FOCUS puts a stop to FIFTY SHADES OF GREY‘s two-week reign with a solid debut, opening with $19.1 million for Warner Bros. from 3,323 theatres. Will Smith certainly maintains his bankability as a Star, topping the Box Office once again after a number one opening in 2012 also with Men in Black 3. Critics gave the Romantic Comedy-Action mixed reviews with a 56% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it a B CinemaScore.
KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE lands in second once again with $11.7 million for 20th Century Fox. In three weeks, it has grossed $85 million domestically.
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER in its fourth week, finds itself in third with $11.2 million. In its domestic run, it has made $140 million for Paramount Pictures.
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY slips to fourth spot with $10.9 million in its third week. The former two-week Box Office Champ is approaching the $150 million mark in earnings.
THE LAZARUS EFFECT debuts in fifth with $10.6 million for Relativity Media/D Films. The Horror starring Olivia Wilde was received harshly by Critics with 12% on the Tomatometer and a C- CinemaScore from Audiences.
AMERICAN SNIPER continues to perform exceedingly-well in seventh this weekend with $7.7 million for Warner Bros. To-date, it has grossed $330 million in its North American run.
STILL ALICE gets a post-Oscar boost with Julianne Moore‘s win last weekend, in ninth with $2.6 million for Sony Pictures Classics/Mongrel Media. The Alzheimers Drama cracks the Top Ten finally after seven weeks of release.
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2 rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.4 million for Paramount Pictures, with a total of $10 million in two weeks out.
With the 87th annual ACADEMY AWARDS set to take place tonight, we asked our resident Experts their opinions on which Film will win coveted BEST PICTURE. Though the Award is widely seen as a two-horse Race between BIRDMAN and BOYHOOD, each has their opinion on that potential Dark Horse that could pull the wool right over our eyes and surprise us tonight!
Come, let’s take a peek…
George Kozera (Twitter: @PartyG)
“My personal pick for Best Picture is BOYHOOD. My Dark Horse is Bradley Cooper for Best Actor. There’s a lotta love there for Sniper.”.
Justin Waldman (Twitter: @JDubs12)
“BIRDMAN! Because the Movie is absolutely astonishing in its ability to be a one take Film with no cuts or breaks.
AMERICAN SNIPER is my Dark Horse pick as there is a bit of a Republican slant in the Academy, I feel…”.
Jonathan Godfrey
“Richard Linklater is a distinct and continuously impressive Auteur in Cinema, and if accolades are available let them wander his way.
BOYHOOD is worthy of another award on its mantle place. It drives the Audience to feel something, to connect with something transcendent. It’s charming to know it will continue to be celebrated on the World Stage.
I definitely don’t have a Dark Horse.”.
David Baldwin (Twitter: @DonFishies)
“Its going to be BIRDMAN or BOYHOOD. Both terrific Films, wide scopes and amazing performances. Leaning on the former more because I love Michael Keaton, and hope he wins too. Dark Horse is AMERICAN SNIPER — it just may steal the Show!”.
Mr. Will (Twitter: @Mrwillw)
“If this were the Mr. Will Awards, it certainly would be WHIPLASH‘s year, however in all probability we will be seeing the Team behind BOYHOOD at the podium. What a remarkable feat in Cinema, a real tour-de-force!
Therefore, my Dark Horse pick, WHIPLASH. Most likely Winner, BOYHOOD. No shock if the also genius BIRDMAN won, but BOYHOOD gets the slight edge.”.
The 87th annual ACADEMY AWARDS, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, air on ABC at 7 PM EST.
E!’s Live From the Red Carpet starts 5:30 PM EST.
(Photo credit: Mongrel Media/Warner Bros.)
Not that there ever was a doubt about it, but FIFTY SHADES OF GREY manages to exceed expectations still with a smashing $81.7 million opening from 3,646 theatres for Universal Pictures. This feat makes it one of the highest-grossing R-rated openings of all time with the likes of The Passion of the Christ and Matrix Reloaded. The E.L. James Adaptation from Director Sam Taylor-Johnson, might not have gotten much love critically this Valentine’s Day weekend, but Fans certainly are in love at the Box Office. It received a 22% from Critics on the Tomatometer. Audiences gave it a C+ CinemaScore. It was just announced the Sequel starts filming this Summer in Vancouver! We don’t care what anyone thinks. WE LOVE IT. Our Review here.
KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE opens solid with an amazing $35.6 million from 3,204 theatres for 20th Century Fox. The Action/Mystery starring Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson and Tagar Egerton opens with a strong 71% on the Tomatometer and B+ CinemaScore from Audiences.
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER continues to go well in its second week with $30.5million from 3.654 theatres for Paramount Pictures. In already has surpassed the $100-million-mark domestically.
AMERICAN SNIPER slips to fourth spot for Warner Bros. in its eighth week out with $16.4 million. To date, it has grossed $307 million in North America.
THE IMITATION GAME continues to get positive word of mouth, hanging-on to the Top Ten in eighth with $3.3 million for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, reaching the $80-million-mark domestically.
PROJECT ALMANAC rounds-out the Top Ten for Paramount Pictures with $2.7 million in its third week.
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER defies all expectations to soak-up the competition at the Box Office this weekend! The Animated Feature based on the internationally-popular Nickelodeon Series, debuts with a stellar $53 million from 3,641 theatres for Paramount Pictures. Critics gave it love with a 73% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it an on-par B CinemaScore.
AMERICAN SNIPER after a decisive three-week-domination slips to second this weekend with a still-great $22.7 million, bringing its total domestic gross to $280.5 million for Warner Bros. Not bad at all.
JUPITER ASCENDING is being labeled a “bomb” by many insiders but its $18.4 million gross from 3,181 theatres certainly is far from a disgrace for Warner Bros. Internationally, the Sci-Fi/Adventure starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum, is expected to fare much better. The Wachowskis Film was made for $175 million and earns a 22% from Critics on the Tomatometer and a much-better B- CinemaScore.
SEVENTH SON debuts in fourth with $6.8 million from 2.785 theatres for Universal Pictures, after changing hands from Warner Bros. Plagued with several delays, the Film finally sees the light of day but even with a stellar Cast including Oscar-caliber names like Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges, it still only gets a 10% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore. It was made fr $95 million.
PADDINGTON continues to have a strong presence in North America with $5.3 million earned this weekend from 2,888 theatres for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. In four weeks it is close to the $60 million-mark.
THE BOY NEXT DOOR rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.9 million from 2,193 theatres for Universal Pictures in its third week.
For a third straight week, AMERICAN SNIPER shows absolute domination of the Box Office in North America, bringing-in $31 million from 3,885 theatres for Warner Bros. In six weeks, this latest effort from Clint Eastwood brings-in $248 million.
PADDINGTON continues to benefit from word-of-mouth for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, rising to second spot with $7.8 million in its third week out. Cumulatively, the Film has made almost $50 million.4
Teen-Time Travel Romp PROJECT ALMANAC debuts in third with $7.7 million for Paramount Pictures. Critics weren’t sold on it with a 36% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a decent B CinemaScore.
BLACK OR WHITE debuts in fourth for D Films/Relativity Media with $6.2 million from 1,823 theatres. The TIFF ’14 Selection starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, debuts with strong Audience reaction, an A- CinemaScore and a 34% on the Tomatometer.
THE BOY NEXT DOOR lands in fifth this weekend with $5.7 million for Universal Pictures, now in its second week out, a two-week total of $25 million.
THE IMITATION GAME continues to roll along well for Elevation Pictures/The Weinstein Co. in its Oscar Trail, in seventh spot this weekend with $5.3 million, a total $68 million grossed in its tenth week out.
THE LOFT debuts in tenth with $2.6 million for Open Road Films. The Danish Adaptation Thriller starring James Marsden and Wentworth Miller has yet to get a Canadian release.
For a second straight week, AMERICAN SNIPER shoots straight to the top of the Box Office in North America with $18 million from 3,705 theatres for Warner Bros. In five weeks it has grossed $175 million.
THE BOY NEXT DOOR certainly isn’t shamed with a second place debut with $15.3 million from 2,602 theatres for Universal Pictures. Critics gave it a 13% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave the Jennifer Lopez Thriller a much better B- CinemaScore.
PADDINGTON continues to go well in third with $11.8 million from 3,355 theatres for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. It closes-in on the $40-million mark in two weeks domestically.
THE WEDDING RINGER lands in fourth this weekend with $10.8 million for Sony Pictures in its second week out, earning a cumulative $38.9 million.
MORTECAI debuts in eighth spot with $4.6 million from 2,468 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. Critics weren’t so forgiving with a 12% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a C+ CinemaScore.
STRANGE MAGIC debuts in ninth with $4.2 million from 3,020 theatres for Disney. Critics gave the Animated Film featuring the voices of Evan Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming an 11% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a more forgiving B- CinemaScore.
INTO THE WOODS rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.8 million for Disney, now in its fifth week out.
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 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)
The accolades are almost universal for Bradley Cooper‘s work in Clint Eastwood‘s AMERICAN SNIPER and although we were intrigued by a Teaser we saw a few months back, this new Trailer is the real deal. And do we ever get it!
Official Synopsis:
U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world.
Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the spirit of the SEAL creed to “leave no one behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.
See the new Trailer:
While Cooper has been busy on Broadway in New York of late, our Contributor Justin Waldman was one of the lucky to get a Selfie with him this week!
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release AMERICAN SNIPER on Friday, January 16, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Justin Waldman/Warner Bros.)
If this doesn’t make your heart race, I don’t know what will. Clint Eastwood is back to winning form it appears with 2015’s AMERICAN SNIPER, based on a True Story. Bradley Cooper Stars as the most lethal Sniper in U.S. History, Chris Kyle. And can we say how happy we are Sienna Miller is back? This along with her role in upcoming FOXCATCHER are signs of a career Reboot.
Official Synopsis:
U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world.
Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to “leave no man behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.
See the Teaser:
Warner Bros. release AMERICAN SNIPER on Friday, January 16, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)
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