It’s Super Bowl weekend, so those who are off to the Movies this weekend, really must want to see these releases! Of course, it’s all MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE taking top spot at the Box Office in its debut with $11 million from 1,500 theatres only for Warner Bros. This final installment in the Franchise gets 46% on the Tomatometer.

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER still is thriving with $6.5 million, enough for second spot for 20th Century Studios. Its run is now brought to $646 million in North America.

In third is TITANIC’s 25th Anniversary re-release with $6.4 million from 2,464 theatres for Paramount Pictures. Domestically to date, the classic has made $665 million giving Director James Cameron two films in the Top Five this weekend.

Fourth is 80 FOR BRADY with $5.6 million in its second weekend for Paramount Pictures, a total $24.5 million thus far.

Rounding this Top Five out is KNOCK AT THE CABIN with $4.6 million for Universal Pictures, a two-week tally of $23 million.

Could it be we finally have a new number one? Dethroning AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER this week is M. Night Shyamalan‘s KNOCK AT THE CABIN, debuting with $15 million from 3,643 theatres for Universal Pictures and gets 69% on the Tomatometer – the Director’s best-reviewed film since 2016’s Split.

Second is 80 FOR BRADY, bringing a female audience to the theatre with $13 million from 3,912 theatres for Paramount Pictures. The Comedy featuring a stacked Cast led by Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Field, gets 64% on the Tomatometer.

Third goes to seven-week champ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, with $9.2 million from 3,310 theatres, a total run of $625.8 million domestically for 20th Century Studios.

Landing in fourth we have PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $7.9 million, a total run of $151.2 million.

Rounding-out the Top Five is CHOSEN Season Three (Episodes 1 & 2 ) with $8.3 million from 1,546 theatres for Fathom Events.

It’s AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER taking the crown again a seventh consecutive week! Earning $15 million this weekend from 3,790 theatres for 20th Century Studios. This brings its domestic run now to a stellar $620.5 million, its momentum kept-up with this week’s Academy Award Best Picture nomination.

In second is PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $10 million from 3,611 theatres for Universal Pictures. Its total run is brought to $141 million.

Third goes to A MAN CALLED OTTO with $6.9 million from 3,802 theatres, a total $46 million for Sony Pictures.

M3GAN is in fourth with $6.7 million from 3,628 theatres for Universal Pictures, bringing its tally to $82.9 million.

At the bottom of the Top Five we have MISSING with $5.1 million from 3,025 theatres for Sony Pictures. Over two weeks it has made $17.2 million.

For a sixth straight week, it’s AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER on-top again with $20 million from 4,045 theatres for 20th Century Fox, just shy of $600 million grossed in its domestic run.

In second is PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $12.4 million in its fifth weekend from 3,686 theatres for Universal Pictures, a tally of $127.3 million thus far.

Third is M3GAN with $9.1 million in its third weekend from 3,628 theatres, an impressive total $74.8 million for Universal Pictures.

Fourth is a debuting MISSING with $8.5 million for Sony Pictures and Critics are loving it with 82% on the Tomatometer. This is a follow-up to 2018 Thriller SEARCHING and it was made for only $7 million and it premiered earlier this week at Sundance.

At the bottom of the Top Five is A MAN CALLED OTTO with $9 million, a total $35.7 million for Sony Pictures.

It’s still all AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, taking the top spot at the Box Office a fifth straight week with $35 million from 4,045 theatres for 20th Century Studios. This takes its domestic tally to $566 million. Unstoppable.

In second again is M3GAN with a strong $17.5 million in its second weekend out for Universal Pictures, a two week total of $58 million for the Blumhouse Horror.

A MAN CALLED OTTO debuts in third with $12 million for Sony Pictures, playing at 3,800 theatres. The Adaptation of the New York Times Bestseller, which stars Tom Hanks, gets 69% on the Tomatometer.

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH is fourth with $10 million from 3,641 theatres for Universal Pictures, a total $107 million in its North American run to date.

In fifth is PLANE which opens with $8.7 million from 3,023 theatres for Lionsgate/Cineplex Pictures. Starring Gerard Butler and Mike Colter, the Action flick gets a respectable 73% on the Tomatometer.

For an incredible fourth straight weekend, it’s AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER on-top again with $36.1 million from 4,341 theatres for 20th Century Studios, for a total $506 million domestically.

M3GAN is off to a fantastic start with $30.2 million from 3,509 theatres for Universal Pictures. Not only this, the Horror starring Allison Williams and Violet McGraw, gets 94% on the Tomatometer. It was made for only $12 million.

Third is PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $10 million in its third weekend, a total $84.6 million for Universal Pictures.

Fourth is BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER with $3.1 million, a total $445 million in its North American run for Disney/Marvel.

Rounding-out the Top Five is Whitney Houston Biopic I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY with $2.4 million, a total $19.6 million thus far.

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER continues to make a splash this weekend with $67.8 million from 4,202 theatres for 20th Century Studios this New Year’s three-day weekend! Over three weekends, it has grossed in excess of $450 million domestically.

In second is PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $15.9 million from 4,121 theatres. Over two weekends, it has made $65.5 million for Universal Pictures.

Third spot goes to BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER with $5 million from 2,310 theatres, a total $439 million over eight weekends.

Landing in fourth we have I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY, the Whitney Houston Biopic, with $4.1 million from 3,625 theatres for Sony Pictures, a two week tally of $15.8 million.

Rounding things out is BABYLON with $3 million, a two weel total of $11.4 million for Paramount Pictures.

For a second straight week, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER takes the #1 spot at the Box Office. Over the three-day Christmas weekend, grossing $55 million from 4,202 theatres, bringing its two-week total to $279.7 million domestically for 20th Century Studios.

A distant runner-up is PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $11.1 million in its debut from 4,099 theatres for Universal Pictures. Opening Wednesday, it has grossed $24.3 million already. Its 2011 predecessor opened with $34 million.

Third spot goes to Whitney Houston Biopic I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY, earning $5.5 million from 3,625 theatres for Sony Pictures.

Fourth is BABYLON with $3.3 million from 3,343 theatres for Paramount Pictures. The latest from Damien Chazelle gets.

Rounding-out the Christmas Top Five is BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER with $2.6 million, bringing its seven week tally to $426.5 million for Disney.

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is poised to make a huge splash in its opening this weekend with $134 million from 4,202 theatres projected for the 20th Century Studios release, which sees James Cameron returning in the Director’s Chair and also as Writer. Its 2009 predecessor opened to $77 million in its debut. The Sequel gets 76% on the Tomatometer from Critics.

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER after five weeks on-top, slips to second with $6 million from 3,380 theatres for Marvel/Disney, a total run of $419.5 million domestically.

VIOLENT NIGHT is close behind in third with $5.3 million for Universal Pictures, a three week tally of $35.2 million.

Fourth is Disney’s STRANGE WORLD with $2.7 million, a total $34.2 million grossed to date.

THE MENU rounds-out the Top Five with $1.7 million, taking it to $32.1 million for Searchlight Pictures.

By Mr. Will Wong

Following the historic success of James Cameron’s AVATAR, which went on to gross $2.9 billion worldwide, fans have been holding-out for a worthy successor film. The wait is almost over with AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER finally arriving in theatres this weekend. Set a decade after the events of its predecessor, the Sequel sees the Sully family forced from their home when an ancient threat surfaces, leaving them no choice but to go to war against the humans.

Toronto was fortunate enough to host the Film’s Canadian Premiere with the blue carpet rolled-out at Scotiabank Theatre.

The Film’s new generation of stars were in attendance, including:

Jamie Flatters (Neteyam, the oldest Sully child)
Trinity Bliss (Tuktirey, the youngest Sully child)
Jack Champion (Spider, a human child left behind on Pandora as a toddler)
Bailey Bass (Tsireya, Metkayina clan, Ronal and Tonowari’s daughter)
Filip Geljo (Aonung, Metkayina clan, Ronal and Tonowari’s son)

We ask Trinity Jo-Li Bliss about her character, Tuk and her importance to the story.

Bliss: “I play Tuk and she has a really big heart, she’s really curious and she loves her family – the most important thing to her. She’ll do anything to fight for them.”.

Bliss walked away from the Film with a renewed appreciation of the importance of protecting the earth.

Bliss: “Our set was so environmentally-friendly. We had plant-based catering, we had our Avatar mugs that the water dispensed water into – you know, The Way of Water. The set opened my eyes to ways that we can do better for our earth. Just like Jake (Sam Worthington) and Ney’tiri (Zoe Saldana) protecting their Pandora, we need to protect our earth and not only come together to protect our earth when it’s in trouble.”.

Though Jack Champion has never been to Toronto before, he did film SCREAM VI in Montreal. He has fond memories.

Champion: “The food here is amazing. You guys have great Italian food and Tim Hortons – the #1 coffee place. I honestly love it because I had it in Montreal. We had it right across the street where I was staying every morning. What is it, I had the Justin Bieber … oh yes, the Timbiebs!”.

He tells us more about his character Spider, who is an orphan.

Champion: “I play Spider and he is a human. He’s born and raised in Hell’s Gate (the human base on Pandora), but orphaned after the humans get their butts kicked. He grew-up along with the Na’vi and the Sully family. Spider‘s always wanted a family – that’s his #1 goal, even if he’s not fully accepted. That’s why when humans come back, it unleashes a whole new can of worms, untangling a whole web of problems.”.

Jamie Flatters tells us about his role as Neteyam, the eldest son in the Sully family. This being his first time in Toronto, he has plans to hit-up Kensington Market and Queen Street West in his short time here.

Flatters: “I play Neteyam, who’s the son of Jake and Ney’tiri . He’s part of the family unit which unfortunately gets forced out of their home, and he has to keep the family ideal alive.”.

He tells us the greatest lesson he took away from his time on-set.

Flatters: “A strong moral idea of responsibility at a young age is actually a good thing, but don’t take it too far. Be easy on yourself.”.

Bailey Bass is a proud New Yorker, but actually really excited to see tomorrow’s expected snow storm. She tells us about her character.

Bass: “I play Tsireya who’s part of the Metkayina clan. She’s a strong free diver who has a big heart and is super-kind. She teaches the Sullys the way of the water.”.

With the Film focusing so much on the new generation, Bass tells us what this means to her.

Bass: “I think it means a lot to me. We’re showing the characters in ways that have never been seen before. I think a lot of characters are going to feel seen in these characters in a way that’s never been done.”.

See highlights and our Chats here:

20th Century Studios Canada release AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (available in 3D) Friday, December 16, 2022.

Review here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)