Happy birthday, USA! Here’s to making the most of this historic weekend, whether you’re glued to the World Cup drama or chilling poolside with a great book — and in case you’re still looking for that perfect summer read, we’ve got 100 for you to choose from, recommended by some of the biggest names in showbiz, media and beyond. Sony Pictures CEO Ravi Ahuja to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Jason Blum to Molly Shannon, Jay Ellis to Sherry Lansing, Amelia Dimoldenberg to Franklin Leonard all reveal what’s on their bedside table — and why.
Plus, we’ve also collected our top feature stories of the year so far — from Sean McNulty’s and Claire Atkinson’s excellent analyses of Paramount’s move to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (and what might still get in the way) to Matthew Frank’s searing take on Hollywood nepo babies and Degen Pener’s memorable report on why cigarettes are making a comeback. Catch up on our 2026 hits!
And finally, as the industry grew increasingly quiet ahead of the holiday, Matthew made some noise with his scoop about an Academy shakeup — the exit of org veteran Teni Melidonian in a restructuring from CEO Bill Kramer. As AMPAS readies itself for the 100th Oscars and a transition from ABC to YouTube, expect more ripples ahead.
Now, ICYMI, the rest of our best of the week:
Series Business
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| Elaine Low; Sunset Studios. |
↑ Save Our Sets: A Microdrama Lifeline Arrives — With Jobs Elaine Low toured the newly built sets at Sunset Las Palmas, where an L.A.-based microdrama studio is betting that vertical series — werewolves, steamy bedrooms and all — can buoy production. Anne Rice, Zombies — and Netflix? AMC’s Plan to Outlast the Streaming Giants AMC’s chief content officer, Dan McDermott, tells Lesley Goldberg about the platform’s premium-for-adults strategy, Walking Dead plans and a new A24 sports show.
Richard Rushfield
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| Ankler illustration; Ferdinand Victor Eugene Delacroix/Universal History Archive/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images |
↑ Vive L’NBCU! Hollywood works best when entertainment is the main event, says Richard — not a side hustle for a corporation. So, yes: He’s optimistic about Comcast spinning off NBCUniversal.
Reel AI
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| A24/Everett Collection |
↑ A24, Google DeepMind and the Dangerous Business of Selling Cool Much of Hollywood doesn’t just have questions about a new pact between the AI giant and the indie film stalwart — it wants it to fail. Erik Barmack analyzes the implications for both sides, but particularly A24 and its brand.
Crowd Pleaser
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| Ankler illustration. Warner Bros./Everett Collection; Ansonsaw/Getty Images. |
↑ Christopher Nolan & the Short List of Directors Whose Names Open Movies The Odyssey sold out before a single review. Thank its director clout for that. Matthew reveals the three ingredients that turn a filmmaker into a box office draw today.
Prestige Junkie
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| Ankler illustration. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Union Station; Gregory Shamus/Getty Images; Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images; Disney/Pixar. |
↑ Hollywood’s Hopecore Summer: Doom on Pause As America turns 250 under a dark cloud, Katey Rich reflects on how culture — from the World Cup and the Knicks to Toy Story 5 and Project Hail Mary — is having a deeply optimistic moment. Plus, Katey and Christopher Rosen check in on the coming Oscar race, with contenders like Project Hail Mary and Fjord already on voters’ minds:
Taylor Swift: First Comes Love, Then Marriage, Then Oscar in a Disney Carriage? In her quest for an EGOT, Taylor Swift is gunning for an Academy Award via her Toy Story 5 track. Rob LeDonne assesses the strategy.
The Wakeup: Netflix-NCBU & Wild-Card M&ASean dives into the nitty-gritty of what NBCU’s split from Comcast will mean for both companies — and whether Netflix will follow its failed WBD merger with an NBCU pursuit: Wednesday → ☀️ Hollywood Stocks Q2 Winners & Losers Tuesday → ☀️ NBCU-NETFLIX & the Wild Card M&A in the Mix Sunday → ☀️ Supergirl, Jackass Fall Flat As Toy Story 5 Rolls On
PodcastsAnkler AgendaElaine, Natalie Jarvey and Sean dig into The Ankler’s inaugural summer reading list and unpack why book-based IP is hotter than ever: 
Janice Min and Natalie break down who broke through in a week at Cannes Lions where subtlety was not the name of the game: 
ShowsRushfield LunchCan you explain 250 years of our nation’s history through movies? Richard and Chris debate the films that best capture the American experience, from 12 Years a Slave to Armageddon: 
Monday Morning QBsWSJ reporter Ben Fritz joins Sean to break down why Supergirl opened to just $38 million domestically, and what the result means for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC strategy: 
Like & SubscribeNew from Natalie Jarvey’s creator economy newsletter:
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| Impact Lounge/Bruno de Marquis |
↑ Summer House Scandal — and the Summer Reality TV Took Over
The OptionistAndy Lewis’ latest IP picks:
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| Ankler illustration; Everett Collection/ABC |
↑ Grey’s Anatomy Gets the Fantasy Treatment
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