If there was ever a year to speak with Indiewire Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson the day after the Oscars it would be this one. In what should have been a celebration of first’s; from the first deaf actor to win an Oscar (Troy Kotsur), to the first openly gay actress to win a prize (Ariana DeBose) to the first streaming film to win Best Picture (CODA). Instead, all of this was overshadowed by Will Smith taking the stage to assault comedian Chris Rock over a joke about his wife.

Thompson tells us what it was like to be in the room where it happened (she was), the industry’s response to Smith’s actions and what the incident means for the future of the Academy Awards.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including audiences (and profits) returning to Broadway, the music industry pulls in $26 billion in 2021 and an Indian Telugu language action film nearly tops the worldwide box office.

Oscars Losers and Winners, from Will Smith to Sundance’s ‘CODA’ and ‘Summer of Soul’

https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/oscars-2022-winners-losers-will-smith-sundance-coda-and-summer-of-soul-1234712098/

‘RRR’ Roars To Record-Breaking Bows – International Box Office

https://deadline.com/2022/03/rrr-opening-weekend-records-rajamouli-jr-ntr-ram-charan-box-office-1234987518/

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum’s ‘The Lost City’ Takes Down ‘The Batman’ With $31 Million Debut

https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/box-office-the-lost-city-beats-batman-sandra-bullock-channing-tatum-1235215862/

‘Putin Is Just the Frontman’: Sergei Loznitsa, the Ukrainian Film-Maker Who Refuses to Be Cancelled

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/24/putin-is-just-the-frontman-sergei-loznitsa-the-ukrainian-film-maker-who-refuses-to-be-cancelled

Spotify Stops Streaming in Russia Over Safety Concerns

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60881567

International Emmys to Bar All Russian Programs from Competition

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/international-emmys-russia-competition-ukraine-1235215007

Inside the Oscars Ceremony, Will Smith Drama Eclipsed Others That Never Made It on Camera

https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/inside-oscars-ceremony-will-smith-drama-1234712155/

2022 Oscar Winners: Complete List

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/27/movies/oscars-winner-list.html

‘A Madea Homecoming’ and ‘Free Guy’ Both Cross 1 Billion Minutes Watched in Debut Week

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/a-madea-homecoming-free-guy-streaming-nielsen-top-10-1235213444/

‘Music Man’ Sets Box Office Record for a Reopened Broadway