The Town with Matthew Belloni

Latest Episodes:

A ‘Minecraft’ Megahit and the Studios Best Suited for Gen Z and Beyond Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the first surprise blockbuster of 2025, ‘A Minecraft Movie’; who deserves credit; what its success says about the current moment in IP-driven moviemaking; and whether video game adaptations are the new gold mine for attracting younger audiences (02:36). Finally, Matt makes a prediction about the ratings of the NCAA men's championship game (25:17).

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Tom, Leo, Gosling (!), and the CinemaCon Studio Power Ranking Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins of ‘The Big Picture’ podcast to recap their recent trip to Las Vegas for CinemaCon and discuss which studio presentations were the most impressive, concerning, and confusing.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Agents, Managers, and the Shifting Power Dynamics of Representation Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by Brillstein Entertainment Partners CEO Jon Liebman to discuss the difference between a manager and an agent and how that has changed over the past 20 years. Jon gives his thoughts on CAA's lawsuit against Range Media Partners, the impact of private equity’s foray into the representation world, how the end of packaging agreements has affected the representation business, and the changing of the guard at WME and UTA (03:12). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘A Minecraft Movie’ (26:26).

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Jon Liebman

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four Industry Experts Debate Hollywood’s Moviegoing Crisis Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Live from CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Matt is joined by Regal CEO Eduardo Acuna, 'F1' director Joseph Kosinski, Universal global distribution chairman Peter Levinsohn, and Neon CEO Tom Quinn to answer some of the most difficult questions about the state of the theatrical business, including movies leaving theaters too soon, streaming’s impact on people’s perception of movies, and what needs to happen to get people back into movie theaters.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: Eduardo Acuna, Joseph Kosinski, Peter Levinsohn, and Tom Quinn

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Amazon’s Studio Head Firing and the Prime Video 7-Year Report Card Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by The Entertainment Strategy Guy to look back on the Jen Salke era at Amazon MGM Studios and dissect their television and movie strategy, what performed, what didn’t, and what lessons should be taken as they usher in a new era at the company (02:54). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on who will replace Jen Salke as the head of Amazon MGM Studios (27:24).

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Entertainment Strategy Guy

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Why YouTubers Are Having a Hollywood Moment Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by Dude Perfect CEO Andrew Yaffe to talk about the state of the creator economy and why popular YouTube stars are starting to partner with streamers. He outlines how a popular YouTube channel makes its money, the limitations of YouTube, the benefit of partnering with traditional Hollywood studios, and why Hollywood is growing more interested in YouTube stars (03:31). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the newest Jason Statham film, ‘A Working Man’ (26:08).

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Andrew Yaffe

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Most Important Movie for Each Studio in 2025 Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look at the upcoming theatrical slate for each of the major movie studios and determine which movie matters the most for the strategy of each company (02:17). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on where the newly available Jason Bourne franchise will land next (25:40).

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apple’s Hollywood Identity Crisis: Who Do They Want to Be? Mar 22, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by Puck’s Julia Alexander to discuss Apple’s current strategy in Hollywood—or lack thereof—the popularity of ‘Severance,’ a jump in Apple TV+ subscribers, and why now is an important time for Apple Studios to decide who it wants to be (03:00). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the director of the next James Bond film (28:03).

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Julia Alexander

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Trump 2.0: Should Hollywood Be Panicking? Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by Axios senior media reporter and CNN analyst Sara Fischer to talk about the unexpected uncertainty in Hollywood under Donald Trump 2.0, and how the current administration's actions could affect every corner of the entertainment business (02:12). Matt finishes the show with two opening weekend box office predictions for ‘Snow White’ and ‘Alto Knights’ (24:40).

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Sara Fischer

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Four Hottest Topics Around Town: ‘Mickey 17’, Warner Bros., Trump, and Apple TV+ Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the hottest narratives around town and give their optimistic and pessimistic views of each. These narratives include: Hollywood is catering its content to Trump’s audience, movies like ‘Mickey 17’ leaving theaters so quickly are killing theatrical films (01:41), Warner Bros. is doomed as a movie studio, and Apple TV+ is quietly becoming a hitmaker (15:35).

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices