#BOXOFFICE: “PAIN & GAIN” FLEXES ITS MUSCLES AT #1

Despite mixed reviews for Pain & Gain, Director Michael Bay‘s latest Crime-Action-Comedy starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Mark Wahlberg, it still finds flexes its muscles on-top of the Box Office with $20 million from 2,950 theatres.  Made for $26 million, the Film easily is set to pay its bill for Paramount Pictures, earning 47% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes and a C+ CinemaScore from Audiences.

Last week’s Champ, Oblivion slips to number two this weekend with $17.4 million from 3,792 theatres for Universal Pictures, by all means still going strong and far ahead of another former number one Film in 42, finding itself in third spot for Warner Bros. with $10.7 million in its third week of release.

Opening universally panned (6% on the Tomatometer), Rom-Com The Big Wedding debuts in fourth for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films with $7.5 million.  Made for $35 million, this one is a bit of a disappointment considering its stellar Cast which includes Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Susan Sarandon, Ben Barnes, Robin Williams, Katherine Heigl and Topher Grace. Audiences gave it a C+ CinemaScore, just one of two Films to debut in the Top Ten this weekend.

Olympus Has Fallen is extremely resilient in its sixth week at number eight with $2.8 million, now earning $92.9 million in its domestic run. The Place Beyond the Pines continues to be a bit of a Slow-Burner at number nine with just $2.6 million for eOne Films/Focus Features, a bit baffling considering its heavily-fronted Cast with Bradley Cooper and Ryan Gosling and also undeniably strong reviews.

Jurassic Park rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.3 million for Universal Pictures, earning $42.4 million in its second run at the theatres in 3-D.

#BOXOFFICE: “OBLIVION” IS VERY PRESENT AT BOX OFFICE

Neither a Divorce nor a Scientology Scandal could stop him.  Tom Cruise is a bona fide Cinematic Legend, topping the Box Office once again this weekend with his latest, Oblivion, which earns a stellar $38.2 million for Universal Pictures, from 3,783 theatres.  Reviews were mixed from Critics, earning 58% on the Tomatometer, and Audiences responded with a B- CinemaScore.  Getting a head-start internationally last week, the Film has grossed over $60 million overseas already.

Even in its second week, the superb 42 continues to go strong for Warner Bros., earning $18 million after debuting on-top last week. The Film got a bit of a push Monday with it being Jackie Robinson Day and with that A+ CinemaScore, it should continue to go well for the next few weeks with lots of positive word-of-mouth.

In third this weekend is The Croods with $9.5 million, benefiting overall from a lack of other Family-oriented Films out right now.  Domestically it has just surpassed the $150-million mark.

Scary Movie 5 still manages to maintain in the Top Five with $6.3 million in its second week, just ahead of G.I. JOE: Retaliation with $5.8 million in its fourth week.

The Place Beyond the Pines expands to 1,542 theatres for Focus Features/eOne Films this weekend in sixth and does respectably with $4.7 million, now earning a total of $11.3 million in its run thus far. Reviews are strong, tallying in at 81% on the Tomatometer.

With no other new entries in the Top Ten this weekend, Oz The Great and Powerful rounds-out the Top Ten with $3  million for Disney.

#BOX OFFICE: “42” HITS A HOME RUN AT THE BOX OFFICE

A Box Office Home Run for Warner Bros.’ 42 this weekend, its release timed right for the beginning of Baseball Season earning $27.3 million from 3,003 theatres across North America.  The Biopic about Jackie Robinson from Director/Writer Brian Helgeland not only fared well among Critics with a 77% consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, but Audiences loved it, giving it a well-deserved A+ CinemaScore. This bodes well for its word-of-mouth in coming weeks and also, tomorrow is Jackie Robinson Day in the U.S., meaning even more buzz for the Flick.

Opening in second is eOne Films/The Weinstein Co.’s Scary Movie 5, the latest in the long-running Franchise, earning a non-disgraced $15.2 million from 3,402 theatres.  Critics panned it universally, garnering 6% on the Tomatometer and C- Cinemascore from Audiences.  Neither Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen nor Ashley Tisdale could save this.

Former Champ The Croods earns $12.9 million in its third week and to date the Animated Feature from 20th Century Fox has grossed over $142 million domestically.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation earns $10.5 million for Paramount Pictures in fourth, just ahead of last week’s number one Film in Evil Dead which slips to fifth spot with $9.3 million from 3,025 theatres for Sony Pictures.

Meanwhile, Oz the Great and Powerful continues to go on well in eighth with $4.8 million in ninth in its sixth week of release, ahead of Tyler Perry’s Temptation which slips to ninth in its third week with $4.4 million. a

In Limited Release and The Place Beyond the Pines, the latest from Director/Writer Derek Cianfrance who made a splash in 2010 with Blue Valentine, earns $3.8 million from only 514 theatres for eOne Films/Focus Features and likely will continue to expand in coming weeks.  Starring a phenomenal Cast including Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes and Dane DeHaan, the Drama is well-reviewed earning 81% on the Tomatometer.

Overseas, Oblivion starring Tom Cruise debuted big with $60 million grossed overseas and equally is expected to open big in North America, where it debuts next weekend.

#SPOTTED: NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU IN TORONTO FOR “MAMA” | SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Finally, a real Star!  Danish import Nikolaj Coster-Waldau definitely has been at it for a while, but he’s making his presence felt in these parts thanks to the massive success of HBO Series Game of Thrones on which he stars as Jaime Lannister.  Coster-Waldau is in the City promoting Toronto-filmed Mama, from first-time Feature Director Andrés Muschietti, who also directed the original Short Film it is based upon.

Also starring a currently-on-Broadway Jessica Chastain, the Horror is about a Couple who take-in two Nieces who were left alone in the Forest for over five years.  The Actor tells Jennifer Valentyne on CityTV‘s Breakfast Television today, “It goes by the idea that in the Forest you can never get between the Mama Bear and her Cub.”.  He indicates that he currently is on a break, spending quality time in his native Denmark with his two Daughters after wrapping on Oblivion, which stars Tom Cruise.  The Action/Sci-Fi Flick opens in theatres this April.

The Actor was up early and ready to work, appearing on KISS 92.5‘s The Roz & Mocha Show.  Listen to the Interview in full here.

Among other interviews, Coster-Waldau will also be appearing on George Stromboulopoulous Tonight, in addition to an appearance at an Advance Screening this evening.

eOne Films releases Mama on Friday, January 18, 2013.

Watch the creepy Trailer in full below:

 

To enter to win a  Photo signed kindly from Coster-Waldau himself this morning, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before February 1, 2013.  All are welcome to enter!  Good luck.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)