It was a monstrous weekend at the Box Office with spectacular numbers from the Top Three-finishing Films.  Alas it was Families who ruled Ticket Sales with Monsters Inc. Prequel, Monsters University, opening on-top with a stellar $82 million from 4,004 theatres across North America for Disney.  With John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprising their roles as Mike Wazowski and Sulley, Audiences could not resist getting another chance to see the animated Duo on-screen, giving the Film an A CinemaScore, while Critics agreed it was a solid effort with a decent 77% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.  By comparison, its Predecessor in 2001 opened with $62 million domestically.

Not to be outdone, Paramount Pictures’ World War Z opened in second with $66 million.  Starring Brad Pitt, this continent-hopping Action/Horror/Adventure thrilled Audiences who gave it a B+ CinemaScore, and Critics were on-par with 67% rating on the Tomatometer.  Moviegoers cannot get enough of Zombies, this becoming the highest opening ever for a Zombie Flick, surpassing last year’s Hotel Transylvania which debuted with $42 million.

Man of Steel had a superb opening last week and doesn’t disappoint despite its slip to third spot for Warner Bros. The latest in the Superman Franchise earns $41.2 million domestically this weekend.  Internationally it already has surpassed the $350-million mark.

Sony Pictures Comedy This is the End amidst all the Blockbusters, certainly holds its own in fourth spot with $12.6 million in its second week of release, just ahead of the resilient Now You See Me in fifth with $7/8 million in its third week out for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  Meanwhile, former Champion The Purge slips to sixth for Universal Pictures with $3.3 million.

Rounding it out  is Veteran Iron Man 3 which in its eighth week earns $8.1 million placing Disney at the top and bottom of the Top Ten. In limited release, Sofia Coppola‘s The Bling Ring sits in eleventh with $2 million from only 650 theatres.  Overall, Critics gave the Docu-Drama about a group of Teens who robbed the homes of Celebrities, mixed to bordering-positive Reviews with 58% on the Tomatometer.

His Career couldn’t be any hotter right now!  Yes, that’s James Badge Dale, known also as Badgett Dale, whom those of us who grew-up in the early ’90s will remember him from Boys-turned-Savages Thriller, Lord of the Flies.  After a bit of a hiatus which saw him focus on Hockey, fate could not be avoided as his Star would rise once again with successive Blockbusters lined one right after the other.

Although he’s in town to promote Gore Verbinski‘s The Lone Ranger which has him starring as Ranger Dan Reid alongside Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp, he also has a little Zombie/Apocalypse Movie called World War Z coming out this weekend.  That Film is  expected to debut huge with Brad Pitt front-and-center, going head-to-head with Disney Heavyweight in Monsters University.  And did I mention the record-breaking success of Iron Man 3, in which Dale stars as the villainous Savin?

The Actor arrived at KISS 92.5 Studios super-early this morning, casual in a Button-Down, Jeans and Toque, bringing some of that effortless New York City Style to our City.  Although strapped for time, he still made time to stop for a Photo, heading right over after greeting Roz & Mocha Show Producer, Maurie Sherman. Shortly after, he head over to City‘s Breakfast Television to chat with Jennifer Valentyne, singing the praises of Co-Star Johnny Depp stating that The Lone Ranger will be a complete surprise for Moviegoers.

A busy day of Press is scheduled ahead for Dale in advance of the Wednesday, July 5, 2013 release of The Lone Ranger from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Dale can next be seen in Parkland, produced by Tom Hanks, about the Events of Parkland Hospital the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  Colin Hanks who also stars in that Film, also currently is in town filming RomCom, No Stranger Than Love.

See our Snap:

Expectations were high for Fast & Furious 6, but this latest Film in the Franchise is a Monster indeed on an international scale, debuting this weekend with $98.5 million alone in North America from 3,658 theatres. Globally already, it has made an amazing $275.5 million for Universal Pictures. Made for $160 million, it looks well on its way to recouping that money back for Universal Pictures in a – pardon the pun – fast ‘n’ furious manner! Audiences also loved the Film giving it a coveted A CinemaScore and many Critics agreed with 72% at Rotten Tomatoes. With all releases surpassing an expected $300 million at the Box Office this U.S. Memorial Day Weekend, a new Box Office record was established for the Holiday. Combined, all six Films in the Franchise have made $797.4 million domestically.

Debuting in second with $42.4 million this weekend for Warner Bros., is the conclusion to The Wolfpack Trilogy, The Hangover Part III, from 3,555 theatres.  Still solid, this Installment falls short compared to its 2011 Predecessor The Hangover Part II, which debuted with $85.9 million. Although Critics didn’t respond favorably, tallying a 25% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, Audiences seemed to enjoy it with a B CinemaScore. To date, the Series in North America has grossed $574 million.

Following closely behind in third is Star Trek Into Darkness which in its second week of release earns $38 million. In its two-week run, it has grossed $155 million for Paramount Pictures.

Without much choice in terms of Family-oriented Films, Epic opens to a smart $34.2 million for 20th Century Fox in fourth spot.  Starring an interesting array of voices, the Animated Feature boasts a Cast of: Beyoncé, Josh Hutcherson, Steven Tyler, Pitbull, Aziz Ansari, Amanda Seyfried and Christoph Waltz.

Not to be disgraced, Iron Man 3 continues to draw a crowd in fifth spot, now in its third week earning $19.4 million, with a total of $373 in its domestic run to date.  Not far behind is The Great Gatsby which also in its third week out, closes the gap on that Box Office rival with $13.7 million at number six.

Bubbling under, the eagerly-awaited third Film in its Romance Series Before Midnight, opens in only five theatres across the U.S. in Limited Release, earning an impressive $274k.  Torontonians and Vancouverites will have to wait till June 7, 2013 when it gets a release north of the Border.

Wow! Hard to believe we’re just a month away from its release, but this brand new Trailer for The Lone Ranger just surfaced today and the stakes and intensity are upped full-blast here.

Official Synopsis:
The Lone Ranger, a thrilling Adventure infused with Action and Humour, in which the famed masked Hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a Man of the Law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humourous friction as the two unlikely Heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

Gore Verbinski directs and Jerry Bruckheimer produces, while Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale (just seen in Iron Man 3!), Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter also star.

Watch the Trailer below:

We’re still freaking-out about meeting Hammer and his lovely Wife Elizabeth at the Met Gala earlier this month in New York City.  He’s just the nicest and so is she, snatching my Camera out of my hand, saying “No Selfies!  I’ve got this!!!”.  Awww!

Our Snap below!

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release The Lone Ranger on July 3, 2013.

“Like” The Lone Ranger on Facebook!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Opening in 4,253 theatres this weekend, IRON MAN 3 is anything but a disappointment earning a stellar $170 million in its North American debut.  Already worldwide, this latest Installment in the wildly-popular Marvel Franchise, has earned $456 million.  Audiences responded extremely well, giving the Film starring Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce and Gwyneth Paltrow, an A CinemaScore. Although perhaps not the best reviews, Critics responded favourably with a 79% score at Rotten Tomatoes.  By comparison, The Avengers which opened exactly a year ago today, debuted with $207 million in 4,349 theatres.

Read both mine and Contributor Jon Godfrey‘s Reviews here!

I had the pleasure of interviewing IRON MAN 3 Star Don Cheadle last week. More on that here.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Honestly, no fair!  South Koreans were lucky enough to get their own Stop-off on the Promotional Tour for Iron Man 3 and none other than Robert Downey Jr. rung-in the festivities earlier today with a Red Carpet Premiere, at once celebrating his 48th Birthday too.

The Promotional Tour for Iron Man 3 next hits Beijing on April 6, 2013.

Iron Man 3 hits theatres on Friday, May 3, 2013.

See the Trailer here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)