Ben Fritz
@benfritz.bsky.social
Entertainment industry reporter @wsj. Formerly AI Editor. My podcast: "With Great Power." My book: "The Big Picture." My email: ben.fritz@wsj.com
Theme park-caliber experiences don't all have to be part of multi-billion dollar projects that cost a family thousands of dollars to visit. www.wsj.com/business/hos...
Theme Parks’ New Strategy: Smaller, Cheaper and Shorter
Entertainment companies and developers are rushing to create a high-end middle market for out-of-home entertainment.
www.wsj.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Theme park-caliber experiences don't all have to be part of multi-billion dollar projects that cost a family thousands of dollars to visit. www.wsj.com/business/hos...
If you're interested in Disney, you should know Asad Ayaz: The most powerful marketing executive in the company's history, the immigrant son of a Pakistani general, and a leading candidate to be Disney's "next next" CEO. www.wsj.com/business/med...
The Marketing Master Trying to Make Us Fall in Love With Disney Again
The company’s first chief brand officer, Asad Ayaz, is Bob Iger’s pick to depoliticize America’s best-known entertainment company.
www.wsj.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:16 AM
If you're interested in Disney, you should know Asad Ayaz: The most powerful marketing executive in the company's history, the immigrant son of a Pakistani general, and a leading candidate to be Disney's "next next" CEO. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Apparently the problem with China's economy is that they spend too MUCH on research and technology. www.wsj.com/world/china/...
China’s Sprint for Tech Dominance Can’t Hide an Economy Full of Holes
A self-sufficiency push has made China a tougher competitor to the U.S., but it comes with enormous waste.
www.wsj.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Apparently the problem with China's economy is that they spend too MUCH on research and technology. www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Universal is in the early planning stages for a potential new theme park in Saudi Arabia that would be built by a state-backed enterprise. Scoop with Jessica Toonkel: www.wsj.com/business/med...
Exclusive | Universal Studios Looks to Saudi Arabia for New Theme Park
The Comcast division is considering a licensing deal for a project that would compete with Disney in the Middle East.
www.wsj.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Universal is in the early planning stages for a potential new theme park in Saudi Arabia that would be built by a state-backed enterprise. Scoop with Jessica Toonkel: www.wsj.com/business/med...
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" grossed $12 million in domestic previews Thursday. "Way of Water" grossed $17 million three years ago. Beginning of a softer opening for Avatar 3 vs Avatar 2?
December 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" grossed $12 million in domestic previews Thursday. "Way of Water" grossed $17 million three years ago. Beginning of a softer opening for Avatar 3 vs Avatar 2?
This was a tough one to write, but I hope we captured something real about this tragedy.
www.wsj.com/us-news/rob-...
www.wsj.com/us-news/rob-...
The Final Hours and Shocking End to Rob and Michele Reiner’s Efforts to Save Their Son
The Reiners supported their son through stints in rehab, made a movie about addiction with him, and let him live in a guesthouse. Prosecutors charged him with their murder.
www.wsj.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This was a tough one to write, but I hope we captured something real about this tragedy.
www.wsj.com/us-news/rob-...
www.wsj.com/us-news/rob-...
Presented without comment.
December 16, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Presented without comment.
"Ella McCay" opens to a truly awful $2.1 million. The fourth worst opening ever for a new movie in 2500-plus theaters, per box office mojo.
December 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
"Ella McCay" opens to a truly awful $2.1 million. The fourth worst opening ever for a new movie in 2500-plus theaters, per box office mojo.
First deal of this size between a Hollywood giant and an AI giant. Notably Disney sent Google a cease-and-desist letter just one day before announcing its new partnership with OpenAI. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Disney to Invest $1 Billion in OpenAI and License Characters for Use in ChatGPT, Sora
The three-year deal lets users generate videos of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar characters; Disney also accused Google of infringing on its copyrights
www.wsj.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
First deal of this size between a Hollywood giant and an AI giant. Notably Disney sent Google a cease-and-desist letter just one day before announcing its new partnership with OpenAI. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Last night at the "Marty Supreme" L.A. premiere, Josh Safdie said something so striking that I wrote it down. Very on point for the movie, but kind of thought provoking for life: "A dream is a heist pulled on fate."
December 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Last night at the "Marty Supreme" L.A. premiere, Josh Safdie said something so striking that I wrote it down. Very on point for the movie, but kind of thought provoking for life: "A dream is a heist pulled on fate."
We have entered a new golden age for Wall Street media industry analyst notes
December 8, 2025 at 9:55 PM
We have entered a new golden age for Wall Street media industry analyst notes
This may be a particularly tough year for Netflix at the Oscars
December 5, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This may be a particularly tough year for Netflix at the Oscars
First story for the WSJ by Harriet Ryan is, unsurprisingly, a barn burner. www.wsj.com/us-news/foot...
How the Unruly Black Market for High-School Athletes Tore a Family Apart
Ohio State wide receiver Phillip Bell III was dragged through the world of Southern California youth football, where a secret market for top talent has heated up.
www.wsj.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:44 AM
First story for the WSJ by Harriet Ryan is, unsurprisingly, a barn burner. www.wsj.com/us-news/foot...
Now that final numbers are in, this year's 5-day Thanksgiving box office total squeaked past 2012 to be the fourth biggest ever at $292.8M, behind 2024, 2018 and 2013. Per Comscore.
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Now that final numbers are in, this year's 5-day Thanksgiving box office total squeaked past 2012 to be the fourth biggest ever at $292.8M, behind 2024, 2018 and 2013. Per Comscore.
"Zootopia 2" was huge in China again Monday, powering a $24 million international gross for the day. But interestingly it grossed $4.3 million domestically, slightly less than the original "Zootopia" on its first Monday.
December 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
"Zootopia 2" was huge in China again Monday, powering a $24 million international gross for the day. But interestingly it grossed $4.3 million domestically, slightly less than the original "Zootopia" on its first Monday.
I don't think I'd be breaking any embargoes to reveal that the number of times a character says "bro" in "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is 21.
December 2, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I don't think I'd be breaking any embargoes to reveal that the number of times a character says "bro" in "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is 21.
Disney parks chief Josh D’Amaro and TV/streaming chief Dana Walden are the finalists to replace Bob Iger as CEO. Both met with Disney’s board of directors in Orlando recently to discuss their visions for the company. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Disney’s Succession Race Enters Final Stage as Iger’s Reign Draws to End
The company is widely expected to promote from within, with parks chief Josh D’Amaro and television head Dana Walden considered leading contenders.
www.wsj.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Disney parks chief Josh D’Amaro and TV/streaming chief Dana Walden are the finalists to replace Bob Iger as CEO. Both met with Disney’s board of directors in Orlando recently to discuss their visions for the company. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Avatar 3 to every other movie premiere: FAFO
December 2, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Avatar 3 to every other movie premiere: FAFO
"Just casually writing down a few notes as we talk, NBD." Then the meeting ends and I frantically run to a computer and translate those notes into something that'll make sense to me later before I forget everything.
December 2, 2025 at 12:17 AM
"Just casually writing down a few notes as we talk, NBD." Then the meeting ends and I frantically run to a computer and translate those notes into something that'll make sense to me later before I forget everything.
This ending to our profile of Cursor was always one of the most interesting issues on my mind during my stint editing AI coverage. www.wsj.com/tech/ai/mill...
December 1, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This ending to our profile of Cursor was always one of the most interesting issues on my mind during my stint editing AI coverage. www.wsj.com/tech/ai/mill...
I kind of want this Zune sweater. But $80???
Microsoft’s ugly sweaters return with Clippy, Xbox, and Zune brown options. Microsoft didn't do a holiday sweater last year, but it's definitely making up for that this time around. Full details 👇 www.theverge.com/news/835130/...
Microsoft’s ugly sweaters return with Clippy, Xbox, and Zune brown options
All three holiday sweaters can be purchased at Microsoft’s company store.
www.theverge.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I kind of want this Zune sweater. But $80???
Final domestic "Zootopia 2" opening (Tuesday night through Sunday) comes in at $158 million, above yesterday's $156 million. A bigger Sunday than expected suggests a strong and healthy run ahead for Disney's blockbuster animated sequel.
December 1, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Final domestic "Zootopia 2" opening (Tuesday night through Sunday) comes in at $158 million, above yesterday's $156 million. A bigger Sunday than expected suggests a strong and healthy run ahead for Disney's blockbuster animated sequel.
Complaining about and then linking to any 100-best anything list on the Internet is like tossing your dog table scraps and then wondering why it begs for more the next day
November 24, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Complaining about and then linking to any 100-best anything list on the Internet is like tossing your dog table scraps and then wondering why it begs for more the next day
On the down side, my bag and some clothes were shredded in transit. On the plus side, I learned from the friendly baggage guy that Michael Jackson actually faked his death. Just like Elvis. (Though the King has surely died of natural causes by now. That’s just common sense.)
November 17, 2025 at 1:08 PM
On the down side, my bag and some clothes were shredded in transit. On the plus side, I learned from the friendly baggage guy that Michael Jackson actually faked his death. Just like Elvis. (Though the King has surely died of natural causes by now. That’s just common sense.)
A story in three acts
November 17, 2025 at 3:11 AM
A story in three acts