Scouting Hollywood: Feb. 29-March 6

A roundup of news, gossip and history of the entertainment business brought to you from Hollywood, Calif.

After the Super Bowl, film fans are slowly returning to the cinema. A couple of new releases have drawn some action after a few tepid weeks. Bob Marley: One Love took first with an estimated $27.7 million over the three-day weekend. Its $45.6 million since it opening is the best debut so far in 2024. Sony’s Madame Web was at $15.2 million for the weekend and $27.7 million over five days. However it was a weak opening for a major studio’s superhero, and more evidence fans are being much more discerning in their approach to big budgeted comic book characters brought to the screen.

South Dakota lawmakers want to make it harder to watch porn on the internet

Theater owners are hoping upcoming releases, including Dune: Part Two, The Chosen: S4, Episodes 7-8 and a week later, Kung Fu Panda 4 will entice more fans back to the communal experience of the cinema. Dune’s estimated opening weekend is in the $60-$75 million range.

The new mega sports streaming service recently announced by Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox gained its first legal challenge. FuboTV filed a federal complaint claiming immediate damages to its nine-year-old operation. FuboTV offers similar programming to its 1.5 million subscribers in North America, and has seen its stock price fall 20 percent since the new service was announced.

Banner Engineering closing Aberdeen plant, hundreds to be laid off

Rolling out the ‘orange carpet’