Scott Mendelson
@scottmendelson.bsky.social
A box office columnist for Puck News, but also head over to The Outside Scoop at Substack for everything else worth reading (box office, reviews, analysis, think pieces, etc.)
https://scottmendelson.substack.com/
https://scottmendelson.substack.com/
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The Outside Scoop | Scott Mendelson | Substack
A legacy sequel to The Ticket Booth at Forbes.com and (especially) Mendelson's Memos. Pure, unfiltered and less formal pontification about the movie business and the entertainment industry for those w...
scottmendelson.substack.com
For those who followed my ongoing film reviews, industry punditry and (especially?) box office analysis from my days at Forbes (2013-2022) and/or (if you're old) Mendelson's Memos (2008-2013), stop by The Outside Scoop on Substack. It's precisely that—nothing more, nothing less.
Meanwhile, in “laughs so as not to cry but also because it’s hilarious” news, Fathom’s reissues of 'The Lord of the Rings' ($18.7 million worldwide thus far) will soon outgross the global total ($20.8 million in late 2024) for 'The War of the Rohirrim'
Box Office: 'Avatar 3' and 'Housemaid' Hold Overseas Amid 'Bone Temple' Tumble as 'Marty Supreme' and 'Hamnet' Get Oscar Boosts
Fathom's 25th anniversary reissue of 'The Lord of the Rings' is racing past the global lifetime totals for 'The War of the Rohirrim'.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Meanwhile, in “laughs so as not to cry but also because it’s hilarious” news, Fathom’s reissues of 'The Lord of the Rings' ($18.7 million worldwide thus far) will soon outgross the global total ($20.8 million in late 2024) for 'The War of the Rohirrim'
Reposted by Scott Mendelson
The fact that despite extreme provocation the only violence in Minneapolis is coming from ICE/CBP has strangely restored some of my faith in human beings.
January 25, 2026 at 8:21 PM
The fact that despite extreme provocation the only violence in Minneapolis is coming from ICE/CBP has strangely restored some of my faith in human beings.
Chris Pratt is more of a kid-friendly movie star than an adult-skewing draw, while 'Return to Silent Hill' is another IP-for-IP’s sake revival with nothing to offer for the brand-agnostic.
'Mercy' Deserves None As 'Silent Hill' Returns to Quiet Theaters (Weekend Box Office)
Chris Pratt is more of a kid-friendly movie star than an adult-skewing draw, while 'Return to Silent Hill' is another IP-for-IP's sake revival with nothing to offer for the brand-agnostic.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Chris Pratt is more of a kid-friendly movie star than an adult-skewing draw, while 'Return to Silent Hill' is another IP-for-IP’s sake revival with nothing to offer for the brand-agnostic.
Inspired by Kathleen Kennedy’s Lucasfilm exit and the 25th anniversary rerelease of LORD OF THE RINGS, I wrote about how KING KONG and THE LAST JEDI were both branded as disappointments thanks to unrealistic box office expectations and opening a week earlier than most year-end tentpoles.
Box Office: When 'Star Wars' Got 'King Kong'ed
Both Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' and Rian Johnson's 'The Last Jedi' were both felled by a holiday break that arrived too late to offset a negative narrative despite objectively strong global grosses.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Inspired by Kathleen Kennedy’s Lucasfilm exit and the 25th anniversary rerelease of LORD OF THE RINGS, I wrote about how KING KONG and THE LAST JEDI were both branded as disappointments thanks to unrealistic box office expectations and opening a week earlier than most year-end tentpoles.
Listen Now | @aaronsps4.bsky.social returns to discuss the complicated art vs commerce circumstances of a “nobody asked for this” trilogy of IP-for-IP’ s-sake revivals that are A) genuinely auteuristic and B) generally pretty good.
'28 Years Later' Pull a (Box Office) Boner
Listen now | Aaron Neuwirth returns to discuss the complicated circumstances of a "nobody asked for this" trilogy of IP-for-IP's-sake revivals that are A) genuinely auteuristic and B) generally pretty...
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Listen Now | @aaronsps4.bsky.social returns to discuss the complicated art vs commerce circumstances of a “nobody asked for this” trilogy of IP-for-IP’ s-sake revivals that are A) genuinely auteuristic and B) generally pretty good.
The Chris Pratt/Rebecca Ferguson sci-fi thriller is caught between expanding the notion of what a “screenlife” movie can be and acting as a corporate-friendly/quasi-fascist endorsement of artificial intelligence.
'Mercy' Review: The Movie We Really Don't Need Right Now
The Chris Pratt/Rebecca Ferguson sci-fi thriller is caught between expanding the notion of what a “screenlife” movie can be and acting as a corporate-friendly/quasi-fascist endorsement of artificial i...
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:27 PM
The Chris Pratt/Rebecca Ferguson sci-fi thriller is caught between expanding the notion of what a “screenlife” movie can be and acting as a corporate-friendly/quasi-fascist endorsement of artificial intelligence.
“If we bring our children up in an entertainment culture where the biggest movies and shows are revamped versions of OUR favorite movies, shows, video games and comics, will today’s kids be forced to merely appropriate our culture as their own?” -- @scottmendelson.bsky.social in July 2011
New 'He-Man' Trailer Masters the Universe of Nostalgia
Our first look at 'Masters of the Universe,’ a nearly 20-year-in-development attempt to revive the popular weekday afternoon animated series that’s placing most of its chips on 1980s memberberries.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:32 PM
“If we bring our children up in an entertainment culture where the biggest movies and shows are revamped versions of OUR favorite movies, shows, video games and comics, will today’s kids be forced to merely appropriate our culture as their own?” -- @scottmendelson.bsky.social in July 2011
The distributor that got ‘Star Wars'-sized grosses out of a ‘Coraline’ rerelease is now set to become the full-on domestic theatrical distributor for the studio’s next original toon.
This week's "Don't give me hope!" moment right off the bat.
This week's "Don't give me hope!" moment right off the bat.
Will 'Wildwood' Turn Laika into a Brand and Fathom Into a Contender?
The studio that got ‘Star Wars'-sized grosses out of a ‘Coraline’ rerelease is now set to act as the full-on domestic theatrical distributor for Laika’s next original toon.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:01 PM
The distributor that got ‘Star Wars'-sized grosses out of a ‘Coraline’ rerelease is now set to become the full-on domestic theatrical distributor for the studio’s next original toon.
This week's "Don't give me hope!" moment right off the bat.
This week's "Don't give me hope!" moment right off the bat.
While #TheSheepDetectives looks pretty delightful, I’m pretty sure I’ve already solved this mystery...
January 20, 2026 at 5:36 PM
While #TheSheepDetectives looks pretty delightful, I’m pretty sure I’ve already solved this mystery...
Reposted by Scott Mendelson
in the best case scenario (we somehow survive all of this), we will still have had so many years of our lives disrupted by stress and anger and calamity
January 19, 2026 at 2:52 PM
in the best case scenario (we somehow survive all of this), we will still have had so many years of our lives disrupted by stress and anger and calamity
In another example of “not all IP is good IP,” a 25th anniversary rerelease of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ almost earned as much this weekend as a ’28 Years Later’ sequel.
‘Avatar 3’ Tops but ‘Bone Temple’ Flops as ‘Zootopia 2,’ ‘Housemaid’ and ‘Marty Supreme’ Reach Box Office Milestones
In another example of “not all IP is good IP,” a 25th anniversary rerelease of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ almost earned as much this weekend as a ’28 Years Later’ sequel.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:41 PM
In another example of “not all IP is good IP,” a 25th anniversary rerelease of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ almost earned as much this weekend as a ’28 Years Later’ sequel.
Reposted by Scott Mendelson
And now, an old man yells at clouds.
Hollywood, Please Bring Back Making-Of Documentaries
Remember when you could actually learn about how your favorite movies were made?
screencrush.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:27 PM
And now, an old man yells at clouds.
There is no jean for the human spirit.
The ‘Euphoria’ actress’s last three mainstream non-franchise studio programmers (‘Anyone But You’ with $220M on a $25M budget), ‘Immaculate’ ($35M/$5M), and now ‘The Housemaid’ (which is about to sextuple is $35M budget) have each aspirationally overperformed.
The ‘Euphoria’ actress’s last three mainstream non-franchise studio programmers (‘Anyone But You’ with $220M on a $25M budget), ‘Immaculate’ ($35M/$5M), and now ‘The Housemaid’ (which is about to sextuple is $35M budget) have each aspirationally overperformed.
Box Office: As 'The Housemaid' Tops $200 Million Worldwide, Why Sydney Sweeney Might Just Be A Movie Star
The ‘Euphoria’ actress’s last three mainstream non-franchise studio programmers (‘Anyone But You,’ ‘Immaculate’ and now ‘The Housemaid’) have all overperformed at the box office.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:04 PM
There is no jean for the human spirit.
The ‘Euphoria’ actress’s last three mainstream non-franchise studio programmers (‘Anyone But You’ with $220M on a $25M budget), ‘Immaculate’ ($35M/$5M), and now ‘The Housemaid’ (which is about to sextuple is $35M budget) have each aspirationally overperformed.
The ‘Euphoria’ actress’s last three mainstream non-franchise studio programmers (‘Anyone But You’ with $220M on a $25M budget), ‘Immaculate’ ($35M/$5M), and now ‘The Housemaid’ (which is about to sextuple is $35M budget) have each aspirationally overperformed.
The first trailer for 'Lee Cronin's The Mummy' is surprisingly potent and creepy, suggesting Blumhouse and Atomic Monster know they must release new(ish) horror hits that work in spite of the IP.
'Mummy' Mia!! (Here We Go Again?)
The first trailer for 'Lee Cronin's The Mummy' is surprisingly potent and creepy, suggesting Blumhouse and Atomic Monster know they must release new(ish) horror hits that work in spite of the IP
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:54 PM
The first trailer for 'Lee Cronin's The Mummy' is surprisingly potent and creepy, suggesting Blumhouse and Atomic Monster know they must release new(ish) horror hits that work in spite of the IP.
Nia DaCosta directs the hell out of 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE. However, up until a splendid third act, this middle chapter in Alex Garland and Danny Boyle’s trilogy mostly ambles about as if afraid to lay too many cards on the table prior to the (presumed) finale.
'The Bone Temple' Review: '28 Years Later' Sequel Sprints in Circles
Nia DaCosta directs the hell out of Alex Garland’s middle chapter that mostly ambles about as if afraid to lay too many cards on the table before the (presumed) finale.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Nia DaCosta directs the hell out of 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE. However, up until a splendid third act, this middle chapter in Alex Garland and Danny Boyle’s trilogy mostly ambles about as if afraid to lay too many cards on the table prior to the (presumed) finale.
Primate opens like a “normal” year-opening horror flick.
Greenland 2 isn’t quite a “VOD hit turned theatrical franchise.”
Zootopia 2 is the year-end release playing like an Avatar.
Housemaid is holding like Anyone but You with bigger grosses.
Updates on the likes of Anaconda, SpongeBob and more.
Greenland 2 isn’t quite a “VOD hit turned theatrical franchise.”
Zootopia 2 is the year-end release playing like an Avatar.
Housemaid is holding like Anyone but You with bigger grosses.
Updates on the likes of Anaconda, SpongeBob and more.
Box Office: Five Problematically Hot Takes as 'Avatar' and 'Housemaid' Lord Over A $94 Million Pre-Holiday Weekend
‘Zootopia 2’ is Disney’s biggest end-of-2025 tentpole, but ‘Fire and Ash’ is still pulling sky-high global grosses as ‘Primate,’ 'Greenland 2’ and holiday holdovers keep 2026 well above water.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:20 AM
Primate opens like a “normal” year-opening horror flick.
Greenland 2 isn’t quite a “VOD hit turned theatrical franchise.”
Zootopia 2 is the year-end release playing like an Avatar.
Housemaid is holding like Anyone but You with bigger grosses.
Updates on the likes of Anaconda, SpongeBob and more.
Greenland 2 isn’t quite a “VOD hit turned theatrical franchise.”
Zootopia 2 is the year-end release playing like an Avatar.
Housemaid is holding like Anyone but You with bigger grosses.
Updates on the likes of Anaconda, SpongeBob and more.
Reposted by Scott Mendelson
New pod: It's the '25 box office report card! Featuring the coveted Flop of the Year. With AMC Stubs Superfan A-List Milk Duds Premiere member @scottmendelson.bsky.social. Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/5xPC...
The 2025 Box Office Year in Review: Sydney and Timmy, Superheroes vs. Horror, and Studio Power Rankings
open.spotify.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:51 PM
New pod: It's the '25 box office report card! Featuring the coveted Flop of the Year. With AMC Stubs Superfan A-List Milk Duds Premiere member @scottmendelson.bsky.social. Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/5xPC...
As is tradition, dating back to 2015, Scott Mendelson kicks off the new year by using math, science, wisdom, and dark magic to accurately* predict each of the biggest worldwide #boxoffice grossers being released for each month of 2026.
*Yes, I went 0/12 in 2020, but I did go 11/12 in 2017 and 2019!
*Yes, I went 0/12 in 2020, but I did go 11/12 in 2017 and 2019!
2026 Box Office: Once Again, Scott Mendelson Idiotically Attempts to Predict the Top Movie For Each of the Next 12 Months
Can the Marvel Cinematic Universe rise again? Will Margot Robbie (again) score the year’s least surprising surprise hit? Can Amazon MGM Studios become the next 20th Century Fox?
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:19 PM
As is tradition, dating back to 2015, Scott Mendelson kicks off the new year by using math, science, wisdom, and dark magic to accurately* predict each of the biggest worldwide #boxoffice grossers being released for each month of 2026.
*Yes, I went 0/12 in 2020, but I did go 11/12 in 2017 and 2019!
*Yes, I went 0/12 in 2020, but I did go 11/12 in 2017 and 2019!
In the middle of a “save it for the bathroom”-sized post, but Zootopia 2 has now earned more in local currency than Avengers: Endgame, thus becoming the top-earning Hollywood export ever in China. It’s still behind ($602 million versus $633 million) in USD, but give it a week or three.
January 5, 2026 at 6:27 PM
In the middle of a “save it for the bathroom”-sized post, but Zootopia 2 has now earned more in local currency than Avengers: Endgame, thus becoming the top-earning Hollywood export ever in China. It’s still behind ($602 million versus $633 million) in USD, but give it a week or three.
Reposted by Scott Mendelson
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Right.
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
a lot of problems wouldn't exist if we had a congress with even an ounce of self interest
January 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Reposted by Scott Mendelson
Unlike late 2023, when Hollywood rallied to help theaters survive the commercial failures of AQUAMAN 2 and WISH, 2025’s year-end, everybody-wins holiday season success featured no casualties or sacrifices.
“That’s why this time I’d take pride in a citizen-led effort that sacrifices no lives at all!
“That’s why this time I’d take pride in a citizen-led effort that sacrifices no lives at all!
Box Office: 'Avatar 3,' 'Housemaid,' 'Marty Supreme' Help End 2025 On Distinctly 'Godzilla Minus One'-Like High Note
Unlike in late 2023, when Hollywood rallied to help theaters survive the commercial failures of ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘Wish,’ this year-end, the everybody-wins holiday season featured no casualties and requ...
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Unlike late 2023, when Hollywood rallied to help theaters survive the commercial failures of AQUAMAN 2 and WISH, 2025’s year-end, everybody-wins holiday season success featured no casualties or sacrifices.
“That’s why this time I’d take pride in a citizen-led effort that sacrifices no lives at all!
“That’s why this time I’d take pride in a citizen-led effort that sacrifices no lives at all!
Unlike late 2023, when Hollywood rallied to help theaters survive the commercial failures of AQUAMAN 2 and WISH, 2025’s year-end, everybody-wins holiday season success featured no casualties or sacrifices.
“That’s why this time I’d take pride in a citizen-led effort that sacrifices no lives at all!
“That’s why this time I’d take pride in a citizen-led effort that sacrifices no lives at all!
Box Office: 'Avatar 3,' 'Housemaid,' 'Marty Supreme' Help End 2025 On Distinctly 'Godzilla Minus One'-Like High Note
Unlike in late 2023, when Hollywood rallied to help theaters survive the commercial failures of ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘Wish,’ this year-end, the everybody-wins holiday season featured no casualties and requ...
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Unlike late 2023, when Hollywood rallied to help theaters survive the commercial failures of AQUAMAN 2 and WISH, 2025’s year-end, everybody-wins holiday season success featured no casualties or sacrifices.
“That’s why this time I’d take pride in a citizen-led effort that sacrifices no lives at all!
“That’s why this time I’d take pride in a citizen-led effort that sacrifices no lives at all!
The holiday holdovers (HOUSEMAID, MARTY SUPREME, ANACONDA, etc.) are holding well as WE BURY THE DEAD notches a Vertical opening weekend record and AVATAR FIRE AND ASH nabs the second-biggest third-weekend gross for any film that opened below $100 million. Guess what’s #1…
(Friday box office post)
(Friday box office post)
Box Office: 'Avatar' Crushes 'KidzBop' As 'Fire and Ash' Nears $1 Billion
The holiday holdovers ('The Housemaid,' Marty Supreme,' 'Anaconda,' etc.) are holding well as 'We Bury The Dead' notches a Vertical opening weekend record.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:31 PM
The holiday holdovers (HOUSEMAID, MARTY SUPREME, ANACONDA, etc.) are holding well as WE BURY THE DEAD notches a Vertical opening weekend record and AVATAR FIRE AND ASH nabs the second-biggest third-weekend gross for any film that opened below $100 million. Guess what’s #1…
(Friday box office post)
(Friday box office post)
Yes, #Netflix’s silly (but sincere) series finale of #StrangerThings, the streamer’s most significant TV hit, really did look, sound, and play (much) better on a (very) big screen.
Why The 'Stranger Things' Finale Should Be A Wake-Up Call For Netflix
The silly (but sincere) final episode of the streamer's biggest television success really did look, sound and play much better on a (very) big screen amid a crowd filled with fans.
scottmendelson.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Yes, #Netflix’s silly (but sincere) series finale of #StrangerThings, the streamer’s most significant TV hit, really did look, sound, and play (much) better on a (very) big screen.
@lulamaybelle.bsky.social joins the final episode of 2025 for a rare “too many movies to discuss” Christmas box office feast.
Sure Plays a Mean Ping Pong...
open.spotify.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:33 PM
@lulamaybelle.bsky.social joins the final episode of 2025 for a rare “too many movies to discuss” Christmas box office feast.