• MGM Studios’ “Rocky” spinoff “Creed III” debuted No. 1 at the weekend’s domestic box office with $58.7 million, beating industry expectations and knocking the Walt Disney Co. and Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” to second place with $12 million, a 61% drop from the prior weekend. Universal Pictures’ “Cocaine Bear” claimed third with $11 million, a 53% decline from its opening weekend. (Variety)
• A24’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once” swept the top categories at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, including best picture, as the genre-bending multiverse film continued its path to dominance ahead of Sunday’s 95th Academy Awards. Other winning films of the night included “Women Talking,” which was given the Robert Altman Award, and “Aftersun,” which won best first feature. (The Associated Press)
  
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is a top candidate to replace Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger after he retires in two years, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. Other candidates on the shortlist reportedly include Dana Walden, Disney’s entertainment co-chair, and Candle Media founder Kevin Mayer, an ex-Disney executive and former CEO of TikTok. (Fox Business)
  

Top 10 All Streaming Chart for week of Feb. 23 to Mar. 1

Reelgood

Paramount Will Pay $122.5M to Settle CBS-Viacom Merger Lawsuit

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

Shareholders brought the suit in 2019, alleging that CBS overpaid for Viacom, at the urging of Shari Redstone.

Lionsgate Dealmakers Michael Burns, Brian Goldsmith Extend Contracts

Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter

The agreement arrives as the company plans to separate its studio and Starz businesses to unlock equity value.

John Malone and Charter Directors Reach $87.5M Deal to Settle Investor Suit

Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter

A seven-year old lawsuit alleging billionaire John Malone was illegally compensated through a side deal in Charter’s 2015 acquisition of Time Warner Cable has settled for $87.5 million.

SAG-AFTRA Scolds Casting Offices For Charging For Audition Tapes: “It Is An Optical And Ethical Disaster”

Lynette Rice and David Robb, Deadline

After several actresses expressed frustration on Twitter this week about the cost of self-tape auditions, SAG-AFTRA weighed in Friday lambasting casting offices for cashing in on the process by offering rental facilities for actors.

Heads Up: A Better Movie Seat May Cost You

Brooks Barnes, The New York Times

As the film business changes rapidly, multiplexes are experimenting with prices in ways that may seem shocking to theatergoers.

Netflix Is a Joke Fest Announces Summer 2024 Dates in L.A.

Jennifer Zhan et al., New York magazine

Netflix Is a Joke Fest will return to Los Angeles in 2024. A yet-to-be-revealed lineup of comedians will perform from May 2 to May 12, 2024.

A24 Acquires Off-Broadway Cherry Lane Theatre

Wilson Chapman, IndieWire

After conquering the independent film and TV world, A24 is venturing into live theater. The production and distribution company has bought the Cherry Lane Theatre, one of the oldest Off-Broadway venues in New York City.

Amazon Pauses Construction on Second Headquarters in Virginia as It Cuts Jobs

Matt Day, Bloomberg

Amazon.com Inc. is pausing construction on its sprawling second headquarters near Washington, a decision that coincides with the company’s deepest ever job cuts and a reassessment of office needs to account for remote work.

Pedro Pascal’s Viral Refusal to Read Sexy Tweets Sparks Debate About Red Carpet Etiquette

Christian Zilko, IndieWire

Fans are coming to Pascal’s defense after he was ambushed with a salacious question on the red carpet.

‘Goosebumps’ Author R.L. Stine Edits Book Series, Changes Mental Health, Weight & Ethnicity References

Armando Tinoco, Deadline

R.L. Stine is revising his popular “Goosebumps” books series and making edits to the published work with a more inclusive language. The move from Scholastic comes after Penguin hired sensitivity readers to edit Roald Dahl’s books from language deemed inappropriate in today’s world.

DeSantis appointee to new Disney oversight board suggested tap water could turn people gay

Andrew Kaczynski et al., CNN

An appointee to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new oversight board in control of Disney’s special tax district called homosexuality “evil” last year and shared a baseless conspiracy theory that tap water could be making more people gay.

Tom Sizemore, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ actor, dies at 61

The Associated Press

Tom Sizemore, the “Saving Private Ryan” actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died Friday at age 61.

WGA Awards: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ & ‘Women Talking’ Take Top Film Prizes

Erik Pedersen and Patrick Hipes, Deadline

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s original screenplay for award-season juggernaut “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and Sarah Polley’s adapted screenplay for “Women Talking” scored the marquee awards Sunday at the WGA Awards.

‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Win ACE Eddie Awards

Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter

American Cinema Editors’ annual awards also honored the editors of “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” in its animated feature race.

NLRB Judge Rules Two Hallmark Movies Violated Federal Labor Law By Firing Drivers Who Attempted To Unionize

David Robb, Deadline

An National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge has ruled that two Hallmark movie productions violated federal labor law in 2021 when nine of its drivers were interrogated about their union activities, were threatened with job loss, and were then fired for attempting to unionize the projects under a Teamsters Local 399 contract.

Netflix’s ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Clocks More Than 150 Million Hours Viewed Since Release

Jazz Tangcay, Variety

Netflix’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” has surpassed over 150 million hours viewed since its release on Oct. 14, 2022.

Jonathan Krisel To Direct ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu’ Sequel At Legendary

Justin Kroll, Deadline

“Portlandia” co-creator Jonathan Krisel is in negotiations to direct the “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” live-action sequel based on the globally popular Pokémon franchise for Legendary Entertainment. Chris Galletta will write the script for the follow-up to Legendary’s 2019 box office hit.

Giancarlo Esposito, Maya Rudolph, Paul Rudd, and more join Seth Rogen’s ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ movie

Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly

Plus Ayo Edebiri, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, and John Cena, among others.

Mia Wasikowska Isn’t Returning to Hollywood Any Time Soon

Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire

“The perception of it is quite different from the reality, and it didn’t suit me as a person,” Wasikowska tells IndieWire of why she fled Hollywood to move back to Australia, where her new film “Blueback” takes place.

Chris Rock unleashes on Will Smith and wife Jada a year after Oscars slap

Reuters

A year after he was slapped on stage at the Academy Awards, Chris Rock hammered Will Smith and his wife in a comedy special streamed live around the world, joking that he enjoyed seeing the actor beaten in his latest film.

‘Rachael Ray’ Ending After 17 Seasons

Dave Nemetz, TVLine

“In my more than 20 plus years in television, I have had 17 wonderful seasons working in daytime television with Rachael,” Ray said in a statement. “However, I’ve made the decision that it’s time for me to move on to the next exciting chapter in my broadcast career.”

Hoda Kotb Returns To ‘Today’ After Absence Due To Daughter’s Health Issue

Ted Johnson, Deadline

Hoda Kotb returned to “Today” on Monday, telling viewers that her extended absence was due to her daughter’s health issue.

HBO Max to Host Coffeehouse Activation at SXSW Featuring ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘The White Lotus’ Events

Ellise Shafer, Variety

HBO Max will host its own coffeehouse at SXSW this year, featuring events centered around the streamer’s popular titles like “The Last of Us” and “The White Lotus.”

Meta rolls out new Facebook Reels features, expands max video length to 90 seconds

Aisha Malik, TechCrunch

Meta announced on Friday that it’s adding support for longer Facebook Reels of up to 90 seconds, along with some new creative tools.

Meta Quest Pro VR Headsets Get Price Cut Amid TikTok Parent Competition

Meghan Bobrowsky, The Wall Street Journal

Company aims to widen availability of face computers to more businesses and professionals.

Miley Cyrus reteams with Disney for ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ concert special

Nicholas Hautman, Page Six

Cue up “The Best of Both Worlds.” Miley Cyrus announced Friday that she is reteaming with Disney for a new concert special.

Morgan Wallen’s ‘One Thing at a Time’ Blasts to Over 100 Million U.S. Streams on First Day

Keith Caulfield, Billboard

The album’s 36 songs collectively earned 101 million on-demand official audio streams in the U.S. on March 3, according to initial reports to Luminate.

Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. 1 on iTunes Charts

Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times

The most hyped faux band ever, Daisy Jones & the Six, just topped the charts on iTunes, becoming the first fictional band to hit No. 1.

John Mellencamp donates archives to Indiana University

The Associated Press

Hoosier rocker John Mellencamp is donating an archived collection of his life and work to Indiana University, IU President Pamela Whitten announced Friday.

Guns N’ Roses and Arctic Monkeys to headline Glastonbury along with Elton John

Reuters

Guns N’ Roses and Arctic Monkeys will join Elton John as headliners at the Glastonbury Festival in June, organisers said on Friday, drawing attention to the largely male line-up of its biggest performers this year.

Warner Music, rock band Jesus and Mary Chain end U.S. copyright lawsuit

Blake Brittain, Reuters

Warner Music Group Corp (WMG.O) and Scottish rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain have agreed to end a lawsuit over the band’s attempt to terminate the music label’s rights in its music, according court papers filed Thursday.

Lynyrd Skynyrd founding member Gary Rossington dead at 71

The Associated Press

Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s last surviving original member who also helped to found the group, died Sunday at the age of 71. No cause of death was given.

Iconic rap group finally emerges from streaming limbo

Herb Scribner, Axios

The trio fought for years to get their music on streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music, but were largely hindered by sample clearance issues.

The Pulse of Pop Music Is Changing

Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic

Welcome to the age of lo-fi beats to take stimulants to.