If you're a parent with a kid of a certain age, there's a damn good chance you've seen at least one of the "Trolls" movies. They are wildly popular and now ranks as one of the more successful toy-to-screen adaptations in modern Hollywood history. The first "Trolls" film was released in 2016 during Hollywood's 2010s franchise boom. It was a solid hit that gave rise to a sequel, which arrived in the form of 2020's "Trolls World Tour." On the surface, that movie seemed to be an unassuming, harmless animated follow-up to a hit film aimed at kids. In reality, it helped change Hollywood forever.

Let's rewind the clocks a bit. It's March 2020 and movie theaters all around the world have been forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The box office is on life support, with drive-ins making an unexpected comeback. Hollywood studios are fearful of an uncertain future...