And it’s Oz again!  Disney‘s Oz The Great and Powerful continues to crush the competition at the Box Office, this weekend earning $42.2 million, making it two weeks on-top.  To date, the Prequel to The Wizard of Oz has grossed $145.3 million domestically, taking only six days to surpass the magical $100 million mark.

Debuting at number two is Sony Pictures’ The Call starring Abigail Breslin and Halle Berry, earning $17.1 million from  2,507 theatres.  The Thriller, made for a paltry $13 million, already earns back its budget and favoured rather well with audiences, making the grade with a B+ over at CinemaScore. Critics however weren’t as nice, giving it 42% over at Rotten Tomatoes.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone had the all-star Cast including Steve Carrell, Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde and Steve Buscemi, but unfortunately debuts below expectations with $10.3 million from 3,160 theatres. The Comedy, a second film in the Top Ten about Magic, earned 39% according to Critics on the Tomatometer and Audiences didn’t love it either unfortunately with a C+ CinemaScore.

Former number one Flick Jack The Giant Slayer slips to fourth spot this weekend with $6.2 million in its third week, now having grossed $54 million in North America alone.  The resilient Identity Thief follows closely behind in fifth with $4.6 million.

Safe Haven amazingly still hangs onto the Top Ten in its fifth week sitting in ninth with $2.4 million, showing a void in Films catered to Female Audiences in recent weeks, while Canadian-produced Escape from Planet Earth rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.2 million.

Bubbling under, Harmony Korine‘s star-studded Spring Breakers opens rather well in limited release with  $270,000 from three theatres.  The Crime-Dramedy which premiered at TIFF last September, stars James Franco, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson and Vanessa Hudgens.

Without a doubt it was all about Oz The Great and Powerful this weekend at the Box Office, the Prequel to The Wizard of Oz casting a spell on Moviegoers with a phenomenal $80.3 million earned from 3,912 theatres.  Audiences responded well to the Film, earning a B+ CinemaScore rating, although Critics weren’t as in-love, giving it a 60% rating over at Rotten Tomatoes.  Made for $215 million, the Disney Blockbuster will is still expanding overseas and easily should earn back its costs in coming weeks and is already en route to a Sequel. Worldwide it earned a monstrous $150 million.

Slipping to second this weekend is Jack the Giant Slayer, which debuted on-top last weekend for Warner Bros.  The Family-oriented Fantasy earned $10 million this weekend, bringing it’s cumulative total to $43.80 million in its two-week run.

The unstoppable Identity Thief in its fourth week still is going strong with $6.3 million in third spot, just ahead of a debuting Dead Man Down, starring Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace, with $5.4 million from 2,188 theatres.  Even though reviews weren’t so strong earning 35% on the Tomatometer, Audiences didn’t dislike the Film giving it a B- CinemaScore.

Relativity Media/eOne Films’ 21 and Over, in its second week earns $5.1 million grossing $16.8 million total in sixth. Safe Haven still hangs onto the Top Ten in seventh spot in its fourth week also, with $3.8 million.  Escape from Planet Earth sits in ninth with $3.2 million, earning a total $47.8 million in three weeks.  Rounding it all out is The Last Exorcism 2 with $3.1 million.

If there was any doubt Nicholas Hoult has made a successful transition from a Child Actor, let your fears subside as the British Import debuts atop the Box Office a second time in a month with Warner Bros.‘ Jack The Giant Slayer.  The $195 million Action-Adventure directed by Bryan Singer came with high hopes, hence some are seeing the $28 million from 3,525 theatres it earned this weekend as a bit of a disappointment.  International numbers still have yet to come in, but expect it to fare well overseas.  Reviews were mixed for the Film, garnering 52% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes and Audiences responded with a decent B+ rating at CinemaScore.

After what already has been an outstanding run,  Identity Thief still is going strong in fourth in its fourth week, with $9.7 million this weekend, just surpassing the $100-million mark in North America.

Critics didn’t love College–Comedy 21 and Over, but it performed well enough to debut at number three this weekend with $9 million from 2,771 theatres for Relativity Media/eOne Films.    Fear not though as the Film starring Justin Chon, Skylar Astin and Miles Teller cost  $13 million and likely will turn in a profit in its theatrical run. Audiences responded with a B CinemaScore.

The Last Exorcism Part II debuts in fourth spot with $8 million from 2,700 theatres, a far cry from the $20 million its Predecessor made back in 2010. Made for a micro-budget of $5 million, the Horror produced by Eli Roth, earned negative reviews (15% at Rotten Tomatoes).

Meanwhile, Snitch in its second week slips to fifth spot with $7.7 million for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, just ahead of Romantic-Thriller Safe Haven with $6.1 million.

Gaining tons of Oscars exposure last weekend with Jennifer Lawrence‘s Best Actress win, Silver Linings Playbook in its 16th week of release, shows its mettle with $5.8 million in seventh spot, now earning cumulatively $115 million in North America.  It cost only $21 million to make, and even with its extensive Marketing which began back around September, it still turns in a big profit.

Dark Skies rounds-out to the Top Ten with $3.4 million in its second week, earning $13.4 million for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films.  Meanwhile, bubbling-under in Limited Release is Fox Searchlight‘s well-reviewed Stoker, opening in seven theatres with $158k.

Amidst these February Blahs, Moviegoers find solace in Comedy with Universal Pictures’ Identity Thief usurps the top of the Box Office once again in its third week with $14.1 million; tepid but enough to be number one this weekend and just-shy of the $100-million mark domestically.

Snitch starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, opens in second spot with $13 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films in 2,511 theatres across North America.  Reviews were mixed for the Action Flick at 54% on the Tomatometer, but audiences responded better with a B CinemaScore.

Escape from Planet Earth, the Canadian-produced Animated Feature, is in third this weekend with $11 million. Its two week tally is $35.1 million.

Holding its position at number four is Nicholas Sparks Adaptation, Safe Haven, with $10.6 million in its second week, just ahead of Horror Flick Dark Skies in number for in its debut with $9 million. Both Films are distributed by eOne Films in Canada.

Experiencing a significant slip is A Good Day to Die Hard in fifth with $10 million for 20th Century Fox. Its cumulative total for two weeks is an impressive $51 million for last week’s number one Film.

Amazingly, Silver Linings Playbook continues to show its grit in seventh spot with $6.1 million as its fate at the Oscars is set to be revealed tonight – the only Film still remaining in the Top Ten in the running for Best Picture.

Side Effects rounds-out this week’s Top Ten with $3 million in this its third week of release.

Interestingly enough on President’s Day/Valentine’s Day weekend, Moviegoers opted for action instead of Romance, making the latest in the long-running Die Hard Franchise, the number one Film in North America. The Action Flick starring Bruce Willis grosses $28.2 million from 3,552 theatres between Thursday through Sunday. Audiences responded well with a B+ CinemaScore for the 20th Century Fox release, while Critics panned it with 17% on the Tomatometer. The Film falls just short of its highest-grossing Live Free or Die Hard, which opened with $33 million back in 2007.

Still going strong is Universal Pictures’ Identity Thief in second spot with $27.6 million in its second week of release, from 3,165 theatres, undoubtedly helped by Critic Rex Reed‘s controversial remarks about Melissa McCarthy‘s weight giving it some added buzz.

Although it kicked-off with a bang on Valentine’s Day, Safe Haven from eOne Films/Relativity Media,  earns $25.4 million this four-day weekend.  The Romantic- Thriller starring Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough might not have fared well with Critics with an 18% rating on the Tomatometer, but audiences enjoyed it with a B+ CinemaScore. Perhaps overseas it will fare better or even it its second run on Video-on-Demand/DVD/Blu-ray.

On a weekend lacking Family-oriented choices, Escape from Planet Earth from The Weinstein Co./eOne Films grosses $20.5 million from 3,288 theatres.  The Canadian Animated Feature which contains the voice work of Jessica Alba, Ricky Gervais, Brendan Fraser, Rob Corddry and Sophia Vergara didn’t get critical love, but it does receive at B+ CinemaScore. The Film looks to be a profitable venture, made for $40 million and likely to recoup that over the next couple weeks.

Warm Bodies is proving to be a great hit with Moviegoers, earning $10.9 million in fifth this weekend for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films in this its third week out, an option for those looking for a bit of Romance but less tears than Safe Haven.

Beautiful Creatures surprisingly opens in sixth spot for Warner Bros. with only $8.5 million from 2,950 theatres and many are saying that Director/Writer Richard LaGravenese taking some liberties with this Film Adaptation have deterred Fans of the Novel. Overall audiences reacted fairly well with a B CinemaScore.

In its second week, the excellent Side Effects is in seventh spot for eOne Films/Open Road Films, earning $7.3 million for a cumulative total of $19.6 million.  This places it just ahead of Silver Linings Playbook which benefited from its Romantic appeal this weekend, earning and awesome $7.2 million in its 14th – yes you read that right – 14th week of release.  The David O. Russell Film is just fractionally shy of the $100-million mark domestically.

Best Picture Contender Zero Dark Thirty  rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.5 million this weekend in its ninth week of release.

eOne Films and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win Double Passes to an Advance Screening in Toronto to SAFE HAVEN. The Screening takes place in Toronto on Monday, February 11, 2013 at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas, 7:00 PM.

SAFE HAVEN is the latest Film Adaptation of Bestselling Author Nicholas Sparks, centering on a Woman (Hough) who arrives in Southport, North Carolina looking for a fresh start, with a mysterious past.  She meets a Widower  (Duhamel) and falls in love with him and his two Kids, only to realize that as their relationship progresses, it becomes increasingly hard to her darkest Secret from him.

We were honoured to be on the Red Carpet for the Canadian Premiere of SAFE HAVEN recently. Read all about it and my Chat with Stars Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough and learn how you can win a Signed Photo right here!

To enter for a chance, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before February 7, 2013! You should also be following on Twitter. If you have increased your Privacy Settings, please ensure you leave me your Twitter account so I can reach you. Good luck!

Safe Haven is everything. It is suspenseful, romantic and heartwarming at once.  eOne Films releases on Valentine’s Day.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

The fun just don’t stop!  Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough graced the Red Carpet at Scotiabank Theatre tonight in celebration of Safe Haven, a Romantic Thriller adapted from the bestselling Nicholas Sparks Novel of the same name.   Its Story centers on a Woman (Hough) who arrives in Southport, North Carolina with a mysterious past.  She meets a Widower  (Duhamel) and falls in love with him passionately, only to realize that as their relationship progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to veil her deepest, darkest Secret.

A large crowd of Fans and Media lined the Red Carpet, the first ever for Alliance Films under the eOne Films Brand, and after just appearing across the road at MuchMusic‘s New.Music.Live, both Stars hurried-over to the Theatre, masking any trace of a super-quick Wardrobe Change.  The handsome on-screen Couple wowed Onlookers – Duhamel  gorgeous in a gray Suit and and Hough picture-perfect in pink, as the latter’s proud Hair Dresser admired her gorgeous creation, snapping Photos on her iPhone from the side.

Both Stars generously divided their time between Fans (believe me there were any in particular for Duhamel!) and giving quick Interviews to Media.  One Autograph Collector tells me, “Duhamel has a photographic memory. He saw me earlier in the day and told me one only, but still was a  nice Guy about it!”.

I had the absolute pleasure of  fitting in a question each with both Actors and quizzed Duhamel on his Canadian Ancestry and what it is like to be the self-proclaimed, “The 267th Most Interesting Man in the World”.    He jokes, “Well, I’ve got a lot of room to move, you know what I mean? There’s only room to move-up!”.  Duhamel also breaks-down for me exactly how much a Canadian he actually is. Meanwhile, Hough details for me what inspired her to choose a heavier Role compared to some of the more lighthearted fare we’ve seen her in so far like last year’s Rock of Ages and 2011’s Footloose Remake.  An admitted die-hard  Sparks Fan, Hough tells me, “I relate to Katie.  In my life I tend to be guarded and in my life I tend to find the joy in life, so it definitely makes sense for me to do this.”.

Following tonight’s Premiere, Duhamel and Hough were amazing to spend a bit of time chatting with Fans via a Q&A moderated by KISS 92.5‘s Taylor Kaye, where we learned that a good portion of Safe Haven actually is improvised.  Duhamel, who is married to Popstar Fergie, reveals to us also that he had her full blessing on filming love scenes with Hough, as Fergie was all for whatever would make Safe Haven a better Film.  Another interesting tidbit is that Hough actually is v. good Friends with the Villain in the Film, played by David Lyons. She commended him for making her feel comfortable enough to tackle some of the Film’s more uncomfortable moments. And before heading out for the night, Duhamel walked right over to me and gave me a high-five.  How cool is that?

See more Snaps of Duhamel and Hough I took earlier in the day right here.

Our trusty Helper Michelle, was sweet enough to help nab a couple Autographs from the beautiful Hough.  To enter to win one, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before February 22, 2013.  All are welcome to enter. Good luck!

Safe Haven opens in theatres on Valentine’s Day via eOne Films’ Alliance Films.  I admit it, I cried!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

And they’ve arrived – safe and sound.  Mega-Hotties Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough arrived quietly into Toronto last night,  up and at ’em early for a hectic Press Day for their Romantic Thriller, Safe Haven.  The Adaption of the best-selling Novel by Nicholas Sparks is set to open this Valentine’s Day via Entertainment One‘s Alliance Films in Canada.  The Film centers on Katie (Hough), a Woman who arrives in Southport, North Carolina, falling in love with Widower (Duhamel), which forces her to confront her dark, mysterious past.

Duhamel and Hough who looked a picture-perfect Duo together, appeared at KISS 92.5‘s Roz & Mocha Show (listen here) earlier today, before stopping-off at City‘s Breakfast Television (watch here), before completing a morning Trifecta capped-off at CP24 Breakfast (watch here).  The Actors will be doing an afternoon of Press out of their Hotel, before appearing on an action-packed New.Music.Live at MuchMusic, which also will see Warm Bodies Stars Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer. A Star-filled Day in the City indeed.

I caught-up with the Stars as they arrived for their Breakfast Television appearance this morning and they both were gracious to Fans stopping to sign Autographs and snap Photos despite being in a crazy rush to their next destination.  The Festivities continue at Scotiabank Theatre tonight where the Canadian Premiere of Safe Haven takes place, as Duhamel and Hough walk the Red Carpet.  We’ll be there, so stay tuned for our Interview!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Entertainment One’s Alliance Films & Mr. Will Wong want to take five lucky Readers to the Canadian Premiere of Safe Haven! Based upon the Best-Selling Novel by Nicholas Sparks, the Romantic Thriller centers around Jo (Julianne Hough), a Woman with a mysterious past who arrives in Southport, Carolina, encountering a Widower in Alex (Josh Duhamel), forcing her to confront a dark Secret that haunts her.  Fans of The Notebook, The Lucky One and Dear John will be ecstatic to know that hunky Duhamel will be serving a gratuitous help of shirtlessness!

… and to sweeten the deal, Stars Hough and Duhamel will be in-attendance at the Red Carpet Premiere next Monday at Scotiabank Theatre. Breathe!

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before Friday, January 18, 2013.  Double your chances by following on Twitter here and Re-Tweeting the below:

http://tinyurl.com/aug6rxq @MRWILLW wants to take me to the Canadian Premiere of SAFE HAVEN with Josh Duhamel & Julianne Hough!  In theatres 2/14.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

(Photo/video credit: Entertainment One’s Alliance Films)

Toronto hasn’t seen this much action since TIFF!  Next Monday will be a day of epic proportions as the Stars descend upon the City for two of February’s most anticipated Films.  I’ve been super-excited about 50/50 Director Jonathan Levine‘s Warm Bodies for quite some time now and the Adaptation of the Isaac Marion Zombie Novel will see both Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy) and Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four) here Monday, January 21, 2013.  The Duo will be at MuchMusic‘s New.Music.Live to promote the February 1, 2013 release for eOne Films.  Frozen Yogurt Chain Yogurty’s is giving away Prize Packs and Passes to a Private Screening.  Details here.

If that weren’t exciting enough, equally-Hotties Josh Duhamel (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton) and Julianne Hough (Rock of Ages) will be promoting Safe Haven that same day and they are expected to walk the Red Carpet for the Canadian Premiere of the Romantic-Thriller later that night.  The Adaptation of the Bestselling Nicholas Sparks Novel also will see the two Actors doing a round of Press earlier in the day in support of the February 14, 2013 release for Entertainment One‘s Alliance Films.  Tickets for the Premiere will be made available via KISS 92.5 and also the Alliance Films Facebook Page.

I had the pleasure of meeting both Leading Ladies, Palmer and Hough, back in 2011 and they are both as gracious and lovely as they appear.  We are blessed to host them once again and without a doubt, both Films are expected to perform massively.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)