Brooks Barnes

Paramount’s cable business has cratered. The news division is in turmoil. A.I. is coming for movies. And those are just the obvious challenges facing David Ellison as he takes control.

The movie, the fifth effort to adapt the comic characters for the big screen, was expected to collect about $218 million worldwide in its first weekend.

The film is the latest part of a startling turnaround for the studio, which has now released five consecutive hits.

But the movie cost at least $350 million to make and market, analysts said, so it will need to attract substantial crowds in the weeks ahead to make money.

The group invited more than 500 actors, directors and others to join. Left off the list was Karla Sofía Gascón, the first Oscar-nominated openly trans actor.

The original space adventure sold about $21 million in tickets at domestic theaters from Thursday night through Sunday, putting new pressure on the once-unstoppable studio.

The movie had stronger-than-expected ticket sales over the weekend, becoming the third PG-rated, live-action hit in three months.

The suit, against Midjourney, is the first time major Hollywood companies have sued over A.I.-generated images.

Disney said it had agreed to add $439 million to what it had already paid for the streaming service. Comcast had wanted $5 billion more.

Movies that are major downers, it turns out, are a big film festival draw. “Sometimes the world is such that you just need to wallow a little bit.”