'Barbie' on the Road to Riches, Amazon's Ad Question and Mattel’s Emotional Edge

The movie that's turning everything pink is on its way to a $70 million opening [barbie-margot-robbie-image]( ['Barbie' on the Road to $70 Million-Plus Opening in Early Box Office Tracking]( By Jeremy Fuster Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal’s “Oppenheimer,” two films that have captured the internet’s imagination with their shared July 21 release, have hit box office tracking with early projections expecting solid results for both films. “Barbie,” as long expected, is projected to take No. 1 that weekend with a $70 million-plus opening. While rival distributors and exhibition sources tell TheWrap that “Barbie” has a lot of upside and could top $80 million, Warner Bros. insiders are more conservative and are predicting a $60 million-$65 million opening, which they say would be seen by the studio as a solid result for a film that has a budget of around $100 million. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [amazon-prime-video-ad-tier]( [A Prime Video Ad Tier Could Be a Cash Cow for Amazon – but It's Not Without Risks | Analysis]( By Lucas Manfredi “Unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming” of thousands of movies and TV shows for anyone signed up for Amazon’s $79-a-year free shipping program. That was a key promise when the online retail giant introduced Prime Video in 2011. A lot has changed in a dozen years. The price of Prime has nearly doubled to $139 a year, and consumers are flocking to cheaper, ad-supported video subscriptions. And Amazon has become a big player in online advertising. Now the company is reportedly mulling a cheaper version of Prime Video with ads — and it could pay off for Amazon in multiple ways, experts told TheWrap. In fact, it may have no choice, as its competitors see ads subsidize spending on content. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Office With a View: Mattel's Phil Breman]( [Office With a View: Mattel’s Phil Breman Says What Matters Is a ‘True Emotional Connection’]( By Drew Taylor Phil Breman, the head of live-action series development for Mattel, knows the primal power of a good toy. Breman, a veteran of Disney, where he oversaw live-action scripted programming, and NBCUniversal, where he handled all creative and production elements on shows like “Kenan” and “Timeless”, is helping adapt Mattel properties like “Monster High” and “Hot Wheels” for new audiences. This could mean turning “Monster High” into a live-action series or turning “Hot Wheels” into “Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge,” a show where winners will see their car turned into an actual Hot Wheels collectible. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Niantic's Pokemon GO mobile game]( [Major Layoffs Hit ‘Pokémon Go’ Developer]( ["Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth" logo]( [‘Blade Runner’ to Launch First Video Game in 25 Years]( [Linda Yaccarino speaks at The Girls' Lounge dinner, giving visibility to women at Advertising Week 2016]( [Noncompete Clause Keeps New Twitter CEO Out of Ad Action]( [Keanu Reeves in "John Wick: Chapter 4"]( [Lionsgate’s ‘John Wick’ Tops Most In-Demand Movies]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Wrap Pro logo] Discover why entertainment executives and professionals rely on the WrapPRO platform daily for exclusive coverage, analysis, deeper reporting, and access to VIP events & screenings throughout the year. [Subscribe Today]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( TheWrap | 2034 Armacost Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe](