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UPDATED “Spider Man: Brand New Day” Vanquishes “Avengers: Endgame” with All Time High Opening Day of $168 Million, Heads Toward Record Weekend

Roger Friedman
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UPDATED “Spider Man: Brand New Day” Vanquishes “Avengers: Endgame” with All Time High Opening Day of $168 Million, Heads Toward Record Weekend

SUNDAY UPDATE CLICK HERE — SPIDEY OPENING WEEKEND $355 MILLION!!!

SATURDAY: Tom Holland and Zendaya must think this is normal.

They are starring in the two biggest movies of 2026, which I call “Spodyssey.”

In the case of “Spider Man: Brand New Day,” they broke a record yesterday for biggest opening weekend ever. The total was $168 million.

“Brand New Day” may yet set the record for biggest opening weekend of all time if it can cross the $368 million line tomorrow. It’s possible. Theaters are filled to the brim with fans.

For both records, Spider Man beats “Avengers: Endgame” for the title.

And then there’s “The Odyssey,” now up to $360 million and headed to $400 million shortly. It’s also still playing to packed houses, especially IMAX theaters.

The newly married couple are each 30 years old. She’s nominated for an Emmy for “Euphoria.” They are the homecoming king and queen of Hollywood. You can’t do any better. I hope they don’t take it for granted. I’m sure they won’t.

There isn’t much else going on right now. But I do recommend seeing “Hadestown” while it’s in theaters. This is note perfect filmed version of the Broadway musical, with a sensational cast of Andre De Shields, Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, Amber Gray, and Patrick Page.

They are all from the original Tony-winning cast. Carney and Page play adversaries, just as they did in “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” on Broadway. Carney and Noblezada are a married couple. Amber Gray could get an Oscar nomination, I think. Why not? The music soars and the direction is flawless. What an experience!

MUSIC PREMIERE! Carly Simon Wrote, Produced, and Played Almost Everything on “Peaches,” Her Seductive New Single

Anna Wintour, Met Museum to Honor Antisemitic Designer John Galliano Who Said “I Love Hitler” on Video (Watch) at Next Year’s Met Gala

Roger Friedman
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Anna Wintour, Met Museum to Honor Antisemitic Designer John Galliano Who Said “I Love Hitler” on Video (Watch) at Next Year’s Met Gala

It’s time for the return of the antisemites.

Kanye West, after all, has been un-cancelled in places like San Antonio and Tampa.

So Anna Wintour, who pretends to be a liberal and has half-Jewish children, is going to honor her own antisemite in May 2027.

The Met Gala will celebrate designer John Galliano, who’s a pig on a good day. But in 2011, he was captured on film saying “I love Hilter” and other things about people being gassed, in a Paris bar. Of course later he apologized and said he was drunk.

Galliano wound up standing trial in Paris for his remarks and paying a fine of $6,000. Here’s a link to that report.

To be clear, the Guardian reports: “In the February incident, a French couple having a beer outside La Perle bar in Paris’s Marais district said he repeatedly insulted them with lines including “fucking ugly Jewish bitch” and “fucking Asian bastard”. Geraldine Bloch, 35, said he first asked her to shut up, then criticised her clothes, hair, thighs, eyebrows and makeup. He made 30 anti-Jewish insults in the space of 45 minutes, she said. Another woman said he made similar insults to her in the same bar in October.”

But, you know, he makes nice dresses, so his cancellation wasn’t going to last long. After his conviction at the trial, Galliano went to rehab, and worked with a rabbi in London, as well as Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League in New York, to learn about Judaism, antisemitism and the Holocaust, according to the New York Times.

I’m glad he’s sorry, but that doesn’t mean using him to raise $5 million and see celebrities wear his clothes. Yuck.

Wintour has no conscience or inner life, so it’s not surprising she’d go in this direction. It doesn’t occur to her that her children’s father, Dr. David Shaffer, was Jewish. I doubt she understood Tom Stoppard’s play, “Leopoldstat,” which she watched wearing sunglasses.

Donors and patrons of the Metropolitan Museum of Art should be outraged. I don’t care if Galliano’s PR team has worked with the Anti-Defamation League. And let’s hope that Jewish celebrities who regularly show up at the Met Ball do have a conscience, and refuse to support this really stupid idea.

“Spider Man: Brand New Day” Box Office Update: Setting a Record Today for BIGGEST Opening Ever with $170 Million from Thursday-Friday

Roger Friedman
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“Spider Man: Brand New Day” Box Office Update: Setting a Record Today for BIGGEST Opening Ever with $170 Million from Thursday-Friday

Wow.

Who would think that the new “Spider Man” movie would be so much bigger than the last one.

After all, “No Way Home” had all three Spider men and lots of familiar villains.

But now “Brand New Day” is setting a record for the BIGGEST opening day ever in movie history. When it’s all counted up tonight. “BND” should have taken in $170 million from Thursday and Friday.

Amazing.

What happened? First of all there was a need for some good, familiar escapism. Then, the reviews are off the charts. It’s got a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

And let’s factor in that the two stars — Tom Holland and Zendaya — got married recently in an opposite situation to Taylor’s pageant. T&Z did it mysteriously, enough to grab attention just for being so secretive.

All that, plus great marketing from Sony Pictures, which had needed a hit since “No Way Home.”

The weekend total could break $357 million, set by “Avengers: Endgame.”

“Spider Man” will have exceeded all the “Avengers” movies, too. Stan Lee is in heaven, handing out cigars. In the end it was all about him!

Meanwhile, “The Odyssey” picked up another $10 million last night, and stands at $707 million worldwide (about half here and half abroad). It will finish the weekend at $400 million US, and remains in the lead for all awards this winter.

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“Spider Man” Gets An “A” Rating from Cinemascore, Looks at $72 Million, Record Set for Previews from Last Night, Massive Opening Weekend!

Roger Friedman
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“Spider Man” Gets An “A” Rating from Cinemascore, Looks at $72 Million, Record Set for Previews from Last Night, Massive Opening Weekend!

UPDATING 10AM — KEEP REFRESHING!

Audiences are loving “Spider Man: Brand New Day.”

They gave it an “A” on Cinemascore as they exited theaters last night.

That should add to the box office furor over “Brand New Day,” which just set a record for previews with $72 million!

Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the Tom Holland-Zendaya blockbuster as a 90% critics rating, and 98% audience meter.

Theaters were packed and today’s shows are even tighter. So far “Spodyssey” is going gangbusters as both “Spider Man” and “The Odyssey” have turned movie theaters into Grand Central Station. There are lines for popcorn and candy. Theater owners must be beside themselves after six years of drought.

MUSIC PREMIERE! Carly Simon Wrote, Produced, and Played Almost Everything on “Peaches,” Her Seductive New Single

NY Times Wrote An Article About the Kennedy Center’s Free Tours, So Trump Backed Administration Stopped Them: Honors Next?

Roger Friedman
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NY Times Wrote An Article About the Kennedy Center’s Free Tours, So Trump Backed Administration Stopped Them: Honors Next?

This week, the New York Times published an article about the free tours at the Kennedy Center.

They said that despite the Kennedy Center having no shows scheduled, life went on, and the public could still come and see everything inside and hear the history of the famed arts and culture institution.

People who were quoted anonymously in the story said they worried there would be retribution for their participation.

They were right. Now the Kennedy Center has stopped the tours, which have been going on for 50 years.

You can read about in the Times.

One hundred forty volunteer guides who gave tours in 10 languages to up to 400,000 people a year. Now there are none.

Trump received a court order to keep the Kennedy Center open, even during renovations. The tours would have been the only example they were obeying the order. I’m sure this will all wind up back before a judge shortly.

Meantime, the 2025 Kennedy Centers inductees were announced on August 13th last year. Will the new class be presented in two weeks? And where will the Honors be held? At the actual theater — which is now not hosting anything — or somewhere else?

And who will accept the award? Liza Minnelli told me earlier this year she’d accept even if Trump was in office. That might help her chances. Mel Gibson and Jon Voight were named Trump’s “Hollywood ambassadors,” along with Sylvester Stallone, who was inducted last year. They are possibilities. But so, too, are any number of criminals and dictators.

Stay tuned…

Kim and Kanye’s 13 Year Old Daughter, North West, Sees All 12 Dates of Summer Tour Cancelled: Did Someone Call CPS?

Roger Friedman
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Kim and Kanye’s 13 Year Old Daughter, North West, Sees All 12 Dates of Summer Tour Cancelled: Did Someone Call CPS?

If you’re planning to see North West perform next month, you’re out of luck.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s 13 year old daughter has seen her dozen dates with singer Molly Santana, 21, cancelled.

The cities and dates are below. If you get your money back, I’m sure there’s a monster truck rally somewhere instead.

Maybe someone finally called Child Protective Services.

North, who wears a blue wig and seems to have trouble walking, is far too young to be headlining a rap tour. But the dates were booked, and tickets were presumably sold.

What a travesty.

There’s still link to their San Francisco show on North’s website for August 25th. There are 89 tickets available on secondary seller VividSeats.com. But the whole schedule has disappeared from Ticketmaster, so I don’t think that’s happening. Molly Santana sees her part of this cancelled, as well. (She’s managed by a guy who says on his website that he “oscillates.” Maybe he’s just a fan.)

Now maybe Kim can get her daughter to a pediatric orthopedist, and remove her wig and grill. This kid doesn’t stand a chance of being normal the way things are now.

MUSIC PREMIERE! Carly Simon Wrote, Produced, and Played Almost Everything on “Peaches,” Her Seductive New Single

Barack Obama Summer Music List: Sam & Dave, Tribe Called Quest, Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The Police, Last Minute Glen Hansard

Roger Friedman
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Barack Obama Summer Music List: Sam & Dave, Tribe Called Quest, Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The Police, Last Minute Glen Hansard

Barack and Michelle Obama’s summer music list is out.

Talk about reading the room: they chose a Glen Hansard song, “Song of Good Hope,” and put it right at the top.

The Obamas have good taste. Their classic choices include Sam & Dave, the Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan, The Police, Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Sonny Rollins, and The Temptations.

But they also get edgy, with acts like Yebba, Temper City, and Baby Rose & Leon Thomas.

 

I’d love to know who their curator is. Building the Obama Library, making weekly podcasts, speaking all over the world — who has time for this? Even their daughters must be in awe of their choices.

I’m particularly impressed they took back Sam & Dave’s “Hold On I’m Coming” from the dark side. Trump was using it at his rallies until Isaac Hayes’s estate stopped them. Check mate! The late, great Sam Moore, btw, performed at the White House for the Obamas.

MUSIC PREMIERE! Carly Simon Wrote, Produced, and Played Almost Everything on “Peaches,” Her Seductive New Single

Roger Friedman
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0
MUSIC PREMIERE! Carly Simon Wrote, Produced, and Played Almost Everything on “Peaches,” Her Seductive New Single

We’re a week away from legendary singer songwriter Carly Simon’s first album of new music in 18 years, called “Comes in Waves.”

The first single, “Howl,” is already getting airplay and views on YouTube for the famed artist behind all time classic hits like “You’re So Vain” and “Nobody Does it Better.”

Tonight we’re premiering the second single, the seductive “Peaches,” produced and written by Carly, and featuring son Ben on arpeggio keyboards. All other instruments — keyboards, drum programming, bass — are by Carly. Her old friend and producer, Frank Filipetti, did the mixing.

“Peaches” is deceptively simple at first. But with its kind of bossa nova rhythm and Carly’s rich vocals, you’ll find you’re humming this one in your sleep. Peaches were never this ripe or tasted this good! (She sings that she wished she liked peaches, but I think she does.)

PS “Peaches” hits Spotify, iTunes, and all platforms at midnight.

Publishing Scandal Uncovered: Minotaur Books Cancels Crime Novel by Young Black Author, Says AI Was Used, He Insists It Wasn’t

Roger Friedman
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Publishing Scandal Uncovered: Minotaur Books Cancels Crime Novel by Young Black Author, Says AI Was Used, He Insists It Wasn’t

Jeff Sneider is the super sleuth scoop detective of Hollywood. If you don’t read his Substack, you’re missing out.

Jeff broke a great publishing story last night — I’m jealous. (PS Deadline.com has lifted it right up for themselves without credit. Terrible.)

Sneider is reporting that Minotaur Books signed a whopping $2.5 million contract with a young black writer, a PhD candidate here in the US.

The guy — whose name Sneider kept anonymous right now — was ecstatic. Everyone was breaking out Champagne.

But then, the writer’s UK agent, UK book agent, Sandy Hodgman of Hodgman Literary, said that when they were doing a check to make sure no AI was used in the writing of the book, they turned up evidence of AI infiltrating the writer’s work.

Hodgman sent word to the UK agent, and the publisher. All deals were suddenly off, although Minotaur still said they’d hear the writer’s story.

The writer denies using AI at all. “I was on the verge of success, and then all of a sudden, there were rumors, but no one asked me anything. I don’t know why my agency did not have my back,” the writer told Sneider.

AI is a tricky deal these days. I’ve written about it being used in music and films, and projects being made by magic. But publishing is the new frontier. Will writers plagiarize parts of existing material through AI? Or will vetting turn up false positives in the research? Will books be sampled, like music? And does no one have any shame? Plus, is everyone so scared of winding up in a scandal that no defends their client?

Do read Jeff’s story. As for Deadline.com, they are famous for snatching stories and claiming exclusives. No amount of complaining seems to stop them.

Sneider, by the way, has wrapped this story with books scoop that you will find fascinating about a novelist who’s now in tears after her book was turned into a movie set for release in a few months.

Tom Cruise’s New Movie, “Digger,” in Trouble? Views for YouTube Trailer Lag Behind Other Fall Releases from Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain

Roger Friedman
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Tom Cruise’s New Movie, “Digger,” in Trouble? Views for YouTube Trailer Lag Behind Other Fall Releases from Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain

Remember when Tom Cruise “saved” Hollywood with “Top Gun Maverick”?

When movie theater attendance was greatly lessened by the pandemic and apathy, Cruise was credited with bringing audiences back.

Then his “Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning” was also a massive box office hit.

But audiences are fickle. They knew Cruise from those franchises. Original, quirky films are not Cruise’s strong suit.

Such may be the case with Oscar winner Alejandro Innaritu’s “Digger,” set for release October 2nd from Warner Bros. John Goodman is the main co-star.

“Digger” is not Tom Cruise jumping off buildings or cliffs. Instead, it’s him in what looks like a broad comedy, wearing heavy prosthetics.

The trailer, frankly, resembles a lesser Coen brothers movie, like “The Hudsucker Proxy.” And that’s a problem.

So far, Warner’s has only promoted the movie to “influencers,” hoping that by plying them with food, light interviews, and personal photos with Cruise would send interest in the film zooming.

But a check of YouTube shows disappointing results.Even though the studio had a special vanity event to debut the film’s official Warner’s trailer, results have been wanting. YouTube shows only 4.5 million views for “Digger” in the US. (Australia has 1 million views, if that helps.)

A Tom Cruise retrospective trailer for “Digger” that relies heavily on clips from his older, more famous movies actually exceeds the regular version at 4.7 million views.

By comparison, trailers for other September and October movies show a lot more interest from potential ticket buyers. Jessica Chastain’s “Other Mommy,” Jon Cena’s “Matchbox the Movie,” and Brad Pitt’s “Heart of the Beast” each have two to five times the views of “Digger.”

Warner’s 2025 was a banner year, with “One Battle After Another” winning the Oscar and the box office, and a parade of other hits including “Sinners” (Best Actor Michael B. Jordan) and “Weapons” (Amy Madigan, Best Supporting Actress). This year is clearly one for rebuilding toward 2027 — and “Digger” may be collateral damage along the way.

And let’s not forget: Warner’s will come in very strong later this fall with “Dune 3,” sure to be a blockbuster and multiple awards nominee.

The big question is why Warner’s entertained TikTok celebrities to promote this film (which is explored in today’s Page Six). Innaritu has two of his Oscars for directing, plus a huge following among serious critics for films like “Birdman,” “The Revenant,” and “Amores Perros.”

PS “Digger” isn’t the only movie star driven film with a lack of trailer excitement. Even worse is Ryan Reynolds aka Deadpool in “Mayday” with Kenneth Branagh. That trailer only has 638K views for its Apple release.





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