Kenny Miles, film critic and CinemaScore poller, returns for his (I think?) third go-around on The Box Office Podcast as we discuss, well, it’s pretty obvious.

Jeremy Fuster couldn’t make it because of… journalism. Still, he gives A24 its flowers and offers a pithy, not-incorrect summation of The Super Mario Galaxy’s $400 million-plus Wed-Mon global debut.

Meanwhile, Lisa Laman, Scott Mendelson and Kenny Miles discuss the various facets of last weekend’s blockbuster video game movie debut and what went relatively right for The Drama.

Lisa explains why the video game movie has become a big-deal franchise sandbox without the movies getting much better.

Kenny digs into the (whether genuine or astroturfed) online debate concerning critical judgment versus moviegoer attitudes.

Scott argues that movies like The Super Mario Galaxy were never supposed to be the sort over which pundits and critics fawn.

Everyone agrees that...

The “Leo points and reacts” meme is not the best template for crafting IP-driven franchises.

Zendaya seems to be a butt-in-seats movie star.

A24 has become very good at using humor to sell less-than-conventional star vehicles.

A24 is now a branded home not just for “elevated horror” but quirkier, edgier, of-the-moment and YA-skewing romantic dramas, comedies and melodramas.

As long as A24 doesn’t try to remake Bloodsport or reboot Texas Chainsaw Massacre, all should be well in its respective mushroom kingdom.

Recommended Reading…

- Scott Mendelson breaks down why the dueling trailers for Supergirl and Masters of the Universe highlight a key reason why Marvel/DC superhero movies so lorded over the franchise tentpole pop culture mountain amid the late 2010s.

- Jeremy Fuster digs into yet another round of Hollywood being skittish about comparatively inclusive movies, even while such movies are no less commercially perilous than your stereotypical “about a white guy” vehicles.

- Lisa Laman warns about Skydance’s purchase of Warner Bros. (which has already bought Paramount) by discussing the damage done to New Line Cinema after its merger with WB in 2008.

- Ryan Scott notes the bemusing coincidence of Paramount’s Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie and Warner Bros.’ The End of Oak Street on the same day (August 14, 2026). So, uh #SawPatrol 2.0? If both films succeed, it’ll boost David Ellison’s promise that, if the Skydance merger occurs, the promise of 15 films per year from Warner Bros. and Paramount isn’t just happy talk.

- Kenny Miles reviewed Sylvain Chomet’s A Magnificent Life.

- Luke Thompson (last week’s guest, since I didn’t have time for a “recommended reading section) offered up a deep-dive for Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut.

And in closing...

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, Fangoria and Inverse

* Max Deering - Fangoria and Action For Everyone

* Kenny Miles - We Live Entertainment

* Luke Y. Thompson - Mortal Cinema, TV Line and SlashFilm

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