Hollywood This Week: box office rebound, Oscars deadlines, Paramount–Skydance shifts, streaming prices, and AI labor rules

Suzan Seherin November 14, 2025 4 minutes read

Box office — ‘Predator: Badlands’ jolts theaters back to life

The domestic box office found fresh energy as Predator: Badlands opened at No. 1 with about $40 million for the Nov. 7–9 weekend. Holdovers Regretting You and The Black Phone 2 rounded out the top three, while Amazon MGM’s Sarah’s Oil debuted fourth. The weekend’s strength eased concerns after several soft frames, although staying power will depend on November’s next releases. However, a strong franchise launch gives exhibitors momentum heading into the holidays.

Industry trackers called it the franchise’s best opening and noted a healthier mix of studio titles returning to multiplexes. If midweek drops hold, Q4 totals could close the gap with pre-pandemic comps. Meanwhile, specialty re-releases and prestige expansions are beginning their awards-season platform runs. As a result, theaters finally have both tentpoles and Oscar hopefuls on the board.

Awards season — Academy paperwork deadline lands

The Academy reminded studios and distributors that Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 was the deadline to submit Oscars submission forms (OSF) in general entry categories and Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) forms for Best Picture eligibility. The Academy also reiterated April rule changes for the 98th Oscars: final-round voters must certify they’ve viewed all nominees in a category; the new Achievement in Casting award is now codified. As a result, campaign teams are consolidating screenings, screeners, and Q&As to position titles before nominations voting.

These administrative milestones matter. Compliance missteps can sink contenders before voters even see them. However, the stiffer viewing requirement could also broaden attention beyond front-runners, rewarding films with later surges as voters complete their category homework.

Studios — Paramount–Skydance posts first results since merger

Paramount and Skydance delivered their first earnings update since closing the merger in August, outlining a cash infusion, slate moves, and brand partnerships. Reuters noted CEO David Ellison is moving quickly: securing a James Mangold heist film, inking a long deal with the South Park creators, and exploring cross-overs like a Call of Duty feature collaboration. Meanwhile, Variety reported about 600 employees opted for voluntary severance amid broader post-deal restructuring and a 2026 return-to-office plan. As a result, Hollywood is watching whether new leadership can stabilize streaming losses while keeping film and TV pipelines busy.

On Capitol Hill, House Democrats signaled continued scrutiny of merger disclosures and side agreements, pressing the company to “fully comply” with document requests. The political spotlight adds complexity to cost cuts and newsroom realignments during awards season and election-year coverage. However, regulatory heat is familiar terrain after a deal of this size; executives appear determined to frame changes as necessary to compete.

Streaming — Max price hikes ripple through the market

Price pressure is still rising in the streaming wars. Max (the service formerly known as HBO Max) raised U.S. monthly prices across all tiers in late October, with increases hitting existing subscribers from Nov. 20. Analysts expect competitors to test headroom as content costs and sports rights keep climbing. Meanwhile, ad-supported tiers are becoming the default “entry” plans as platforms chase ARPU and scale. As a result, households may reshuffle bundles through the holidays to manage bills.

Studios see a partial offset in box office if streaming churn nudges audiences back into cinemas for event titles. However, any theatrical lift will still depend on release calendars and marketing muscle, not price alone.

Labor & AI — video-game performers lock in protections and raises

Away from film and TV, SAG-AFTRA’s 2025 Video Game Agreement is now in force, bringing significant minimum-pay bumps and AI/voice likeness protections for performers. The union’s published terms cite a 15.17% compounded increase at ratification, plus 3% step-ups in Nov. 2025, 2026, and 2027. Reuters and industry outlets highlighted safety provisions for motion-capture sessions and tighter consent rules around synthetic voice use. As a result, game studios and Hollywood share a template for AI governance likely to echo into future TV/film talks.

The practical takeaway is straightforward: producers will need clearer contracts, auditable consent flows, and budgeting for human performance in hybrid AI pipelines. However, the speed of tool adoption means compliance gaps could still spark grievances if teams move faster than legal and HR frameworks.

Outlook — a cautious upswing, with costs and politics attached

In one week, Hollywood got a tentpole win, firm Oscar paperwork deadlines, a merged studio flexing strategy, a fresh round of streaming sticker shock, and a labor deal that sets AI guardrails. The connective tissue is credibility: box-office rebounds must hold beyond opening weekend; awards campaigns must meet stricter Academy rules; studio turnarounds must outpace layoffs; streamers must justify higher bills with visible value; and AI adoption must respect performer rights.

Short term, watch three signals. First, week-two holds for Predator: Badlands and whether prestige titles gain traction as screeners roll out. Second, Paramount–Skydance’s slate reveals and any additional congressional letters that could complicate integration timelines. Third, holiday streaming churn as Max’s price changes hit existing subscribers, potentially pushing consumers toward ad tiers or theatrical outings. As a result, the industry enters the year’s final stretch balancing optimism with operational reality.