Jumpstart: Superman Takes Flight
Superman lands, F1 holds, and Jurassic claws for premium screens—plus a crucial AI contract vote that could reshape future deals.
Good morning and welcome to the Jumpstart edition of Hollywood Signal, where we set the agenda for the week ahead in Hollywood.
Summer’s turning a corner: With F1 crossing $100M, Jurassic World: Rebirth jostling for IMAX attention, and Superman: Legacy set to take flight, this week marks a high-stakes handoff between July’s major theatrical players. Meanwhile, streaming continues to stretch its lead over linear TV, and an AI contract vote could quietly rewrite how digital talent gets handled across media.
In this edition, we’re tracking the strongest box office signals, spotlighting key dates on the release calendar, and breaking down how Superman became DC’s latest franchise referendum.
Got a question or tip for next week’s edition? Just hit reply and tell us what you’re watching.
60-Second Market Pulse
Quick data hits on the industry
YEAR TO DATE
$4.31B
2025 domestic box office through July 6
VIEWERSHIP
44.8%
Share of all U.S. TV time logged by streaming in May
Historic high – tops broadcast + cable
ECONOMY
$3.15/gal
U.S. regular gas average (AAA)
📊 THE PULSE: Dinosaurs and racers keep summer on a tear while streaming now claims nearly half of U.S. TV time.
Signals to Track
Superman Pre-Sales Take Flight
Amazon’s July 8 early-access screenings for Superman: Legacy sold out in under 24 hours, while Fandango has the film topping daily ticket sales ahead of its July 11 release. If the pace holds, early models peg a $140M+ domestic opening — which would mark DC’s biggest since The Batman (2022). Source → TheWrap
IMAX Turf War: Jurassic vs. Superman vs. F1
Jurassic World: Rebirth launched without IMAX availability — screens are still booked for F1: The Movie until July 11, after which Superman takes over. Universal is now seeking split-format showings to regain premium momentum — an early test of whether Rebirth can sustain a second-week run in the shadow of two premium-format competitors. Source → Deadline
AI Guardrails Head to a Vote
SAG-AFTRA members are voting this week on a landmark Interactive Media agreement that requires consent and compensation for AI-based voice/likeness replication in video games. If ratified (vote deadline: July 10), it will become the industry’s first enforceable AI contract — and a key model for 2026 TV/theatrical talks. Source → Variety and → SAG-AFTRA
Max Tests Password Walls
Warner Bros. Discovery quietly began rolling out its password-sharing crackdown this week, introducing a $7.99 “Extra Member” option for U.S. Max subscribers. The company will be watching sign-up conversions and churn closely — as will every competing streamer on the verge of enacting their own enforcement policies. Source → The Verge
Netflix’s Franchise Bet Misfires?
The Old Guard 2 dropped last week to lackluster reviews (24% on Rotten Tomatoes) and muted audience buzz. If completion and watch-time sag in Nielsen’s upcoming Top 10 charts, Netflix may be forced to reevaluate its reliance on sequel-driven original films. Source → IndieWire
This week’s signal: A cape, a camera format, and a content model all face high-stakes stress tests — while a union vote may quietly define the future of human performance.
Release Radar
Mon 7 Jul → Sun 13 Jul
MPA Mid-Year Report
Fresh domestic & global admissions figures plus the first official tally on AI-assisted VFX usage.
*Superman: Legacy* Early Screenings (Prime, 7 p.m. local)
Prime-member fan event gauges word-of-mouth before Friday’s wide bow.
SAG-AFTRA AI Vote Deadline
Members decide on landmark video-game AI contract
Streaming Triple-Play
STREAMING- *The Old Guard 2* — Netflix sequel test
- *The Bear S4* Ep 4 — Hulu weekly drop
- *The Summer Hikaru Died* Ep 2 — Netflix’s buzzy K-anime
*Mean Girls: Senior Year* Press Screenings
Embargo lifts 3 p.m. PT — first critic reactions drop.
Eyes on: social-sentiment spike
Comic-Con @Home Schedule Reveal
Livestream drops full Hall-H trailer slate; hype cycle ignites.
First Weekend Numbers Roll In
Domestic & international estimates for *Superman*, second-week holds for *Jurassic* and *F1* set the July trajectory.
Franchise Watch: Superman Returns (Again)
With Superman: Legacy flying into theaters this Friday, DC Studios and James Gunn are banking on something rare: a full-franchise reset that doesn’t lean on multiverse chaos or nostalgia cameos. Instead, it’s positioning Superman — not Batman — as the cornerstone of a newly unified DC Universe.
David Corenswet steps into the cape. Rachel Brosnahan takes the Lois Lane baton. And Gunn directs from his own script — part reboot, part tone-setter, and entirely under the microscope.
Why it matters:
Tone Reset — After years of tonal whiplash (from Snyder’s brooding to The Flash’s flop), this film defines whether DC can stake out a clear identity in the post-Marvel-fatigue era.
Risk = Clarity — There are no safety nets here: no Batman guest spot, no multiverse fan bait, no A-lister parachute cameo. Warner Bros. is testing whether IP itself — not crossover gimmicks — can still carry event status.
New Power Structure — If Legacy lands, it establishes Gunn’s creative leadership over the DCU and tees up a more writer-led, serialized franchise model (with HBO Max series linked in). If it flops, the reboot clock may start ticking again.
Read the room: Legacy isn’t just another summer tentpole — it’s a referendum on whether audiences still care about Superman, and whether DC can finally get out of its own way.
Ask Back
Have a question you’d like us to dig into next week — a release to watch, a trend to track, or a topic that’s flying under the radar? Just hit reply and let us know. We’ll take on as many as we can in the next edition.
Enjoy the week ahead — we’ll see you Friday.
