A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that a lawsuit from some consumers trying to stop the $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.did not have enough legal grounds.The judge, Araceli Martínez-Olguín, said the people who started the lawsuit—three current Paramount+ users and two people who might subscribe—did not show they were harmed by the merger.She also said the lawsuit didn't clearly show any real damage to consumers that would require government action.But she gave the lawsuit writers a chance to fix their argument and try again.
The judge wrote that the lawsuit included general claims like "lower quality and variety" and "less choice" but didn't provide specific facts to show these issues actually happened or would happen.
She also said the lawsuit’s main argument was that being a consumer means you’re harmed if big entertainment companies merge, which she found too vague.
The same judge will also handle another case involving 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America, who argue that the merger will hurt the entertainment industry.
That case is set to go to trial in March 2027.
Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison recently wrote an article in The New York Times, saying the reason the state attorneys general are against the merger isn't because of companies getting too big, but because he might take over CNN if he gets Warner Bros.
Ellison has connections to former President Donald Trump, who has criticized CNN, and recent issues with the show "60 Minutes" have made some people in Hollywood worried about what will happen to CNN.
Ellison said the real issue is not about market share, but whether he can be trusted to run CNN properly.
He promised that he doesn’t want to influence the newsroom and believes that news should be based on facts and truth.
All hail Peter Parker.
Sony and Marvel's web-slinging adventure, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," made $927 million worldwide during its first weekend, which is an amazing and incredible achievement.
Very few films make that much money in just three days, let alone by the end of their run.It's the second-biggest opening in history, just behind "Avengers: Endgame" from 2019, which made $1.2 billion.The third biggest is "Avengers: Infinity War" from 2018, which earned $640 million.
"Brand New Day," the fourth comic book movie featuring Tom Holland as Spider-Man, made $572 million internationally and $355 million in the U.S.
China was the biggest market, earning $121 million, followed by the UK with $49 million, Mexico with $38.3 million, and South Korea with $25 million.The movie set records in several countries, including France with $26.6 million, India with $31.8 million, Brazil with $23.8 million, and Spain with $15.6 million.
With such a strong start in China, "Brand New Day" could eventually reach $2 billion globally — a mark that only seven films have ever passed.
"Spider-Man: No Way Home," the previous movie, made $1.9 billion in 2021 without playing in China.Even though China has been uneven with recent Hollywood films, Peter Parker still appeals to many there.
Big screens were a big hit, and people wanted to see "Spider-Man" on the largest and brightest ones.
"Brand New Day" set records for Dolby ($10 million in the U.S.), 4DX ($17 million worldwide), and ScreenX ($14.4 million globally).Even though the movie didn't play on IMAX screens in the U.S.because of "The Odyssey," it did play in China, Japan, and South Korea, making $23 million combined.
"Brand New Day" was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who also directed "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." The movie takes place after Peter Parker decides to erase himself from everyone's memory at the end of "No Way Home." A mysterious force now threatens New York City, while Spider-Man deals with his growing powers.
His girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) are making memories at MIT without knowing who Peter is."Brand New Day" received great reviews and strong audience reactions, scoring 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and an "A" on CinemaScore.With little competition, the comic book sequel is expected to be the top movie this summer.
Producer Amy Pascal said, "We're incredibly grateful to audiences for embracing the bold, creative, and deeply emotional vision Destin took with this film.
It's exciting to see such a powerful response to a story that never lost sight of what makes Peter Parker so enduring—his humanity.This remarkable opening reinforces that moviegoers are hungry for stories that are both spectacular and deeply human, and we're thrilled to see that resonate on such a global scale."
