Daniel Day Lewis will go for a 4th Oscar from his final film, “Phantom Thread,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

The drama is inspired by 50s fashion designer Charles James, who was considered America’s “first couturier.” James was born in London but lived in the US. PTA’s movie is obviously not following James’s life exactly.

The trailer also indicates that Focus is going with this title– a strange one, sounds like a send up of “Star Wars.” The movie looks beautiful and dramatic, and a tad humorless. DDL says he’s retiring when this project is done. That’s the pity of the whole thing. I was really hoping to see him as a villain in a super hero movie. (NO, that’s a joke.)

More bombs at the box office this weekend than in World War II at Normandy:

“Geostorm” with Gerard Butler failed to clear $14 million in wide release with $13.3 million. This thing cost around $150 million.

Sony’s “Only the Brave” with a lot of fine actors includung Josh Brolin made $6.1 million. It cost $40 million, give or take.

“The Snowman” melted with just $3.42 million. Cost: $35-$40 million.

So interesting that “Wonder Woman” was such a hit this summer, yet no one cares about Wonder Woman’s origins. “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” is dead on arrival. So is Andy Serkis’s “Breathe” (which should have been strangled).

Meanwhile, “Marshall” fell by 50% from last week. “Mark Felt” is not being felt by anyone. And “Wonderstruck,” a critics’ favorite, has the audience turning a deaf ear.

Good news for “The Florida Project,” which is finding a deserved audience. And Tyler Perry, despite his new Madea Halloween movie “Boo” being dreadful, scored $21 million and finished in first place.

I’m happy to say that “Victoria and Abdul” is surviving this bad period nicely. They picked up another $2 million over the weekend. It’s just a lovely real movie. Go see it. Judi Dench should never be ignored.

PS My friends at Annapurna are having severe marketing problems. “Detroit” just collapsed this summer. “Brad’s Status” stiffed and is gone. “Marston” is as good as gone. Good movies, but no good reach out. No campaigns. They can fix that. They must.

It’s a bizarre season in Hollywood. Almost nothing is “working,” and the studios can’t afford to waste any more money hoping things will turn around. They’re pulling flops from theaters earlier than usual.

This weekend, for example, Warner Bros. is putting out a white flag on “Blade Runner” after three tough weeks. They’ve cut the number of theaters showing Denis Villeneuve’s beautiful film by 855. So far, “Blade Runner” has made just $66 million.  Audiences have not clamored to it. And now, week by week, Warners will quietly take it away.

Warner’s isn’t alone. Universal is pulling Tom Cruise’s  “American Made” from 539 locations after a month in release. The Doug Liman directed thriller has made just $43 million. Good reviews haven’t helped push Cruise fans to theaters. One problem was lack of promotion since Cruise wasn’t available. Also, audiences may have just soured on him after “The Mummy” and other flops. With both studios, it wasn’t for lack of trying.

The biggest decease (de-crease, but pun intended here) is for the revived “Flatliners.” With just $16 million in the till, Sony would be better off paying people to see this turkey. They’re retreating from 1,433 theaters this weekend, leaving “Flatliners” to breathe on its own. It will be completely dead by Sunday.

Also just about dead is the much praised “Battle of the Sexes,” Fox Searchlight couldn’t get anyone to go see it despite great reviews and excellent marketing. I’m actually dumbfounded that it’s made just $11 million. FS is killing off 849 screens. Ouch! And “Battle” was supposed to yield some awards action.

Warner’s, meantime, is facing more trouble than the other studios. Their “Geostorm” is going to be a disaster this weekend. And their “Lego Ninja” movie is leaving 951 theaters after $52 million and five weeks. Better to get out while they can.

And over all this weekend doesn’t look too promising for new films. “Geostorm” should be joined by “The Snowman” and in the kill bin by Sunday.

Here’s to better days– and soon!

PS Here’s an irony: The Weinstein Company’s “Wind River” is at $33 million. It cost around $15 million. Taylor Sheridan’s directing debut might have been an awards contender if certain things hadn’t happened.

also read: The Real Story Behind “Marshall”