Comedy Duo Discuss Theatrical Revival and New Film 'Spa Weekend' on Podcast
Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, creators of 'The Hangover' and 'Bad Moms', discuss their latest comedy 'Spa Weekend' on Deadline's Crew Call podcast. They address why major studios have shifted away from pure original comedies in theaters, favoring hybrid genres or streaming releases. The film, starring Anna Faris, Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, and Michelle Buteau, is currently in cinemas via Black Bear.
The podcast conversation centers on the commercial trajectory of theatrical comedy, with The Hangover's near-$470 million global haul serving as a benchmark that subsequent original comedies struggled to match. Lucas and Moore also developed the Bad Moms franchise in 2016-2017, giving them perspective on how studio priorities evolved over a decade.
Spa Weekend, distributed by Black Bear, brings together four established comedic actresses in a theatrical release, a notable contrast to the industry's recent tendency to route pure comedies toward streaming platforms. The film's cinema presence suggests independent distributors may be filling a gap left by major studios, who now favor genre-blended projects with built-in audiences.
This discussion reflects a broader industry shift that affects both filmmakers and audiences. If pure comedies continue migrating to streaming, theatrical moviegoing could lose a key draw that historically brought casual audiences to cinemas. However, independent releases like Spa Weekend may demonstrate that demand for theatrical comedy persists, potentially encouraging studios to reconsider their risk calculations. The outcome could