• by Wayne Friedman , June 11, 2023

Continuing to find seasonal theatrical moviegoing strength, Paramount Pictures’ “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” tag-teamed with another action-adventure/comic book-based franchise -- Sony Pictures' “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” -- to deliver a big summer theatrical box-office result for mid-June.

The debut of the latest version of “Transformers” posted $60.5 million, with the second weekend of “Spider-Man” close behind at $55.4 million, according to Comscore -- a combined $115.9 million.

Six weeks into the summer period, total domestic box-office revenue is up 5% from a year ago, according to Comscore.

Globally, "Transformers" took in $170.5 million, while “Spider-Man” through two weekends is at $389.9 million.

The first weekend of “Spider-Man” took in a big $120 million.

National TV advertising spend from May 1 through June 10 is up 10% over the same period a year before to $139.4 million, according to EDO Ad EnGage. Commercial airings for movies over that period are 19% higher to 36,550 -- yielding 30% more impressions to 21.1 billion. 

Domestic campaign-to-date national TV spending for “Transformers” totals $18.5 million, while “Spider-Man” is now at $13.7 million, per EDO Ad EnGage.

Big spending for movies on the horizon includes Warner Bros.’ “The Flash” at $23.3 million (opening June 16)’ Walt Disney’s animated “Elemental” at$15.5 million (also June 16); Disney’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” at $11.2 million (June 30), and Universal’s Focus Features’ “Asteroid City” with $3.7 million; (June 23).