Leonardo DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another was supposed to be a prestige box office hit — a bold new political thriller from Paul Thomas Anderson.
Instead, it’s collapsing.
Marvin Montanaro
Marvin Montanaro is the Editor-in-Chief of That Park Place and a seasoned entertainment journalist with nearly two decades of experience across multiple digital media outlets and print publications. He joined That Park Place in 2024, bringing with him a passion for theme parks, pop culture, and film commentary.
Based in Orlando, Florida, Marvin regularly visits Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offering firsthand reporting and analysis from the parks. He’s also the creative force behind The M4 Empire YouTube channel, bringing a critical eye toward the world of pop culture.
Montanaro’s insights are rooted in years of real-world reporting and editorial leadership.
He can be reached via email at [email protected]
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Peacemaker Season 2 Suffers Major Ratings Drop as Nearly 40% of Viewers Tune Out
James Gunn’s Peacemaker Season 2 is facing serious audience erosion, with multiple analytics sources confirming a steep decline in ratings across the season. What began as a promising follow-up to the acclaimed first season has quickly turned into one of the biggest ratings slides for a DC property on streaming.
Netflix Shot Down the Duffers’ Dream of a Stranger Things Theatrical Finale — And May Have Drove Them to Paramount
When Stranger Things launched in 2016, Netflix didn’t just debut a hit show—it built an identity. The streaming giant became synonymous with cinematic television, binge culture, and the illusion that creative freedom could thrive in an algorithmic world. But now, nearly a decade later, that illusion is fracturing.
As Variety revealed in its comprehensive feature on the Stranger Things final season, the Duffer Brothers wanted one last, monumental gesture for the fans—a theatrical release of the show’s finale. They imagined millions of viewers sharing the end of Hawkins together on the big screen, hearing that iconic synth theme echo through theaters across the world.
But Netflix said no.
Stranger Things Final Season Ends an Era as Netflix Loses Its Most Successful Creators
The final season of Stranger Things will surely bring big numbers for Netflix, but the future becomes more muddled after that.
When Stranger Things premiered in 2016, it transformed Netflix from a promising disruptor into a cultural phenomenon. Eight years later, the show that built the streamer’s identity is about to end — and its creators are already packing for a new home.
Comcast Eyes Warner Bros. Discovery as Rival Bidder to Paramount — And Harry Potter May Be the Key
Just when it looked like Paramount Skydance might have a clear path to acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, a new contender has stepped into the ring: Comcast.
Hollywood Media Turn on Jared Leto After Tron: Ares Box Office Failure — Is He Disney’s Scapegoat?
When Tron: Ares stumbled out of the gate, the entertainment press wasted no time finding its culprit. Forget Disney’s overstuffed release calendar, creative stagnation, or a year of record-breaking box office failures. No—the problem that led to Tron: Ares’ box office failure, according to outlets like The Hollywood Reporter, is Jared Leto.
Disney Considering Co-CEOs to Head Company — Could Dana Walden and Josh D’Amaro Run the Company Together?
As Bob Iger’s retirement looms, Disney’s board appears ready to repeat history — and not in a good way. CNBC reports the company is now considering a leadership structure that includes co-CEOs to oversee its future, with the leading candidates rumored to be Dana Walden and Josh D’Amaro. If true, it’s one of the most baffling corporate strategies Disney has floated in years.
Disney’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Cost Nearly $600 Million, Making It One of the Most Expensive Movies Ever
In a staggering new report from Forbes journalist Caroline Reid, Disney has officially revealed that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker cost $593.7 million to produce—making it the third most expensive movie ever made. That number places it behind only The Force Awakens and Jurassic World: Dominion in the all-time rankings of cinematic spending.
Kim Belair Finally Admits Sweet Baby Inc’s Real Role in AAA Gaming While Railing Against Critics — “We Did Nothing Wrong”
In a surprisingly candid new interview, Sweet Baby Inc. CEO Kim Belair has admitted her company played a much deeper role in crafting the narratives of major AAA video games than previously acknowledged—while also dismissing critics as being “against progress.”
No Mention of Rey Star Wars Movie in Variety Profile on Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy — Has “New Jedi Order” Been Quietly Canceled?
When Variety publishes a major profile on a filmmaker, readers tend to notice not only what’s included — but what’s missing. In the case of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the two-time Oscar-winning director who was once announced to helm a new Star Wars movie centered on Daisy Ridley’s Rey, a major omission might be the biggest story of all.
Mark Hamill Condemns AI Actors — After Letting Disney Digitally Rebuild Him
Mark Hamill is warning Hollywood about the “terrifying” future of AI performers. In a new Variety interview, the Star Wars veteran blasted the rise of synthetic actors as “ghastly,” “ghoulish,” and “weird.”
But the same man now decrying artificial actors has already been turned into one — at least partially — by Disney.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Klingon Wearing a Skirt Sparks Fan Backlash at New York Comic Con
Paramount and Skydance’s controversial Star Trek: Starfleet Academy made a big splash at New York Comic Con — but not for the reason the studio intended. Among the lavish displays, massive booth installations, and preview imagery for the upcoming series, one photo has ignited heated discussion across the fanbase: a male Klingon character wearing a skirt.