Unbelievable!   Expectations were high for AMERICAN SNIPER, but who would’ve known that it would pull-in $88 million in its debut from 3,555 theatres  for Warner Bros. this weekend?  The Clint Eastwood Drama starring Bradley Cooper opened – pardon the pun – with a bang, with $30.5 million debut Friday, setting an all-time record for a January release.  This also has the distinction of being Eastwood‘s highest-grossing opening for a Film also. Critics were fairly impressed with a 72% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a superb A+ CinemaScore.  Undoubtedly its Best Picture nod earlier this week helped solidify the buzz for Moviegoers.

THE WEDDING RINGER starring a Duo of Funnymen in Kevin Hart and Chris Rock debuts in second with a solid $20.6 million for Sony Pictures from 3,003 theatres. Critics weren’t impressed with a 33% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences loved it with an A-CinemaScore, which should bode well for spreading word of mouth in coming weeks.

PADDINGTON opens in third this weekend for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. with a good $19.3 million from 3,303 theatres. Get this, Critics gave it a brilliant 98% on the Tomatometer, and an on-par A CinemaScore was received from Audiences for this Adaptation of the internationally-adored Children’s Franchise. Ben Whishaw and Nicole Kidman star in the Film.

TAKEN 3 after opening on-top last weekend, slips to fourth spot with $15.3 million for 20th Century Fox. In two weeks it has pulled-in a spiffy $66 million domestically.

SELMA might not have received a lot of Oscar love, but Audiences certainly are perceptive to all the buzz surrounding the Best Picture Nominee, placing fifth with $10.3 million for Paramount Pictures in its fourth week out, expanding to 2,235 theatres this weekend.

THE IMITATION GAME crosses the $50 million-mark domestically in its eighth week out, also expanding to 1,611 theatres for The Weinstein Co./Elevation Pictures.  The Best Picture Nominee places seventh this weekend with $7.3 million.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.9 million in its fourth week out.  It now has made $106.5 million domestically for 20th Century Fox.

After making our day with his Day of Positivity, the World’s fave sea-dwelling invertebrate SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS made a rare appearance in Toronto today.  Looking rather fit on this Promotional Tour, our beloved yellow Friend was all smiles coming to meet me and Contributor Justin Waldman for a hug!  Although he was busy doing the rounds, we were so incredibly lucky to catch-up quickly.  When you are that buff, you really don’t need a winter jacket in this weather as you can see.

See the Trailer for SpongeBob‘s Blockbuster:

Fun, right?

Justin, SpongeBob and Mr. Will:

Another Snap with SpongeBob:

So awesome catching-up with an old friend #SpongeBob! His new Movie #SpongeBobSquarePants: #SpongeOutofWater is in theatres 2/6/15! (cc: @paramountcanada) #SpongeBobMovie

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 16, 2015 at 10:55am PST

Paramount Pictures Canada release THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER on Friday, February 6, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Paramount Pictures)

We were literally on the floor laughing when we saw the first Trailer for GET HARD, but this brand new version has us obsessed. While Kevin Hart is set to make a splash this weekend with his new Comedy The Wedding Ringer, this new Trailer comes right in time as he continues his ascent as America’s new King of Comedy.

Official Synopsis:
When millionaire hedge fund manager James (Will Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell (Kevin Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars. But despite James’ one-percenter assumptions, Darnell is a hard-working small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone been to prison.

Together, the two men do whatever it takes for James to “get hard” and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things – including each other.

See the hilarity:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release Friday, March 27, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

As you well know, the 2015 GREAT DIGITAL FILM FESTIVAL is soon set to take place at participating Cineplex Theatres across Canada. Cineplex, Front Row Centre Events and Mr. Will want you to witness again the magic of your Faves, but in Digital for the first time.  We’re giving away Single Tickets (a value of $6.99 each) to the Festival which takes place between January 30 – February 5, 2015!

The 2015 Great Digital Film Festival Lineup includes:

• An all-day screening of the X-Men franchise: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), X-Men: First Class (2011), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X2: X-Men United (2003), X-Men (2000);
• 25th anniversary screenings of Darkman (1990) and Dick Tracy (1990);
• Blade Runner: The Final Cut (2007);
• Kill Bill Vol 1 (2003) and Kill Bill Vol 2 (2004);
• Alien (1979);
• Aliens (1986);
• Hellboy (2004);
• Pan’s Labyrinth (2006);
• The Monster Squad (1987);
• The Rocketeer (1991).

Watch a Sizzle Reel for this year’s Festival:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook NOW!

Don’t forget to chime-in on the conversation on Twitter, tweeting questions about your Festival Faves to @RICHARDCROUSE, @CINEPLEXMOVIES and @FRCEVENTS, using the #GDFF2015 Hashtag!

For a complete schedule and participating theatres, visit the official Festival Website here!

(Photo/credit: Lionsgate Films/Cineplex)

After significant wins at the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards this past weekend, BIRDMAN and THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL lead the way at the upcoming 87th annual Academy Awards, as announced earlier this morning in Los Angeles by Chris Pine, J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuarón. The two Films received nine nominations each and will be going head-to-head for top honours in Best Picture, Cinematography, Writing (Original Screenplay) and Directing.  The latter received no nominations in the Acting categories.

Following closely with eight nominations is Winner of the People’s Choice Award (on numerous occasions a Pre-cursor to Oscar success)  at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, THE IMITATION GAME. Meanwhile, BOYHOOD which won Best Motion Picture, Drama at the Golden Globes would go-on to garner six nominations today tying with AMERICAN SNIPER, which has had the quietest Awards Campaign thus far as it  proceeds in a gradual roll-out to theatres. All three of these Films are up for Best Picture.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, WHIPLASH and INTERSTELLAR received five nominations apiece also, with the former two up for Best Picture and the latter receiving recognition almost exclusively in technical categories.

The Best Actor category is perhaps the most competitive with Golden Globe Winners Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) up against Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game).  Many are seeing the omissions of David Oyelowo (Selma) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) as major snubs, after being present much of this Awards Season for their riveting performances respectively. Bradley Cooper now has the distinction of being the first Actor in a decade to receive three consecutive (Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle and now American Sniper) Oscar nominations; the last to do so was his former Partner, Renee Zellweger.

Julianne Moore leads a strong group in the Best Actress category after a win at the Golden Globes for Still Alice.  Her other strong Best Actress performance in Maps to the Stars did not get recognition this morning, but this could well be a blessing in eliminating split votes against herself. Reese Witherspoon (Wild) also is seen as a strong Contender, alongside Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) and Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) – the latter whose Campaign has varied between Supporting Actress and Lead Actress. A surprise was Oscar Winner Marion Cotillard‘s appearance on the list for her work in French Drama Two Days, One Night. Amy Adams, who was awarded Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy for Big Eyes on Sunday unfortunately will not be a Contender.

J.K. Simmons is seen as a definitive choice for Best Supporting Actor with his performance as a sadistic Conductor in Whiplash. Two-time Nominee Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), three-time Nominee Edward Norton (Birdman),  four-time Nominee Ethan Hawke (Boyhood) and Oscar Winner Robert Duvall (The Judge) round-out the Group.

After being quiet this Awards Season, many are thrilled that Lauren Dern gets recognized for her work in Wild for Best Supporting Actress.  She is now a two-time Nominee after getting her first nod in 1992’s Rambling Rose.  Dern will be up against Golden Globe Winner Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game), Emma Stone (Birdman) and three-time Oscar Winner Meryl Streep (Into the Woods).  Some are seeing Jessica Chastain‘s omission in A Most Violent Year also a snub.

For a complete list of Nominees, visit the official Oscars Website.

The  87th annual Academy Awards air on ABC Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 7:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: ABC)

After a victory at the Golden Globes this past weekend, a Video for Common and John Legend‘s Glory finally sees a release. The Track is featured in the widely-acclaimed SELMA.

If you haven’t heard the Track yet, check it out below in full:

After a successful campaign by African-American Business Leaders, Students across America have been granted the opportunity to see Selma for free as part of the #SELMAFORSTUDENTS Initiative. How amazing is that?

Learn more about the SELMA Soundtrack, now in stores here.

Paramount Pictures release SELMA, now in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

D Films and Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to see TIFF ’14 selection, BLACK OR WHITE starring a Duo of Academy Award Winners, Octavia Spencer and Kevin Costner! Screenings take place in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver on Thursday, January 29, 2015.

Synopsis:
BLACK OR WHITE is the story of a grandfather (Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner) who is suddenly left to care for his beloved granddaughter. When her paternal grandmother (Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer) seeks custody with the help of her brother (Anthony Mackie), the little girl is torn between two families who love her deeply. With the best intentions at heart, both families fight for what they feel is right and are soon forced to confront their true feelings about race, forgiveness, and understanding. Anchored by an all-star cast and based on real events, the movie is a look at two seemingly different worlds, in which nothing is as simple as black or white.

Watch the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and state your City.  Click “share” from there for an extra chance or Re-Tweet the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/blackorwhite @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #BLACKORWHITEMovie  in #TOR, #VAN + #MTL! Out 1/30.

Good luck, Willionaire$!

D Films release BLACK OR WHITE on Friday, January 30, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Relativity Media)

We can never get enough MELISSA MCCARTHY!  After getting Exclusive Premiere on The Ellen Show yesterday, the entire Internet now gets to enjoy the Trailer for her new Action-Comedy, SPY, in all its hilarity!

Official Synopsis:
Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions. But when her partner (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent a global disaster.

See the Trailer:

20th Century Fox release SPY on Friday, May 22, 2015!

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox)

Laughs and celebrations were to be had this morning at TIFF Bell Lightbox as Nominees for the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards were unveiled. The Gala, now in its third edition, is set to take place early March in Toronto, airing live across Canada.

Academy CEO Helga Stephenson took the podium succinctly taking a quick moment to thank Partners including the CBC, PwC and Ritz-Calton Hotel, reflecting on a solid year for Canadian Film and Television, before Nominees in 128 categories were announced. “2014 was an exceptionally competitive year for Canadian Film, Television and Digital Media” says the former Publicist. “The Academy received a record number of Canadian Screen Awards submissions, which is a good sign for the Industry.”.

Canadian Funnywoman and this year’s Host Andrea Martin joined Stephenson on-stage before realizing she too would be a Nominee this year for her work on Working with the Engels asking jokingly, “Did I win??!”, then suggesting that she’d be schmoozing with the Media to gain votes. Just having celebrated the premiere at the venue last night for new CBC series Schitt’s Creek alongside SCTV Alumni Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy, Martin drew big laughs talking upon mentioning the Canadian Screen Awards’ Digital categories. “I just love the word ‘digital’, it makes us sound like we are working in Porn!”.

Up-and-Comers Cara Gee (Strange Empire) and Jared Keeso (19-2) were tasked with announcing Nominees, playfully mispronouncing names. “Don’t worry Academy, we got this”, they kidded, tongue-in-cheek.

Leading TV Nominees this year once again is Orphan Black with 13 nominations, while in the Film Categories, Mommy also garners 13 nominations this year. In addition to several prominent Canadian names like Tatiana Maslany, David Cronenberg and Xavier Dolan surfacing, Hollywood types like recent Golden Globe Winner and Oscar Frontrunner Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, Ryan Reynolds and Mia Wasikowska also would be mentioned in Acting categories. A much-in-the news Seth Rogen also received a nod for his Hilarity for Charity Comedy Special.

For a full list of Nominees, visit academy.ca.

To learn more about the Fan Zone and how to vote for your favourite Canadian Screen Star, visit fanzone.academy.ca.

Presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Martin + Stephenson:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 13, 2015 at 7:52am PST

Gee + Keeso:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 13, 2015 at 8:13am PST

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

I cannot handle the intensity! Hot off Kevin Spacey’s Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama win at the Golden Globes, the new Season 3 Trailer for Netflix‘s HOUSE OF CARDS has just surfaced and we have only one question after seeing it. Is it February 27th yet?

Watch:

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)