Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) experienced a mixed third quarter, with significant hits in film but declining advertising revenue, reinforcing the rationale for a potential sale or split of its business segments [1][5]. Financial Performance - Consolidated revenue decreased by 16% to $1.4 billion, missing Wall Street expectations, and the company reported a net loss of $148 million. Adjusted earnings rose by 2% to $2.5 billion, with $1.3 billion in restructuring expenses and one-time charges [1]. - Advertising revenue fell by 16% to $1.4 billion, impacted by tough comparisons with the previous year due to the Summer Olympic Games and a decline in domestic pay TV subscribers [3]. Theatrical and Streaming Performance - Theatrical revenue surged by 74%, contributing to a 23% increase in studio revenue to $3.3 billion. Notable film performances included DC's Superman grossing $615 million, Weapons exceeding $267 million, and The Conjuring: Last Rites surpassing $490 million [2]. - HBO Max added 2.3 million subscribers, reaching a total of 128 million, with streaming revenue remaining flat at $2.6 billion and profit increasing by 19% to $345 million [4]. Strategic Moves - WBD announced plans to split its businesses but has also received multiple bids for acquisition, including a recent offer of $23.50 from David Ellison, the new owner of Paramount. The company is exploring offers for both the entire business and its individual segments [5][6]. - The company aims to finalize any potential transactions by year-end; if unsuccessful, it plans to proceed with the split of its studio and streaming operations from linear television by mid-2026 [6].

Theater chain AMC Entertainment beat Wall Street expectations for third-quarter revenue on Wednesday, bolstered by a strong lineup of blockbusters including "Superman" and "The Conjuring: Last Rites." ...

Group 1 - "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is the fourth and final installment in The Conjuring series, released on September 5, 2023, featuring actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga [2][3] - The film opened with a strong performance, earning $84.6 million at the North American box office during its opening weekend and has since grossed $151.1 million domestically and $248.8 million internationally, totaling $399.9 million worldwide [4] - Once it surpasses $400 million in global ticket sales, it will become the first film in The Conjuring Cinematic Universe to achieve this milestone [4] Group 2 - The film is expected to be available on digital streaming via premium video on demand (PVOD) around October 7, 2023, following the release patterns of previous Warner Bros. films [5][6] - After its PVOD release, "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is anticipated to premiere on HBO Max on either October 14 or October 21, 2023, based on the typical release schedule for new films on the platform [7] - The film is currently rated R and continues to perform well in theaters, ranking third at the domestic box office with $12.9 million earned over the weekend [8]