'The Fall Guy' gives Hollywood a muted summer kickoff with a $28.5M opening
โThe Fall Guy,โ the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened with a below-expectations $28.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, providing a lukewarm start to a summer movie season thatโs very much to be determined for Hollywood.
โBlue Beetleโ unseats โBarbieโ atop box office, ending four-week reign
The DC superhero film โBlue Beetleโ led weekend ticket sales with an estimated $25.4 million, according to studio estimates, dethroning โBarbieโ from the top spot after a record-setting run that left movie theaters colored pink for a month.
Testing new release strategy, 'The Croods' opens to $14.2M
This image released by DreamWorks shows a scene from the animated film "The Croods: A New Age." โThe Croods: A New Ageโ is expected to shift to the home before Christmas for a $20 rental. โThe Croods: A New Ageโ grossed $9.7 million Friday-Sunday, which rivals even the weekend start for โTenetโ in September. Most have tapped out around $4 million on opening weekend. One of the biggest differences is that Universal spent more heavily to market the $65 million โCroodsโ sequel from DreamWorks Animation.
Universal strikes another deal with a major theater chain
Another major movie theater chain has struck a deal with Universal Pictures to allow for shorter exclusive theatrical windows. Canadaโs Cineplex has agreed on a multiyear โdynamic windowโ agreement, the film exhibitor and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group said Friday. Titles that have an opening weekend of $50 million or more in North American theaters will be guaranteed at least five weeks in theaters. The $50 million mark is just theoretical at this point, however. In normal times, a $50 million launch is not uncommon for Universal's biggest franchises like โFast & Furiousโ and โJurassic World."
Universal and Cinemark agree to shorten theatrical window
Universal Pictures has struck another deal with a major theater chain to shorten the theatrical window from three months to as little as 17 days in an effort to adapt to the new business realities of moviegoing. Universal and Cinemark announced Monday a multiyear agreement that guarantees three full weekends, or 17 days, of theatrical exclusivity for Universal and Focus Feature titles before a film can become available to rent on demand. Earlier this summer, Universal made a similar agreement with the nation's largest chain, AMC Theaters. Zoradi said that Universal was forward-thinking in coming to this โmutually beneficial agreement" and wouldn't be surprised if more studios follow suit. Cinemark, which operates brands like Century, Tinseltown and Rave, operates some 332 theaters in the U.S. and 202 internationally.
Director Stephen Daldry exits 'Wicked' film adaptation
The long-gestating film adaptation of the Broadway hit โWickedโ has hit another snag. Director Stephen Daldry is exiting the project, a studio representative confirmed Tuesday. The โBilly Elliotโ director has been associated with the adaptation for years, going back as far as 2012. Writer Winnie Holzman, who wrote the musical, wrote the script with โWickedโ composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. At one point, the film was supposed to hit theaters in Dec. 2019.
Disney to release Mulan on streaming service, for a price
Mulan is no longer headed for a major theatrical release. The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday that it will debut its live-action blockbuster on its subscription streaming service, Disney+, on Sept. 4. The company plans to release it in theaters in areas where Disney+ is not available. Originally set for a March 27 release, Mulan moved to late July, then late August and was then pulled from the calendar all together as COVID-19 cases spiked through the U.S. But few expected Mulan, a $200 million production, to go this route, even Disney.
Pete Davidson: 'The King of Staten Island' is 100% me
In this image released by Universal Pictures, Pete Davidson, left, appears with director Judd Apatow, center, during the filming of "The King of Staten Island." It was in front of a handful of people at a place called the Looney Bin Comedy Club in Staten Island. Its an ironic place for Davidson to be since The King of Staten Island, a comedy Davidson co-wrote with Apatow and Dave Sirus, begins with him playing videogames in his moms basement. The King of Staten Island may change that. Ill never forget that.For those who know him more from the tabloids, The King of Staten Island will certainly reveal a different side to Davidson.