It may be Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S., but people certainly are going to the Movies!  THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 maintains its dominance at the Box Office a second week with $50.3 million from 4,175 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  Domestically in two weeks it has grossed $197.1 million!

THE GOOD DINOSAUR debuts strong for Pixar/Disney with $39.5 million from 3,749 theatres. Audiences gave the Animated Feature an A CinemaScore, while Critics gave it a solid 77% on the Tomatometer.

CREED, the latest installment of the Rocky Franchise opens in third with $28.7 million from 3,404 theatres for Warner Bros.  Very strong reviews at 93% on the Tomatometer for the Boxing Drama starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, and also an A CinemaScore should give it legs to run on in coming weeks.

SPECTRE is in fourth this weekend with $12.7 million for Sony Pictures, from 2,940 theatres.  In four weeks it has made over $176 million in North America.

SPOTLIGHT expands to 897 theatres for eOne Films/Open Road Films and does it successfully with $4.2 million. The Catholic Church Scandal Drama filmed partly in Toronto, is seen widely as a major Oscar contender. In four weeks of limited release mostly, it has made $12 million domestically.

BROOKLYN, also an Oscar contender expands to 824 theatres for Mongrel Media/Fox Searclight with $3.7 million. In four weeks of limited opening, the Film starring Saoirse Ronan  has made $7 million.

THE MARTIAN rounds-out the Top Ten after an extremely successful run for 20th Century Fox, with $3.2 million in its ninth week out.  It is nearing the $220-million-mark domestically.

If there’s a kid or a pre-teen in your life, there’s a great chance they’re probably crazy about the series MAKE IT POP! The Musical Comedy Series airs on YTV here in Canada and has captured the hearts of a new generation allover the world. Centering on three girls media star Sun-Hi Song, fashionista Jodi Mappa and bookworm Corki Chang, MAKE IT POP follows the trio known as XO-IQ and all their fun, K-Pop-inspired adventures! But did you know the Series actually films here in Toronto?

Fresh off a prominent appearance in the Nickelodeon Awards alongside host and series creator Nick Cannon, you can see them on and fall in love with them Thursday, December 17, 2015 on YTV when the ceremony airs at 7:00 PM!

In case you’ve missed the phenomenon known as MAKE IT POP, YTV will air a marathon on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 7:00 PM featuring FOUR new episodes. Then marathon continues the following Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 7:00 PM again with ANOTHER FOUR new episodes, including the eagerly-awaited Season Finale!

XO-IQ just released their first-ever Holiday EP and you can check-out their single ALL THE LOVE below:

Their album TOMORROW IS OURS, featuring music from the second season of MAKE IT POP, is out Friday, December 18, 2015.

There’s a good chance we’ll be meeting the girls over the next couple weeks.  Feel free to let us know if you have any questions!

Mr. Will + MAKE IT POP Creator Nick Cannon:

(Photo/video credit: DHX Media/YTV/Mr. Will Wong)

I had the very special opportunity of test driving the 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi. The electric-hybrid not only is amazingly-spacious (literally five can be seated with plenty of room to spare), but also super-environmentally conscious.

I admit I was a bit terrified to try something new. An electric car? Really? What happens if my car runs out of battery? Or what if I can’t find a charging station? The fact is, the C-MAX Energi runs also on bronze fuel and  my own office even had a charging station in our underground parking and I didn’t even realize it!

Sized like an SUV, the C-MAX Energi is a combination of forward-thinking technology and luxury. I don’t think I ever have seen a moonroof as large as the one seen on this vehicle. The car has amazing control of the road, just as quick to brake as it is to accelerate. I felt fully in control with its 188 combined horsepower and safe with the C-MAX Energi’s curve and stability control, perfect for unpredictable Canadian weather. Its fuel efficiency also is remarkable, four days of highway driving using just one bar of gas on my dashboard using 2.7l/100 km on city and highway. The drivers’ seat – which are heatable – adjusts in a remarkable 10 ways.

The electric-hybrid comes in eight colours and we were lucky to try it in Ruby Red Metallic, elegant as it at once makes a flashy statement.

Let’s talk about the luxurious experience of driving the C-MAX Energi. Pairing with my Android Smartphone, I was able to access the soundtrack to my weekend, Adele‘s 25 over and over on repeat, in any which order from the touch LED dashboard, syncing perfectly via bluetooth and its nine speaker SONY sound system sounded mind-blowingly-good. The car includes not one but two  USB ports for all your charging needs, although playing protected content via the SYNC system still proves problematic meaning you cannot charge your phone or listen to those songs you bought off iTunes from your phone via USB connection.

Ford always is on the edge of innovation and I also had the opportunity to try pairing the C-MAX Energi with not only the My Ford Mobile app on my smartphone, but also a SONY Smartwatch, making it possible to monitor mileage used, where exactly your car is or even lock and unlock your car from your wrist!

See for yourself:

Look! So cool! You can use your #Smartwatch to lock, unlock and monitor your car using the #MyFord mobile app! (@fordcanada)

A video posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Nov 24, 2015 at 5:21am PST

Only a little obsessed with the fact that I can charge the hybrid/electric #CMAXEnergi from #Ford. Can’t wait to go check up on it after its charge. A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Nov 24, 2015 at 12:15pm PST

Morning coffee and treats run with Billy in the #CMAXEnergi, courtesy of #FORD! Thanks for the memories, @FordCanada. And we did it with a clean conscience in this electric-hybrid!

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Nov 23, 2015 at 3:38pm PST

Thanks @fordcanada for trusting me with the environmentally-friendly, electric/hybrid #CMAXEnergi! As powerful as it is beautiful. Excited to use the #MyFord app from my Smartwatch to monitor and use keyless entry remotely! #FORD A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Nov 20, 2015 at 3:53pm PST

We had the misfortune of experiencing a flat tire while driving our C-MAX Energi and to be honest wouldn’t even have realized it without its super intuitive tire pressure monitoring system. We got a notice on the dashboard about low tire pressure and pulled over immediately to a strip plaza late in the evening. Early in the day the next morning, we were advised the car was services and ready to go. This is the level of expedience and service we’ve come to love of Ford Canada!

Learn all about the C-MAX Energi here and if you don’t already have it, download the My Ford Mobile App on the Google Play store for your phone and Smartwatch!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

eOne Films + Mr. Will want to take you to see yet another amazing Awards season contender, CAROL.  Screenings take place in Toronto, Vancouver (19+ only) on Thursday, December 10, 2015. Ottawa, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Victoria have their screening on Monday, December 14, 2015.

Synopsis:

In an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, CAROL follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Kyle Chandler) begins to question her competence as a mother as her involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) come to light.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and indicate for me your city.

You may click “share” from there for an extra chance or Tweet out the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/carol @MRWILLW wants us to #win Advance Passes to see #CAROLMovie starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

G’luck, Willionaire$!

eOne Films release CAROL on Friday, December 11, 2015 in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. It gets released on Christmas Day in Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Halifax and Ottawa.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

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.

After much Box Office success, THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 wraps-up the franchise on a high note, debuting with $104 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films from 4,175 theatres. This marks a significant drop from 2014’s Mockingjay, Part 1 which opened the exact same weekend with $121 million last year. Critics gave it 70% on the Tomatometer, signaling generally-positive reviews. Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore.

SPECTRE is in second spot in its third week out earns $14.3 million for Sony Pictures. Thus far it has grossed over $153 million domestically.

THE PEANUTS MOVIE takes third spot this weekend with $12.6 million for 20th Century Fox. It has tallied-in at $98 million in three weeks out.

Holiday Comedy THE NIGHT BEFORE starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie opens in fourth with $10 million for Sony Pictures from 2,960 theatres. Critics gave it 64% on the Tomatometer and Audiences an A- CinemaScore.

In fifth this weekend is SECRET IN THEIR EYES in its debut for eOne Films/STX with $6.9 million. Critics gave it 42% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences were more forgiving of the Thriller starring Julia Roberts, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Nicole Kidman, giving it a B- CinemaScore.

Oscar-Contender SPOTLIGHT (made partly in Toronto) expands to 538 theatres for Open Road Films/eOne Films, earning $3.4 million. Thus far it has made $5.7 million in three weeks.

BRIDGE OF SPIES rounds-out the Top Ten for DreamWorks with $1.9 million. The Spielberg Drama has made $65 million in North America over six weeks.

Seattle Electronica Duo Odesza are in Toronto today to play the Sound Academy and in advance of their sold-out show tonight, they did the promo rounds this morning. Consisting of members Catacombkid and BeachesBeaches and known best for their chill remixes and tracks Say My Name, It’s Only and Light (ft. Little Dragon), the Duo appeared on The Morning Show to talk about their music.

See their interview:

Check-out latest single Light below:

See our Snap:

With the handsome lads of #Odesza, who play Sound Academy tonight in #Toronto. #The6ix

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Nov 19, 2015 at 6:47am PST

Download In Return by Odesza here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Counter Records)

Dance-Pop quartet DNCE already are making a splash on the airwaves with debut single Cake By The Ocean which for sure you’ve heard by now. Fronted by a familiar face in pop royalty Joe Jonas and bandmates JinJoo Lee, Jack Lawless and Cole Whittle, the group played an intimate show previewing new material and covers at Adelaide Hall on the Toronto leg of their The Grestest Tour Ever. Although a press day was planned, a delay in flight would postpone this for another day.

The party head westbound on King Street after the show at EFS, where some fans got the chance to party with the band as Jonas took control of the DJ booth, sporting fresh blue hair.  The band is Michigan-bound next.

Although we had no luck with the band earlier after their show, they were amazing to stop for Selfies before heading to their hotel.

We also got to meet Pop-Duo supporting act POWERS too!

See our Snaps:

DNCE

With new pop sensations #DNCE with #JoeJonas! #Toronto #The6ix #JonasBrothers #CakeByTheOcean #TheGreatestTourEverTour

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Nov 19, 2015 at 12:05am PST

With emerging act #POWERS! #PowersBand #Toronto #The6ix #TheGreatestTourEverTour #GiveMePowers A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Nov 19, 2015 at 12:10am PST

Check out Cake By The Ocean below:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We love Canadian Film and are proud to support TIFF ’14 selection, BANG BANG BABY! Search Engine Films + Mr. Will want to give you a chance to see the Sci-Fi-Musical-Drama in all its quirkiness in the comfort of your own home with a free download!

Synopsis:
BANG BANG BABY, developed by St. Jules in the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinéfondation, is an otherworldly musical about Stepphy, who lives in the sleepy 1960′s town of Lonely Arms with her alcoholic father. Stepphy dreams of escaping to a better life on the stage and screen, and when rock star Bobby Shore’s car breaks down in Lonely Arms, it seems her dream might be coming true. But when Fabian, the town creep, tells Stepphy that the local chemical factory is leaking dangerous purple fumes that can cause human mutations, Stepphy becomes obsessed with hiding these dark secrets from Bobby.

The Film stars Jane Levy (Evil Dead, Suburgatory) in a defining turn as Stepphy, a small town girl who’s caught between her big dreams of stardom and her controlling father, played by Peter Stormare (Fargo, 22 Jump Street). Justin Chatwin (Shameless, War of the Worlds) plays rock star Bobby Shore who promises to make all of Stepphy’s dreams come true, and David Reale (Suits, One Week) plays creepy chemical factory manager Fabian.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook.

G’luck!

Search Engine Films release via digital download Friday, November 20, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Search Engine Films)

Following the $396 million-earning blockbuster success of 2010’s SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN comes THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR. Joining the Cast are Jessica Chastain and Emily Blunt and this new Trailer looks fantastic!

Synopsis:

The fantastical world of Snow White and the Huntsman expands to reveal how the fates of The Huntsman Eric and Queen Ravenna are deeply and dangerously intertwined. Chris Hemsworth and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron return to their roles in The Huntsman Winter’s War, an epic action-adventure in which they are joined by Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain, as well as director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan. Producer Joe Roth (Maleficent, Alice in Wonderland) once again leads the team in a breathtaking new tale nested in the legendary saga.

Long before the evil Queen Ravenna (Theron) was thought vanquished by Snow White’s blade, she watched silently as her sister, Freya (Blunt), suffered a heartbreaking betrayal and fled their kingdom. With Freya’s ability to freeze any enemy, the young ice queen has spent decades in a remote wintry palace raising a legion of deadly huntsmen—including Eric (Hemsworth) and warrior Sara (Chastain)—only to find that her prized two defied her one demand: Forever harden your hearts to love.

When Freya learns of her sister’s demise, she summons her remaining soldiers to bring the Magic Mirror home to the only sorceress left who can harness its power. But once she discovers Ravenna can be resurrected from its golden depths, the wicked sisters threaten this enchanted land with twice the darkest force it’s ever seen. Now, their amassing army shall prove undefeatable…unless the banished huntsmen who broke their queen’s cardinal rule can fight their way back to one another.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

Universal Pictures Canada release THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR April 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)