Make Me Smart Can Hollywood make a comeback?
Mar 13, 2026
Ben Fritz, Wall Street Journal entertainment reporter and author, breaks down box-office winners and why family franchises and nostalgia dominate. He explains studio consolidation worries around the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal and what economic and cultural shifts could spark a theatrical comeback. Short takes on Gen Z movie habits and the subtitles divide add color.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Ben Tried Corn Milk Before Oscar Parties
- Ben Fritz tried corn milk before Oscar parties and found it drinkable with a corn aftertaste.
- He shared this personal detail while chatting about his pre-Oscar routine and sampling plant-based milks in L.A.
Family Movies Dominated The Box Office
- Global box office leaders in 2025 were dominated by animated and family films, not Oscar contenders.
- Ben Fritz points to Nezha 2 (China), Zootopia 2 (Hollywood/China), and Minecraft (U.S.) as the top grossers, driven by broad audiences.
Nostalgia Expands Movie Audiences
- Broad appeal and nostalgia explain sequels' strength at the box office.
- Fritz notes family films capture kids plus adults with fond memories of originals, expanding the potential audience dramatically.