PODCAST · tv
Hollywood Breakdown
by KCRW
Kim Masters, host of KCRW’s The Business, breaks down Hollywood's top stories.
Episodes
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Disney cuts loose two top Marvel executives, begins 7,000 layoffs
While Disney started laying off 7,000 employees, it also announced the firing of two top Marvel executives this week.
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Can ‘John Wick’ 4 perform and attract buyers for Lionsgate?
Lionsgate Films needs “John Wick: Chapter 4” to perform well at the box office in order to attract potential buyers. Can the franchise deliver?
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Netflix says ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to pricey Nancy Meyers’ film
Netflix passed on Nancy Meyers’ latest title due to budgetary disagreements. Why did the streamer pull back on a deal with a top filmmaker?
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Stars should keep high salaries, says agency exec at Morgan Stanley Conference
Can stars keep top salaries under current studio’s austerity measures? An agency exec proposes it at the Morgan Stanley TMT Conference.
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Warner Bros. golden ticket: Will they make new ‘Lord of the Rings’ films?
Following Amazon’s release of their expensive “Lord of the Rings” series, Warner Bros. Discovery announced they too want to make new films from the “Lord of the Rings” world.
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‘Ant Man’ gets poor reviews. Will the Marvel invincibility last?
With its latest movie “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” getting poor reviews, Marvel Studios may have a creative problem.
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Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg reconcile at Oscars luncheon
Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise seem to have reconciled at the Academy Award luncheon. Who benefits from the friendship?
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Disney’s Bob Iger open to selling Hulu, plans exit in two years
A day after Disney’s Q1 report and Bob Iger’s restructuring and cost cutting plans, he announced he’s open to selling Hulu, and possible exit in two years.
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James Gunn, Peter Safran present a new DCU plan. Will they deliver?
Co-chairs of DC Studios at Warner Bros. Discovery James Gunn and Peter Safran have unveiled a new plan. Will they deliver?
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Big stars, popular films are nominated. Will audiences watch the Oscars?
Will the Academy attract viewers with two nominees having the highest total gross in history? Plus, a look at Oscars surprises and snubs.
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Activist investor bids for a Disney board seat, threatens Bob Iger’s kingdom
Two 80-year old corporate raiders are wreaking havoc on Disney, with one of them bidding for a board seat at the company and threatening Bob Iger’s post.
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The Golden Globes need a new home: 'Someone will pick up this show'
After last year's hiatus, the Golden Globes are back, so what’s next for the awards show? Will a streaming service pick it up in 2023?
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‘Avatar,’ ‘Top Gun’ sequels deliver at the box office in 2022
Though the “Top Gun” and “Avatar” sequels provided Hollywood some relief, the industry is not back to normal, and studios have adopted different strategies for survival.
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Will writers strike, and will there be a mega studio deal in 2023?
On this special edition of the Hollywood Breakdown, we take a look ahead on whether writers will strike and whether there will be a mega-studio deal in 2023.
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Top 2022 stories: Netflix morphs, WB’s head cuts, Disney undergoes a shakeup
Hollywood’s top 2022 stories: Netflix changing strategies, the troubled tenure of David Zaslav heading Warner Bros. Discovery, plus Disney’s management shakeup.
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‘Avatar’ sequel needs over $2 billion at the global box office to break even
“Avatar: The Way of Water” opens in the United States and China. With a budget north of $350 million, can it surpass $2 billion at the global box office to succeed?
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Could Netflix’s new ‘Knives Out’ have done better in theaters?
Netflix’s decision to release “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” to 600 theaters for only a week, brings about the question, “Could it have done better?”
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Mark Burnett departs MGM-Amazon. What does it mean for the merger?
Mark Burnett, the well-known reality TV producer, is departing from his chairman role at MGM months after Amazon acquired the company for $8.5 billion. What’s next?
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Bob Iger is back. Can he cope with Disney’s many challenges?
The Walt Disney Company board of directors reinstated Bob Iger as CEO and ousted Bob Chapek on Sunday. Can Iger cope with Disney’s many challenges?
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Eric Weinberg’s network looked the other way on his bad behavior, vouched for him
For two decades, producer Eric Weinberg moved from one job to the next. A Hollywood network vouched for him even after he was fired for repeated bad behavior.
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Disney struggles with streaming. Will theme parks help with profit?
Though Disney+ has added 12 million subscribers, the company reports loss and weak Q4 profit outlook.
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Peacock reports weak subscriptions, implements changes to survive
As streaming service companies report subscriber numbers, Peacock announces weak subs, and implements changes in order to survive.
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Filmmaker James Gunn, producer Peter Safran to head DC Universe
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, hires filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran to lead the DC Universe.
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‘Black Adam’ isn’t going to be the save-all property DC hoped it might be
“Black Adam” opens in theaters. Will it make DC Films the success that David Zaslav dreams it will be? Plus, who runs DC Films now?
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Warner Bros. Discovery CEO lays off a quarter of its TV division staff
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav cuts more jobs this week. This time, about a quarter of its TV division staff was laid off.
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Alec Baldwin settles ‘Rust’ lawsuit; Halyna Hutchins' husband takes EP role
Alec Baldwin and “Rust” producers settle a lawsuit with cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ family. The film will resume production, and her husband will take an EP role.
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Harvey Weinstein’s trial is a few weeks away. Has Hollywood changed?
Five years after the #MeToo reckoning in Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein’s trial is a few weeks away in Los Angeles. Have things really changed in the industry?
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‘The Woman King’ delivers the goods, ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ may surprise
“The Woman King” brings in the numbers, “Don’t Worry Darling” may have a surprising opening, and what James Cameron’s upcoming “Avatar” sequels could mean for Disney.
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Disney’s CEO on the future of Hulu, ESPN, and an all-in app
During the D23 Expo, Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek discussed with the press his plans for Hulu and ESPN, as well as the future of an all-in app for the company.
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Disney offers perks to give subscribers the ‘whole Disney experience’
Disney plays big and offers subscribers more perks on Disney+ Day to entice them to other company products.
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Amazon’s ‘The Rings of Power’ and HBO’s ‘House of Dragon’ face off
HBO and Amazon are competing for which show will attract more viewers: “House of the Dragon,” or “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?”
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AMC, Regal theaters announce financial measures to stay afloat
In two drastic financial moves, AMC Theaters announced a new stock to raise money last week, while Regal Cinemas may file for bankruptcy.
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'Not great for Zaslav': Can CEO salvage Warner Bros. Discovery?
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s decision-making process highlights his lack of experience to run the legacy studio, and he accumulates more problems along the way.
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Disney+ gains subscribers, consumers will pay for ad-free content
Disney+ raises subscribers to 152 million, beating expectations, but they will charge $3 more per month for ad-free content.
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Warner Bros. CEO Zaslav cancels release of $90 million film ‘Batgirl’
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav shocks the movie industry once again by shelving the nearly-completed $90-milion film “Batgirl.” What does this mean for the company’s future?
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Summer blockbusters are over. Will theaters hit a box-office wall?
Movies came back this summer, providing theater owners some relief. However, cinemas could hit a wall, until big blockbusters, such as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” are released in the fall. Meanwhile, moviegoers will turn to streaming services.
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Netflix loses 1 million subscribers in Q2, below expectations. Has it turned the page?
Netflix lost nearly 1 million subscribers in Q2, below expected projections. But Netflix’s CEO thinks it’s a positive sign. So has the streaming service really turned the page?
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Hulu gets 58 Emmy nods, but its future remains uncertain
Hulu gets 58 Emmys’ nominations this year, but its future as a streaming platform remains unclear.
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The box office roars back: ‘Minions’ opens at $125 million
“Minions: The Rise of Gru” opens to a huge weekend, and “Lightyear” doesn’t meet Disney’s expectations. The Business host Kim Masters and Puck News founder Matt Belloni discuss.
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Disney renews Chapek: 'He's under significant scrutiny now'
CEO Bob Chapek just renewed his contract with Disney. The company’s vote of confidence comes after a turbulent tenure, with some bright spots.
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All of the lights and glitter: Will 'Elvis' be a box-office success?
With Baz Luhrmann and an endorsement from Elvis’ estate, Warner Bros. hopes to cash in with their new feature film “Elvis.”
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Will audiences boycott Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ amid same-sex kiss controversy?
Fearing a US boycott over a same-sex kiss scene on “Lightyear,” Disney lowballs its opening to cap at $70 million. The animated film is Disney’s first theatrical release during the pandemic.
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With poor reviews, can 'Jurassic World: Dominion' hit big at the box office?
With poor reviews coming in, will “Jurassic World: Dominion” hit Universal’s opening projection of $130 to $160 million in the box office? Hollywood insiders say the film is critic-proof.
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Depp vs. Heard: What does the verdict mean for Hollywood?
A verdict has been reached in the Johnny Depp defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. A jury found both parties liable for defamation.
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‘Top Gun: Maverick’ opening is expected to hit $100 million
Tom Cruise has been a successful movie star for decades, yet he’s never had a $100 million premiere. Could “Top Gun Maverick” be his break?
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Can Disney+ grow subscribers, compete with Netflix and Hulu?
Disney reports that it has 8 million new subscribers to its streaming service. Investors are wondering how much money Disney+ subscribers will bring in the long run.
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Tom Cruise still an action powerhouse in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
After pandemic delays, the new Tom Cruise film “Top Gun: Maverick” opens on May 27, and is expected to be a hit.
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Too Fast and Furious: Netflix focuses on quantity over quality
As Netflix loses subscribers, insiders reveal that poor leadership and a quantity-over-quality strategy could tank the business.
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Hollywood panics as Netflix loses 200,000 subscribers
Netflix stock tanks after dismal subscriber numbers spook Wall Street
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Fate of CNN+ unclear with David Zaslav in charge of Discovery WarnerMedia
With 100k subscribers on launch, CNN+ streaming service is not a runaway hit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Hollywood Breakdown have?
Hollywood Breakdown currently has 610 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Hollywood Breakdown about?
Kim Masters, host of KCRW’s The Business, breaks down Hollywood's top stories.
How often does Hollywood Breakdown release new episodes?
Hollywood Breakdown releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 610 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Hollywood Breakdown?
You can listen to Hollywood Breakdown on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Hollywood Breakdown?
Hollywood Breakdown is created and hosted by KCRW.
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