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A Galaxy S27 Ultra upgrade to match the iPhone Duo
Samsung isn't cutting corners everywhere.
Physicists can’t agree on how the Universe works
A massive worldwide survey of physicists has revealed surprisingly little agreement about some of the universe’s biggest mysteries. No majority backed the standard cosmological model, a leading explanation for dark matter, or any single theory of quantum gravity. One area of stronger agreement stood out: 68% said the Big Bang does not necessarily represent the beginning of time. Researchers say the divisions show just how alive and unsettled the frontiers of physics remain.
Mother and daughter CT business owners created a ‘secret garden.’ Customers call its offerings ‘to die for’
“It’s part of nature,” a customer who loves the espressos said. “It’s relaxing. I think that’s the best thing is that there’s not pressure, it’s relaxing.”
Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra to get biggest OLED upgrade in 3 years
Samsung is making big changes to the Galaxy S series next year. The company is expected to launch four Galaxy S27 series phones early in the year, and two of th
Galaxy's playoff outlook suffers setback in draw with Seattle
The Galaxy give up a late goal and have to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders that hurts their chances of reaching the MLS Cup playoffs.
Maya Cinemas closes at Campus Pointe; Galaxy Theatres takes over
Maya Cinemas at Fresno's Campus Pointe permanently closed. Galaxy Theatres will take over. Regal @ El Paseo for sale.
Scientists Detect a Mysterious Signal That Could Be Dark Matter
A mysterious signal deep underground may offer LUX-ZEPLIN its most intriguing clue to dark matter yet. For nearly a century, scientists have been trying to identify dark matter, the mysterious material believed to account for about 85% of all matter in the universe. Despite its enormous influence on galaxies and cosmic structure, dark matter has
US: Target lists some of first party games in Customer Appreciation Sale
Customers in North America will be getting ready to spend in the upcoming Nintendo Customer Appreciation Sale. While Nintendo hasn’t announced which first party games will be including in the sale…
Germany’s Political Tailspin: Your Weekly SPIEGEL Recap
It might be tempting to dismiss the results of last Sunday’s state election in Saxony-Anhalt, in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party raked in 43.8 percent of the vote, as a rather unimportant extremist blip in a state that hardly anyone can find on the map. And you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong to do so. The state’s population – around 2.1 million – is a mere 2.5 percent of the German total. And while the state capital of Magdeburg was once the political heart of the Holy Roman Empire back when Otto the Great used to hang out there (more than a millenium … no … milennium … nope … millennium ago), it is today something of a backwater, albeit one with a ginormous cathedral in its center. We wanted to briefly interrupt this week’s newsletter to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our subscribers, both new and old. And to remind you all that a free subscription gets you access to this newsletter every Saturday. A paid subscription, by contrast, gets you one DER SPIEGEL article every weekday, delivered to your inbox. We strive to select pieces that both demonstrate what Europe’s leading newsmagazine has to offer and provide an international audience – namely, you – with an insight into how Germany and Europe view the world. If you haven’t already signed up for a paid subscription, please consider doing so if you can. Our Substack channel relies entirely on reader support and we are excited to continue offering you the best of DER SPIEGEL. Subscribe But even beyond the fact that a huge percentage of the voters in the state decided to place an X next to a party with an ideological lineage that runs rather directly back to the right-wing extremist soup out of which the Nazi Party was born, the results are a perfect example of a phenomenon that has been plaguing German elections in recent years: the lack of an obvious path to a majority. Call it the Balkanization of German politics. There are a number of developments driving the phenomenon, but for the purposes of this newsletter, here are two of the most salient: Persistent voter frustration with the country’s two (former) big-tent parties – the Christian Democrats (CDU) on the center-right (17.2 percent in Saxony-Anhalt last Sunday) and the Social Democrats (SPD) on the center-left (9.3 percent). The presence of parties on the far left (Left Party), the populist left (the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – BSW) and the far right (AfD) with which mainstream parties are reluctant to form coalitions. So what happens now? Stories of the Week A Lack of Leadership The answer for many people in the country, and particularly within the CDU, is clear: pin (some of) the blame on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to a survey taken directly after the election in Saxony-Anhalt, 88 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that if the federal government in Berlin were doing a better job, the AfD wouldn’t be as strong. And it is true that the predominant impression of the federal government ever since Merz was sworn in on May 6, 2025, is one of ineffectiveness and bickering. His rather unique combination of bumbling-plus-bravado has also not exactly endeared him to the German public. Indeed, his standing in the country is so shaky that his popularity – according to recent polls – has now dropped even below the historic lows associated with his predecessor Olaf Scholz. The situation is such that the CDU even opted to keep him largely out of the campaign ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt vote. And since then, dissatisfied rumblings within the CDU have grown louder. DER SPIEGEL’s Swantje Karich notes that the problems with the CDU go much deeper than Merz. “The center-right has a trust problem. At a press appearance following the devastating election result in Saxony-Anhalt, Friedrich Merz said that the party wanted to ‘reach people more effectively’ through ‘emotional engagement.’ It sounded as though he were announcing a political program. On the basis of that statement, it is difficult to take his empathy seriously.” “The Chancellor’s chastened appearance did, at least, reveal where he stands: with his back to the wall. Elections will be held in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania next week, and the CDU could fare even worse there. The party is polling at between 8 and 10 percent in the state.” “What is at stake is the political tradition that has lent stability to the Federal Republic since 1945: a democratic conservatism that understands what must be preserved, but also how to embrace progress and openness to the world. If the Union continues along its current path, it risks becoming politically irrelevant after the 2029 federal election – and Germany could soon find itself with a government of the far right.” The Trumpification of Political Debate? It is often said in Germany that to understand the political and social trends that will soon be dominant in Europe, one need only look across the Atlantic to the United States. When it comes to political debate, that has certainly proven true. Donald Trump understood early on that triggering mouth-foaming outrage among Democrats is an ideal way to both generate headlines and to secure loyalty among supporters. And he realized that far more quickly than the left side of the political spectrum understood that simply ignoring the old man might be the best recipe. To be sure, there have been signs recently that the US president may be over-relying on the strategy. Earlier this week, in an apparent grandpa-discovers-AI moment, Trump sent out 60 posts in the space of 10 hours, many of them AI-assisted images portraying him as a hero – or showing Iceland as part of the US (outrageous!!!). It was also during that slew of schlock that he explicitly backed the AfD with an “MGGA” post. In Germany, though, the outrage cycle remains in full swing, with much of the focus on those who would dare to vote for the AfD. They are alternately portrayed as being dim-witted, ungrateful, backward, racist or all of the above. That, argues DER SPIEGEL columnist Sabine Rennefanz, is not particularly helpful. “Everywhere on election night, people spoke of a watershed moment, a rupture, a turning point. But what is that supposed to mean in concrete terms? A watershed would imply an interruption, a moment of pause – perhaps even a willingness to rethink and learn. At first, there was little sign of that in the main television panels. Instead, the familiar rituals that had already shaped the election campaign continued: outrage, lecturing and abuse.” “That’s just the tone, one might object. They’re only talk shows. Given that the party’s state branch has been classified by domestic intelligence officials as confirmed right-wing extremist, there are more important problems than hurt feelings on television. Yet although the condescending tone is not the cause of the AfD’s success, it is an expression of the broader mood within the so-called political center – a kind of institutional blindness that too often treats material concerns as a communications problem.” “People have a pretty good sense of whether you like them – whether you approach them with curiosity or merely study, lecture and manage them as a problem group. They notice whether you genuinely want to understand their fears and pain, or whether you are simply waiting for the chance to correct them. They can also tell whether someone still has the energy to change things, or whether they have barricaded themselves behind platitudes and empty phrases.” “Anyone who wants an egalitarian democratic society cannot promise equality only to those whose language, tastes and moral convictions they share. They must also acknowledge the wounds, resentments and fears of those whose political conclusions they consider wrong. Acknowledging them does not mean agreeing with them. But a democracy that communicates with almost half its citizens only through warnings and labels gives up on political debate before it has even begun. An atmosphere must be created in which people can express their opinions without fearing that they will be canceled. We are currently a long way from that.” East-West? One of the clear undercurrents in the election last Sunday was, of course, Germany’s ongoing east-west divide, particularly as it pertains to the success of the AfD. Historically, the party has been far stronger in the former East German states than in former West German states. The fact that this generalization no longer reliably holds is certainly one of the primary concerns that many have about the party’s growth. And yet, there is still a distinct flavor of “stupid easterners, they don’t understand democracy” to the coverage. In the weeks before the vote, there was even a rather interesting back-and-forth in Germany’s culture pages about how ungrateful eastern Germans allegedly are for being pulled out of their pre-reunification backwardness and into the light of the West. DER SPIEGEL’s Jochen-Martin Gutsch has had enough. “Ten years ago, in 2016, elections were also held in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD won more than 20 percent, which at the time rightly provoked outrage and incomprehension in western Germany. Today, in 2026, the AfD is also polling at around 20 percent in western German states, but this no longer provokes outrage and incomprehension. Instead, it is now regarded as proof of democratic conviction and civilizational resistance. After all, in the east, it’s 40 percent!” “This allows people to continue feeling morally superior to the East, but the wiser course would be to admit: if something doesn’t happen soon, the West will turn AfD-blue too. Or bluish.” “But will anything happen? The truly depressing thing about election night was not so much the AfD leaders intoxicated by their own success. It was the representatives of the other parties, who once again said that they were utterly shocked, needed some time to digest the result and would, of course, not simply return to business as usual. The SPD, a former big-tent party, celebrated its ‘stable’ result of 9.3 percent. Congratulations!” “For 10 years, the AfD has gone from one electoral success to the next. And still, the established parties remain ‘shocked’ and scratch their heads in astonishment. How long can they keep being shocked? Friedrich Merz says he may need to communicate his reform ideas in a more ‘emotional’ way. So the CDU’s political professionals sit down together after the election, mull over a strategy, and in the end come up with this: Fritz, try to be a little more relaxed, charismatic and emotional – or something. Beyond that: no political plan, no defiance, no promise of a future. That is frightening.” What was good, what was bad for democracy? Good: Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt was 77.8 percent, the highest ever recorded in the state. Whatever one thinks of the result, that figure is encouraging. Democracy needs citizens to take an interest. Bad: Although a strong AfD result had been expected in Saxony-Anhalt, many politicians from the mainstream parties – including in Berlin – appeared confused, helpless and overwhelmed in their initial reactions. That is not how they will win back voters’ trust. Last Week’s Highlights: 🗳️ Meet the Germans Who Voted for the AfD: Why would voters in a country like Germany, with its Nazi past, vote for a right-wing party? It’s a question only an editor in Berlin could come up with. On the ground, the view is different. 🟦 How the AfD Wants to Expand Its Power Across Germany: The far-right AfD is planning to decimate public broadcasting in Saxony-Anhalt, revamp education and install extremists in positions of power. And it is eyeing victory on the national stage as well. 🕯️ The Continuing Reverberations of September 11: It was a generational shock, and the consequences can still be felt today - from massive surveillance and significant increases in presidential power to violent excesses at ICE. 🤝 “For Europe, Canada Is the Preferred Partner in Trans-Atlantic Relations”: In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne discusses his country’s failed trade deal with the US and why Canada is looking to Europe. 🏛️ The True Historical Roots of the AfD: During the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, there were numerous parties on the extreme right espousing “Germany first” nationalism. The Nazis may not be the best comparison for today’s AfD. 🌊 AfD in a Landslide: Merz Is the Wrong Leader for Germany: The right-wing Alternative for Germany won in a landslide in Saxony-Anhalt state elections on Sunday. What does that mean for the country at large? Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful week! Subscribe Share Leave a comment Your SPIEGEL Substack Team Compiled and edited by Charles Hawley
Hardee’s Friday Night Blitz – Week 3
WEEK 3 SCORES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 (3-0)CARROLL COUNTY 49, (0-3)GALAX 0 (1-2)PATRICK COUNTY 64, (0-4)NORTH STOKES, NC 35 (2-0)NORTHWOOD 46, (0-3)EASTERN MONTGOMERY 6 (4-0)VIRGINIA HIGH 20, (1-2)GEORGE WYTHE 15 (1-2)GRAYSON COUNTY 32, (1-1)TAZEWELL 20 (3-0)CHILHOWIE 50, (1-2)NARROWS 0 (1-1)EASTSIDE 56, (2-1)RURAL RETREAT 29 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 (3-0)SALEM 45, (1-2)WILLIAM FLEMING 12 (2-1)PATRICK HENRY 35, (0-3)FRANKLIN […]
Toss Up: Packers and Vikings open season at U.S. Bank
GREEN BAY, Wis., (WLAX, WEUX) – It’s been seven months since the Green Bay’s season ended with a resounding Wild Card playoff thud at Soldier Field in Chicago as the Packers lost their last five games of the season. Fast forward to Sunday and Matt LaFleur’s team has the opportunity to make a statement at […]
Samsung Does Tim Cook Dirty on His Way Out the Door
A new Samsung ad features a ‘Tim Cook’ promoting the Galaxy Z Fold8.
Samsung gets 'Tim Cook' to praise the Galaxy Z Fold 8
Samsung has published a new advertisement for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 that features "Tim Cook" promoting the foldable.
Samsung Trolls Apple by Hiring 'Tim Cook' to Endorse Galaxy Z Fold 8
Samsung takes aim at Apple's iPhone Duo with a new ad featuring Tim Cook...from New Zealand, not the former Apple CEO.
Apple on wide Android foldables beating iPhone Duo; ‘they got the aspect ratio’
If it feels like it’s been a quiet week for Android news, it’s not just because Monday was a holiday...
Samsung hires a real Tim Cook to advertise the Galaxy Z Fold8
Samsung has recruited a real estate agent named Tim Cook to promote the Galaxy Z Fold8 in a playful campaign timed with Apple’s entry into the foldable phone market with the iPhone Duo. The ad lets Samsung poke fun at Apple while highlighting its longer history in the foldable smartphone segment.
Galaxy Buds On design and features leak ahead of launch
Over the past few months, reports have revealed that Samsung is working on two distinct types of wireless earbuds. We previously shared the basic design of thes
Samsung’s open-ear Galaxy Buds On leak with clip design, ‘Auto Volume,’ gestures [Gallery]
Word has been out on a new pair of open-ear Galaxy Buds from Samsung and, now, a detailed leak shows...
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: How these XL phones compete
Apple or Samsung? It really comes down to which ecosystem you prefer.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: The Highest-End Phones Compared
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a big camera upgrade -- and a bigger price. How does it compare to Samsung’s flagship phone?
Best T-Mobile Samsung Fold Deal September 2026: Get Free Z Fold8 Phone
For a limited time, T-Mobile will cover the cost of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 with a trade-in on a qualifying line. Get the foldable phone deal here.
Exclusive: Galaxy Buds On Design and Features Revealed
The Galaxy Buds On have a unique design, with two rounded bulbs connected by what appears to be a silicone loop.
Someone recreated the iPhone Duo’s mesmerizing open animation on the Galaxy Z Fold 8
It’s been less than a day since Apple announced the iPhone Duo, and someone has already taken the instantly iconic...
Amazon employee was laid off; founded wellness travel business
Rania Zheng struggled to relax while juggling motherhood and a career at Amazon. After her layoff, she went all in on her wellness-travel business.
The best way to eat flaxseed
To get the full health benefits from flaxseed, there’s a certain way experts recommend eating it.
Week 3 Hardee’s Friday Night Blitz Schedule Changes
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — We have some Hardee’s Friday Night Blitz games being moved from Friday to Thursday. Galax at Carroll County, Eastern Montgomery at Northwood, Virginia High at George Wythe, Tazewell at Grayson County and Narrows at Chilhowie are the games being moved to Thursday.
Samsung reacts to Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo; ‘reheating our leftovers’
Samsung is apparently of two minds when it comes to reacting to Apple’s first foldable device, with some interesting reactions...
Shooting to the top with a new form factor? - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 review
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 review: How does Samsung’s new foldable smartphone perform in everyday life? We evaluate the display, performance, camera, battery, and usability, and reveal exactly who the Fold8 is for—as well as where this foldable flagship still has work to do.
Skip iPhone Duo and Slap $300 Off Galaxy Z Fold 8
It might be iPhone Duo day, but Samsung still has two excellent new foldables it doesn’t want you to forget about. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8 are discounted heavily with no trade-in required. Instead of being an iPhone Duo beta tester, you can go with the best foldables...
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Official IKEA Mod Features Matt Berry as a Kallax Storage Companion
What We Do in the Shadows' Matt Berry voices an IKEA Kallax bookcase in a free official Creation for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Dutch scientists pipe office urine into bacteria-filled cells that generate electricity and recover nitrogen and phosphorus, while a related system can produce hydrogen
Pee breaks are one of the most relaxing times in the office when you finally get to have some sane moments to yourself. Which is why most employees take numerous such breaks within a day.
Becky G expands her block in new album ‘Baraja Bendita’
LOS ANGELES — This past February, Becky G was decked in a tiger-print Roberto Cavalli coat, preening for photos on the streets of Milan: a 13-hour flight away from LAX,
Becky G expands her block in new album ‘Baraja Bendita’
LOS ANGELES — This past February, Becky G was decked in a tiger-print Roberto Cavalli coat, preening for photos on the streets of Milan: a 13-hour flight away from LAX,
Worried about rising beef prices? WA farmers say, share a cow
CARNATION, Washington — Far from the refrigerated meat sections of Seattle's grocery stores, two dozen beef cattle relaxed in the afternoon drizzle falling on Carnation Farms' grassy fields. Livestock manager
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is outselling Samsung's record-breaking Fold 7 by a wide margin
Samsung finally explained the engineering behind the gap.
Lancaster County judge hears challenge to Nebraska K-12, collegiate sports ballot measure
A Lincoln voter refiled a challenge this week to a ballot measure seeking to cement limits on public school sports participation to student-athletes’ sex at birth after the Nebraska Supreme Court declined to hear the lawsuit.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 display corners can bend inward on purpose, Samsung says [Gallery]
The internet is mad. Shocking statement, I know, but this time it’s about a perceived quality control issue on the...
Scientists confirm Newton’s gravity law
Gravity has survived its largest-scale test yet, holding up across distances of up to 230 megaparsecs, or about 750 million light-years. University of Pennsylvania physicists found that the force weakens with distance almost exactly as Newton’s equations predict, a relationship later incorporated into Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Galaxies and galaxy clusters move faster than...
5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Thinking about picking up the new Galaxy S26 FE? Before you do, you might want to consider your alternatives.
Samsung monthly updates: September 2026 security patch gets detailed
Samsung has detailed the September 2026 security patch for Galaxy smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. It addresses a total of 90 security vulnerabilities. O
ESPN’s Katie George Just Changed Sideline Reporting Forever
Katie George Is Officially a Sports Media Psycho Some people had a relaxing Sunday. Katie George apparently looked at the sports calendar and said, “Why not do two cities and two sports instead?” George spent Sunday night in Nashville working the nationally televised Ole Miss-Louisville game at Nissan Stadium for ABC. Then came Monday. New…
Galaxy S25 gets four new features with the new One UI 9 beta update
Today, Samsung released the second One UI 9.0 beta update for the Galaxy S25 series. Besides bug fixes and stability improvements, the update has brought four n
A galaxy-shaking clash comes to Warhammer TV this week
Necron C’tan Shards and Tyranid monsters collide on Battle Report.
Galaxies tangled in science and spirit | Space photo of the day for Sept. 7, 2026
"Astronomy is not just science or spirit; it's both at the same time."
All of the best Labor Day deals: Galaxy Z Fold 8 $250 off, Pixel 11, Anker chargers, TVs, much more
The Labor Day sales at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are flying today an, after over a week’s worth of...
One UI 9 brings a minor feature that can help improve battery life of Galaxy devices
Samsung has released One UI 9 beta updates to several eligible Galaxy devices over the past few weeks. Besides a slightly refreshed UI design language and new c
I was wrong about the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but the iPhone Ultra is still in danger
A recent poll reveals almost everyone is excited about foldables, but under certain conditions.
iPhone 18 colors, Galaxy S27 Ultra camera detailed, Poco F9 series unveiled, Week 36 in review
vivo T5 5g also unveiled. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could get a completely refreshed color palette this year. A new leak claims Apple will offer the...
Meghan Markle’s next act is anyone’s guess
Harry and Meghan’s plans for the U.K. remain unclear, as does the prospect of Meghan returning to acting
The One Seed Dietitians Recommend for Brain, Heart, and Gut Health
Chia seeds top dietitians’ picks for brain, heart, and gut health thanks to fiber, ALA omega-3s, and antioxidants, with flaxseed close behind.
5 Cheaper Android Phones To Try Instead Of The Google Pixel 11
Previous-generation flagship phones are still excellent and now they go for cheaper. That includes the Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25.
Galaxy S27 Pro gets Samsung’s fastest charging speed yet
Samsung is planning to launch four high-end phones, the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27+, Galaxy S27 Pro, and Galaxy S27 Ultra, early next year. While most of their spec
Post Match Reaction: Dortmund Complete the Comeback in Hoffenheim
Borussia Dortmund did it the hard way today in only their second match of the season. Away to Hoffenheim, the Black and Yellows went two goals behind, leaving it all to do with thirty minutes to play. Waldemar Anton took charge, sporting the captain’s armband, blasting through the Hoffenheim defense at a lax moment to […]
Deals: Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8 get first big price cuts, Galaxy S26 FE launches
The Galaxy S26 FE comes with a $200 gift card, which helps it fend off the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy A57. The Samsung Galaxy Z8 series of foldables launched...
Have we got our Galaxy completely wrong? Scientists just worked out it's much wider than they thought | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
New measurements of our Milky Way Galaxy show its spiral arms lie up to 10 per cent farther away than expected.
Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro, S27 Ultra certification reveals 60W charging speed
Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra have reportedly received 3C certification with 60W charging, while the Galaxy S27 and S27 Plus offer slower speeds.
You Can Get 5 Excellent 90+ Rated Steam Games For Under $25 Right Now
Tomb Raider and Guardians of the Galaxy belong in any big Steam library
The Fierce Battle For Kids’ Eyeballs...Plus Two “Devils” Face Off
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) During the week of this report, Spider-Man: Brand New Day hit theaters and went on to become one of the biggest films of all time. So, you know what that means! It’s time for a poll! Recently, Project Hail Mary came to Prime Video and became a top five film for them, but didn’t smash streaming records, a feat I cautiously thought it could accomplish. Can Spider-Man 4 do better? To set the stakes, some of the biggest films of all time do just okay on streaming. Wicked, Top Gun: Maverick, and Barbie come to mind... But unlike those films, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a Sony film which means it’s headed to Netflix, the world’s largest streamer. Now, per friend of the newsletter and my go-to Netflix expert, Kasey Moore of What’s on Netflix, Sony films usually appear on Netflix 120 days after they premiere, which means Spidey 4 would land on Netflix on, checks notes, 28-November, one of the two biggest streaming weekends of the year! But Sony occasionally delays its biggest hits for a bit longer, to give them more time to make money on PVOD, so Spider-Man: Brand New Day might not swing onto Netflix until late December or even February 2027. Loading... Okay, on to this week’s issue. Since The Super Mario Galaxy Movie made its way to Peacock, I’m looking at the true workhorse of streaming viewership: kids films. And the surprising film that bested most Netflix animated movies. All that, plus Hulu has a new show that might be a hit (for them…?), two “Devils” square off on streaming, Zendaya tries to find some streaming magic, Netflix’s I Will Find You continues to do well, House of the Dragon tries to break into the season three top ten, some big NBC sports and summer programs, what friendly neighborhood Spider-Man character actually generates the most viewership on streaming, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of July 27th to August 2nd, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - As The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Hits Peacock, How Have Kids Films Fared in 2026? Like Mario hopping on a Koopa, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie landed on Peacock on 30-July. (Yeah, I kinda forced that Mario reference.) How did it do? Great, just like the first film. It got 13.0 million hours on its opening, and that’s good enough to take second place among Peacock films on the Nielsen charts all time: As I mention all the time, Peacock just isn’t the world’s biggest streamer—in fact, nowhere close—so its films struggle to put up numbers like Netflix (or even Prime Video and Disney+). So this is a solid debut for that streamer. And as we saw last time, The Super Mario Bros. Movie had a HUGE second life on Netflix when it moved streamers. This chart doesn’t even show how long the first Mario lasted on Netflix: a whopping, KPop-esque 31 weeks. For NBCUniversal, though, the big win was the second Mario movie grossing $429 million in America and over $1 billion globally. But yeah, to add a very strong streaming performance only makes its success even greater. Illumination pretty clearly has another hit franchise on their hands. This is a good time, though, to check in on kids films so far in 2026. We’ve had a few big, big titles, a rare Netflix success, and some disappointments. Let’s start with the top animated films since November of 2025, over their first four weeks on the charts, along with a few of the “best all time” animated films: (As a reminder, if a film doesn’t make the Nielsen top ten lists, I don’t have data for it, so it gets a “zero” in terms of viewership. Now, it had some viewership, but I don’t know what it is, so it gets a zero.) I added a few titles to get an idea of what the best of the best looks like in terms of animation. And you can see, through four weeks, Zootopia 2 can now claim “one of the biggest streaming films of all time” titles. GOAT too did surprisingly well, besting Netflix’s biggest films (Swapped and In Your Dreams) through four weeks. When I’ve talked about how films can have varying performances on streaming compared to their box office, this is what I mean. Goat just managed to gross even $103 million at the box office—so it’s popular, but just barely—but did very well on streaming. Of course, what set Encanto and KPop Demon Hunters apart from the rest was their absolutely insane longevity. Here are the kids film charts through eight weeks to show that: And really KPop Demon Hunters just kept going, and no 2025 or 2026 kids films have had that sort of longevity. I can’t wait to see the sequel in theaters. Film - Two Devils and a Drama As I wrote last week, in the past, theatrical-first film flops weren’t eligible for “Miss of the Week” or “Miss of the Year” honors/dishonors, but since so many more films go to theaters first these days, I’ve made them eligible now! But it’s complicated. You see, this is a Streaming Ratings Report, emphasis on streaming, which makes analyzing this week’s two biggest streaming misses—The Drama on HBO Max (A24’s dramedy starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson) and Prime Video’s The Devil Mouth (a killer shark movie starring young attractive people)—somewhat tricky. The Drama isn’t eligible for Luminate, but The Devil’s Mouth only had 1.5 million hours in its first week: The Devil’s Mouth notched 5.2 million hours according to Nielsen. Meanwhile, The Drama missed the charts entirely. Not great! But Prime Video is a much bigger streamer than HBO Max. That said, HBO Max titles are on Prime Video, but I think Prime Video prioritizes their original/exclusive titles, which helps boost their viewership. Complicating this further, The Drama made $48 million in the US—while A24 sells foreign distribution; the $57 million of overseas grosses helps A24 sell overseas rights for money in the future—off of a $28 million budget (which seems low for Zendaya and Pattinson, so they might have backend). The Devil’s Mouth, though, had zero dollars at the box office. The other stats for The Devil’s Mouth are bleak, and by “bleak”, I mean horrendous: a 4.7 on 15K reviews on IMDb (yikes) and a 46 on Metacritic (double yikes). The Drama, though buzzy online, only has a solid (but far from elite) 7.1 IMDb score on 121K reviews and a 59 on Metacritic (which is far, far lower than I’d have guessed). So which film is the “Miss of the Week”? I’m giving it to The Devil’s Mouth for one simple reason: it’s a horror film. And almost all horror films, even poorly reviewed horror films, should get a shot in theaters to at least try to recoup some of their budgets. The Drama made money at the box office and The Devil’s Mouth didn’t. It’s just like the situation last issue with Obsession and Masters of the Universe. Sure, Obsession didn’t pop on the streaming charts, but at least it already made it money at the box office. And as we’ve been seeing for years now and we’ll see all fall, theatrical films just do better on streaming. After all, the big “devil” winner this week was actually The Devil Wears Prada 2 with 14.8 million hours according to Nielsen. That’s right, The Devil Wears Prada 2—one of the box office success stories of May—came to streaming and parlayed its $220 million box office into 14.8 million Nielsen hours. Disney also put out a datecdote that it had 15.2 million “views” globally in five days, but again we don’t have a lot of great context for what that means. Here’s how it stacks up to other Hulu films, since I’m categorizing this mainly as a Hulu title (though it was also on Disney+): Share Quick Notes on Film We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Whether Hulu has a new hit show on its hands... The top first and third seasons of all time and which shows are climbing those charts… What version of Spidey is the most popular... What sport and TV show are performing better on NBC than the NBA... All the flops, bombs and misses... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! Next week, wow, things stay so busy. One of streaming’s biggest shows of all time, Ted Lasso, returns along with new YA-ish shows from Hulu (The Shards, from Ryan Murphy) and Prime Video (Sterling Point). The Challenge moves to Paramount+, plus My Life with the Walter Boys returns to Netflix and Futurama returns to Hulu. 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What Box Office Bomb Crushed Obsession on Streaming?
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get into this week’s issue, let me ask you for some suggestions. At the risk of coining too many names for too many things (hence my dictionary of terms...), I need a name for straight-to-streaming films that are too expensive to justify a straight-to-streaming release, but not big enough to justify a theatrical release. Like some of the films I highlighted in last week’s tally of the biggest film flops of 2026 so far: Hulu’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Pizza Movie or Never Change! They don’t feel like “made for TV movies” (think Hallmark and Lifetime movies, cheap Netflix romcoms, or Disney Channel Original movies, for example) but they don’t feel big enough for the big screen. They’re not “cinematic” enough, so to speak. As I wrote... “I still need a name for this middle zone of film that’s too expensive to go straight-to-streaming but too small to justify a theatrical release (with all the PR, distribution, marketing and whatnot costs that go along with it), the Goldilocks zone of streaming film death.” Friend of the newsletter Brandon Katz has suggested the “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”. I love that first one. I’d offer up the much wordier “The Streaming Budget Dead Zone” or “the Goldilocks Zone of streaming film death” but that last one isn’t accurate since, unlike Goldilocks’ porridge, these films are the opposite of “just right”. That’s the problem! Anyway, if you have any suggestions, let me know! On to today’s Streaming Ratings Report. As you can tell by today’s headline, things are going to be spicy! I’m looking at a box office bomb that did really, really well on streaming, somewhat challenging a few different narratives. And another Netflix series declined in its second season. All that, plus Wicked: For Good switching streamers, The Hawk continuing its strong run, _The Bear’_s finale season finally dropping off the charts, the WNBA posting a big viewership number, “shallow libraries”, a sitcom spinoff failing to launch, more big budget IP flopping on Paramount+, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of July 20th to July 26th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - The Latest Theatrical Success Story on Streaming In the latest edition of “Flops, Bombs and Misses of the First Half of 2026”, I made a crucial change: I started including theatrical films with the streaming misses. The streamers have collectively—including Netflix, but not to as big of an extent—stopped making a lot of straight-to-streaming films, and the ones they do make aren’t as expensive as in the heyday of the streaming bubble. After the following two films bombed in theaters, you’d guess that they’ll be included in my next collection of flops, bombs and misses six months from now: Masters of the Universe on Prime Video (only $64 million domestic box office) Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max ($79 million domestic) But you’d be wrong! Masters of the Universe, a reboot of the He-Man franchise, a toy from the 1980s, came to streaming on 22-July and did great! This long-gestating project—it’s been at every studio for years, and came close to getting a greenlight at Netflix—then finally came to theaters in June, and showed up on streaming less than two months later. (I don’t love this short theatrical window.) It surprisingly grabbed nearly 20 million hours on its debut: That means, wait for it, Masters of the Universe is currently the eighth biggest film on streaming through two weeks. My rough bar for “hit” is shows or films in the top 15%. Ergo…Masters of the Universe is a legit, streaming hit! (One quick caveat: if it falls out of the top ten next week, it will move to 13th overall, just on the edge of the top 15.) Of course, that’s the data for just 2026. Here’s how it stacks up to Prime Video’s theatrical films: That drop into its second week is typical for Amazon films, but also a worrying sign. I have a feeling interest in this film is front-loaded and we’ll see it drop off after this. As for Mortal Kombat II, in this case, the viewership numbers roughly match the theatrical outing, with only 4.1 million hours in its first week. Here’s how it stacks up to other HBO Max films: The best defense of this number is that, as a relatively violent rated-R film, Mortal Kombat II never had a good chance at breaking out. So now it’s time for a little big of “Entertainment Nuance Guy”: First, yeah, my headline is obviously facetious, since Masters of the Universe besting Obsession says more about horror as a genre than it does that film. Second, I read and listened to quite a few “nobody wanted this IP” takes about Masters of the Universe, and that’s not really true. At least enough people wanted it to power a 20 million+ hour debut! Third, both this film and Mortal Kombat II were considered “average” by viewers, but not great films, with a 6.4 and 6.3 respectively on IMDb. That’s just shy of the level needed to be a word-of-mouth hit. Fourth, in the olden days, strong word of mouth could transform a box office miss into a cable/DVD hit, like Austin Powers or The Shawshank Redemption. We haven’t seen a lot of examples of that on streaming, though. And there are far fewer ways to monetize the post-theatrical life of a film these days. Fifth, Prime Video has shown an ability to push their own titles well, likely because they control the Amazon Fire TV ecosystem. Add it all up, and here’s my nuanced take on Masters of the Universe: it was a box office bomb, but, shockingly, a streaming hit. Unfortunately, while being a theatrical hit saves your film financially, being a streaming hit does not. Both Masters of the Universe and Mortal Kombat II had big budgets and needed to make more money in theaters to justify them. So…Straight-to-Streaming or Theaters? We’ve hit a really fun point in the streaming calendar, since the films that came out in theaters in April, May, and June are now arriving on streaming. So the “Do theatrical releases help streaming performances?” question is gonna get a fresh round of updates nearly every week. No single week will answer the question, but we may get some insights. For example, so far in 2026, it looks like theatrical films are lasting longer on the weekly Nielsen film charts. Here’s a list of films that have made the charts in their fourth or fifth week of release, separated by “for kids” and “general entertainment”: It certainly seems like theatrical films are lasting just a pinch longer on the charts, with Project Hail Mary being the current five-week champion. One Battle After Another did well for HBO Max too, and even The Sheep Detectives made it four weeks. The only exception to this trend? Obsession, which only lasted two weeks on the charts. You might tempted to overreact to this news. Don’t. Obsession is a huge horror hit, but horror just doesn’t do as well on streaming. By the way, here’s the Google Trends for various theatrical and stremaing films: Plus, when it comes to Netflix in four months, Obsession may have another big boost. Quick Notes on Film Note that when I write, “the streamers have pulled back on straight-to-streaming films” that doesn’t mean “abandoned” because Netflix is gonna Netflix. On 24-July, they released 72 Hours, a Kevin Hart comedy. Along with Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, John Cena and Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart is a streaming film star now. Did this latest one work? Not really. It only garnered two weeks of 13.2 and 12.2 million hours on its debut, well below the 20-million-hour hit threshold. It also was poorly received critically—a 44 on Metacritic—and by customers—a 5.4 on IMDb on 21K IMDb reviews. We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… The latest Netflix true crime doc to pop on the charts… How The Bear finished its run… Netflix’s latest Western to return to streaming… What Paramount+ animated film flopped… And what sitcom also missed… All the flops, bombs and misses… And a whole lot more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! I’m behind by a week, so we’ve got two issues coming your way this week, including one in a couple of days or so, then we’ll be all caught up**.** Next issue, inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to Peacock, I’m going to take a look at the workhouse of streaming TV: kids films. Plus The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues theatrical films’ big run on streaming. All that, plus another surprise hit on Hulu, Lioness on CBS, and a whole lot more. 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