First Pass

111 stories from 11 sources

Theatrical recovery meets Disney’s expanding franchise machine

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

Global movie ticket sales have risen 15% year over year in the first seven-plus months of 2026, putting the industry on track for its strongest annual result since 2019. Five films have passed $1 billion worldwide, and upcoming releases could raise that total to seven.

5:58 PMBloomberg Markets

Bluey and Bingo will return in a 3D CG feature film scheduled for release in 2028. The trailer was presented at Disney's D23 2026 event.

11:33 PMPolygon

AI-generated music is spreading across streaming platforms, prompting backlash from listeners and artists. Spotify and Deezer are testing ways to identify, label, or limit synthetic tracks.

12:13 PMBloomberg Markets

Rising sports-streaming costs are forcing fans to use multiple platforms to follow their teams, including the NFL. Antitrust lawyers are examining whether fragmented distribution and escalating prices could violate competition law.

6:36 PMBloomberg Markets

Pixar released the first concept art for “Incredibles 3,” which is scheduled for theatrical release in summer 2028. The sequel will reunite the Parr family and will not include a time jump, according to writer Brad Bird.

10:52 PMVariety

Disney has set 2028 as the release year for its live-action remake of Tangled.

11:58 PMIGN

Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

Anne Hathaway said The Princess Diaries 3 remains in active development and that Disney is taking time to get the sequel right.

11:02 PMIGN

Netflix’s breakout musical fantasy film “KPop Demon Hunters” will receive a Criterion Blu-ray release, with preorders open for Blu-ray and 4K UHD editions priced at $39.95 and $49.95. Details about the special features have not yet been announced.

9:57 PMVariety

Disney’s D23 2026 presentation delivered new footage and announcements from projects including “Avengers: Doomsday,” “Star Wars: Starfighter” and “Frozen 3.” The roundup collects the event’s major trailers, news and reveals.

9:55 PMPolygon

Variety publishes updated Emmy projections across 23 categories, reflecting its Awards Circuit view of the current race. The page is positioned as a standings tracker curated by Clayton Davis rather than a statement of personal taste.

5:00 PMVariety

Bella Ramsey discusses starring in a film about a cancer survivor who attends a chemotherapy camp, where they find friendship, romance, and freedom. Ramsey also reflects on wishing they had been more rebellious during their own teenage years.

8:10 PMBBC

The creator of Netflix’s ‘The Polygamist’ says women recognize their own experiences in the series. The story also examines Zimbabwean novelist Sue Nyathi’s path from self-funding her debut novel to questioning who can afford to become a writer.

7:17 PMBBC

Make it yours

Build Your First Pass.

Pick your topics, set your cadence, and receive your personalized First Pass in your inbox. It’s that simple!