the lone ranger
#BOXOFFICE: “DESPICABLE ME 2” AT #1 A SECOND WEEK
For the second week in-a-row, Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me 2 lands on-top of the Box Office after opening on-top in its debut. It earns $44.7 million this weekend, for a two-week total of $225 million for Universal Pictures domestically from 4,003 theatres.
Sometimes it’s just not about Special F/X or the best Reviews for that matter when it comes to winning Moviegoers’ hearts. Case in point, Audiences opted for Comedy and familiar faces, making Grown Ups 2 number two for Sony Pictures, earning a strong $42.5 million in its debut. The follow-up to the 2010 Comedy reunites Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Adam Sandler once again, earning a lackluster 7% on the Tomatometer. Audiences gave it a B CinemaScore, however which won’t hurt its word-of-mouth buzz. Made for $80 million, it should have no problems paying its own bill. By comparison, its Predecessor debuted with $40 million, this latest Installment besting it slightly.
Pacific Rim debuts at third with solid reviews for Warner Bros., earning $38.3 million domestically. The Film, made in Toronto for a budget of $185 million is still expanding overseas, where it is expected to perform strongly, opening in the Top Two in the UK, Russia, Korea and Mexico, among others. Audiences gave it an A CinemaScore, while Critics gave the Guillermo del Toro Monsters vs. Robots Flick 72% on the Tomatometer.
20th Century Fox’s The Heat slips to fourth this weekend in its third week of release, with $14 million, now earning over $111 million domestically, just ahead of The Lone Ranger with $11.1 million in fifth for Disney. World War Z slips to seventh with $9.4 million for Paramount Pictures, while Man of Steel rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.8 million for Warner Bros. in its fifth week.
Although it still has yet to open in Canada, Sundance Favourite, Fruitvale Station, gets a timely limited release in the U.S. with the Trayvon Martin Trial verdict having been decided, earning $377k from just seven theatres. The Oscar Hopeful opens in Toronto on July 26, 2013.
#BOXOFFICE: “DESPICABLE ME 2” TOPS RECORD-BREAKING FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND
Nothing despicable at all here! Despicable Me 2 is far and clear the Winner at the Box Office this weekend with a massive $81 million debut for Universal Pictures from 3,957 theatres. The Sequel to the Hit Animated Feature starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Ken Jeong and Russell Brand, far out-performs its Predecessor which opened in $56 million in 2010. Celebrating a July 4th weekend in the U.S., a Box Office Record also was set for the Holiday with over $220 million made in ticket sales. Audiences and Critics responded well, the former giving it an A CinemaScore and Critics giving it an average of 75% on the Tomatometer.
Debuting below expectations is The Lone Ranger at number two with $28.9 million from 3,904 theatres. The Gore Verbinski Action/Adventure starring Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp was made for an expensive $250 million. The Film has yet to expand fully overseas and hopefully will recoup some of those costs internationally. Audiences responded with a B CinemaScore and Critics weren’t wowed with 25% on the Tomatometer.
The Heat continues to wow with $24.8 million this weekend in its second week of release, at number three. The hilarious Comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy already has made over $86 million, stamping the latter as a bona fide force to be reckoned with as a Hollywood Leading Lady – her second Smash this year following the success of Identity Thief.
Disney‘s Monsters University, last week at number one, slips to number four with $19.1 million mostly due to the sharp competition from Despicable Me 2 in the Family demographic, landing ahead of World War Z in fifth with $17.8 million for Paramount Pictures.
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain opens with a bang in 876 theatres across the U.S., earning $10 million for Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment at number eight. Critics gave it a decent 71% on the Tomatometer. The Film is not yet released north of the Border. The resilient Now You See Me rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.8 million in its sixth week of release.
#SPOTTED: JAMES BADGE DALE IN TORONTO FOR “THE LONE RANGER”
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:
#SUPERBOWL: WATCH SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIALS FROM SUPER BOWL 2013
Let’s face it. I know little about Football, so every year I hear the words “Super” and “Bowl” my not-so-secretly get excited about one, the famous Halftime Show and what Wardrobe Malfunction/Lipsynching Controversies might occur and two, how entertaining the TV Spots will be!
True to form, Advertisers pull out all the stops to create an impression on us and here are some of the biggest Winners for me this year – in particular the adorable Goat 4 Sale TV Spot from Doritos being the clear winner:
Oreo really stepped it up this year, giving us a raucous ride at the Library, giving the iconic Cookie some much-needed Controversy and Heat Factor:
Taco Bell toes the lines of acceptability, but doesn’t fail to keep it entertaining giving us naughty Seniors going hard. Ke$ha would be proud.
…and only because I love Horses. This Budweiser Spot almost made me cry. Tons of War Horse references here.
#FIRSTLOOK: “DISNEY’S THE LONE RANGER” SUPER BOWL TV SPOT
Although a 20-second Teaser for Disney‘s The Lone Ranger will be premiering during this Sunday’s SupervBowl Pre-Game, you can see it first right here! Directed by Gore Verbinski, the Action-Adventure centers around Native American Spirit Warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) and Man of the Law John Reid (Armie Hammer), complete opposites brought together by Fate and must join forces to battle Greed and Corruption.
See the official Poster below:
Watch the Teaser below:
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