This is no joke, THE JOKER debuts with a phenomenal $94 million from 4,374 theatres for Warner Bros. this weekend. The Golden Lion winner at Venice gets 70% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore, while becoming The Hangover Helmer Todd Phillips‘ best opening yet.

ABONIMABLE is in second with $13 million for Universal Pictures, a two week total of $37.8 million.

DOWNTON ABBEY is in third $8.7 million, a three week total of $87 million for Focus Features/Universal Pictures.

HUSTLERS lands in fourth with $6.2 million, making for a four week run of $91.2 million for STX Entertainment/Elevation Pictures.

JUDY makes its debut in the Top Ten in seventh with $4.1 million, expanding to 1,458 theatres for Roadside Attractions/eOne Films. It sits at 83% on the Tomatometer.

SYE RAA NARASIMHA REDDY rounds out the Top Ten with $1 million from 310 screens, the Epic which is available in multiple languages including Hindi, Telugu and Tamil, winning many critical raves in other territories.

TIFF ’19 selection ABONIMABLE makes it snow this weekend at the Box Office, taking top spot with $20 million from 4,242 theatres across North America for Universal Pictures. The Animated Feature gets 79% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.

In second is DOWNTON ABBEY with $13.2 million for Focus Features/Universal Pictures, making a two week tally of $52.7 million domestically.

HUSTLERS is still showing gumption in third with $10.3 million for Elevation Pictures/STX Entertainment, almost surpassing the $80-million-mark over three weeks.

IT: CHAPTER 2 settles for fourth with $9.1 million in its fourth week out, taking it to $192 million in its run for Warner Bros.

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD slips to fifth with $8 million for VVS Films/Lionsgate Films, a total $32.5 million in its second week.

Rounding it all out is former champ ANGEL HAS FALLEN with $1.2 million for VVS Films/Lionsgate Films as well.

Things are looking up for DOWNTON ABBEY as it has a smashing debut for Focus Features/Universal Pictures, taking $31 million from 3,079 theatres. Along with that comes raves at 85% and an A CinemaScore.  This is the first #1 opening for Focus Feautres since The American and an all-time best opening for the company.

In second is Brad Pitt-starrer AD ASTRA with $19.1 million for Disney, from 3,079 theatres. It gets a 82% on the Tomatometer and B- CinemaScore, with an estimated $80+ million production budget.

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD lands in third in its opening with $18.3 million for VVS Films/Lionsgate Films. It gets 31% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore. Franchise best still belongs to 1985’s RAMBO: THE FIRST BLOOD PART II with $21 million, plus factor-in inflation.

HUSTLERS continues to perform strongly in fourth with $17.3 million for STX Entertainment/Elevation Pictures. In over a week it has made $45.5 million domestically.

OVERCOMER rounds things out with $1.7 million for Sony Pictures, just past the $30 million mark in its run.

They’ve been waiting on us. We’re proud to present to you the brand-new Trailer for the DOWNTON ABBEY Movie. It’s a new era.

Synopsis:

The television series Downton Abbey followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country house. Over its 6 seasons, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, 69 Emmy nominations in total, making Downton Abbey the most nominated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.

Universal Pictures Canada release DOWNTON ABBEY this September!

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

The domination continues!  American Hustle continues to solidify itself as a major threat to its Competitors to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards in March with a win at tonight’s Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.  The Dramedy from acclaimed Writer/Director David O. Russell won Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture. Although there is no actual Award for Best Picture at the Ceremony, with Actors recognizing exclusively the work of their Peers, the Cast of Argo last year also won the same Honour before going-on to win at the Oscars last year.  The Ensemble Cast of American Hustle includes: Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.

Also getting recognized tonight in Film Categories were: Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club (Outstanding Male Actor), Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine (Outstanding Female Actor), Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave (Outstanding Supporting Female Actor) and Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club (Outstanding Supporting Male Actor).

Winning tonight in the Television Categories were: Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad (Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama), Maggie Smith for Downton Abbey (Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama), Ty Burrell for Modern Family (Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep (Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy).

The Oscars air Sunday, March 2, 2014 on CBS.

In Canada, you can watch the Screen Actors Guild Awards at 8:00 PM EST on Global Television Sunday, January 19, 2014.

Photos at Zimbio.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

The Slipper fits!  With news of a Live-Action version of the timeless tale being announced recently, Disney  has confirmed that British Actress Lily James gets the coveted Titular Role of Cinderella, the Film to be helmed by Thespian Sir Kenneth Branagh.  A release date for the Film is forthcoming, but so far Cate Blanchett is attached to play the Evil Stepmother, Lady Tremaine.

Although many know her for her work as Lady Rose MacClare in iTV‘s Downton Abbey, James also created an impression on controversial and superb Secret Diary of a Call Girl, playing the role of Poppy for that same Network.  If that doesn’t say range, I don’t know what does.

More news to come soon!

(Photo credit: Marcia Rosengard)