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.
No surprises here! Man of Steel debuts on-top this weekend from 4,207 theatres with a whopping $151 million for Warner Bros. over the four-day Father’s Day Weekend. From Friday through Sunday, it grossed $125 million in North America, making it this highest-grossing June opening of all time. Despite mixed reviews overall from Critics (56% on the Tomatometer), Loyal Fans to the Franchise could not be deterred, actually giving the Film some strong word of mouth, garnering an A- CinemaScore. Made for $225 million, the Zack Synder-directed Film starring Henry Cavill debuted in 24 markets overseas, number one across-the-board!
Not to be outdone, Sony Pictures Apocalypse-Comedy This is the End, starring a stellar Cast of Friends including Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride, performs well to debut in second with $20.3 million over the three-day weekend. Made for $32 million, the Film earned an B+ CinemaScore, faring better with Critics with its 85% rating on the Tomatometer.
Now You See Me continues to go strong in third in its third week, with $11.1 million for Summit/Lionsgate and eOne Films. To date it has grossed over $80 million in North America.
Last week’s Champion The Purge, slips to fourth this weekend with $9.0 million, placing it just ahead of another former Champ in Fast and the Furious 6, with $9.1 million, good enough for fifth in this its fourth week in theatres.
Rounding-out the Top Ten are After Earth starring Father-Son Duo Will & Jaden Smith with $3.5 million in ninth and Iron Man 3, which earns $2.7 million in its seventh week. The latter is on the verge of surpassing the $400-million mark domestically.
They don’t come much more down-to-earth than these two Guys and Toronto gave two of its favourite Canadians a welcome return home at Scotiabank Theatre tonight. Writer/first-time Director Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express) and Funnyman Seth Rogen both hail originally from Vancouver but have found widespread success south of the Border.
The Duo who have long been Friends and Collaborators, are in-town to promote highly-touted Comedy This is The End, boasting an A-List Cast of Hollywood Heavyweights starring as themselves including: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Jay Baruchel, Michael Cera, Craig Robinson, Emma Watson, Channing Tatum, Rihanna and several, several more. Set around a wild Party at Franco‘s House, This is the End suddenly places these Celebrities amidst a sudden Apocalypse. Faced with the challenges of having to ration what limited supplies are left in his home, they find their Friendships tested to every possible limit. Tempers flare, daggers are thrown and the laughs are infinite.
Walking an intimate Red Carpet tonight with a few select Media Outlets, the order of the day was Work as both Rogen and Goldberg plowed through a series of Interviews, opting to stay-in for Dinner at the Theatre. They even treated Fans to a Q&A following the Advance Screening, fielding questions from Fans ranging from the Backstreet Boys’ surprise involvement in the Finale to the difficulties of shopping their Script originally. “I wish I could say it was really hard to get the Backstreet Boys, but it wasn’t that hard!”, laughs Rogen. “We released a scene in December and the Backstreet Boys had heard about the Movie and had seen a Trailer for it. Evidently, it was Movie they were excited for and we were all losing our minds!”.
On the challenges the Duo faced shopping their Script, Rogen told the Audience, “We do this thing every time we write a Script thinking we’ve re-invented the wheel, and then we put it out to sell and nobody wants to buy it!”. “We even had all six major Movie Stars attached to it and because the idea we all are playing ourselves, people were terrified”, he says. “I think it’s never been done before and Movie Studios hate to be the first one to do something. It’s happened enough times that whatever scares them, ultimately they will embrace and love in the end!”.
I captured some Clips of Rogen & Goldberg at tonight’s Screening. Watch below:
Rogen was nice enough to sign a Photo which one of my Readers will win! Simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook to enter. Share on Facebook with your Friends and double those chances! All are welcome to enter. Good luck.
Sony Pictures releases the hilarious This is the End on Friday, June 12, 2013.
Brace yourselves for one of this Summer’s funniest Surprises!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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