Boulevard to promote The Last House, a sci‑fi horror directed by Louis Leterrier. The stunt runs from Thursday to Saturday as the film debuts, with the living room replica drawing attention to the movie’s premise of a family trapped with dwindling resources.
CBS Evening News has seen ratings improve with a substitute anchor, Matt Gutman, delivering best performance in 17 weeks as Tony Dokoupil recovers from fluctuations in viewership. Independent confirms Gutman’s temporary boost, while The Guardian notes ongoing challenges for Bari Weiss’s leadership and 60 Minutes changes amid a broader network transition.
Paramount has signalled it may relocate operations if California AG Rob Bonta does not settle his antitrust lawsuit blocking the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Ellison has outlined an October relocation plan, with potential moves to Tennessee, Texas or Georgia. Regulators in the US and UK have been watching closely as litigation and settlements shape the deal.
California and 11 other states have filed suit to block Paramount's $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing it would reduce competition and raise prices. A new round of talks has been underway, with a focus on structural remedies; state officials say robust concessions are required, while Paramount warns of ticking fees and potential relocation pressures.
Actor Mark Ruffalo has urged lawmakers to block Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery, linking the deal to Oracle’s ties to Israel. Paramount calls the rhetoric antisemitic tropes; George Clooney defends Ruffalo’s right to speak. Over 170 Jewish artists have signed a letter supporting Ruffalo. The merger remains under antitrust scrutiny and on hold as debate intensifies.
New film, theatre and music events have been announced, spanning cinema premieres, stage productions and live tours across the UK. The Guardian and Independent cover forthcoming releases and performances; dates run through September with festivals and exhibitions filling the calendar.
The summer box office has risen to about $4.6–4.76 billion in domestic ticket sales, driven by both high-profile releases and new, low-budget hits. While inflation-adjusted figures show a more modest rebound, the industry is signaling resilience as filmmakers and audiences rebound from pandemic disruptions. Fall releases are expected to sustain momentum amid ongoing industry changes.
Drivers have expressed interest in cameo roles for the Days of Thunder sequel, with filming set to begin next year. Tom Cruise has engaged with drivers at Daytona and networked with writers, while Hendrick Motorsports could be involved again and Jeff Gordon has pushed for the project.
Oracle founder Larry Ellison has canceled a plan to sell up to 50 million shares, worth about $7.5 billion, under a 10b5-1 trading plan adopted June 22. The plan is set to expire Oct. 24. No shares have been sold under the plan, and Ellison is the company’s largest shareholder, owning over 38-40% of Oracle. Oracle reports stronger quarterly results, with debt fueling continued data-center expansion and AI cloud contracts amid a stock price decline this year.