NOTE: FINAL NUMBERS TO COME
It was a battle of the Sequels this weekend at the Box Office and prevailing just like its Predecessor was Sony Pictures’ 22 Jump Street which brought in $62 million. By comparison, the first Film in the Franchise opened back in 2012 with $36 million, this time around doubling its take. Critics have been kind, giving the Action-Comedy a great 83% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences also responded strongly with an A-CinemaScore.
A valiant second is How to Train Your Dragon 2 for 20th Century Fox, opening with $52 million at the Box Office! The Film which got a bit of a boost recently from Star America Ferrera‘s Red Carpet incident involving a Prankster at Cannes, got great reviews from Critics tallying 92% on the Tomatometer, and an equally strong A CinemaScore. Its 2010 Predecessor by comparison debuted with $41 million, easily besting the performance of that one.
Disney’s Maleficent continues to ride high in its third week with $20 million this weekend, normally enough for the number one spot some weekends, but good enough for third against the current slate of Blockbuster releases.
The Fault in our Stars opened atop the Box Office last weekend, but slips to fourth spot this weekend with $19 million for 20th Century Fox. It already has grossed $85 million across North America.
Edge of Tomorrow in its second week out accounts for the fifth spot at the Box Office with $16 million for Warner Bros., cumulatively earning $56 million domestically.
X-Men: Days of Future Past finds itself in sixth spot with $9 million for 20th Century Fox also in its its fourth week out, just surpassing the $200 million mark this week in these parts.
Chef rounds out the Top Ten with $2.1 million in its sixth week out in a limited number of theatres. To date, it has grossed $14 million.
The Fault in our Stars certainly is to blamed for Moviegoers going teary-eyed this weekend. The Adaptation of the popular Novel by John Green opens to astoundingly positive response, earning a whopping $48.2 million from 3,171 theatres in its debut for 20th Century Fox. This shows that Audiences don’t necessarily need huge Blockbusters to go to the Movies in the Summer – just strong stories. Just two weeks back the Studio performed phenomenally with X-Men: Days of Future Past. Starring Box Office Princess Shailene Woodley and Newcomer Ansel Elgort, the Film earned an A CinemaScore and an on-par 82% from Critics on the Tomatometer.
Disney‘s Maleficent in its second week out performs strongly with $33.5 million from 3,948 theatres. It already is nearing the $130 mark domestically.
Edge of Tomorrow opens solid in third with a respectable $30 million from 3,490 theatres for Warner Bros. The Action-Fantasy starring Tom Cruise saw the Megastar travel multiple continents on a whirlwind Press tour in support of the Film which has received strong reviews from Critics (89% on the Tomatometer) and Audiences (B+ CinemaScore).
X-Men: Days of Future Past slips to fourth spot with $14.7 million in its third week out, edging closer to the $200 million mark in North America.
Godzilla finds itself in sixth spot in its fourth week out for Warner Bros., earning $5.9 million this weekend. It has grossed $185 million in its run.
Chef expands to 1,298 theatres for VVS Films/Open Road Films, just getting a Canadian release this weekend. It made $2.5 million this weekend, surpassing $31 million in North America.
Million Dollar Arm rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.5 million for Disney in its fifth week out.
Surprise! I mean, really! Jaws dropped as Hollywood Megastar Tom Cruise descended upon Toronto arriving unannounced at a Screening tonight of his latest Blockbuster, Edge of Tomorrow. Cruise, triple Academy Award Nominee and still today one of Cinema’s most bankable Stars is known for a litany of Box Office and Critical Smashes like World War Z, Magnolia, Mission: Impossible, A Few Good Men, Rain Man, Jerry Maguire, Top Gun, Cocktail, Risky Business and several, several more.
After an unbelievable Press Tour yesterday which saw him in one day visit London, New York and Paris, he certainly couldn’t leave-out his beloved Canadian Fans. Did you know he once lived in Ottawa even?
Watch him introduce Edge of Tomorrow to an ultra-exclusive invite-only audience which had no idea he would be there!
Security indeed was beefed-up which was the only indicator the Screening might have been out-of-the-ordinary. Suspicions grew rampant as soon as a Red Carpet was seen set up last minute with only a few Canadian outlets on-site at Scotiabank Theatre.
Edge of TOMorrow (Sorry! We had to do that at least once!) centers on a Soldier fighting a War against Aliens but caught in a time loop on his final day of battle. Emily Blunt also stars opposite Cruise.
Watch the Trailer below:
Of course it wouldn’t be a Toronto visit for a Celebrity without the requisite photo with Mr. Will! We had to ask amidst the sea of Selfie-Seekers and despite it not turning out the first time, Cruise was amazing to own it and snap our Selfie for us. A great sport! We’ve waited our whole life to meet Tom Cruise and the moment was a dream. Our favourite Tom Cruise, you ask? I’d have to say his Rock God Stacee Jaxx performance in the underrated Rock of Ages!
See our Snap:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com