The Town with Matthew Belloni

Latest Episodes:

Is the Superhero Era Finally Ending? Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss whether the recent stretch of superhero flops is a sign of things to come or simply a blip on the radar. Four of the last six Marvel films have underperformed, DC’s ‘The Flash’ just bombed, and Marvel has pushed back the release date of its next line of Avengers films. So is it officially time to hit the panic button on the superhero genre?

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

Has Pixar Lost its Magic Touch? Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Rebecca Keegan to discuss Pixar’s recent cold streak, who’s to blame, and if it can be rectified. They talk about whether their pandemic misfires has caused permanent damage, why their movies cost so much more than every other animation studio, and how leadership and the creative process has changed over the years. Matt finishes the show with two predictions about the opening weekends for ‘The Flash’ and Pixar’s ‘Elemental’.

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: Rebecca Keegan

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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

'The Flash' and Marketing a Movie With a Controversial Star Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by veteran film marketing executive Terry Press to discuss the upcoming movie ‘The Flash’ and how studios promote and release a movie with a controversial star attached. They discuss how Warner Bros. has handled the Ezra Miller situation in the lead-up to opening weekend, the decision to have them attend the premiere, and if any of this could affect box office numbers. They also talk about past movies with stars embroiled in controversy and how this has evolved over the years in Hollywood. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the latest Disney movie release date announcement.

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: Terry Press

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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

Netflix Top 10 Lists and the Era of Streamer Manipulation Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the growing issue of data transparency in the streaming era, whether streaming rankings— like the Netflix top 10 lists—are manipulated in the absence of credible data, and whether we will ever see how many people are actually watching these shows.

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

What the Writers Really Fear About AI in Hollywood Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by John Lopez, a writer, producer, and member of the AI working group in the WGA, to explain what the guild actually thinks about AI, misperceptions about AI’s ability to write scripts, and why this will be one of the key issues in Hollywood for years to come. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction for the opening weekend of ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’

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: John Lopez

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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

CNN’s Messy Chris Licht Era Is Over, Now What? Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Puck’s Dylan Byers to discuss the details behind Chris Licht’s fallout with CNN, why this happened now, how this reflects on Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zazlov, and what needs to be done to save CNN.

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: Dylan Byers

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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

Hollywood’s Stealth Winners and Losers of the First Half of 2023 Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to parse through the first half of an eventful 2023 and highlight the under-discussed winners and losers across the industry so far. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the future of CNN CEO Chris Licht.

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

Who Is on the Studios' Side in the Writers Strike? Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by film producer and television executive Gail Berman ('Elvis,' 'Wednesday') to discuss the writers strike from the studios' perspective, using her experience as a former film studio and television network head to touch on what the studios might be thinking about this labor dispute. Matt finishes the show with a prediction for the opening weekend of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’

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: Gail Berman

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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

Cannes Winners, Losers, Scandals, and Big Takeaways May 30, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw, who attended the Cannes Film Festival in France, to discuss the significance of the festival within the industry, the indie film market, if streaming services are still interested in premiering their projects at Cannes, the optics of David Zaslav’s party, and more. Lucas and Matt also give an update on their box office draft.

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

Disney’s Prickly Theme Parks Problem May 25, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by theme park journalist Scott Gustin as they discuss all the latest news surrounding the Disney parks, as well as Universal Studios. They dive into the changes made by former CEO Bob Chapek when the parks reopened during the pandemic, why the immersive Galactic Star Cruiser (a.k.a. the 'Star Wars' hotel and experience) is shutting down, how the international Disney parks are doing, the success Universal has had with the Super Mario IP, and more. Matt finishes the show by making a prediction on holiday box office numbers for ‘The Little Mermaid.'

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: Scott Gustin

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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