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What to know
The binge purge… Vulture has a thorough assessment of the streaming business right now and how broken it is. Basically, Netflix disrupted the successful old TV business model, everyone tried to copy Netflix, and now it’s all a mess — and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. The peak TV bubble has popped hard and expensive IP-driven franchises might not be the answer. What comes next? More ads, the return of licensing (aka selling) shows and movies to other platforms, as well as the rise of FAST. The best insight from this whole story though is how Jury Duty, a tiny show that cost under $20M total, became one of Amazon’s biggest hits. Compare it to the $50-million-an-episode Rings of Power, and you’ll see how it could it become the model for the future of TV. 📺
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Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s Oceans prequel rolling this summer… This sounds fun! Jay Roach is directing off a script by Carrie Solomon in which Robbie and Gosling play “a couple who rob a shipping magnate’s yacht” during the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix. As with many sequels, prequels, and spinoffs, I wonder if this was a pre-existing script or pitch that got the Oceans franchise label after the fact, considering the only link it appears to have with those movies is a heist. Regardless, Robbie + Gosling + ‘60s glamour + Monaco. I dig it. 🛥️
Netflix helped Across the Spider-Verse blow up… Here’s an example of why licensing is making a comeback. Into the Spider-Verse made $35M its opening weekend in 2018. Its sequel made $120M. How did that happen? The Wrap and Sony say licensing the original to Netflix helped audiences find it, which primed the pump for the sequel. Sony doesn’t have a streaming service itself, but Netflix offers a huge audience and it needs quality content. Win wins all around. 🕷️
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny looking at $60-70M in early tracking… Not terrible, but not amazing either. Crystal Skull made $100M its opening weekend, but it benefited from 19 years of pent-up nostalgic demand. Now we’ve got 15 years since the last disappointing installment. It seems reviews and an aggressive marketing campaign will determine what happens here. 💀
Wait, maybe YouTube is the future of streaming TV?… Puck raises a good question, especially as an answer to the above Vulture story. While we debate whether Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Max, or Disney will win the streaming wars, it’s important to remember that YouTube is just as dominant a force. ⏯️
Bryan Cranston will take an indefinite leave from acting in 2026… To spend more time with his wife. Good for him! But odd to pre-date it 3 years out like that. 📆
Vanessa Bayer’s I Love That For You canceled after one season… Showtime didn’t love it for us. ❌
What’s new
Arnold — June 7 | Netflix documentary series | 🍅 67%
Based on a True Story — June 8 | Peacock true crime drama-comedy | 🍅 73%
Flaming Hot — June 9 | Hulu comedy film | 🍅 67%
The Crowded Room — June 9 | Apple drama series | 🍅 8%
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts — June 9 | Action movie in theaters | 🍅 55%
The Tony Awards — June 11 | Broadway awards show
Returning: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia s16, Never Have I Ever s4, Alone s10, Human Resources s2
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!