Entertainment
Black Adam Tops Box Office Takes Rakes in $67Million
Warner Bros.’ “Black Adam” debuted, raking in an estimated $67 million, giving Dwayne Johnson his best box-office weekend as a leading actor and launching the DC Comics character he spent a decade bringing to the big screen.
“Black Adam” was a $200 million attempt to disturb the power dynamic in the DC Extended Universe, dominated by characters like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman.
Even with the significant draw of Johnson playing in his first superhero film, the $67 million debut fell far short of that mark. Nonetheless, “Black Adam” had the greatest opening weekend since “Thor: Love and Thunder” arrived in July with $143 million.
“Black Adam,” starring Johnson as an ancient Egyptian called to the current day, has been plagued by negative reviews (40% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). The film received a B+ CinemaScore from moviegoers. It garnered $73 million abroad for a total of $140 million.
“Black Adam” took a roundabout path to theatres. The character was supposed to debut as a villain in 2019′s “Shazam!” before executives decided to give Black Adam his own film.
The sillier “Shazam!,” which cost more than $100 million to produce, debuted with $53.5 million in ticket sales and grossed $366 million worldwide.
But the stakes were higher for “Black Adam.” While promoting the film, Johnson has made no secret of his ambition to follow up “Black Adam” with a confrontation with Superman. But it’s questionable whether “Black Adam” sales are sufficient to justify that. Warner Bros. is rethinking its approach to DC Comics adaptations under new leadership.
Warner Bros. distribution president Jeff Goldstein told The Associated Press the results as his best for Dwayne Johnson outside of the “Fast & Furious” films and a PG-13 film with broad appeal that people responded to better than reviewers.
Still, Warner Bros.′ restructuring DC branch is upheaval as the studio pursues more Marvel-sized successes. In March, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” will be released.
“It all comes down to crafting terrific movies.” “It’s all about getting the appropriate scripts,” Goldstein explained. “Our studio is undergoing a substantial reworking of our production leadership, style, and strategy.” I believe we will be able to break this nut. We’re committed to doing so.”
“Ticket to Paradise,” a romantic comedy set in Bali starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney, was an excellent counterprogramming choice.
The Universal Pictures picture debuted with $16.3 million, well exceeding recent sales for rom-com, which have struggled at theatres in recent years.
The picture is already a success in other countries, where it has been in theatres for a month and has grossed $80.2 million in ticket sales.
Universal Studios R-rated “Bros,” an LGBTQ milestone in the genre, was released earlier this month with a disappointing $4.8 million.
“Ticket to Paradise” had a significant edge in its two stars, and it notably appealed to much older audiences; 64% of ticket buyers were 35 and up, according to the studio.
“It became an event film this weekend for all audiences, but notably for older audiences who can be tough to get into cinemas,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s head of distribution. “We all know this isn’t a demographic that rushes to see movies on their opening weekend. That gives us much hope for the coming weeks and months.”
According to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, it was the first weekend since July with a $65 million opening weekend and more than $100 million in total domestic ticket sales. He attributed this largely to star power in the popularity of “Ticket to Paradise” and “Black Adam”.
“Despite some movement forward in terms of the D.C .brand and this not being as well-known a character,” Dergarabedian said, “he was the motor that propelled this box office.” “This is a strong start for Dwayne Johnson in the DC Comics mix.” He’s like a supercharger for the box office.
Rotten Tomatoes score 40%, but people want to see Johnson on the big screen because he is larger than life.”
“Halloween Ends,” last week’s #1 film, plummeted dramatically in its second weekend. The Universal horror sequel, released on Peacock, fell 80% to $8 million.
Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures’ “Smile” defied the usual drops for horror movies. “Smile” came in third with $8.4 million in its 4th week of release, bringing its total domestic sales to $84.3 million.
Searchlight Pictures’ “The Banshees of Inisherin” opened with one of the year’s top pre-theatre averages as more respected award contenders hit theatres.
The Martin McDonagh movie, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, debuted at four theatres with $181,000, for a per-theater average of $45,250. Charlotte Wells’ “Aftersun,” featuring Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio as a father and young daughter on vacation, launched in four theatres with a $16,589 per-theater average for A24.
Comscore estimates ticket sales for Friday through Sunday in US and Canadian theatres. The final domestic data will be provided on Monday.
1. “Black Adam,” $67 million.
2. “Ticket to Paradise,” $16.3 million.
3. “Smile,” $8.4 million
4. “Halloween Ends,” $8 million.
5. “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile,” $4.2 million.
6. “The Woman King,” $1.9 million.
7. “Terrifier 2,” $1.9 million.
8. “Don’t Worry Darling,” $880,000.
9. “Amsterdam,” $811,000.
10. “Triangle of Sadness,” $600,000.
Source: The Associated Press, VOR News
(VOR News) – The “Merc with a Mouth” will return to the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine this weekend, and his contribution to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe extends beyond his R rating.
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” the third standalone feature film featuring Ryan Reynolds as the regenerative reprobate, is expected to gross between $160 million and $180 million in its opening weekend at the domestic box office.
The movie has already surpassed the greatest number of ticket pre-sales in 2024, according to data provided by Fandango. It is anticipated that it will break numerous records during its opening weekend.
Most noteworthy among these accomplishments is the most successful premiere for an R-rated film in history, as well as the largest domestic opening of 2024.
Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has achieved the highest opening of the year with a total of $154.2 million, as per the data provided by Comscore.
Additionally, the first “Deadpool” film has achieved the highest début for any R-rated feature film with a total of $132.4 million.
Mike Bowers, the president and CEO of Harkins Theatres, a theatre corporation located in Arizona, stated, “I am confident that this will be the largest R-rated film to ever be released if it is released.” Furthermore, it is already one of the most successful presale films in the annals of our company.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” was initially rated R because of its trailer.
It is also the 34th Deadpool & Wolverine film to be released under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner. The two Deadpool films that preceded it, both of which were rated R, were produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
The reintroduction of the X-Men and Fantastic Four into the broader Marvel catalogue was the consequence of Disney’s acquisition of the corporation in 2019.
Similar to other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is benefiting from the enthusiasm of its audience.
Audiences are anxious to view the film during its opening weekend in order to prevent spoilers. Disney has maintained the confidentiality of the majority of the film’s content, and only a limited number of press screenings have been conducted prior to the film’s release.
Bowers anticipates that individuals will continue to return for additional viewings in the weeks following the film’s premiere.
He made the observation that “this is a film that there is so much happening, so many jokes and funny sequences that no one is going to be able to eat just one, you know, they’re going to be back.”
Ellis Jacob, the president and chief executive officer of Cineplex, the largest cinema theatre operator in Canada, echoed Bower’s viewpoint. Jacob asserted that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is replete with Easter eggs and that viewers will revisit the film to attempt to locate them all.
Furthermore, he stated that a substantial number of moviegoers are purchasing tickets for premium screenings, such as IMAX, Dolby, and ScreenX, which are more expensive.
Additionally, Marvel has collaborated with movie theatres to grant licenses for items such as collector popcorn tubs and drink containers, which the theatre operators anticipate will be in high demand.
Historically, concessions have been the most profitable revenue source for movie theatres, and the presence of limited-edition products can result in even greater sales of food and beverages.
” Deadpool & Wolverine” is an essential Marvel release.
Shawn Robbins, Deadpool & Wolverine the inventor and owner of Box Office Theory, announced that Disney had “slowed down the pace” and had scheduled fewer films in the series that has dominated the global box office for over a decade. Box Office Theory is also associated with Robbins.
He stated that Disney is making an effort to correct the course after a series of theatrical errors and poor box office performance, as well as a flood of streaming content that overwhelmed even the most devoted fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Robbins pointed out that “in the end, despite the fact that this is a Marvel movie, it may be viewed equally as a midsummer action comedy that stars personalities and brands that are loved by both die-hard fans and casual viewers.”
The fact that Reynolds and Jackman have both made a name for themselves in Deadpool & Wolverine popular culture and have maintained a cordial relationship through interviews and social media makes them an ideal pairing.
Likewise, there is genuine curiosity regarding the first R-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and whether it will retain the qualities that made the first two Deadpool films and [Jackman’s 2017 Wolverine film] Logan so successful.
SOURCE: CNBC
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Turner Sports hopes to continue its long-standing relationship with the NBA.
On Monday, Warner Bros. Discovery informed the league that it will match Amazon Prime Video’s $1.8 billion annual bid. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have been broadcast on TNT since the network started in 1988.
“We studied the offers and accepted one of them. This will allow fans to continue to experience our unequaled coverage, including the greatest live game productions in the business and our legendary studio shows and talent, as we build on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years,” WBD stated. “We submitted our matching paperwork to the league today.” We are looking forward to the NBA completing our new contract.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
The NBA Board of Governors approved the league’s 11-year media rights deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday at its meeting in Las Vegas. WBD received all three contracts on Wednesday, beginning the five-day clock for deciding whether to match.
The new deals, for $76 billion, will begin with the 2025-26 season and entail a game being shown or streamed nationally every night during the second half of the season.
The Prime Video package would have offered games on Thursday night after it finished carrying NFL games. The other nights were Friday and Saturday.
TNT would air games on Thursday, with the other nights being streamed on Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav warned at an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”
Warner Bros. Discovery and the league could not negotiate an agreement during their exclusive bargaining period, which ended in April. Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser have recently announced that they intend to match one of the agreements.
“During our four-decade collaboration with the NBA, we have consistently provided exceptional coverage for basketball fans. WBD stated that they behaved in good faith to offer strong proposals that were fair to both parties throughout exclusive and non-exclusive negotiations to maintain their long-standing collaboration. “Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for under it.”
NBC and WBD would alternate broadcasting one of the conference finals series. ESPN and ABC will continue to broadcast the league’s top package and will host conference finals and the NBA Finals each year.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, Amazon’s offer contained a mechanism for paying many years in advance into an escrow account, which many thought would be difficult to match. However, WBD has informed the league that it has the financial resources to do so.
“The Ringer’s” Bill Simmons originally mentioned the Amazon provision on “The Town” podcast.
People talked to the AP anonymously because they were not at liberty to discuss such serious topics.
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
WBD pays $1.4 billion per season under the existing nine-year contract, which expires after next season.
WBD is making a large financial investment, but it is necessary. Without the NBA, it would have struggled to charge its present subscriber fees to cable and satellite companies.
Retaining the NBA would also ensure that the popular “Inside the NBA” show will continue. Charles Barkley was dismissive of WBD’s negotiation position and did not believe it would match. Barkley revealed at the end of this season that he planned to retire following the next season.
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
BERLIN — An American man who made threats against Taylor Swift on social media was seized before her first concert in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and will be held in custody until her gigs there end, authorities said Thursday.
swift | AP news Image
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
According to police, the accused stalker, a 34-year-old whose name has not been disclosed, had a ticket to Taylor’s concert at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins-Arena on Wednesday. They stated that he was detained at event admission checks because an early assessment could not completely rule out a risk.
According to police, the man threatened Taylor and her partner on social media. They say he was detained after receiving tips from the event’s organizers.
The American superstar will perform in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as part of her Eras tour. According to authorities, a local court has ordered that the suspected stalker be detained until Saturday.
They went on to say that Swift and the audience were always safe. The event drew approximately 60,000 people on Wednesday evening and went off without incident.
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
Before the concerts, Gelsenkirchen temporarily renamed the town “Swiftkirchen” and honored the singer on a “Walk of Fame” dedicated to local luminaries.
Taylor has plans to perform in two more German cities after Gelsenkirchen: Hamburg and Munich.
SOURCE | AP
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