The opening weekend of “The Batman” was the anticipated blockbuster everyone was expecting, though an ongoing pandemic and a political crisis in Europe softened its global take. AMC Theatres on the other hand saw an opportunity to raise ticket prices, but only for the latest entrant to the Batman franchise. Is this a strategy that was a long time coming or one that will keep casual moviegoers at home.

Meanwhile, the cultural boycott of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine has escalated over the past week with film festivals banning Russian delegations, movie studios pausing new releases and Netflix halting its streaming service in the country.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including video game publisher Epic gets into the music business, Amazon closes its physical bookstores and the big winners at this year’s Spirit Awards.

Oscars: Academy Infighting Mounting Over Categories Controversy

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscars-infighting-over-excluding-categories-1235103324/

‘The Batman’ Lights Up $124M Overseas For $258M Global Bow

https://deadline.com/2022/03/the-batman-opening-international-box-office-robert-pattinson-dc-1234969771/

‘The Batman’ Ushers in New Era of Movie Ticket Price Hikes

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-batman-higher-ticket-prices-amc-1235106136/

Spirit Awards Winners: Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘The Lost Daughter’ Wins Best Feature

https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/2022-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-1234704595/

‘Flee,’ ‘Summer of Soul’ Top IDA Documentary Awards

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ida-documentary-awards-2022-winners-list-1235104878/

AMC Is Charging More For ‘Batman’ Tickets; CEO On Variable Pricing And “Transformational M&A”

​​https://deadline.com/2022/03/amc-entertainment-ceo-adam-aron-batman-tickets-variable-pricing-box-office-1234968595/

‘Batman’ AMC Surge Pricing Postmortem: Exhibitor Not The First Major To Hike Ticket Prices On A Superhero Pic

https://deadline.com/2022/03/batman-spiderman-movie-ticket-price-increase-amc-1234972159/

Marilyn Manson Sues Evan Rachel Wood Over Alleged “Malicious Falsehood” Of Abuse Claims

https://deadline.com/2022/03/marilyn-manson-lawsuit-evan-rachel-wood-abuse-claims-hbo-documentary-1234968988/

Amazon to Close All Bookstores

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/88669...