The Box Office Podcast

Scott Mendelson

A weekly conversation about the weekend box office between myself (Scott Mendelson) and a few younger (Jeremy Fuster), hipper (Ryan Scott) and cooler (Lisa Laman) entertainment journalists. Spoiler: I am what they grow beyond. scottmendelson.substack.com

  1. 6D AGO

    All Hail 'Mary'

    Aaron Neuwirth (of 2 Black Guys Talk Godzilla and OutNow With Aaron and Abe) pops in yet again to chat alongside Scott Mendelson, Lisa Laman and Jeremy Fuster about why Project Hail Mary soared so high, why Ready or Not: Here I Come was the opposite of a breakout sequel, and the reasons for and (hopefully) consequences of Universal’s choice to expand its industry-llow theatrical window to one in-sync with most of the distribution industry. It’s the only podcast in the world that brings both the Rango magic and the Beatric at Dinner whimsy! Among the subjects of debate and discourse… * Everyone names their favorite cinematic alien. * So, um, is Ryan Gosling a movie star? * Can Amazon make Project Hail Mary more than a “beginner’s luck” fluke? * Is Kathryn Newton box office poison? - A thorough and completely serious, above-board and not at all sarcastic investigation. * What the hell is The Pout Pout Fish? * The (mostly) good news and (potentially) bad news about Hollywood’s push toward IMAX and related premium-large format auditoriums. * Thoughts on the first teasers for Dune Part Three and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. * Universal’s shift to longer windows is a smart choice at the right time. * Will Scott find time to catch up with the 444-minute Dhurandhar dualogy? * And, dear god, so much more! Recommended Reading… * Scott Mendelson goes full free-association, discussing the Dune Part Three trailer, the double-edged sword of Warner Bros.’ success stories, and how the recent absurd controversies over media appearances by Maggie Gyllenhaal and Timothee Chalamet underscore a changing “cost > benefit” conundrum in even seemingly mundane interviews and publicity appearances. * Lisa Laman notes how the streaming-era preponderance of action-comedy buddy flicks typifies an industry-wide retreat from the kind of aspirational “streaming will offer what Hollywood won’t” feature film offerings that initially allowed streaming platforms to undercut theatrical in the first place. * Jeremy Fuster explains how, assuming they are both relatively good/crowdpleasing/etc, Dune Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday can concurrently kick best-case-scenario box-office butt. * Ryan Scott speaks exclusively with Andy Muschietti about whether he’ll get around to the long-rumored “super cut” of his It movies. * Aaron Neuwirth was just on the pod three weeks ago, so I’ll merely note that he gets quoted extensively in the first teaser trailer for Lionsgate’s domestic release of The Furious. I’ll admit that when he first told me that he might be in the trailer, I hoped it meant that he’d be a random henchman who gets pulverized. I suppose this makes more sense. Despite Aaron’s excited recommendation, I am still looking forward to Kenji Tanigaki’s Hong Kong action spectacular. Oh, speaking of Aaron, if you want to hear the traitorous hussy Lisa Laman plying her verbal punditry elsewhere, she guested on Out Now with Aaron and Abe two weeks ago to discuss The Bride. If you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap * Lisa Laman - Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm and Fangoria * Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone * Aaron Neuwirth - The Code is Zeek and We Live Entertainment Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 35m

  2. MAR 18

    The Original Core Four Talks Oscars (and More)

    In a show that’s half box office punditry and half Oscar telecast discourse, original co-host Ryan Scott returns for what’s a comparatively old-school episode. Among the subjects this week are everyone’s favorite Oscar night win, Hopper’s strong domestic hold, Colleen Hoover going 3/3 with Reminders of Him, and Undertone’s solid debut. The last one, as Lisa Laman notes, should remind studios that there can be gold in them there film festival hills. Everyone was/is pretty content with the 98th Academy Awards telecast, while noting they really gotta stop cutting off winners’ speeches and start promoting non-tentpole flicks during the show or during commercial breaks. Meanwhile, all parties think that Scream 8 is likely to get made, that Masters of the Universe is likely to underwhelm and that the key reason to be excited for Black Panther 3 is the specific talent (a post-Sinners Ryan Coogler and reportedly Denzel Washington potentially playing the heavy) as opposed to lingering MCU-specific loyalty. Finally, some time is spent discussing the alleged controversy of Timothee Chalamet’s alleged attacks on opera and ballet, as Ryan correctly notes that Marty Mauser tripping up on the last lap is the most fitting life-imitates-art Oscar scenario since Llyeyn Davis failed to procure even a Best Actor nomination in 2014. Recommended Reading… * Scott Mendelson finally drops his excessively tardy picks for the year’s most important theatrical release for each major (and minor) studio. * Jeremy Fuster discusses how Universal’s shift from 31-day (and eventually 45-day) theatrical windows represents distributors taking stock in the ongoing pleas from exhibitors amid the last few years of shrinking exclusivity windows. * Lisa Laman offers her picks for the biggest snubs and surprises, as well as the best and worst moments, from this past weekend’s Academy Awards. * Ryan Scott argues that 2017, with a slew of very big hits but also a bunch of expensive, high-profile flops, represented what should have been the nadir of Hollywood’s obsession with IP-for-IP’s sake franchise filmmaking. * Max Deering compiled an ideal playlist for those on a neo-noir grunge kick. --- As always, if you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle Ryan Scott - SlashFilm and Fangoria Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 3m

  3. MAR 11

    Beavers and Bridezillas!

    Charlie Jane Anders, long-time sci-fi author and sci-fi entertainment journalist (whose work has won — among others — the Crawford Award, Hugo Award, Lambda Literary Award, Locus Award, Nebula Award, and Theodore Sturgeon Award) joins the gang as we dig deep into what went right with Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers and what went wrong with Warner Bros.’ The Bride. Among the topics of discourse are everyone’s favorite Pixar flicks, the value of kid-friendly memes for all-quadrant toons, the ups and downs (real and imaginary) for Disney’s previously A+ animation brand over the last 15 years, whether Maggie Gyllenhaal’s big-budget monster-mash ever had a commercial chance in hell and if Scream 7’s massive decline portends grim fortunes for Scream 8. Recommended Reading * Scott Mendelson notes that Hoppers’ solid opening again debunks Disney’s narrative implictely blaming its early 2020s box office struggles on wokeness. * Jeremy Fuster reports on a distinctly “America 2026” demand among the unions representing Universal Studios park workers: protection from ICE. * Lisa Laman goes long debunking the idea that cancel culture or performative wokeness was anything beyond an online bubble and/or a strawman to wield against the disenfranchised voices supposedly controlling the narrative. * Ryan Scott details how, believe it or not, Scream 7 could have been even worse. * Charlie Jane Anders picks 2025’s best sci-fi/fantasy novels. If you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap * Lisa Laman - Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm and Fangoria * Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone * Charlie Jane Anders - Washington Post and Happy Dancing Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 27m

  4. MAR 4

    Make You Wanna Scream?!

    Semi-regular guests Aaron Neuwirth (of 2 Black Guys Talk Godzilla and OutNow With Aaron and Abe) and Brandon Peters (The Brandon Peters Show) reprise yet again to discuss the confluence of Tinseltown terrors and real-world horrors that makes a $64 million domestic and $97 million worldwide debut for Spyglass and Paramount’s Scream 7 feel… less than cheerworthy. Max Deering couldn’t make it because… I guess fighting off zombies in and around Racoon City takes priority over (and makes me doubt his dedication to) The Box Office Podcast. All agree that A) the so-called “boycott” was never anything more than a few social media hashtags and B) most folks viewed the seventh Scream film as just another installment of a recently revived horror franchise whose past two sequels played to relative fortune and glory. And, speaking of vexed train engines, all participants agree that Skydance now (probably) owning both Paramount and Warner Bros. is an almost-certain-to-be cataclysmic event. Brandon Peters argues that those pissed about Melissa Barrera being fired from Scream should have put their energy into boosting the likes of Your Monster, Abigail, and her (Simu Liu-starring) Peacock streaming show, The Copenhagen Test. Lisa Laman offers a few recommended films by Palestinian filmmakers. She argues that the same Hollywood suits that ignored the outcry over Barrera’s firing should also ignore online calls for inclusivity in franchise films and shows. Jeremy Fuster notes Paramount’s genuine marketing success in selling a new Scream movie, seemingly pitched at older fans, that nonetheless attracted strong viewership among the younger demographics. Come what may, at least the kids didn’t feel like the olds had snatched away their Scream franchise. Aaron Neuwirth discusses the uniqueness of the Scream property beyond just whether an installment centers on Sidney Prescott or Sam Carpenter, leading into an extended digression about the unexpected endurance of the Insidious saga, which horror franchises comparatively belong to “today’s kids” and whether or not Texas Chainsaw Massacre can actually even be more than an IP-for-IP’s sake whiff. Hint: “On your left!” “Do your thing, cuz!” Scott Mendelson notes how Scream 7 plays like a proverbial Creed IV that fired Michael B. Jordan and recentered Sylvester Stallone while gaslighting audiences about its successful, acclaimed Rocky-free predecessor, while mourning a current pop culture that metaphorically watches Ben Affleck’s final scene in Hollywoodland and declares, “I want that, actually!” As for the “Skydance now owns WB and Paramount” situation, there’s little reason for hope or optimism. It’s not as heavy an episode as that all might sound, although there’s a certain “laugh so as not to cry at the end of the world” mentality. Jeremy fears for the future of theatrical, doubts Ellison’s promises to release 30 movies a year, and mourns the coming consolidation bloodbath. Lisa worries about quality and variety from studios potentially owned by a guy whose idea of a “good movie” is Ghosted and The Fountain of Youth, and who is prioritizing conventionally macho fare, no matter what the marketplace dictates. Brandon notes the potential peril for physical media while wondering if this is the grim endgame foretold way back when The Exorcist made exactly enough money in 1973 to start attracting the attention of the corporate world. Aaron notes that Skydance’s hires, such as Brett Ratner, John Lasseter, Johnny Depp, and Max Landis, feel more punitive than coldly calculated, and may be merely SEO-friendly distractions for even less-ideal hires or plans for the studio(s). Finally, Scott again wonders why the hell Warner Bros. keeps being bought by and frankly abused by a series of seemingly smaller companies. Recomended Reading… Scott Mendelson argues that, as long as Disney and Pixar’s animated sequels and live-action remakes continue to make buckets of box office, it should barely matter whether originals like Hoppers, Elio or Hexed make all that much in theaters. Lisa Laman dissects the complicated new normal of determining what still qualifies as a box office bomb. Jeremy Fuster digs into everyone’s genuine terror over the Ellisons potentially controlling 1/3 to 1/2 of the big-deal entertainment ecosystem. Ryan Scott raises a glass to Jeff Nichols’ terrific sci-fi melodrama Midnight Special on the eve of its tenth anniversary. Aaron Neuwirth’s latest podcast episode details his time at this year’s Santa Barbara Film Festival. Sadly, unlike last year, Kevin Costner did not bring along the latest chapter of Horizon: An American Saga. Brandon Peters’ newest ongoing series dissects the 1960s Batman show — episode by episode — on the eve of its 60th anniversary. I popped in for the fourth installment to discuss Mr. Freeze’s surprisingly “grounded” and “dramatic” debut. If you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com (which I finally fixed so that it’ll forward to my personal business email, natch). * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap * Lisa Laman - Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm and Fangoria * Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone * Aaron Neuwirth - The Code is Zeek and We Live Entertainment * Brandon Peters - The Brandon Peters Show Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 26m

  5. FEB 24

    A Failure of Soft Powell

    Longtime film writer, movie reviewer, entertainment journalist, and author Marya E. Gates is this week’s extra-special guest. Considering this relatively barren weekend for new releases, it would have been deeply ironic had this (among other things) expert in the realm of silent cinema arrived on a week with little to talk about. The good news is that while Hollywood mostly took the week off (again), the 105-minute episode is nonetheless packed with tangents, digressions and the usual chaos you’ve come to expect. We’ve got anecdotes from the world of film marketing, discourse about whether Sony’s “send these movies to Netflix” gambit might still have boosted the Sony Animation brand, and debates as to why How to Make a Killing likely never had a chance, even if it had received a wider, higher-profile release. Included is also a conversation concerning Jacob Elordi’s budding stardom, during which our guest (quite accidentally and indirectly) drops the most vulgar line of the show. The question of the day is everyone’s favorite Elvis Presley song, as Max Deering finally sees Return to Silent Hill and tries his best to explain why his current home country (The Netherlands) is apparently gripped by Roarball fever. Recommended Reading… * Scott Mendelson discusses whether GOAT is the start of a new era, or at least a return to the early 2010s era, for original animated films. * Jeremy Fuster investigates the chilling possibility that films for/from/about women might actually have a future in the COVID-era box office recovery. * Lisa Laman discusses, well, “Please, Keep Letting Directors Talk About Movie Theaters And Projection Formats.” * Ryan Scott argues that the marketing for Lucasfilm and Disney’s The Mandalorian and Grogu implies that, well, “Begun, Star Wars sequel trilogy nostalgia has.” * Max Deering kinda-sorta takes center stage in the latest Silent Hill-centric episode of Action for Everyone. * Marya E. Gates has written almost everywhere about almost everything entertainment/movie-related, but for now, just buy her book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words. As always, if you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap * Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle * Ryan Scott - SlashFilm and Fangoria * Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone * Marya E. Gates - Roger Ebert, Cool People Have Feelings Too and much more. Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 47m

  6. FEB 20

    Wuthering Fights!

    Longtime journalist and podcaster Jordan Crucchiola guests on this week’s episode as the gang discusses the reception and commercial performance of Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights. Well, she eventually skips out at around the halfway mark since she hadn’t yet seen the other new releases amid a crowded President’s Day weekend. Still, the remaining four of us (Scott, Lisa, Jeremy and Max) have much to say about the differing fortunes for the other movies. To wit… Max hashes out the complicated issues related to casting Jacob Elordi as “not quite a white guy” Heathcliff, which Jordan notes that white filmmakers (even women) can find themselves in a lose/lose scenario when telling stories about or in conversation with race-based inequities. Scott explains why, in a rare exception, he finds himself indifferent to the outcry over this specific would-be whitewashing, as Jeremy notes that the film is another instance of disproportionately hyperbolic online response skewing the more middle-of-the-road real-world buzz. There’s a lot where that came from, but once Jordan sneaks away, the gang gets down to “real business,” including whether $35 million is exceptional or merely pretty good for Sony’s original GOAT. Jeremy argues that the lowered ceiling remains an issue, while Lisa argues that the sky-high results for non-sequel animated films from the early 2000s to the late 2010s might have been a momentary fluke. Everyone agrees that Crime 101 cost too much and grossed too little, and they all have opinions about what Amazon is or isn’t up to regarding its theatrical plans. Finally, everyone gives a modest hat tip to the “could have been so much worse” debut for Good Luck, Have Fun Don’t Die while noting that at least some subjective disappointment over Wuthering Heights’s mere $38 million Fri-Mon domestic debut was about hyperbolic expectations and an unexpected plethora of healthy competitors and holdovers. In the long run, it’s arguably better for the big tentpole to open a little smaller alongside healthy competition rather than having the entire theatrical ecosystem depending on the official big would-be blockbuster pulling the best-case-scenario box office. Apologies, but I’m running behind, so no “recommended reading” for this week. That said, if you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap * Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm and Fangoria * Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone * Jordan Crucchiola - Feeling Seen, Vulture and NPR Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 41m

  7. FEB 13

    The Little Movies That Could

    In what was a needlessly barren weekend in terms of new releases from major studios, the newbies and the smaller distribution outlets picked up some of the slack. So, for the occasion of what was technically Super Bowl weekend, Chrissi Michael, content strategist by day and box office nerd by night, returned for the fourth time as she attempts to stake her claim as the Steve Mart… err, uh… Emma Stone of The Box Office Podcast. Among the subjects of discourse… * Jeremy and Max don’t say jack s**t since neither of them could make it. * Scott, Lisa and Chrissi dissect Send Help’s staying power. * Lisa notes the sheer volume of semi-regular small-scale/indie releases. * Chrissi offers a critical deep dive into Charli XCX’s The Moment * Scott notes the surprising muscle shown byVertical and Bleecker Street * Lisa argues that Solo Mio again shows that rom-coms can still work. * Chrissi demonstrates that she’s far too committed to the Box Office Podcast. * Scott accidentally makes Dracula sound much better than it actually is. * Everyone engages in way too much Wuthering Heights pre-release chatter. * And more! Apologies, but I’m running behind, so no “recommended reading” for this week. That said, if you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com. * Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News * Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap * Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle * Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm and Fangoria * Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone * Chrissi Michael - c(ine)m(a) studies Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 29m

  8. FEB 6

    Inherent Vyce

    In his long-awaited debut in the revolving (or fifth?) fourth chair of The Box Office Podcast, long-time film pundit and action film expert Vyce Victus pops in presumably/theoretically to discuss the latest Jason Statham joint. And while we find enough time to discuss Shelter’s place in the Statham canon, as well as tipping our hat to Ric Roman Waugh as a regular director of high-quality “dad movie” action flicks, most of the chat is taken up by Scott, Jeremy, Max and Vyce taking stock of Markiplier’s genuinely impressive DIY accomplishment, the unto-itself aspirational launch for Sam Raimi’s Send Help and what a $7 million debut for Amazon’s $40 million Melania does and doesn’t mean for life, the universe and everyrhing. Lisa couldn’t make it, but… well… something-something post-credit cookie… Apologies, I’m behind schedule, so no “recommended reading” this week. If you like what you hear, please like, share, comment, and subscribe (using a cartoon mallet) with every justified ounce of strength and passion. If you’d like to reach out and offer good cheer, request in-show discussions, or suggest ideas for bonus episodes, please email us at Asktheboxofficepod@gmail.com (which I finally fixed so that it’ll forward to my personal business email, natch). Scott Mendelson - The Outside Scoop and Puck News Jeremy Fuster - TheWrap Lisa Laman - Land of the Nerds, Dallas Observer, Pajiba, Looper, Comic Book and Autostraddle Ryan C. Scott - SlashFilm and Fangoria Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone Vyce Victus - Action For Everyone Get full access to The Outside Scoop at scottmendelson.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 18m
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4.5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

A weekly conversation about the weekend box office between myself (Scott Mendelson) and a few younger (Jeremy Fuster), hipper (Ryan Scott) and cooler (Lisa Laman) entertainment journalists. Spoiler: I am what they grow beyond. scottmendelson.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Scott Mendelson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Scott Mendelson
  • Show Website
    The Box Office Podcast

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