Unbelievable!   Expectations were high for AMERICAN SNIPER, but who would’ve known that it would pull-in $88 million in its debut from 3,555 theatres  for Warner Bros. this weekend?  The Clint Eastwood Drama starring Bradley Cooper opened – pardon the pun – with a bang, with $30.5 million debut Friday, setting an all-time record for a January release.  This also has the distinction of being Eastwood‘s highest-grossing opening for a Film also. Critics were fairly impressed with a 72% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a superb A+ CinemaScore.  Undoubtedly its Best Picture nod earlier this week helped solidify the buzz for Moviegoers.

THE WEDDING RINGER starring a Duo of Funnymen in Kevin Hart and Chris Rock debuts in second with a solid $20.6 million for Sony Pictures from 3,003 theatres. Critics weren’t impressed with a 33% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences loved it with an A-CinemaScore, which should bode well for spreading word of mouth in coming weeks.

PADDINGTON opens in third this weekend for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. with a good $19.3 million from 3,303 theatres. Get this, Critics gave it a brilliant 98% on the Tomatometer, and an on-par A CinemaScore was received from Audiences for this Adaptation of the internationally-adored Children’s Franchise. Ben Whishaw and Nicole Kidman star in the Film.

TAKEN 3 after opening on-top last weekend, slips to fourth spot with $15.3 million for 20th Century Fox. In two weeks it has pulled-in a spiffy $66 million domestically.

SELMA might not have received a lot of Oscar love, but Audiences certainly are perceptive to all the buzz surrounding the Best Picture Nominee, placing fifth with $10.3 million for Paramount Pictures in its fourth week out, expanding to 2,235 theatres this weekend.

THE IMITATION GAME crosses the $50 million-mark domestically in its eighth week out, also expanding to 1,611 theatres for The Weinstein Co./Elevation Pictures.  The Best Picture Nominee places seventh this weekend with $7.3 million.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.9 million in its fourth week out.  It now has made $106.5 million domestically for 20th Century Fox.

After a victory at the Golden Globes this past weekend, a Video for Common and John Legend‘s Glory finally sees a release. The Track is featured in the widely-acclaimed SELMA.

If you haven’t heard the Track yet, check it out below in full:

After a successful campaign by African-American Business Leaders, Students across America have been granted the opportunity to see Selma for free as part of the #SELMAFORSTUDENTS Initiative. How amazing is that?

Learn more about the SELMA Soundtrack, now in stores here.

Paramount Pictures release SELMA, now in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Ignore those nasty Reviews, Audiences still v. much are in-love with TAKEN.  In an opening as explosive as the Action the Franchise is known for, the Trilogy Finale starring once again Liam Neeson, takes-in $40.4 million for 20th Century Fox from 3.594 theatres.  In comparison to its Predecessors, this latest Installment doesn’t quite eclipse the opening weekend success of 2012’s TAKEN 2, which brought-in $49 million in its debut. It does however surpass 2009’s first Installment, which opened with $24 million. Critics were unanimous in their snubbing with an 11% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences gave it a solid B+ CinemaScore.  Made for $48 million, it looks well on its way to turning a profit.

Paramount Pictures‘ big Oscar Vehicle SELMA opens with $11 million from 2,179 theatres,  Both Audiences and Critics alike agree that the Ava DuVernay Film is phenomenal, with an A+ CinemaScore and a matching 98% CinemaScore.

UNBROKEN continues to show amazing consistency, landing in third in its third week out with $8.2 million for Universal Pictures, just surpassing the $100 million-mark domestically.

Disney‘s INTO THE WOODS places fifth this weekend with $8.68 million, also surpassing the $100 million-mark in three weeks.  The Film is up for Best Comedy/Musical at the Golden Globe Awards, although it is seen widely as an Outsider in the Oscar race.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES finds itself in fifth spot in its fourth week out with $8.61 million for Warner Bros. It thus far has made $235 million in its North American run.

In sixth with $7 million is The Weinstein Co./Elevation Pictures’ THE IMITATION GAME which continues its Oscar Trail with a major piece of the puzzle in its fate being unveiled at Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 1 rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.6 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, now in its eighth week out and a dazzling $329 million grossed domestically to-date.

If there was any one Film gaining rapid momentum this Awards Season, that certainly would be SELMA!  The Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic screened in Toronto last week to rousing reception. Paramount Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want Readers in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal to witness SELMA before everyone else! Screenings take place on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, our v. first in the New Year!

Official Synopsis:

SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition.  The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement.  Director Ava DuVernay’s SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.

SELMA also stars Carmen Ejogo, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tim Roth, Giovanni Ribisi, Dylan Baker, Oprah Winfrey, Alessandro Nivola, Wendell Pierce and Henry G. Sanders.

See the Trailer:

Official Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook.  You may press the “share” button and share with your Friends on Facebook or Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/selma @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #SELMAMovie in #OTT #YYZ + #MTL. Out 1/9!

Good luck, Willionaire$.

Paramount Pictures Canada release SELMA on Friday, January 9, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

By David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

He may have missed out on a SAG award nomination earlier today, but you should start learning how to pronounce David Oyelowo’s last name come Oscar night.

Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay took the stage earlier tonight at the TIFF Bell Lightbox to present a special advanced screening of Selma, which chronicles Martin Luther King Jr.’s legendary civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. If the standing ovation for the actor and director after tonight’s screening was any indication, neither needs to worry about their award chances.

Scheduled to coincide with the 50th anniversary of King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance, the sold out crowd marveled at DuVernay’s thrilling dramatization and were treated to a lengthy post-screening Q&A. “It feels like the right time,” DuVernay said about what drew her to making a film about the civil rights activist, noting that there has yet to be a biopic about King at any time since his death in 1968. While the pair shared a number of interesting thoughts and anecdotes about filming, alongside opinions on the timely on-going events in Ferguson, Missouri, the liveliest moment came early on when Oyelowo started speaking with an English accent – initially shocking the crowd who had previously been listening to his near perfect recreation of King’s voice.

Special emphasis was placed on Stephan James, who practically steals the show as civil rights activist John Lewis. The Torontonian actor first met DuVernay at TIFF, later helping him obtain a ticket to her previous film Middle of Nowhere. He reminded her of the gesture during his audition for Selma.

DuVernay also spoke about her deliberate use of slow motion during the film’s most violent sequences. The spectacle is stripped from each of the four specific scenes, allowing the film to “force you to look at this”, instead of turning away or not registering what is being shown.

We’ll have a full review of Selma in the coming weeks, but this sure-fire Oscar contender is definitely a must-see! And for the record, Oyelowo’s last name is pronounced “oh-yellow-oh”.

Paramount Pictures Canada release SELMA on Friday, January 9, 2015.

To be honest, we had no idea there even was a Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic in the works!  Paramount Pictures over the weekend hit us hard with an amazing, gritty look at the Trailer for SELMA from Director Ava DuVernay (Middle of Nowhere).  We see nothing but chaos, a taste of an Era on the brink of a revolution

Official Synopsis:

The story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s (David Oyelowo) historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people – a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

SELMA stars David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tim Roth, Giovanni Ribisi, Dylan Baker, Oprah Winfrey, Alessandro Nivola, Wendell Pierce and Henry G. Sanders.

Paramount Pictures release SELMA on Friday, January 9, 2015.

See the Trailer:

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)