Disney makes a victorious debut with latest Animated Feature ZOOTOPIA, earning $73 million from 3,827 theatres this weekend. Voiced by the likes of Kristen Bell, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, it receives unanimous praise from Critics and Audiences alike with 98% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore. This sets an all-time record for best original non-Pixar/Disney original Film, besting 2013’s Frozen which debuted with $67 million.
Debuting a respectable second with $21 million is LONDON HAS FALLEN with $21 million from 3,490 theatres for VVS Films/Focus Features. The follow-up to Olympus Has Fallen gets a 26% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences adored it with an A- CinemaScore, giving it legs to run on in coming weeks as word of mouth spreads. This however doesn’t best Olympus‘ $30-million opening in 2013 en route to $160 million worldwide.
DEADPOOL slips to third spot this weekend with $16.8 million for 20th Century Fox, now in its fourth week out. Already it has surpassed $311 million domestically.
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT debuts in fourth with $7.3 million for Paramount Pictures from 2,374 theatres. Based on the Memoir by Kim Baker, it stars Tina Fey and Margot Robbie, garnering a passing 61% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.
GODS OF EGYPT in its second week out lands in fifth with $4.7 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, a second Film for Gerard Butler in the Top Ten this week alongside LONDON HAS FALLEN. Egypt has grossed $22.6 million in its North American run so far.
THE REVENANT gets a boost from its Oscars exposure last weekend, in seventh with $3.6 million for 20th Century Fox, now impressively in its 11th week out. It has made $176 million thus far in these parts.
THE WITCH rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.4 million for Elevation Pictures/A24 Films in its third week out, just surpassing the $20-million mark.
By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong
If you’re anything like me then you like to plan ahead. Luckily our friends at Walt Disney Studios feel the same way and have already mapped out what can only be described as an epic 2016. Whether you like animated animals, space operas in far away galaxies, comic book superheroes, or all of the above then Disney has just the Movie for you.
The year will kick off with The Finest Hours starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck. This IMAX 3D adventure is based on the true story a daring Coast Guard rescue mission.
Jon Favreau helms the new remake of the 1967 animated classic The Jungle Book. Neel Sethi ‘s Mowgli is the only live action character in a CGI jungle populated with a voice cast that includes Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley and Scarlett Johansson.
Johnny Depp fans will rejoice when he returns as the Mad Hatter in Alice Through the Looking Glass. Sacha Baron Cohen will join the Wonderland family as Time in this Tim Burton-produced Sequel.
Later in the year another remake will hit the screen: Pete’s Dragon starring Robert Redford and Bryce Dallas Howard.
July 1st will be more than simply Canada day in 2016 as it is also the day Steven Spielberg‘s The BFG will finally hit the big screen. Based on the beloved children’s classic by Roald Dahl this Movie is sure to be a hit with both kids and adults.
If superheroes are more your thing then you have probably been salivating for news about Captain America: Civil War. The new trailer is scheduled to play in theatres before Star Wars: The Force Awakens and is sure to electrify fans.
Benedict Cumberbatch will also be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in November as Doctor Strange.
December 2016 will bring a new Star Wars Movie: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story tells the tale of the rebels who stole the plans for the Death Star. The Movie takes place between the events in Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
Finally, nothing says Disney like animation. In June, Pixar will return to a familiar family of fish in Finding Dory.
November finds Disney in Hawaii for Moana, the story of a girl in search of a fabled island. Moana is helped along the way by a demi-god voiced by Dwayne Johnson. Broadway fans may be intrigued to hear that music by Lin-Manuel Miranda will be featured.
The biggest Canadian news from Disney Animation is Zootopia. Set in a world completely devoid of humans, Zootopia’s anthropomorphic residents live in a modern world where animals just happen to walk, talk, and dress like people. One of the inhabitants of this animal world is newscaster Peter Moosebridge voiced by the CBC’s own Peter Mansbridge.
With these must-see Movies on your radar 2016 is sure to be a movie-tastic year.
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